DETROIT Fifteen local credit unions this morning rolled out a local merchant funded rewards program with RewardsNOW to help bolster commerce in this financially strapped city.
"NuPath Community CU will be offering business accounts, and with the roll out of Shop Main Street, the timing couldn't be better,” said Jan VanWassehnova, executive vice president at the $92 million Wyandotte credit union. “This product is an added bonus for our business owners; not only by promoting their business but also reminding our members shopping local can pay off. Shop Main Street adds to the meaning of a partnership between NuPath Community CU and our business owners.”
Approximately 250,000 consumers who have a credit or debit card tied to a loyalty program offered by one of 15 area credit unions earn bonus rewards when they shop at local merchants participating in the program. These rewards are in addition to the rewards they already earn from their loyalty program when using their card for purchases.
The program breaks new ground by offering participating merchants an extensive suite of online marketing tools that helps them build their business effectively and affordably. And since Shop Main Street is integrated into local credit unions' loyalty programs, merchants benefit from increased consumer awareness and interest.
"We believe that consumers here in Michigan want to shop locally whenever possible," said Steven VanFleet , CEO of RewardsNow. "Shop Main Street gives them a great opportunity and incentive to keep more of their hard earned dollars within their own community."
Shop Main Street is a significant advance over typical merchant funded rewards programs because it allows participating merchants choose from more than 20 different offers to address their unique business objectives. Shop Main Street also features useful content, including merchant news, and links to Facebook and Twitter, all of which bring "word-of-mouth" marketing to a wider audience. Shop Main Street also gives merchants valuable information about their customers and their purchasing behavior.
Shop Main Street was developed by RewardsNOW together with Zavee, LLC. Shop Main Street is the latest enhancement to the RewardsNOW loyalty program offering that RewardsNOW manages for more than 200 credit unions and mid-size.
Merchants interested in Shop Main Street can learn more on the program's web site,
