
Restaurant Loyalty Apps: Improve Customer Engagement and Retention
Customers have more options than ever before when they’re deciding on where to get a meal these days. That abundance of decisions means that it’s harder than ever for...
Customers have more options than ever before when they’re deciding on where to get a meal these days. That abundance of decisions means that it’s harder than ever for...
More is not always better, especially when it comes to your tech stack. While new technologies can arm retailers with important insights, having too many tools can be time...
Uplevel your customer experience, overcome today’s biggest challenges, and put your restaurant on the cutting edge. Employee burnout, staffing shortages, ever-increasing customer expectations — restaurants face endless challenges. The...
Retailers’ 2023 success comes down to one thing: a modernized customer experience. What that means and how to do that well was all the buzz earlier this month at...
The beginning of the year is a time of great momentum and in our evolving industry, you always have to be prepared for what’s coming down the pipeline. We’ve...
With a volatile stock market, soaring inflation, and a looming recession, consumers are scrutinizing what’s a want versus a need. Unfortunately for the foodservice industry, eating out is one...
C-stores give the modern shopper precisely what they want: convenience. Literally, that’s what the “C” stands for. Delighting convenience-obsessed consumers propelled many shops out of financially bleak pandemic times....
Dive into the generational divide and learn how to create experiences that boost your business with customers of all ages.
Holiday shoppers aren’t letting a turbulent economy steal this season’s cheer. With inflation rates that haven’t been this high in 40 years, 83% of consumers plan to adjust their...
Sparkfly, an award-winning retail technology solutions company that helps innovative restaurants and merchants unify customer engagement technologies to create deeper and more meaningful connections with customers, announced today they...
The greatest tech innovations of today mold the restaurants of tomorrow – which is why the Sparkfly team was so excited to head to Grapevine, Texas, for FSTEC 2022....
Inflation, gas prices, a lack of consumer confidence…oh my! Restaurants are in the middle of a perfect storm as they continue to recover from the pandemic, tackle today’s uncertainty,...
Fall is right around the corner with its cooler weather and homemade soup. But, for the restaurant industry, bidding summer adieu can be a major bummer because all of...
The weight of COVID’s stay-in-place edicts could have completely crushed the restaurant industry — if not for the massive upswing in digital ordering innovation. From burritos to burgers and...
Chipotle. McDonald’s. Panera. What do these large restaurant chains have in common? Aside from traditionally dominating market share, they have also entered the new digital frontier by embracing the...
Explore strategies and data from Chipotle, First Watch, and &pizza — brands that are all at the forefront of digital customer engagement — that prove the tech cost on...
The rise of digital in every industry may have gotten a huge boost from the pandemic, but as we slowly put COVID behind us, it shows no signs of...
What makes a travel experience unforgettable? A number of factors come into play, including getting your personal preferences met and having all of your wants and needs fulfilled in...
Remember when people once believed going to an office was the only way to work? Even before the pandemic, that bubble started to burst as the rise in work-from-home...
What do consumers desire? It’s an old-age question that all brands struggle with, and continue to obsess over, throughout their lifetime. Consumer purchasing patterns can change on the drop...
The Sparkfly team has big goals for 2022, and to help us accomplish them, we’ve added two experts. Kent Carpenter has over two decades of experience in sales for...
As a Gold sponsor at the recent Restaurant Leadership Conference (RLC) in Phoenix, AZ, Sparkfly enjoyed a front-row seat to all of the insights and inspiration industry experts shared...
Technology can serve as an incredible toolbox, full of things to help your company run more smoothly. But it can also hold distractions—shiny objects with lots of features that...
If 2020 proved one thing to brick-and-mortar grocery stores, it’s that the ability to offer a fast and efficient online shopping service has clearly demonstrated its worth. Providing consumers...
When the calendar flips to April, it doesn’t just mean the end of Q1 or the final countdown to earnings reports. For the past 15 years, April has also...
Check out any of the recent retail trade publications and there’s a good chance you’ll see an organization that has brought in a new Chief Technology Officer (CTO). In...
In a span of three months, Chipotle generated a major buzz with not one, not two, but three digital promotions. With a 24.7% increase in digital sales in 2021...
Loyalty. It’s the culmination of your retail brand from top to bottom. It’s the true test of what customers really think of the experiences you give them. It’s also...
