Fly Buys (New Zealand)

Fly Buys is New Zealand’s largest loyalty program. It is administered by Loyalty New Zealand Limited, which is jointly owned by Bank of New Zealand, Foodstuffs, IAG New Zealand and Shell New Zealand.

The program had over 1.1 million household members as at November 2006 (over 2.7 million individual cardholders) which represents over 80 per cent penetration of New Zealand households [cite web|title=Loyalty New Zealand Information (Fly Buys website)| url=http://www.flybuys.co.nz/whatIs/companyInfo.asp|accessdate =2007-01-14] .

Members collect points from over 35 participating retailers. Between them, these Participants have more than 2,200 outlets and cover more than 70 per cent of everyday household expenditure categories [cite web|title=Loyalty New Zealand Information (Fly Buys website)| url=http://www.flybuys.co.nz/whatIs/companyInfo.asp|accessdate =2007-01-14] .

History

Fly Buys was launched in New Zealand in 1996. Loyalty New Zealand was established by its owners to operate the program under license from Loyalty Pacific (which established the FlyBuys program in Australia in 1994). The structure of the program very closely matched the structure of its namesake program in Australia at the time.

The program attracted great interest at launch and quickly established a very strong membership base. 300,000 households joined the program in the first 89 days [cite book|title=Fly Buys at 10 Years| publisher=Balasoglou Books|year=2006| pages=p.22] .

Point collection and value

Fly Buys points can be collected across a wide range of household expenditure categories. Everyday shopping categories include food (New World), fuel (Shell) and liquor (Liquorland). Typical household services such as energy (Contact Energy), telephone (Telecom New Zealand) and insurances (State) are also covered. There is a wide range of general retailers from whom points can be collected covering stationery, clothing, pharmacy, hardware, optometry, dental, furniture, carpet, travel, accommodation, car servicing and others. Additional points can be collected from transactions on Bank of New Zealand credit cards.

Most retailers offer one point for every $20 spent. Extra points or higher rates of earning points are often offered as well. Each point can be redeemed for a variety of rewards, so placing an exact value on a point is difficult. One way points can be spent is on Air New Zealand Airpoint Dollars. It takes 300 Fly Buys points to purchase $50 in Airpoint Dollars [citeweb |url=http://www.globalplus.co.nz/home/key_features.html |title=GLOBALPLUS - The fast way to earn Airpoints Dollars |accessdate=2007-01-29] , meaning each Fly Buys point is worth roughly 17 cents (an Airpoint Dollar translates to one New Zealand dollar). This value will be similar for other rewards, but obviously varies somewhat.

Rewards

Fly Buys rewards include merchandise, flights, entertainment and accommodation. FlyBuys also offers an exchange of Fly Buys points for Airpoints Dollars pertaining to Air New Zealand's frequent flyer program. Rewards provided to members as at September 2008 were valued at more than $500 million.cite web|publisher=Sunday Star Times|title=Fly Buys rewards business|date=2008-09-28 |accessdate=2008-09-29 |url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/sundaystartimes/4707109a6445.html]

Recent activity

In September 2006, Fly Buys launched a gift card, available for purchase by members and non-members at selected points-issuing businesses [cite web|title=Fly Buys launches global innovation in gifting| url=http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0609/S00381.htm|date=2006-09-22|accessdate =2007-01-14] . The technology platform was further employed in June 2007 with the release of a gift card specific to participating retailer Foodstuffs. [cite web|title= Foodstuffs Wellington unveils gift card| url=http://www.foodweek.com.au/main-features-page.aspx?articleType=ArticleView&articleId=301|date=2007-06-08|accessdate =2007-06-12]

In September 2008, Fly Buys announced it was rolling out a program for small businesses.

Participants

See [https://www.flybuys.co.nz/placesToCollectPoints/CollectPoints.asp?Cat=ALL] for more information
Automotive
*Avis
*Beaurepaires
*Frank Allen Tyres
*Goodyear Auto Service Centres
*Mitsubishi Motors
*Shell (including Shell Distributors and Mini Tankers and Shell Gas)
*State
*Vehicle ServicingBanking
*Bank of New ZealandFood
*Liquorland
*New WorldHome and garden
*Arbuckles
*Babycity
*Carpet One
*EZIBUY
*Furniture Court
*Mitre 10 and Mitre 10 MEGA
*Noel Leeming
*Palmers Gardenworld
*Telecom
*TelefloraGeneral Retail
*Kodak Express
*Lumino Care Dental
*Paper Plus
*Postie+
*Regency Duty Free and Regency's Specialty Stores [http://www.regency.co.nz Regency Duty Free]
*Unichem Pharmacies
*Visique OptometristsTravel
*Air New Zealand Travelcentre
*Best Western
*United TravelUtilities
*Contact Energy

Former Participants

Food
*Burger King

Notes

External links

* [http://www.flybuys.co.nz/ Fly Buys (New Zealand) website]
* [http://www.unlimited.co.nz/unlimited.nsf/056728e0db46903bcc2569e70013f891/6ff9c617e360597ecc256e5a00109bd0!OpenDocument "Buying Loyalty" Review of NZ loyalty programs]