In some ways business is no different to other areas of life. When times are hard even the fiercest of rivals have to come together to defeat a common enemy. In football, players who compete against each other on a weekly basis will come together to represent their country; pop stars will share the limelight with other bands on a TV show to encourage people to buy music. It’s also the theme of numerous films, but in reality it can actually work well. With the state consumer confidence and the economy is in, businesses that offer products and services to the public should maybe look at ways to rally. The need to increase consumer confidence and push consumers to spend is a shared interest; so supporting each other by working towards this goal is a powerful marketing proposition.

External influences can also help and the government has introduced measures to boost consumer confidence and push consumers to spend their money. The measures include lowering repayments on tracker mortgages by continually reducing interest rates, introducing schemes which help people to get on the first rung of the property ladder and bolstering the banks in an attempt to encourage them to start lending again. With these measures and many others in place worldwide the economy and consumer confidence is starting to show glimmers of an upturn, but how can businesses further encourage the increase in consumer confidence and push consumers to spend more money?

In the coastal town of Rye, a lot of businesses decided to come together and make it known that they accept Euros in their establishments and this has proved to be very beneficial. The success of this scheme has made the national news this week, proving that in this instance pulling together seems to have worked.

Mr Holman of the town’s Chamber of Commerce said that using the Euro had so far proved more successful, “than we ever dreamt of.”

Another example of businesses rallying for a common goal is in the East Sussex town of Lewes, where they have united to design and print their own currency – the Lewes Pound. This initiative aims to encourage locals to spend their money locally.

In larger towns and cities shopping centres are possibly the most visible example on the high street of businesses coming together to give consumers a one stop shop for a range of goods/ services, pushing consumers to spend their money in one place. The shopping centres often offer car parking/ crèches etc and advertise/ promote what they collectively offer customers.

This is also the aim of loyalty and membership programmes which promote a range of businesses along side each other. Businesses can offer an exclusive discount to members and feature in a guide which is set up, managed and promoted by a third party. Alternatively businesses can sell the loyalty and membership programmes as a bespoke club to existing customers, providing them with a full service of products.

The Rocket Marketing Group currently operates 5 loyalty and membership programmes covering many areas including Travel, Lifestyle, Shopping, Entertainment and Motoring.

Contact Us if you would like to discuss what a Rocket Marketing Group loyalty and membership programme can do for your business.

During harsh economic times it’s good to hear of a success story and this is one such case. The Rocket Marketing Group specialise in developing, implementing and managing loyalty clubs, reward programmes and incentives promotions and recently reached its one millionth sales order using SAP Business One, business management software. This is a massive achievement for a company that only installed the system in March 2007. SAP Business One systems manage every aspect of the company including CRM, finance and stock control. This provides stability and consistent quality standards, allowing the business to grow and handle multiple programmes simultaneously.

The Rocket Marketing Group was established in 2001 and has been growing rapidly ever since. The company currently has over 120,000 full active members to its loyalty clubs and reward programmes and works in partnership with over 100 UK businesses, from large businesses to small retailers.

The company’s figures show a 375% growth since the installation of SAP Business One, from a turnover of £1 million in 2006-2007 to £3.75 million in 2007-2008. SAP Business One was instrumental in giving Rocket the capacity to expand whilst not compromising on quality. From managing just one membership club in 2007 Rocket has seamlessly grown and now operates a total of 5 different reward programmes. Using this system and maintaining quality standards have meant both profits and efficiency have greatly improved whilst operational costs have reduced.

Alan Saunders, Operations and Business Development Director said: “SAP Business One has been significant in the growth and stability of the company. It helps to ensure that the business is operated in a way that is efficient and controlled. The Rocket Marketing Group’s success, most notably its excellent standards of quality and efficiency has also been recognised by The British Standards Institute which awarded us with ISO 9001 Quality Management accreditation, and SAP Business One has been a large factor in this.”

The recent economic downturn has certainly helped improve the popularity of The Rocket Marketing Group’s products, as people become increasingly interested in discounts and non-core offers. Loyalty and reward programmes give consumers what they need and can create loyal customers for the businesses involved. SAP Business One has enabled Rocket to react and act upon the needs of consumers and their demand for discounts across a variety of sectors.

The one millionth sales order signifies a success story for everyone involved and is cause for celebration. With this in mind Rocket passed on the good fortune to the lucky customer who placed the one millionth sales order. They were treated to a slap-up meal at a local restaurant courtesy of The Rocket Marketing Group.

Contact Us to join the celebrations and find out how you can work with The Rocket Marketing Group.