The supersonic shift to eCommerce the retail industry experienced at the beginning of the pandemic — and is still experiencing today — has created a shift in customer loyalty....
Welcome to 2022 — where new digital conveniences give us the power to buy practically anything with the tap of a finger, but where the age-old phrase “The customer...
We’re always advocates of thinking outside the box. It’s how we find the best solution to meet each client’s specific needs. While loyalty programs are an important part of...
At the beginning of 2021, the retail industry was past the initial triage from the pandemic but was still largely in a reactive mindset. After all, brick and mortar...
If you’re like most retailers, merchants, and restaurants, you’ve had your foot firmly on the gas pedal since the pandemic upended the way people live, work, and spend money....
If you want to maximize your most loyal customers and keep up with the industry leaders that have an ever-growing digital footprint, you need an amazing app, right? Not...
We talk a lot about loyalty when it comes to marketing strategies and customer experiences, but we want to take a moment to honor the loyalty our veterans have...
The pandemic forever changed a number of things, not the least of which is how people do their holiday shopping and how brands need to prepare for it. Now...
The pandemic was like the beginning of a track meet for digital transformation — some companies were already in the starting blocks, while others were still stretching their legs....
Even the most tech-savvy of marketers tends to skip over articles dedicated to middleware because, hey, that’s an IT topic, right? Nope. While the term “middleware” may be more...
What is it that empowers the everyday to become innovative? Resources. While the specifics may look different depending on the organization, the fact is that being able to devote...
We’re smack dab in the middle of a whole new world for the restaurant industry. While the National Restaurant Association predicts sales will rise 20% to $789B in 2021,...
“The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.” It’s been over 2,300 years since Aristotle came up with that nugget of wisdom, and while we’re certain he...
When’s the last time you searched for something “near me” on Google? If you’re like most consumers, you’re doing it more and more. Between 2017 and 2019, “near me”...
Did you know that there’s a “Get to Know Your Customers Day” on the third Thursday of every January, April, July, and October? We appreciate the enthusiasm, but the...
Customer loyalty has always been vital to the bottom line, but in light of all the changes that the pandemic ushered in, loyalty is something you absolutely have to...
Let’s face it, lots of loyalty programs feel the same. In exchange for handing over an email address, your customers can make purchases to rack up points that eventually...
Is there any industry that’s been on a bigger rollercoaster over the last 18 months than retail? Overnight, traditional brick and mortar was replaced by an unprecedented demand for...
It’s time to get back to normal. That’s what you’ve been telling yourself, your colleagues, your investors, your other stakeholders. But what does “normal” look like for 2021 and...
Now that we’re halfway through 2021, how are you navigating the new normal? What are you doing to accommodate all of the changes we’ve seen in customer behavior? How...
In this whitepaper, you’ll explore 5 business cases that prove how smart it is to invest in smart offer management. You’ll get insights and ideas that will inspire your...
Welcome to your journey towards a cookieless world. Those third-party cookies that marketers love so much — and that consumers are so annoyed by — are fading fast. While...
We’ve all been there before. You’re craving a specific food that is being featured with an online offer from your favorite restaurant. You do everything you’re supposed to do:...
The dictionary defines “reactive” as “reacting to events and situations rather than acting first to change or prevent something.” When you look at it that way, 2020 was the...
Sparkfly’s platform was designed to integrate seamlessly with a variety of partners so that we can create a completely customized marketing experience for our customers and a state-of-the-art experience...
Here at Sparkfly, we’ve worked on so many different technology projects and we’ve learned which providers can truly make a difference. Our platform was built to integrate with a...
Checkout our mouth-watering pizza infographic to see a variety of data insights that prove offer management is a valuable bottom line and brand booster.
Odds are it’s only been a few minutes since you last checked your phone. Some studies say we check our phones 58 times per day, with others estimating we...
“What do you want for lunch?” It’s a question you ask all the time, and more often than not, the answer depends on convenience and stomach space. When it...
Quick serve restaurants (QSRs) have always had slim profit margins—typically 6-9%. When the numbers are that tight, the last thing these businesses need is fraud to take away from...
The words “out of the box” evoke the same feelings in today’s business leaders that “batteries included” did in kids who grew up in the 1980s—pure joy and excitement...
