Programs
Tesco Gives Clubcard Holders Lower Prices at Till
The grocer has experimented with reducing prices for Clubcard holders, in preparation for CEO Dave Lewis’s plan to initiate an Amazon-like loyalty program. “Tesco is understood to have lowered prices for Clubcard holders on 20 randomly selected groceries across 50 stores, in a week-long trial.”
Acquisitions
Publicis Picks Up Epsilon
“Publicis Groupe SA made its boldest move yet into digital marketing with the French advertising group’s $4.4 billion purchase of Alliance Data Systems Corp.’s Epsilon unit.”
Customer Experience
Small Hotels on the Rise
While the big hotel brands have recently been merging and boosting their loyalty programs, investors are putting their money into boutique brands. “Microhotels that are usually built with smaller guestrooms but flexible multi-functional space for social activities can meet the demands from younger travelers. Consumers may also find it easier to build an intimate personal relationship with the mom-and-pop-type small hotels or retails stores than with the big corporate brands, which helps promote customer loyalty.”
How to Have the Best Flight
Researchers from Wichita State University and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University have released the Airline Quality Ratings (AQR). Interestingly, the report found that consumer perception and airline performance really aren’t related. “The best airlines in America probably aren’t the ones you think are the best. And you may find a lower fare on a carrier that performs better but isn’t as aggressively marketed.”
Leadership
Where Did Maslow’s Pyramid Come from?
Maslow’s theory of a hierarchy of needs remains popular, but the origins of its symbol, the pyramid, has interesting, lesser-known origins. “Maslow’s theory remains popular, underpinned by its widely recognized pyramid form. However, Maslow never created a pyramid to represent the hierarchy of needs. We investigated how it came to be and draw on this analysis to call for a rethink of how Maslow is represented in management studies