Uncategorized

New options for European incentive programs: YOOX, Rumbo, Wonderbox and WeekendjeWeg digital gift cards

May 21, 2019

This May brings along great news: four brand new digital gift cards are now available in Amilon’s catalogue to incentivize and reward employees and customers in many European countries.

In fact, companies in Spain, France, Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands now have new options for their incentive programmes that will assure them their employees’ satisfaction.

Let’s start with the most exciting news: YOOX digital gift card is now available for Spain, France and Germany and gives all the gift cards’ recipients the opportunity to shop online on the leading lifestyle store in the world. Fashion and style for women, men and children are just few clicks away!

Customers need to activate their YOOX reservation code before six months to receive the effective YOOX Gift Card and start shopping on the web site.

YOOX digital gift cards cannot be combined with other YOOXCODEs or with other temporary offers on the web site. The gift cards cannot be used to purchase products from the following departments or brands: Art, Clearance, Kids, Design, Sport, Kartell, items marked with the NEW label, sunglasses, Artemide, Flos, Aurélie Bidermann, Montblanc, Polo Ralph Lauren and Dodo.

Another interesting addition to our catalogue is WeekendjeWeg for the Netherlands and Belgium. This digital gift card is the smartest solution to offer those who deserve it the most the opportunity to book short breaks in more than 2000 hotels and 550 bungalow parks in Benelux, France, Germany and popular city destinations such as Paris and Berlin. Any leftovers can be used for future bookings and the Weekendjeweg.nl digital gift card can be used on the following sites: Weekendjeweg.nl, Weekendjeweg.be and Bungalows.nl.

Moreover, Belgian employees and customers can now also be incentivized and rewarded with Wonderbox gift card: a great choice of more than 80 gift boxes to live unique experiences such as dream holidays in unusual locations, gourmet weekends, beauty care treatments, workshops and much more… all the interesting options available can be easily found on wonderbox.be

Last, but not least, here the news for Spain: Rumbo digital gift card is now available and Mango digital gift cards can now be used both for online and in-store shopping.

Rumbo digital gift card is the perfect business gift to give recipients the opportunity to book flights, hotels and flight + hotel packages and enjoy their travels and holidays.

Request a bulk of digital codes and get the smartest and most original rewards for your employees and customers!

Get in contact with us by writing to orders@amilon.eu

QC Terme Soggiorni and Mabelle: all the advantages to choose gift cards as welfare benefits in Italy

May 7, 2019

Our focus as a company has always been that of presenting ourselves as a reference point for all those companies that are looking for new ways of rewarding their employees. For this reason, we keep creating new strategies to offer our clients new means for rewarding and incentivizing their employees and customers, in a simple and economical way.

Employees’ wellness is important not only from a “social” point of view – that can be taken care of by assuring a relaxed working atmosphere – but also from an individual point of view, by recognizing the efforts and the results of each employee. Despite the great importance of this aspect, companies are more encouraged to pay attention to it if some tax incentives enter into force.

Because of this, in Italy and in several European countries many economic facilitations have become law not only in general, but also in the specific case of vouchers and gift cards.

For instance, in Italy article 100 of the TUIR legal code states that all those services and products that are comprised in the categories of experiences, leisure time, education and “in natura” goods and services are totally deductible. This article is particularly important to our business, since vouchers and gift cards are considered part of these categories. This makes them the ideal choice for companies as welfare benefits and business gifts, being these expenses untaxed and not contributing to employee’s salary.

Although we are working to expand this offer for companies all over Europe, in these months we have focused on enriching our offer for companies that reward and incentivize their work force in Italy, guaranteeing a large choice of gift cards that are covered by TUIR article 100 and that will soon be reunited in a specific section of our online catalogue. This will make easier for companies to view all the cards that are ideal for welfare means and to decide which to purchase for their employees.

In this regard, we just added for Italy two brand new digital gift cards that give their recipients the opportunity of living quality experiences of relax and beauty. These gift cards are Mabelle and QC Terme Soggiorni.

Mabelle is a digital gift card that gives who receives it a choice among various beauty treatments in over 400 beauty and hair dressing salons.

QC Terme Soggiorni, instead, is a gift card line entirely dedicated to wellness and relaxing experiences to enjoy in couple, escaping from the stress and chaos of ordinary life.