We designed the Sparkfly platform to seamlessly integrate with all kinds of partners so that we can create a customized marketing experience for merchants and the very best customer...
There’s a good reason why the old adages, “It’s a two-way street” or “It’s a give and take…” are popular among couples who describe why their relationship works well:...
Most people are drawn to what is new and exciting–that applies to brands as well as individual consumers. Even in the best of times, some brands may stray from...
Test. Analyze. Adjust. Repeat. It’s the best way to find what works for your brand–within reason. When you’re trying to scale your marketing efforts, specifically with digital channel choices,...
As brands regain their footing in 2021, they’re finding it’s time to look beyond surviving the events of 2020 and instead look ahead to see how they can thrive...
One of the toughest challenges in marketing is customer acquisition. It tends to be a more expensive undertaking than retention efforts and it’s become increasingly complicated in today’s marketing...
This white paper provides a roadmap to help you understand and navigate the digital strategies that are required to meet modern consumer expectations.
As we entered 2020, mobile ordering was predicted to see significant growth with the potential to cause a noticeable shift in the industry. Like so many things, the current...
Sparkfly Founder and CEO Catherine Tabor has been named a member of the Forbes Council, an invitation-only community for top executives and entrepreneurs. Forbes Councils are grouped together by...
The Coca-Cola Company introduced the first coupon in 1887–a free glass of cola valued at five cents. Over the next 25 years those handwritten coupons amounted to 8,500,000 free...
One of your ultimate goals as the head of marketing is to create a cohesive and integrated digital ecosystem that embraces available technologies and strategies. By connecting the dots...
Sparkfly was recently named one of the 2020 Best Places to Work by the Atlanta Business Chronicle. Out of the 47 companies who made Atlanta’s 17th annual list, Sparkfly...
Founder and CEO Catherine Tabor was recently featured on the Student to CEO podcast, a podcast designed to encourage young entrepreneurs and provide resources, inspiration and connections. “I have...
QSR digital strategy pioneers like Chipotle have already shown they know what it takes to weather the storm of transformation, and that experience has placed them near the front...
Did you know that more than half of all POS transactions will be contactless by 2022? While the convenience and speed of contactless order and pay has contributed to...
It can be easy to put your customer acquisition strategy on autopilot, relying on print and email marketing to reach and engage new customers. Does your strategy consist of...
A fully integrated digital ecosystem has the power to deliver an exceptional customer experience, increase loyalty and drive incremental revenue. Have you ever wondered how your brand’s digital ecosystem...
This white paper provides a roadmap to help you understand and navigate the digital strategies that are required to meet modern consumer expectations.
Sparkfly is a SaaS platform that supports an array of well-known merchants, helping them achieve new levels of success with their use of offers or promotions to drive revenue...
Get to know Allison McGinley, our Vice President of Professional Services. Where are you from? Atlanta, Georgia What is your role at Sparkfly? My title is Vice President of...
When a customer has a negative experience with your brand, your customer service team works hard to address the issue and re-engage the customer, often with an appealing offer...
Get to know Jon Greenlee, our Vice President and General Manager of Hospitality. Where are you from? Kansas City Education University of Missouri – Kansas City, Bachelor of Business...
Catherine Tabor, Sparkfly CEO and Founder, was recently featured on the Cheetah Digital Thinking Caps video podcast. Catherine joined Richard Jones, CMO at Cheetah Digital and Tim Glomb, VP...
We recently announced we were named the winner of a Silver Stevie® Award in the Business Technology category in The 18th Annual American Business Awards® and we are still...
Sparkfly was named the winner of a Silver Stevie® Award in the Business Technology category in The 18th Annual American Business Awards® today. The American Business Awards are the...
We know times are tough for our friends in the retail and restaurant space, but as we’ve all seen, to thrive in our new world companies must embrace digital...
We know these are challenging times, especially for restaurants. We are all in this together and we are here to help in any way that we can. Today, we...
We know these are challenging times, especially for restaurants and coffee shops. We want you to know we are here for you and we are dedicated to bringing you...
We know these are challenging times, especially for restaurants. We are committed to bringing you the information and inspiration you seek. Today, we want to spotlight Everytable, the Los...
“Every environment benefits from more diversity, so it would be positive to have an ecosystem that was more diverse in STEM.” CEO and Founder Catherine Tabor was recently featured...