If you believe what the statistics show, then staying in is the new going out. Over the last year the recession has taken hold of Britain and as a result the general public’s spending habits have changed. Through the real fears of redundancy, recession and rising fuel bills people have become more money-conscious. It’s almost no longer a taboo to collect discount vouchers, look for cheaper entertainment or seek discounts in shops and online. A lot of people find the easiest way to save money is to change their spending habits and stop buying non-essential goods and experiences. So how does this affect the businesses that offer these products and services and is there a way to make them affordable during a time of such uncertainty?

Research from Abbey Credit Cards conducted in January has revealed that: “British dining habits are being dramatically affected by the changing economic climate, with over half (56 per cent) of Britons cutting back on eating out.”

They also found that: “Dining ‘al desko’ is also gaining momentum with 17 per cent more starting to take a packed lunch to work in the last 12 months to save money.”

And it is not just the catering industry that is being hit by the public changing their spending habits and cutting back. Cheaper entertainment has seen an increase in business over the last year, as we saw earlier this year when companies such as Cineworld revealed their yearly figures, reporting a rise in sales.

On this, Chairman, Anthony Bloom commented: “Movies have an enduring appeal and a visit to the cinema is relatively low cost when compared with other forms of leisure and entertainment.”

People will continue to spend on large items but maybe less regularly, so what can these businesses do to encourage more regular sales during harsh economic times particularly companies offering experiences that aren’t considered cheap entertainment?

Price Reductions through a managed reward programme can reap good rewards even when people feel they have to change their spending habits, as they encourage a continuance of a certain type of lifestyle. In The Big Savings Club reward programme, The Rocket Marketing Group position companies that are larger, non-essential purchases next to everyday essentials and cheaper entertainment such as supermarkets and cinemas. For members the special experience or product doesn’t seem like so much of a luxury/ treat but rather a privilege of belonging to a reward programme. They need not cut back or go out less often; they can use it as an aid to maintaining a certain lifestyle because there are discounts on everything including Shopping, Entertainment, Travel, Health, Fashion, Kids and Motoring. It is a way for people to cut their spending without cutting back. Higher value products/services offering a discount include:

10% extra free on Theatre Tokens
10% free on Leisure Vouchers
15% off Virgin Experience Days
Up to 50% off Haven Holidays
15% off Champneys.

Contact Us if you are a company that would like to be featured in one of our reward programmes. It is a completely free marketing option; all you have to do is offer an exclusive discount for the reward programme members.

Offers correct at time of publication and subject to terms and conditions.

At the moment there are lots of sales and discounted goods for consumers to choose from as well as the rise of discount stores on the high street. Price reductions have almost become the norm. So what different consumer incentives are there and how appealing are they to potential customers? And are there particular brands that benefit from offering certain discounts such as 2 for 1 or a free product trial? The Rocket Marketing Group specialise in developing and managing specific or bespoke member reward programmes and consumer incentive promotions. The Big Savings Club is the largest of our reward programmes. Below are a few of the most popular offers from The Big Savings Club and the partner businesses that are involved. Have a look and decide on the type of discount that would work best for your business.

There are a variety of companies, from a range of sectors that we work with for our Reward programmes. The exclusive discounts that they offer through our clubs vary but here are a few of the most popular ones:

A one-off voucher
A voucher is a consumer incentive that can encourage customers who wouldn’t normally try your brand to sample what it offers. This is a useful tool for switching a customer’s loyalty to your brand and breaking their existing spending habits. Businesses that successfully offer vouchers through The Big Savings Club are:

Virgin Wines
D&A.

2 for 1
This is an offer we all see on a daily basis. Many supermarkets adopt this offer to up-sell certain products and encourage consumers to buy more goods. It is good for brands that offer a game or experience as it gives the customer twice as long to get into the activity and enjoy the experience. And this is likely to improve the chances of the customers making a return visit. In The Big Savings Club a 2 for 1 discount is offered by:

Go Ballistic.

10% off
This is a very popular discount for businesses to offer. And although at face value this consumer incentive doesn’t seem to provide as much appeal as maybe 2 for 1, when in the context of a more expensive product, the saving for a consumer can be quite appealing. They might not bother to take notice of a 10% discount on something that costs £1 as they only stand to save 10p but on a larger amount such as £100 for example, they would save £10 – a far more attractive prospect. Here are just some of the partners that offer a 10% discount through The Big Savings Club:

Cottages4you
The Gluttonous Gardener
Early Learning Centre.