A double advantage is waiting for all the companies that will choose these gift cards for their employees: affordability and the guaranteed satisfaction of their employees.

IMA Europe: Amilon hosts the third Italian edition

April 30, 2019

We are happy to announce the third Italian edition of the IMA Europe conference, that reunites all the IMA Europe members, together with all those who are interested in this peculiar field that is quickly expanding.

IMA was born in the USA and has a specific base in Europe, that presents itself as a reference point for the entire reward, recognition, incentive and loyalty world. The main objective of the association is that of creating a network of companies operating in this field, supporting each other, promoting this industry’s business and offering valuable occasions for educational activities.

On the 16^th of May 2019 Amilon will be hosting the event, at the exclusive location of Copernico Isola, in Milan.

Amilon has been part of the European Incentive Marketing Association (IMA) for more than ten years and hosting this conference is a honor for us. For the occasion, we have organized an event that will be inspiring and interesting under many points of view. Not only there will be many occasions for networking but also it will be a great opportunity to understand new aspects of this business and gathering valuable hints for reflection.

The event will start at 1pm and in the course of the afternoon there will be a number of speeches, illustrated by important speakers in this field, such as:

Daniele Tonini, Partner at Target Research
Flora Leoni, B2B Development Manager at Carrefour
Cristina Ziliani, Associate Professor of Marketing and Scientific Director at the Osservatorio Loyalty Of Parma University
Luca Brighenti, Founder & Ceo of Luca Brighenti Group
Volker Paztak, Director of the European Content Acquisition & Card Issuing epay & Cadooz
Peter Friend, Founder & CEO of Global Hotel Cards
Daniele Gabbai, Head of Strategic Partnerships & Alliances at NEXI

An aperitif – sponsored by Amilon – will follow on the rooftop of the building, which offers a breathtaking view of the Bosco Verticale Buildings and of the whole city of Milan.

Branded Currency: the gift card has changed its image and name

April 15, 2019

Healthier than ever before, the gift card has changed its image and name: the industry is now talking about it as a “Branded Currency”.

This was discussed in Chicago at the Flourish Conference this month, where we at Amilon, had the pleasure of participating. The Conference was dedicated to the “blooming” of Branded Currency, be they gift cards, loyalty points or coupons. This currency is available to retailers to deliver their marketing strategies in a new way, to enable customer acquisition, to build loyalty, to give the customer a convenient and increasingly unique experience.

But why has the gift card changed its name and reworked its image?
Because the market is transforming it into a different product, one which is digital and for personal consumption.

So, no longer will there be only gifts and no longer will there be cards.
Digital, thanks also to Amilon, who has been a flag-bearer for more than 10 years, has now outgrown the physical dimension: with digital gift cards now received by e-mail, downloaded and spent by presenting the smartphone at the cashier.

In addition, digital allows the prize or the gift in real time: from the moment of desire to the purchase decision, this can be completed in just a few minutes, sometimes only seconds: I need to pay the bill, I enter the corporate welfare portal, I download a voucher and I pay in cash with my mobile phone. Here is the winning Customer Experience.

And why is a gift card no longer just a gift?
The gift dimension still exists, but also here always more digitally. Today the gift card is increasingly used for personal consumption, thanks to promotions that allow purchases at a discount, and if well activated by retailers, facilitates the acquisition of new customers.

Finally, gift cards are chosen mostly for personal consumption, within the fringe benefits programs of corporate welfare plans. Company employees have a budget made available to them in gift cards, convertible into credit for shopping vouchers, generally for the most useful purchases, from petrol to the supermarket.

This is why the gift card has become a “Branded Currency”, a powerful tool available to retailers and to companies to incent and motivate employees.

No more cards and ever fewer gifts.

New valuable additions to Amilon’s Catalogue for Spain, Switzerland, Germany and The Netherlands

April 9, 2019

April 2019 starts with an expansion in Amilon’s catalogue: not one but four brand new digital gift cards are now available for companies to reward and incentivize their customers and employees in four different European countries.

Various categories are covered by these valuable additions: department stores and e-commerces, ticketing and events, supermarkets, tourism, travel and transports.

Regarding Spain, the already broad variety of gift cards – among which: MediaMarkt, Decathlon, Ikea, El Corte Inglés, CEPSA and many others – is enriched by the addition of FlixBus digital gift cards. Companies in Spain can reserve a bulk of digital codes for their employees and reward them with the opportunity of travelling to over 2000 different destinations in Europe and in the South-West of the USA. FlixBus offers its customers many comforts, as well as a useful mobile app to book and monitor their travels. These gift cards have a validity of 18 months after their delivery.

