Signet Jewelers’ Campaign Supports St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
Signet Jewelers and its portfolio of brands, including Zales, KAY Jewelers, Jared, and Banter by Piercing Pagoda, unveiled its annual in-store holiday campaign in partnership with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. This year’s campaign features two plush toys, Blake the Bear and Bentley the Puppy, available at Jared and KAY stores across the United States. Each plush toy purchase, priced at $14.99, will result in at least a $7.00 donation to St. Jude through February 1, 2025. The initiative is part of the St. Jude Thanks and Giving® campaign.
“As we embark on our 26th year of raising funds for the heroic work and lifesaving care delivered by St. Jude, at Signet we continue to prioritize Inspiring Love through our products, team, and in our community,” said Virginia C. Drosos, CEO of Signet Jewelers. “We look forward to bringing Blake and Bentley into our stores and into our customers’ hearts.”
The plush campaign has become a beloved tradition, with Signet team members selecting two designs and St. Jude patients naming the toys. The initiative reflects Signet’s “Inspiring Love” mission through community engagement, with the company having raised over $100 million for St. Jude since the partnership began. Beyond the plush sales, Signet’s support for St. Jude extends throughout the year, including opportunities for customers to donate online and at the register at Zales, Jared, JAY, and Banter by Piercing Pagoda stores. There is also an employee giving campaign and participation in events like the St. Jude Walk/Run and Memphis Marathon® Weekend. In 2023, Signet made a record-breaking $8.75 million donation towards its new $100 million commitment to St. Jude, aiming to enhance worldwide childhood cancer survival rates.
Learn more about ways to support St. Jude here.
Americans Show Growing Disinterest in Business Political Involvement
With the 2024 presidential election just a little more than two months away, a new Bentley University and Gallup survey from April 29, 2024, to May 6, 2024, highlights Americans’ declining interest in hearing businesses taking public stances on political issues. Only 38% of U.S. adults believe companies should engage in public stances, marking a significant 10-point drop from 2022. This trend reflects a broader societal shift, with decreasing support for business involvement in public policy across almost all demographics, including age, gender, race, and political affiliation. In all, 5,835 adults in the United States participated in the survey, the third Bentley-Gallup Business in Society Report to be published.
The survey showed that even groups previously supportive of corporate political engagement are less likely to feel that way now. Respondents across the board said they are more likely to want to hear businesses speak about topics like climate change (54%), diversity (53%), and mental health (53%). Healthcare and free speech are also important topics that garnered 48% of support from American adults.
The survey showed that businesses should consider the risks of endorsing political candidates, as it could alienate a substantial portion of their customer base. The data suggests that opposing partisan endorsements may drive away more customers than they attract, particularly among independents, who are three times more likely to avoid purchasing from a company that endorses a candidate from either major party. The survey indicates a growing wariness among Americans toward businesses engaging in political discourse, particularly as the 2024 election looms closer.
Unlock the complete insights from the Bentley-Gallup Business in Society Report here.
Survey Shows Exclusive Offers Drive Brand and Customer Loyalty
A recent report titled Creating Resilient Loyalty in 2024 by SheerID reveals that exclusive offers play a crucial role in fostering brand loyalty, especially in today’s challenging market and inflation. More than 3,200 U.S. and U.K. consumers were surveyed about their thoughts on the economy, discounted prices, and how brands can foster long-term loyalty with customers. The survey highlights that while discounts may drive short-term sales, gated, exclusive offers are more effective in building long-term loyalty, particularly for military consumers, students, and teachers. The survey, done in partnership with Centiment between March 1-14, 2024, found that 71% of consumers are more loyal to brands that provide them with exclusive deals.
“The findings of the 2024 Consumer Loyalty Report are clear: gated, exclusive offers to consumer communities cultivate an emotional connection with brands that builds long-term loyalty,” said Stephanie Copeland Weber, CEO of SheerID. “The SheerID Open Verification Platform makes it easy for a brand to build a gated offer program for hundreds of consumer communities in minutes.”
The research showed that exclusive offers create a solid emotional connection between brands and consumers. A significant 73% of respondents reported feeling more emotionally connected to brands offering exclusive deals, while 80% of community members identify more with their community than with other social or political groups. Many consumers indicated they would switch brands to take advantage of an exclusive offer tailored to their community. The survey also showed that consumers who feel valued, appreciated, and respected by a brand are more likely to stay loyal. This emotional bond is particularly strong among community groups like healthcare workers, first responders, and teachers, with up to three-quarters expressing a deep sense of loyalty when recognized through exclusive deals.
Unlock the full report and its findings here.
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Original Article Links:
Signet Jewelers launches holiday plush campaign in KAY & Jared stores to benefit St. Jude Thanks and Giving® campaign
New Bentley-Gallup Survey Reveals Americans Still Want Business to Stay Quiet on Public Policy
Consumer Loyalty Survey Reveals 71% of Consumers are More Loyal to Brands that Give Them Exclusive Offers