Cottages4you are particularly impressed with how offering 10% off through The Big Savings Club is working for them. They comment that: “By featuring in both The Big Savings Club and JML VIP Savings Club, the two accounts together have generated a total transaction value of £12,746 for Cottages4you.”

Cottages4you is just one brand that currently benefits from featuring an exclusive discount in one of our guides. Above is a small sample of the exclusive discounts that we feature in our reward programmes but we’re confident that we can find solutions to suit any brand.

Contact Us if you would like to discuss the possibilities for developing an exclusive offer and including your business in one of our reward programmes.

Offers correct at time of publication and subject to terms and conditions.

The British Bankers’ Association reported that the amount banks lending to small businesses rose by 239 million in January, proving that small businesses can still emerge and grow despite the current economic climate. In some instances small and medium sized companies are actually better equipped to deal with harsher times as they can be more streamlined, determined and focused on consumers needs. But are there things that small businesses can do to optimise these advantages and boost consumer confidence?

Commenting on this data, BBA statistics director, David Dooks, said: “There have been net rises in term lending to small businesses each month since last autumn, albeit at levels below last year’s monthly average, reflecting subdued business investment in the economic downturn. At the end of last year, the outstanding level of term lending was some 9 per cent higher than a year earlier. The many small businesses that don’t borrow are drawing on cash reserves to fund current cash-flow needs, such as January’s tax payments. Despite the recession, people are still embarking on new business ventures, as shown by the number of new start-up relationships in early 2009 being in line with last years average.”

There’s always room for small to medium sized businesses to flourish in the current economic climate because of the unique relationships they can foster with their customers. It is so important to get the small details right and build mutually respectful relationships with consumers, as it’s far easier to adapt to individual needs and build brand trust and consumer confidence at a grass roots level. But businesses that rely on reputation and word of mouth can’t afford to make mistakes. So it’s particularly important during the current economic climate to give customers what they need and make sure that their recommendations become an effective form of free marketing. This is something that has become increasingly important and recognised by all businesses, whatever their size.

In its latest quarterly referendum survey, members of the Forum of Private Businesses voted for restoring business confidence (65%) and restoring consumer confidence (63%) as the two issues they most want the Government to prioritise in the 2009 Budget in order to support their businesses.

For smaller businesses, finding ways to reward customers is particularly important when trying to develop and enhance consumer confidence during the current economic climate and that’s why The Rocket Marketing Group offers a number of reward programmes including The Midweek Dining Club, The Home & Garden Club, The Big Savings Club and The Entertainment Club. These are particularly good for small and medium sized businesses to be involved with, as they offer free marketing on a national scale to an ever growing customer base of 300,000 people. All our partners have to do to receive this free marketing, is offer an exclusive discount to our members. It is a way of giving customers something back for remaining loyal to the brand.

The Rocket Marketing Group’s range of reward programmes are also available to be sold to a business’ existing customer base. We currently work with clients such as JML who generate commission by selling a range of clubs to their customers. This gives JML incremental revenue and gives the customers a wider range of products and services at a reduced rate, which they associate with JML, making it more of a one stop shop for consumers’ needs.

With the recent announcement that the UK is heading towards a period of deflation, the worry is that consumer confidence will dip further. The fear of businesses is that the public become even more reluctant to make non-essential purchases, especially when the costs of goods are continuing to fall.

According to the Office for National Statistics, the Consumer Price Index was 3.2 per cent in February 2009, up from 3.0 per cent in January 2009. Retail Prices Index (RPI) inflation slowed to 0.0 per cent in February, down from 0.1 per cent in January.

In an already beleaguered market it’s hard to believe that things can get any worse, as surely people have already changed their spending habits as much as they are willing to or can do? But then in a bid to learn from history we have to look at the unfortunately lengthy deflationary period Japan suffered during the 90s and brace ourselves for what could be a long period of deflated consumer confidence. Ultimately though, only time will show us how it will all pan out, so all businesses can do is optimise every selling opportunity.

The Rocket Marketing Group offers a range of reward programmes developed to help businesses drive repeat business, promote brand loyalty and improve consumer confidence, which are important elements for optimising every selling opportunity in hard times. It is completely free for businesses to be featured in one of the reward programme brochures, websites and seasonal newsletters, when they offer an exclusive discount for club members. Membership numbers for The Rocket Marketing Group’s reward programmes have soared in recent years to an ever growing total of 300,000 people, so there is a large base of customers for businesses to engage with.

