GoodRx Launches Affordable Pet Medication Service to Address Rising Costs
Prescription savings platform GoodRx has introduced a new service designed specifically for pet owners: GoodRx for Pets. The platform offers an affordable and convenient way for individuals to access medications for their pets, making it easier to save money and have prescriptions delivered directly to their homes. With GoodRx for Pets, pet owners can quickly find savings on medications for a wide range of common pet conditions, including anxiety, allergies, seizures, and diabetes, alleviating the financial burden on pet owners, who are increasingly concerned about rising pet healthcare costs.
GoodRx Senior Vice President of Rx Marketplace said, “Pet owners have been using GoodRx for years to save on medications for their beloved pets for conditions like anxiety and seizures - to the tune of several million prescriptions per year. It’s a pretty strong signal of value when people use your platform for something you haven’t actively pursued. So, we decided to build a focused experience for pet owners with a broader range of medications, more savings, and easy access through both pharmacies and home delivery. We’re excited about what GoodRx for Pets can do for American households over time.”
The cost of pet healthcare has been rising sharply, with Americans spending over $13 billion on pet medications in 2023 alone. This increase reflects broader trends in the pet care industry, with prices for pet products and services growing 25% in the last five years, well above inflation rates. The lack of widespread insurance coverage for pets, with only around 3% of U.S. pets being insured, exacerbates the financial strain. As a result, many pet owners are left paying out-of-pocket for both routine and emergency care, highlighting the growing financial challenges they face. GoodRx for Pets aims to address these challenges by providing a range of benefits to pet owners. The platform allows users to save up to 80% on medications, available at more than 70,000 retail pharmacies nationwide. Additionally, it offers home delivery for medications, making it more convenient for pet owners to access medications that may not be available in physical stores.
Learn more about GoodRx for Pets here: https://www.goodrx.com/pets
U.S. Holiday Retail Sales Show Strong Growth Fueled by Value-Seeking Shoppers
Preliminary data from Mastercard SpendingPulseTM reveals that U.S. retail sales, excluding automotive, saw a 3.8% year-over-year increase from November 1 through December 24. Mastercard SpendingPulse tracks both in-store and online retail sales, covering all payment types, though it doesn’t adjust for inflation. The positive retail performance suggests strong consumer spending during the holiday season, driven by both the availability of deals and shoppers’ increasing appetite for value.
Mastercard Economics Institute Chief Economist Michelle Meyer said, “The holiday shopping season revealed a consumer who is willing and able to spend but driven by a search for value as can be seen by concentrated e-commerce spending during the biggest promotional periods. Solid spending during this holiday season underscores the strength we observed from the consumer all year, supported by the healthy labor market and household wealth gains.”
Key trends from the 2024 holiday season show that consumers were particularly focused on value. The final days before December 24 accounted for 10% of total holiday spending, with a noticeable preference for e-commerce, which grew by 6.7% year-over-year. In-store sales saw a more modest 2.9% increase. Certain retail categories performed well, including apparel, jewelry, and electronics. Dining out also saw strong growth, with restaurant spending up by 6.3%. Geographically, cities like Tampa and Phoenix saw double-digit e-commerce growth, reflecting the growing digital-savvy shopper trend across the U.S.
Krispy Kreme Resolves Cybersecurity Issues and Brings Back Online Ordering
Krispy Kreme has successfully resolved the system disruptions caused by a cybersecurity attack that impacted its systems in late November. On November 29, the company detected unauthorized activity within its IT infrastructure, leading to temporary outages in its online ordering system. After a month of addressing the issues, Krispy Kreme announced that its online ordering services were restored in time to offer customers special New Year’s promotions.
In a statement, Krispy Kreme’s chief brand officer, Dave Skena, issued a statement saying, “As we close out 2024, we are so grateful for Krispy Kreme fans, including for their patience as we experienced problems with online ordering. Now that online ordering is 100 percent back, we’re saying ‘thanks’ with great online and offline deals to start the New Year right for all of us.”
The company celebrated the return of its fully operational online ordering system by offering a series of deals to mark the New Year. Among these offers was a $12 dozen doughnuts promotion, available in Original Glazed or assorted varieties. The deal was available both in-store and through online channels, including for pickup or delivery. Krispy Kreme’s breach follows a string of cybersecurity challenges faced by other food service companies in 2024. Both Starbucks and Panera were targeted by cyberattacks, with Starbucks experiencing a third-party ransomware incident in November and Panera suffering a breach in March that exposed sensitive employee data. The doughnut brand’s recovery and timely return of online ordering are seen as positive steps in mitigating the effects of the attack.
Read more on Loyalty360: https://investors.krispykreme.com/news/news-releases/news-details/2024/KRISPY-KREME-Online-Ordering-Back-Just-in-Time-to-Ring-in-New-Year-with-Three-Sweet-Deals-Dec.-30-through-Jan.-5/default.aspx
Read More on Trends, Updates, and Industry Leaders
Original Article Links:
GoodRx Unleashes “GoodRx for Pets,” Simplifying Access and Reducing Costs for Pet Medications
Mastercard SpendingPulse: Total U.S. retail sales grew 3.8%* this holiday season; online remained choice for consumers, increasing 6.7% YOY
Krispy Kreme online delivery returns one month after cybersecurity attack