Branded credit cards have been a component of many loyalty programs throughout the years. They do a lot to encourage exclusive shopping, since most branded credit cards offer discounts and rewards only for purchasing with a specific business. Given the profit potential of such cards, brands do themselves a service when they launch credit card programs.
Beauty retailer Sephora has done just that. Starting this spring, the Sephora Credit Card, the Sephora Visa Credit Card, and the Sephora Visa Signature Credit Card will be available. This program will give Sephora customers more ways to get rewarded for shopping with the company.
Andrea Zaretsky, Senior Vice President of CRM and Loyalty at Sephora, says, “The launch of the Sephora Credit Card exemplifies Sephora’s loyalty philosophy in every sense; it considers all the most-loved aspects of Sephora—the amazing product, services, experiences, and personalization—taking our client experience to the next level through special access, rewards, and perks. The Sephora Credit Card was the natural next step in our loyalty journey, adding even more value that our clients can use not only within our stores, but also in their day-to-day lives.”
The Sephora Credit Card and Sephora Visa Credit Card will be available in select markets, rolling out to all US stand-alone stores and Sephora.com in the months following the spring launch. Sephora cardholders will earn credit card rewards in addition to rewards from the company’s existing Beauty Insider Program. Sephora Visa Signature cardholders will also have access to Visa Signature benefits. Customers who apply for the credit card and who are not existing Beauty Insider members will also be enrolled in that program.
Sephora partnered with Alliance Data to bring its credit cards to market. “We are excited to be working with two stalwarts in the industry with Alliance Data and Visa, to offer a premium product that exemplifies the Sephora ethos,” says Zaretsky.
Melissa Miller, President of Alliance Data’s card services business, adds, “We are delighted to partner with Sephora, a beauty industry trailblazer, to deliver marketing and loyalty-driven payment solutions that will provide increased value, exceptional experiences, and further extend the relationship between Sephora and their cherished clients.”
At Loyalty360, we’ve seen partnerships between brands, tech providers, and financial institutions prove very successful. We expect that the venture undertaken by Sephora and Alliance Data will be no different.