Earning free food by surfing the net seems like a deal that’s too good to be true. Unless, that is, you’re a member of SUBWAY® Restaurants’ new customer loyalty program.
Now restaurant locations across Northern Ontario, Canada, are turning to Wi-Fi to provide a customer experience that captures a growing affinity for online engagement.
Though a new partnership with Turnstyle Solutions, a Wi-Fi monetization company that helps businesses attract and retain valuable customers by collecting behavioral data, diners can now connect to the Wi-Fi signal at any participating Northern Ontario SUBWAY® to start earning loyalty rewards.
To celebrate the launch of the loyalty program, customers will automatically receive a free 6-inch sandwich the first time they log onto a participating network. After their initial login in and first free sub, the Wi-Fi network remembers and retains customer information. Then, during every following SUBWAY® visit, guests are offered chances at further rewards as a thank you for their customer loyalty.
“After 50 years in the marketplace, we haven’t forgotten our most valuable asset, our customers. We are constantly looking for ways to enhance the experience in store,” said Steve Beaudry, Board Chair of the local SUBWAY® Canada Franchisee Advertising Trust. “Turnstyle’s technology was appealing because it evolves the way that we can interact with our consumers, providing a platform for direct communication and a new innovative reward system for our patrons, all through the Wi-Fi.”
As Wi-Fi hot spots become more common across hotels, coffee shops, and restaurants, more consumers are relying on ubiquitous Internet access as part of their daily life. It is now almost an expected part of the customer experience, and incorporating a loyalty program into an existing Wi-Fi service provides a new
way to engage customers on their level.
SUBWAY® was originally among the first quick serve restaurants to adopt Wi-Fi so this new venture represents a natural extension of its past customer engagement strategy. Historically, the sandwich shop has also demonstrated an enduring commitment to understanding the needs and wants of its customers.
Turnstyle Solutions also expressed its excitement about the new partnership.
“We are constantly seeking innovative tools to add to our client’s bottom line, by aligning communication objectives and authentically engaging with their users. Turnstyle was a perfect fit,” said Melissa Gallagher, Vice President of Twist Marketing.