Mark Heckman, a retail and supermarket industry expert, has joinedthe advisory board of LOC Enterprises, LLC , the Cincinnati-basedcompany that has created the first global universal loyalty cardnetwork.
Heckman, the principal of Mark Heckman Consulting Group, has a broadbase of experience in marketing, brand partnerships, categorymanagement practices, and consumer research. Positions he has heldinclude Director of Marketing Research at Marsh Supermarkets and VicePresident of Marketing for Randalls Foods, MARC Advertising, andValassis Relationship Marketing Systems. Heckman also has consultedfor Procter & Gamble, Hewlett Packard, and Sweetbay Supermarkets.
LOC Enterprises launched the LOC card in New York City in January2013, at the annual National Retail Federation convention. Since thattime, the company has partnered with manufacturers of scanning andpoint-of-sale (POS) equipment and companies that provide loyaltyprograms to merchants to incorporate the LOC Card into their systems.The company is now actively seeking merchants to join the network.
"Mark is well respected and a leading consultant in the grocery andretail industry," said Jack Kennamer, CEO of LOC Enterprises. "We areexcited to bring him in as part of our team. Mark knows thatconsumers have made clear their overwhelming desire for a singleloyalty card that can be used anywhere in the world for theirshopping, eating, traveling, lodging, and entertainment needs. We,too, have heard these voices and that's why our company has created aproduct that fills this need."
Heckman said he has learned through his consulting work that consumers are overwhelmed by the number of loyalty cards currently availablefrom retailers.
"LOC Enterprises has built a platform designed to coalesce multipleloyalty programs for consumer convenience," Heckman said. "At thecenterpiece of its program is the LOC Card, which will identify thecardholder at multiple retailers and activate and deliver all therewards of programs of those participating retailers.
"It's a big idea that makes so much sense for the consumer," Heckmansaid. "LOC Enterprises is banking on consumer demand to lure the bigretailers and their existing loyalty programs to sign up."
LOC is encouraging consumers to pre-register for the free LOC Card atits website at www.LOCcard.com/#preregister. By preregistering,consumers can identify their favorite merchants so LOC Enterprisescan notify these merchants of the consumers' desire that theyparticipate in the network.
"Consumers are our greatest ambassadors," Kennamer said. "Theydesperately want a single, universal loyalty card and the LOC Cardprovides them with that solution."
Of the 112 million households in the United States, the averagehousehold is enrolled in 14-18 different customer loyalty programs.Consumer research has shown that 52 percent of Americans prefer asingle card for all of their loyalty accounts while 32% prefer asingle key fob and 16 percent want a smart app. The LOC Card Solutionprovides all three.
Since it was launched, more than 11,800 people have joined the LOCCard's Facebook page and there is strong consumer support formerchants to join the LOC network. But Kennamer said that merchantsalso benefit from the LOC card because it increases participation inexisting loyalty programs and makes it easier for merchants who don'thave loyalty programs to start them.
About LOC Enterprises, LLC
LOC Enterprises, LLC, based in Cincinnati Ohio and with offices inAtlanta, GA and Wichita, KS, is the parent company of the LOC CardSolution, providing the most effective, cost efficient, privacyprotected, independent way to connect consumers with merchants'rewards and loyalty programs. LOC Enterprises' management teamconsists of industry veterans from HP, Motorola, major retailers, andproven entrepreneurs in the fields of technology, start-updevelopment, marketing and retail, bringing extreme depth andexperience to the new brand. The company has raised venture capitalto develop and market the product. To learn more, visitwww.locenterprisesllc.com.
About Mark Heckman
Mark Heckman -- the principal of the Mark Heckman Consulting Group --is a supermarket industry expert with a varied base of experiencecovering all aspects of retail strategy, consumer insights, andConsumer Packaged Goods (CPG) imperatives. Mark helps retailers andtheir partners successfully and profitably connect with consumers.Mark is a past member and chairman of the Food Marketing Institute'sConsumer Research Committee as well as a participant of the recentRetail Shopper Marketing Commission founded by Coca Cola and theIn-store Marketing Institute. Mark is a graduate of the IndianaUniversity Kelley School of Business with a bachelor of sciencedegree in marketing and was honor graduate of the Defense LanguageInstitute at the Presido of Monterey, CA. Mark currently resides inBradenton, FL, with his wife, Karyn.