Kard

ICYMI: Trinity Capital, a leading alternative asset manager, awarded Kard $15M commitment in growth capital earlier this week. It's a move that will help us scale our operations, further expand into new markets, and grow our independent commerce media network. As our CEO, Ben Mackinnon, put it: "Kard started as a point solution helping our fintech and card issuer partners offer merchant-funded rewards, and has evolved into a scaled commerce media network. With spend data aggregated across debit, credit, receipts, and other sources, we can see how consumers actually spend — and, more importantly, what motivates them to switch. That insight lets us create measurable, incremental value for both financial institutions and merchants." Press release in the comments. Excited to share more updates soon 👀 

Thrilled to have Trinity Capital's support as we expand into commerce media. At its core, commerce media connects advertising to actual commerce, and that’s exactly what Kard does: we use real transaction data from tens of millions of users to deliver hyperpersonalized rewards that influence how people shop. Our flexible, API-driven platform enables partners to build differentiated rewards programs, while giving merchants a scalable channel for customer acquisition and engagement. And the consumer wins, too — they discover new and different brands they might actually want to try, and earn rewards on purchases big and small. More to come on this transition later this week. Meanwhile, catch the full story ↓

In most industries, your product is what sets you apart. It’s faster. It’s easier to use. It looks better. It tastes better. But in other industries, your product isn’t the main selling point. Take ticketing, for example. You can buy the exact same ticket to a sports game, concert, or play on dozens of platforms. So, how do you compete? Brian Blancho, Affiliate Marketing Manager at TicketSmarter is no stranger to this challenge. Over the years, he’s become a pro at exploring new avenues for meeting customers where they are, whether they’re a baseball fan or a Beyonce fan. In our latest blog, we get the download on six strategies he uses to catch consumer’s attention and give them value. Give it a read 👇

Will we see you in Vegas in a few weeks at Money20/20? Ben Mackinnon and Pouya Tehranian are eager to chat about how Kard can help you: → Drive incremental spend → Strengthen loyalty → Unlock new revenue from merchant partnerships → Give cardholders access to rewards they actually want to use Learn more about how we're helping fintechs build differentiated rewards programs in a 1:1 conversation - schedule time below!

You’ve gotten approval for your new campaign and are excited to run it. The first day, you’re already seeing clicks roll in, so you add a little more budget, confident you’ve cracked the code. What’s frustrating is that the reasons for this drop may not be immediately obvious. - The algorithm may have changed.  - Perhaps your creative wasn’t quite up to snuff. - Maybe the way you’re measuring return doesn’t reflect reality. Whatever the cause, the fix starts with grounding your spend in what matters: verified purchases and true economic impact. In our latest blog, we cover multiple strategies to help you squeeze more ROI from your ad spend. Layering in just a few of these techniques can get you well on your way. Explore all 10 👇

The playbook for retail marketers is changing. Budgets are tighter, third-party data is fading, and young consumers are tuning out traditional ads. To stay ahead, you're going to need to: 1️⃣ Leverage first-party data. Third-party cookies are disappearing, and consumers are increasingly wary of tracking. First-party transaction data takes the guesswork out of media, enabling marketers to target the right customer, at the right time, with the right offer. 2️⃣ Add rewards-based media to your strategy Younger shoppers pay attention to brands that give them something in return (besides the product they're buying). Cash back rewards are a way to catch consumers' attention and give them a discount on something they really want to buy. 3️⃣ Bridge online and in-store The most effective retail marketers are running campaigns that drive spend and unify messaging across both. Tailoring online discounts, promos, and cash back offers to reward in-store purchases often increases your AOV (people tend to add to their cart while shopping in-store). 4️⃣ Reduce wasted ad spend When budgets are under pressure, every dollar needs to work harder. Leaning into commerce media networks that are pay for performance and target based on verified transactions ensure you’re only paying for what delivers value back. Watch a clip of Kard CEO, Ben Mackinnon's, presentation to learn more ▶️

Rewards aren’t just perks anymore. Our CEO, Ben Mackinnon explains how Kard is the infrastructure that: - Helps issuers drive engagement and top-of-wallet behavior - Gives brands precision targeting with real consumer spend data - Reaches tens of millions of Gen Z and millennial shoppers through rewards programs they already use - Makes world-class rewards accessible beyond the biggest banks Want to learn more about how it all fits together? Watch the full video ⬇️

QSR marketers: tired of paying for clicks that don’t convert? Our latest blog breaks down 7 strategies you can use to get ahead. Think: → Mobile-first and app-exclusive offers that drive action during peak meal windows. → Gamification and streak-based rewards that build loyalty without constant discounting. → Location-based and real-time triggers that capture hungry customers in the moment. → Ongoing offer and menu experimentation that helps refine campaigns and improve ROAS. Want the full list and actionable tips? Give it a read 👇

Our CEO, Ben Mackinnon, just presented at MediaPost’s Brand Insider Summit: Retail, sharing fresh data on Gen Z and Millennial shoppers. Three big trends stood out from $3B transactions: 1. Big box still matters, but less so for younger, savvier shoppers. Big box accounts for ~23% of spend on the Kard platform, lower than the national 30 to 40% average. Younger shoppers still value convenience and price, but they’re quicker to shift to brands that offer more personalized experiences. 2. Personal categories drive higher spend Sporting goods, travel, and department stores have above-average AOVs in our dataset. Even a small incentive, like 5% cash back on a first purchase, can be enough to drive Gen Z and Millennial consumers to make a big purchase. Persistent or cascading cash back rewards (15% cash back on first purchase, 10% cash back on second 5% cash back on third purchase) can turn one-time shoppers into a high value repeat customer. 3. Q1 is the new Q4 Holiday shopping isn’t the only peak anymore. Gen Z and Millennial spend in Q1 (especially in beauty, fashion, and apparel) outpaced Q4 in our dataset. Leaning into New Year's resolutions could be your next great marketing tactic. Want the full scoop? Watch the video ⬇️

Customer acquisition costs have jumped a whopping 60% across digital platforms in just two years. But that doesn't mean performance marketers are stuck in a losing battle. The ones who are beating out the competition are using their budget in a different way — to make every transaction more valuable. In one of our recent blog posts, we broke down 10 ways to grow average order value so you can drive growth without burning your budget. Are you doing them all? Find out ⬇️