The current economic climate is forcing businesses to reduce advertising budgets and find new cost-effective ways of marketing their brand, which reflect and respond to the public’s state of mind. Brand loyalty on the high street has gone out of the sale-stickered window as consumers switch products in response to the latest offers. But loyalty and membership programmes such as The Entertainment Club, are a way in which businesses can turn this behaviour to their advantage. Clients offering discounts through The Entertainment Club include: Cineworld, Blockbuster, HMV, Bowlplex, London Pass, Theatre Tokens and Virgin Experience Days.

So the exciting relaunch of The Entertainment Club is a thrilling prospect for businesses looking for a cost-effective way to market their brand. It essentially targets 18 – 30 year olds but has a much wider appeal, by offering exclusive discounts on CDs, DVDs, magazines, food, wine and beer plus activities such as snowboarding and bowling. There are 7 fantastic new offers included such as 10% off quad biking with Quad Nation, 2 hours for the price of 1 at SNO!zone, 10% off clay pigeon shooting with The Big Shoot and every new member of the club will receive 2 free cinema tickets plus discounts at a wide range of restaurants nationwide.

The new website will give members clear and comprehensive information on new, ongoing and seasonal offers as well as articles about the latest film releases and tips on ways to save money and use the member discounts. Membership numbers have predictably increased in recent years, to an ever growing total of 26,000 members. The fun new website will keep these members in touch with the exclusive and exciting world of entertainment.

Andy Huggins, MD of the Rocket Marketing Group comments: “The Entertainment Club has a great new look and a fantastic website that is as informative as it is fun. There are some amazing new discounts for members, on everything from movies and music to fun, food and drink. And because membership numbers are constantly increasing, then so is the opportunity for businesses to promote themselves, during the harsh economic climate.”

Preview memberships are priced at just £1.99 for 21-days and only £29.99 for a full 12 months. Members can enjoy some really great discounts that beat offers on the high street hands down. Here’s just a sample:

25% Off at Odeon Cinemas – watch all the latest movies!

Free Movies for 6 Weeks with Blockbuster – enjoy the latest hit movies from home.

7% Off at PC World – save on big purchases like a brand new computer, printer, scanner, computer games, software and lots more.

£5 Free Voucher at Firebox – have a bit of fun with a great office toy or gift!

Get 4 Free Beers from The Beer Club of Britain! – enjoy some great ales and premium lagers for a lot less.

15% Off London Pass – Visit Windsor Castle, St Paul’s Cathedral, the London Aquarium and lots more great attractions at a big discount.

As a company that specialises in loyalty and membership programmes, we recognise the importance of customer retention for increasing a business’ revenue. Studies have shown that by increasing retentions, a company’s profits can grow dramatically.

According to a study by the global business consulting firm, Baines and Company: “A 5% increase in customer retention can increase a company’s profitability by 75%.”

In another study, Zero Defections: Quality Comes to Services by Frederick F. Reichheld and W. Earl Sasser, Jr. this theory was applied directly to a business, and the results were astonishing. Reichheld and Sasser reported that: “When MBNA America, a Delaware-based credit card company, cut its 10% defection rate in half, profits rose a whopping 125%. But defection rates are not just a measure of service quality; they are also a guide for achieving it.”

Although the exact figures from the studies vary, one thing is for sure; they consistently show that when customer defection rates are lowered, profits increase. And with the current economic climate in mind, these are results that can’t be ignored, whatever sector you trade in or whatever the size of your business.

Having confirmed that customer retention is essential, the question then has to be – what can a business actually do to increase loyalty?

The Rocket Marketing Group has created the answer for businesses, helping them to deliver excellent customer service and drive loyalty. Through our range of loyalty and membership programmes companies can offer club members (customers) exclusive discounts or alternatively sell our products to provide customers with a comprehensive shopping experience.

Loyalty and membership programmes not only drive repeat business for clients by offering members great savings, but customers can also feel exclusively tied to a brand by belonging to a club; their relationship with a brand is deeper than the average consumer – they feel special. Joining a club can also be an expression of the customer’s personality. It can enhance their affiliation with the area of interest, for example, The Rocket Marketing Group’s Entertainment Club is perfect for someone who considers themselves fanatical about films and The Midweek Dining Club is a must for all foodies. By offering members of a club exclusive discounts and rewards you are confirming their value as a customer and giving them a connection with the brand.

The Rocket Marketing Group loyalty and membership programmes include: The Big Savings Club, The Entertainment Club, The Midweek Dining Club and The Home & Garden Club. The clubs are managed by us and give a hassle-free way for businesses to offer customers more. And because we are proud of our excellent customer service record, achieved by our team of 30 technical, fulfilment, marketing, call-centre and creative specialists, all managed in-house, a partnership with us can benefit any brand enormously.