We know these are challenging times, especially for quick service restaurants. We are here for you and doing what we can to bring you the information and inspiration you...
We know these are challenging times, especially for restaurants. We want you to know we are here for you and we are working with our partners to bring you...
“We don’t get to choose our challenges, but we get to choose our response.” &pizza CEO Michael Lastoria tweeted on March 14th. From there he outlined the numerous steps...
We are thrilled to announce that CEO/Founder, Catherine Tabor, won the Innovator Award as part of the 2020 Top Women in Restaurant Technology Awards. The Innovator Award is presented...
When we tell marketers about Sparkfly’s Offer Management Platform and how we help improve customer acquisition and loyalty programs by connecting real-time consumer behavior with online and in-store sales,...
“Some entrepreneurs are lucky and some entrepreneurs are smart. Catherine Tabor is both.” Catherine Tabor was recently featured in Forbes, “Luck And Smarts Help This Entrepreneur Succeed,” in a...
Street Fight’s Mike Boland recently interviewed our CEO/Founder Catherine Tabor on the Heard on the Street podcast. In the podcast, Catherine shares: Her story as a serial entrepreneur How...
Sparkfly founder and CEO Catherine Tabor and Chipotle’s vice president of digital strategy and product Nicole West, were recently featured on Alan Hart’s Marketing Today podcast to share the...
Sparkfly is delighted to share that CEO and Founder Catherine Tabor was named to The Top 50 Women Leaders in SaaS of 2019 by The Software Report. The Software...
We are thrilled to announce we were named a Street Fight Innovator Award Finalist for Innovator of the Year. Street Fight is designed to share news and insight on...
Digital is transforming how Quick Service Restaurants (QSRs) do business and stay competitive. We live and breath digital and collaborate with some of the top QSRs on their digital...
For any business, customer loyalty is paramount. Traditional business wisdom suggests that it can cost at least five times as much to acquire a new customer as it does...
Social media usage has become a significant part of everyday life for many consumers, with 69% of U.S. adults using at least one social media site (Hootsuite). As digital...
Newport Beach, CA, and Atlanta, GA — Chipotle’s (NYSE: CMG) partnership with Sparkfly has enabled key marketing program growth and innovation. Sparkfly’s foundational technology has supported Chipotle in creating...
Newport Beach, CA, and Atlanta, GA — Chipotle’s (NYSE: CMG) partnership with Sparkfly has enabled key marketing program growth and innovation. Sparkfly’s foundational technology has supported Chipotle in creating...
Statistics show that consumers are increasingly looking for deals and offers when making purchasing decisions. When shopping for clothing, 94% of American woman say they seldom buy clothing unless...
A local Italian restaurant runs an advertisement with a Buy 1 Get 1 offer on Facebook. They also send the same offer through email and in the weekly local...
It can sometimes feel like your marketing results are out of your control. But what if there was an easy way to manage, evaluate and improve your marketing campaigns...
For decades, restaurants have been forced to cobble together POS solutions that keep up with modern technology while also accommodating the latest fads, trends and third-party platforms. But if...
Sparkfly is proud to introduce Journey 121 as an ALLY Solutions Partner in the Sparkfly ALLY network. Journey 121 unlocks the power of your customer data, connecting the dots...
By: Catherine Tabor I believe being underestimated can be a huge asset. Good thing, considering I have been underestimated practically every day of my career. Being underestimated often means getting ignored....
It can be hard for a brand to predict what message is going to be most effective in a marketing campaign, especially when your consumers are spread across a...
Sparkfly is proud to introduce Valassis Digital as an ALLY partner in the Sparkfly ALLY network. Valassis Digital uses patented technology to analyze intent and location signals and match...
You may have a hunch that there are a few snags with the way your online purchasing and offer management work together. But do you truly understand the significant...
If you’re thinking about coupons, offers and promotional codes as merely a way to get people in the door, we want to challenge you to think bigger about the...
We’ve all been there. The awesome deal that draws you in, but when it’s time to check out and redeem your coupon, suddenly there’s a glitch. It could just...
Big news: our Sparkfly ALLY Marketing Program has launched, and we’re ready to showcase partner businesses in a whole new way. The ALLY Marketing Program harnesses the power of...