Another highlight is about De Bijenkorf: the well-known chain of high-end department stores in the Netherlands is now part of Amilon’s offer thanks to its digital gift cards that can now be chosen for valuable business gifts and incentives.

De Bijenkorf is present in Europe with 7 stores nationwide in: Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague, Eindhoven, Utrecht and Maastricht. Customers can also use their De Bijenkorf digital gift cards to shop online in an exclusive e-commerce that includes a wide offer of clothing, jewellery and watches, living&leisure and outlet items, covering all the needs for women, men and children.
Discover also the exclusive section dedicated to helping customers find a special gift for any occasion.

De Bijenkorf Gift Card has no expiration date and can be used to shop any item included in De Bijenkorf’s catalogue, with the exception of Dutch books. In order to be used to shop online, customers have to previously activate their reservation code on a dedicated website.

Germany also has a new opportunity to integrate with broader welfare plans or incentive programs that is Rewe digital Git Card: the perfect business gift to shop online and in all the Rewe supermarkets in Germany. These gift cards are extremely useful and they represent an interesting option as welfare benefits. Customers need to activate Rewe digital Gift Cards on a dedicated online platform, before they can use them to shop online and in-store.

Finally, Ticketcorner gift cards are now available for Switzerland, meaning that the Swiss most influential and relevant online ticket platform is part of Amilon’s offer. The main strengths of these cards are that they can be used to buy tickets for all the numerous events included on Ticketcorner.ch and they have a validity of 12 months after their activation.

Amilon’s catalogue grows always richer, offering even more brands of different categories and different European countries. We are constantly consolidating our partnership with European Retailers, in order to include as many local brands as possible, because we understand the importance of loyalty in shopping, as people tend to shop in those stores they are familiar with. Giving someone a local gift cards means getting something that will surely appreciate.

Reserve a bulk of digital codes to reward and incentivize your employees and customers in Spain, Germany, Netherlands and Switzerland and get them a business gift that will not go unnoticed!

Write us an e-mail to request the digital cards.

The “Be Customer-Centric” event and the advantages of applying the Attribution Models to Digital Gift Cards

March 18, 2019

On February 28^th,2019, we had the pleasure of participating as speakers at the “Be Customer-Centric” event, organized by Commanders Act.

The multi-channel campaigns and the models of attribution in the field of sales related to digital communication channels were both the theme of the meeting and the subject of our presentation.

This topic is particularly interesting considering it in relation to our core business: the distribution and sale of digital gift cards. Applying the attribution models to our business activity– enables us to significantly optimize the revenue we get from distributing gift cards through all the existents B2C (e-commerces) and B2B ( incentivization of employees and welfare benefits) channels.

The purpose of our speech at the Commanders Act meeting was to analyze the full potential of getting a digital gift card in the customer journey.

The main strength of the attribution models is the fact that the ID of the gift card — that may be a gift or a voucher issued for less than its par value — can always be associated with the user CRM ID, thanks to a pixel inserted in the registration page.

This association allows us to get interesting results, such as:

A link between the customer’s CRM data and his/her previous interaction with our digital campaigns.
All the data related to the purchases made by the customer using the gift card and consequent to a specific sales campaign.

The most significant consequence is that all the efficacy analysis of the “Paid” channels will become stronger: thanks to the gift card use, the turnover of the physical stores will be added to the e-commerce turnover.

This strategy has a major point of interest: the attribution models and the models for ROI analysis will take into account the impact of digital advertising on the sales of physical stores. These data could not be calculated until recently, but are of great relevance: a campaign or a channel can give disappointing results if assessed only in the light of the turnover generated by e-commerce, and reveal a very different reality if considered in the light of the turnover generated by physical stores.

The link between the CRM data and the interaction with the digital campaigns allows us to identify the profile of the “clickers” and therefore to optimize the programmatic advertising in an effective and targeted way.

Digital gift cards are therefore an effective tool for captivating existing and prospective customers; they also play an important role in optimizing digital advertising budgets. This is an additional remarkable advantage, which we offer to retailers and customers interested in increasing their business, expanding their customer base, and strengthening the loyalty of their existing customers.

