McDonald’s Heightens Customer Engagement as It Celebrates 50 Years of Partnership With RMHC
McDonald’s launched a year-long celebration on October 15 to commemorate 50 years of partnership with Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC). The partnership began in 1974 with the opening of the first Ronald McDonald House, funded by proceeds from McDonald’s Shamrock Shake. Over the years, McDonald’s, its customers, and franchisees have raised more than $1B to help millions of families. McDonald’s is partnering with NASCAR race-car driver Bubba Wallace to encourage customers to round up their purchases to the nearest dollar, with proceeds supporting families with sick or injured children. During the NASCAR Cup Series at Homestead-Miami Speedway, Wallace’s car will feature a custom paint scheme with features designed by RMHC families. Seventy-five percent of drivers will promote RMHC during the weekend race.
North America at McDonald’s Chief Impact Officer Michael Gonda said, “Caring for our community is at the heart of who we are at McDonald’s. Our 50-year partnership with RMHC has enabled us to provide essential support to help families find strength and resilience during difficult times. We’re proud to continue the tradition of giving back for the next 50 years and beyond, inspired by the community that contributed to that first Shamrock Shake fundraiser in 1974. We’re always listening to our customers, and that’s why we are proud to provide an easy and economical way to turn pennies into meaningful impact for nearby families.”
Local McDonald’s franchises across the U.S. are also participating in the celebration with special fundraisers. In Philadelphia, $1 from every Eagles Bundle Box sold will be donated to RMHC, while Missouri restaurants will contribute a penny for every pound of fries sold. Meanwhile, Florida locations will donate $.50 from each 40-pc Chicken McNuggets and two large fries meal bundles purchased to local RMHC chapters. Looking ahead, McDonald’s has pledged $100M over the next five years to support RMHC, with $20M donated this year.
Learn more about Ronald McDonald House Charities here: https://rmhc.org/
Ulta's Has an Ambitious Plan to Expand Its Loyalty Program and Open 200 New Stores
On a recent earnings call, Ulta Beauty revealed an ambitious strategy to open 200 new stores over the next three years and grow its loyalty program, with a target of reaching 50 million members by 2028. By engaging new segments of beauty enthusiasts, Ulta seeks to maintain its strong position in the competitive beauty marketplace.
Ulta’s CEO, Dave Kimbell, said, “The strategic priorities announced today are designed to amplify our differentiated model and drive relevant innovation to meet evolving guest needs, positioning Ulta Beauty as the destination for beauty enthusiasts for a lifetime. This plan will enable us to drive strong growth and capture greater market share in beauty and wellness. We have consistently delivered exceptional results over time, and we are well positioned to build on this record of profitable growth and shareholder value creation.”
The beauty retailer’s focus on expanding its loyalty program aligns with a broader trend among brands looking to enhance customer engagement through rewards. Ulta's strategy reflects an industry-wide shift towards partnerships and digital solutions integrating rewards into the shopping experience. Examples like Uber’s collaboration with Ascenda illustrate how brands leverage loyalty programs to build deeper connections with their customers, a trend Ulta hopes to capitalize on as it expands.
Learn more about the Ulta Beauty Rewards Program here: https://www.ulta.com/rewards/all
Yesway Partners with CoinFlip to Introduce Cryptocurrency Kiosks in Five States
Convenience store operator Yesway is partnering with Chicago-based digital currency platform CoinFlip to install Bitcoin ATMs across 45 Yesway and Allsup stores. The digital currency kiosks will be placed throughout Texas, New Mexico, South Dakota, Iowa, and Wyoming. CoinFlip is the largest operator worldwide of digital currency kiosks by transaction volume. CoinFlip said it wants to prioritize security, safety, and reliability in kiosk user experiences.
Yesway Senior Manager of Merchandising and Procurement Alan Adato said, “We look forward to introducing CoinFlip to our customers seeking to purchase Bitcoin and seven other different cryptocurrencies. As one of the world’s largest operators of cryptocurrency kiosks, CoinFlip will provide our Yesway and Allsup’s customers the convenience of a seamless experience for buying or selling digital currencies.”
CoinFlip’s extensive network includes more than 5,000 kiosks in nine countries, serving more than 400,000 customers. Yesway’s addition of the Bitcoin ATMs reflects a broader trend in the convenience store industry, with companies like Jacksons Food Stores, Nouria Energy, and GetGo Café+Market also adopting cryptocurrency kiosks.
Learn more about how to buy and sell cryptocurrency here: https://coinflip.tech/blog/how-to-buy-and-sell-crypto
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Original Article Links:
McDonald’s Kicking Off Year-Long Celebration of Ronald McDonald House Charities
Ulta Aims for 50 Million Loyalty Members and 200 New Stores
Yesway Adds Digital Currency Kiosks to 45 Locations