Retail Business Review: Specials Magazine

With more than a decade in the retail assortment selection arena, I'm beyond excited about the incredible possibilities we're exploring with advanced intelligence. When we zoom out across the vast retail landscape, it's clear that nailing localized assortments to keep customers thrilled is a must. Equally important is getting our inventory game on point – making sure we have the right holding capacity on the shelf so that we don't run out of stock, along with planning the right amount of inventory for our committed buys. At Walmart, the assortment space is like a thrilling roller-coaster, offering so many dimensions to dive into. Whether it's getting the perfect regional mix for a hyper-localized brand that a customer expects to find in their store in Chicago, decoding the unique preferences of online shoppers placing delivery orders, or an apparel customer who walks into the store and expects to find her size for the garment that she fell in love with – our focus covers a wide

Walk into any store, and the loyalty programs all start to blur, filled with uninspired points systems, dusty discounts, and rewards that barely register with today’s consumers. Shoppers have outgrown these outdated schemes. They want something more personal, relevant, and genuinely rewarding. They want experiences seamlessly fitting into their lives, not plastic cards and hollow promises. A shift is underway, and customers now expect brands to meet them with value that feels modern and thoughtful. Bango’s Digital Vending Machine^®(DVM^™), a turnkey platform, transforms how retailers engage with customers, making loyalty truly compelling. It combines cutting-edge technology with a curated approach to rewards, giving brands the tools they need to stand out in a crowded marketplace. The platform enables retailers to offer popular third-party digital subscriptions like Disney+, Netflix, and Xbox Game Pass. Think of it as a digital shelf already stocked with services people love and recognize as premium additions to their everyday life. It is also built for ease of adoption. Integration is streamlined through APIs, enabling scale at speed, while the platform flexes around any retailer’s existing infrastructure. Retailers can go live quickly with minimal technical effort, offering premium subscriptions as rewards, bundled perks, or loyalty milestones. Bango manages the heavy operational work, including provisioning, partner onboarding, offer management and redemption, while retailers retain complete control of branding and customer engagement. “The DVM^™ turns everyday retail transactions and membership schemes into gateways to premium loyalty experiences,” says Paul Larbey, CEO. Continente & Disney+: A Simple Perk That Sparked Big Loyalty Wins The best proof of the DVM^™’s impact comes from Continente, Portugal’s biggest supermarket chain. With over 350 stores and over four million families using its loyalty card, the company wanted to roll out a campaign that would turn heads during Christmas. Partnering with Bango and Disney, they used the DVM^™ to launch a Disney+ subscription offer tied directly to the Cartão Continente program. The idea was beautifully simple. Spend a certain amount, and earn a Disney+ subscription. The redemption process was seamless as it was built into a loyalty program that customers already knew. This led to heightened engagement, increased loyalty card activations, and enhanced brand perception, fueled by the partnership with a global entertainment icon. “Offering Disney+ alongside our existing rewards strengthens our commitment to delivering the best benefits to our customers. This initiative is an example of Continente’s continuous effort to offer added value to the daily lives of all families,” said Filipa Appleton, head of brand & marketing at Continente..