The New Amilon: following on from 100% annual average growth, a more complete organisation for a new selling proposition

February 25, 2019

Amilon has had a facelift in 2019, merging with ECRM Italia. Together they have joined forces to share the experiences acquired over more than twenty years of business activity.

The goals of the operation are to create an even more complete organisation, offer a new range of services and build further on the surprising growth recorded over the past 5 years: a 100% growth rate and rapid expansion in the European market.

The new Amilon is thus an international-level company combining ECRM Italia’s experience in the areas of loyalty management and data analysis with Amilon’s technological and digital innovation in the sphere of gift cards for incentives and rewards. This new structure has naturally resulted in a significant change to what it can offer the market. This now ranges from digital gift cards distributed through all available channels (B2B and B2C) to effective strategies for sales campaigns based on its “premium marketplace”, namely the data of which Amilon is the exclusive owner. This guarantees absolute security for retailers using the system.

This new proposition, prepared by a brand new internal structure, is able to compete in the international market. Valerio Pacaccio is the new COO as well as board member, working alongside Andrea Verri, Fabio Regazzoni and Renato Buontempo.

The new Amilon positions itself as a European pioneer regarding the creation and management of modern retail strategies, centring on the adoption and use of its “Branded Currency”. This innovative offer brings together in a single “ecosystem” loyalty points, coupons and gift cards, with the convergence of digital incentives, rewards and loyalty management.

These strategies, having a high yield potential, lead to higher sales volumes and offer consumers a new, convenient and fun customer experience, enabling retailers to broaden their customer base and to increase the loyalty of existing customers.

Amilon has the expertise and the full stack of technologies to offer retailers high-potential sales strategies based on Data Monetisation, within its fully controlled and protected premium marketplace. The target audience is carefully singled out, making it possible to define consumer profiles, from those who might potentially become customers, based on their interests, to those having a real intention to purchase, already being in possession of a gift card that will presumably be spent in the near future, so-called future buyers. All of these data are gathered in a premium marketplace, in which sales are managed solely through direct agreements with single advertisers, and not in open-market mode, guaranteeing absolute security.

It is not only Amilon’s new offers that are of considerable interest: products that have defined the history of Amilon’s incentive and reward schemes remain valid solutions for businesses and retailers, indeed the company’s flagship products.

Idea Shopping has proven to be a top-notch product on a day-to-day basis, continuing to attract new B2C users as well as the B2B public: companies that use Idea Shopping gift cards as incentives, rewards and corporate gift items, welfare benefits and loyalty schemes, and the platform itself, offering their employees, collaborators and customers an exclusive shopping experience on a customisable website, in keeping with the company’s brand identity.

The same holds true for Job&Joy, Amilon’s modern online platform that offers managers and businesses a digital tool for independently creating and managing reward and incentive campaigns for employees and sales forces, adopting a “turnkey” model. The platform is fully customisable in terms of colours, presence of the company logo, reward campaigns, invited participants and a catalogue of gift cards available for single campaigns.

All of this is the new Amilon: willing to offer customers and retailers unprecedented full support and assistance, and ready to write a new page in the Italian (and international) story of loyalty, rewards, incentives and media.

Italian Shopping Centers: Le Befane Gift Card enters Amilon’s Catalogue

February 19, 2019

Le Befane Gift Card is the new entry in Amilon's Catalogue

Amilon and PTA Group’s partnership is getting stronger and it has brought another relevant addition to Amilon’s catalogue. In fact, together with Il Centro (Arese) and Carosello’s ( Carugate) gift cards, Le Befane’s digital card is now available too.

The Shopping Center Le Befane is located at just 3Km from Rimini’s city center and it includes more than 130 stores that cover all categories: from clothing, shoes, health and beauty items, to home décor, furniture, electronics, restaurants and entertainment.

This gift card enables customers to enjoy a renewed and more comfortable shopping experience, since it can be used to do shopping in all the numerous shops and restaurants included in the shopping center.

Zara, Unieuro, Apple Store, GameStop, Vans, Guess, Hollister, Bershka, Calzedonia, Intimissimi, Tezenis, The North Face, KIKO, Lush, Pandora, Original Marines, Nike… are just some of the brands that customers can find at Le Befane. Moreover, the shopping center also includes Conad Ipermarket, which is the second Italian retailer in the supermarket category.

