loyalty

Scoutmob Attracts Investors and Partners by Saying It’s Not a Daily Deals Company

Tricia Duryee in Commerce on May 24 at 5:30 am PT

Scoutmob was able to attract $3.25 million in new funding and a major new payments partner by pitching itself as a mobile company and not as a fledgling competitor in the daily deals space.

News Byte

Target Taps Shopkick for a Mobile Rewards Program

Tricia Duryee in Commerce on May 23 at 6:59 am PT

Another big-name retail partnership for Palo Alto-based Shopkick, which enables consumers to earn gift cards for visiting stores and scanning products with their mobile phones. As of today, Target becomes Shopkick’s largest customer, following rollouts by retailers including American Eagle Outfitters, Best Buy, Crate & Barrel and Macy’s.

Google Offers Start Appearing on Maps, Coming to More Properties Soon

Tricia Duryee in Commerce on May 10 at 4:35 pm PT

Google has integrated Groupon-like offers into Google Maps, and it’s not stopping there. Expect to see deals on other Google properties with a strong location, social or commerce component soon.

Groupon’s Low-Key Rewards Program Now Available Nationwide

Tricia Duryee in Commerce on May 10 at 6:01 am PT

Groupon is rolling out a program nationwide today that lets merchants reward loyal customers without the hassle of punch cards or other mobile applications.

Four Reasons Why Andreessen Horowitz Is Investing $10 Million in Belly

Tricia Duryee in Commerce on May 8 at 4:30 am PT

Andreessen Horowitz has invested $10 million in Belly, a Chicago-based company that is building a loyalty network for retailers that will replace punch cards with mobile rewards.

Paying With Square’s New Mobile-Payments App

Lauren Goode in Reviews on April 30 at 6:00 am PT

Square’s app for “hands-free” consumer payments is worth trying.

Bricks vs. Clicks: ShopRunner Takes Aim at Amazon’s Lockers With PickupZone Acquisition

Tricia Duryee in Commerce on April 25 at 3:30 am PT

ShopRunner is expected to announce the acquisition of PickupZone today, which will help the company’s brick-and-mortar partners go head-to-head against the Amazons of the world.

News Byte

LevelUp Payments App Rolls Out in Four More Cities

Lauren Goode in Mobile on February 16 at 8:00 am PT

LevelUp, a mobile application that combines loyalty rewards with NFC-free mobile payments, is launching in four new cities, bringing its current footprint to eight cities across the U.S. The app, introduced by location-based platform SCVNGR in March of last year, will now be available for consumers and merchants to use in Atlanta, San Diego, Seattle and Chicago.

PayPal Says It’s Full Speed Ahead on Mobile Payments After President Resigns

Tricia Duryee in Commerce on February 6 at 7:00 am PT

PayPal’s VP of Mobile David Marcus makes the case for why its mobile payments strategy will prevail in a market surrounded by incumbents.

PayPal asks you to enter your phone number and pin.

Here’s How PayPal Is Pitching Mobile Payments to Major Retailers (Slideshow)

Tricia Duryee in Commerce on February 6 at 6:30 am PT

Check out the photos from a recent visit to PayPal’s San Jose headquarters, where AllThingsD got an exclusive peek at the company’s brand-new “Shopping Showcase.”