Rite Aid plans to aggressively launch its new wellness+ card based loyalty program nationally next year. The pharmacy also announced that its RX Savings Card enrollment has now grown to over 4.3 million numbers.

In mid-October, the pharmacy launched its loyalty program called wellness+ in four test markets, supporting it with a comprehensive marketing plan that included TV and radio advertising. Wellness+ is a card based program rewards loyal customers with increasing levels of front-end discounts and health benefits based on the dollar amount of front-end purchases and the number of scripts filled.

The four test markets included three markets, where the retailer offered rewards for both front-end and pharmacy purchases and one market, where it offered rewards on front-end purchases. Last week, 49% of front-end sales in the four test markets were from customers using the wellness+ card. 

"This level of customer usage is very impressive, given that we're only eight weeks since the rollout, and shows good customer acceptance of the program," says John Standley. "Besides building customer loyalty with our existing customers, wellness+ will provide its valuable customer data and help us attract new front-end and pharmacy customers."

 

Gartner announces it has completed its previously announced acquisition of AMR Research for approximately $63 million. With projected full year 2009 revenues of approximately $40 million, AMR Research is a leading research and advisory services firm serving supply chain management and IT professionals. 

"AMR is the gold standard for research focused on supply chain management, which is a central and growing issue for many large organizations," said Gene Hall, Gartner's CEO. "Supply chain management and IT are inextricably linked, so this acquisition is an excellent strategic fit for our business. We will leverage our scale and worldwide distribution to sell AMR's world-class suite of research, consulting and events to our much larger client base, as well as introduce Gartner's services to AMR's existing clients."

As previously announced, Gartner does not expect the acquisition of AMR Research to have a material impact on its 2009 financial results, but does expect it to be significantly accretive to its revenue, earnings and cash flow over time.

 

Lowe’s Launches First Energy Centers

Lowe's launches it's first Energy Centers in 21 California-based stores, a one-stop, easy-to-shop destination that helps customers to create an energy plan that fits their budget and home improvement goals. 

The Energy Center outlines three ways for customers to save energy and money: 

· Measure how much energy they use or lose with power monitors and other devices 
· Reduce energy consumption with CFLs and other money-saving products 
· Generate and use renewable energy with solar panels 

An information kiosk offers a touch-screen display to help customers evaluate energy needs, and the Energy Center features products that offer alternative energy solutions. 

The Energy Center's kiosk display features product demonstration videos, tips to control energy costs, and a Chooserenewables.com tool that helps consumers assess their home's potential for solar and wind power. 

"Homeowners are paying more attention than ever to their utility bills, and the first step to saving energy is tracking where it's going," said Nick Canter, Lowe's executive vice president of merchandising. "By providing monitoring tools to help customers know their numbers, Lowes is helping them find the money-saving solution that's right for them." 

Lowe's is the first major retailer to offer many of these products in one place and the first to stock and sell grid-connected solar panels in stores. The energy-saving products will be available nationwide at Lowes.com.