Not only Le Befane is the perfect place to do shopping in Rimini, but it also offers customers the opportunity of spending their leisure time by offering several entertainment activities thanks to the presence of many restaurants, bars and above all the 12-screen Multiplex Cinema and the parking lot with over 3500 spaces.

Le Befane digital card is the ideal solution for companies that are looking for a valuable incentive to reward their employees and customers in Emilia-Romagna with the gift card of a very attractive shopping center with a renewed customer experience, that makes it interesting from both a business and social point of view.

Le Befane Gift Card has to be activated at the shopping center info point before it can be used for shopping. It is non-cumulable and has a validity of 12 months.

Idea Shopping Tech: Amilon’s new multi-brand gift card

February 13, 2019

Idea Shopping Tech is Amilon’s new multi-brand gift card, that can be used to do shopping on an exclusive catalogue of tech and electronics brands only.

It is a variant of Idea Shopping gift card that is Amilon’s flagship product: a unique and extremely versatile digital card, which is highly requested and appreciated.

It is the perfect card for any gift and occasion: those who receive it can decide how to use it, freely choosing among a catalogue of over 100 well-known Italian and international brands, covering all categories from food, clothing, fashion, supermarkets, sports and leisure time to travels and hotels, relax and wellness and e-commerce.

Its most relevant characteristic definitely is its versatility: it qualifies it as an extremely original gift, that not only friends and parents will surely appreciate but also employees and clients, receiving it as fringe benefit, welfare bonus and incentive.

Thanks to its incredible success, we have already created different versions of this digital card, distinguishable by the gift card catalogue they can be spent on and for their targets, covering both B2C and B2B channels.

This variety is a huge advantage not only for consumers and B2B clients, who can make use of a convenient product, quick and innovative for their gifts and shopping, but also for retailers who are looking for increasing their sales volumes, reaching a broader consumer base.

Idea Shopping Tech is Amilon’s catalogue new entry: it has been developed specifically to give users the most comfortable shopping experience for every tech item they wish to buy, from the most famous e-commerces and stores for electronics and technology. Computers, printers, videogames, electrical appliances, smartphones, consolles, CDs, DVDs are just some of items users can buy with Idea Shopping Tech.

Amazon.it, MediaWorld, Spotify and Trony are just some of the relevant brands that make Idea Shopping Tech’s catalogue really interesting, qualifying it as a highly valuable gift for both B2C and B2B channels.

Idea Shopping Tech is available on all our e-commerces for Italy: to final customers on Giftiamo and to companies on Giftcard Store.

Moreover, to companies that have specific requests to create incentive and reward programs, it is possible to receive individual sales offers, by writing to salesamilon@amilon.eu
Our sales team is always available to offer the best solution that meets every company needs and requests.

Despar Aspiag: great news for companies and final customers

January 29, 2019

Amilon signs a new partnership with an important retailer of the Italian large organised distribution network: Despar Aspiag’s digital gift cards are now available in Amilon’s catalogue, both for companies and final customers.

This collaboration strengthens Amilon’s presence in the North East of Italy and gives anyone who will choose or receive these gift cards, the opportunity of enjoying digital payment to do shopping in their local supermarkets.

Despar Aspiag is an interesting addition to Amilon’s catalogue, not only because it is a historical Italian retailer but also because it is a beloved brand, chosen for its distinctive familiar atmosphere.

Its main strengths are the broad offer of products – national and international, of all categories – and its policy of innovation and environmental sustainability. Despar promotes many beneficial and educational initiatives, by committing to activites such as crowdfundings and charitable donations. Incidentally, it was the first company in Italy to get the European certification for the quality of its Environmental resource management.

Also, Despar provides schools with educational courses about food and nutrition, through its innovative project “Le Buone Abitudini”.

For all these reasons, Despar Aspiag’s digital gift cards are an interesting option for companies that are looking for a way to incentivize and reward their employees or customers. In fact, they are useful pre-payed cards that can be used for daily shopping in local supermarkets. They are also a great choice to complete broader welfare plans: supermarkets’ gift cards are perfect as flexible and fringe benefits.

Despar Aspiag’s gift cards are also available to final customers on Amilon’s e-commerces (Giftiamo and Idea Shopping), for personal expenses or to make useful and successful gifts.

Customers may find specific information about Terms and Conditions of use of Despar Aspiag’s digital gift cards on their vouchers.