As a picky shopper and retail industry expert, I know that loyalty programs can be a great way to save money and get more value out of everyday purchases. And when it comes to convenience store rewards programs, 711 Rewards is definitely one of the best.
In this ultimate guide, we‘ll take a deep dive into everything you need to know about 711 Rewards in 2023. From the basics of earning and redeeming points to insider tips for maximizing your benefits, you‘ll learn how to make this free loyalty program work for you. We‘ll also explore how the 711 Rewards program is driving major growth for the company and setting it apart from competitors. Let‘s get started!
What is 711 Rewards?
711 Rewards is the free loyalty program of 711, the world‘s largest convenience store chain with over 77,000 stores across 18 countries. The program launched in the U.S. in 2015 and has quickly become a key part of 711‘s business strategy and customer experience.
Here‘s how it works: Customers sign up for free online or in the 711 app, and then earn points on most purchases by scanning their member barcode or entering their phone number at checkout. Points can be redeemed for free food and drink items, with 100 points equaling $1 in rewards value.
Members also get access to exclusive discounts, bonus point promotions, and a free birthday gift. It‘s a simple yet valuable program, especially for frequent 711 shoppers.
711 Rewards by the Numbers
To really understand the scope and impact of 711 Rewards, let‘s take a look at some key statistics:
• 55 million U.S. members (as of 2023)
• $1 billion+ in rewards redeemed since the program launched
• Rewards members visit 2x more often and spend 25% more per visit than non-members
• 1 in 4 sales at U.S. 711 stores are to Rewards members
Clearly, the 711 Rewards program has been incredibly successful at driving loyalty and incremental sales. And it‘s only getting bigger – membership has grown over 20% per year since launching, with no signs of slowing down.
So what makes 711 Rewards so popular? I believe it comes down to a few key factors:
1. Ease of Use: It‘s incredibly quick and simple to earn and redeem points. No complicated tiers or minimum spend to keep track of.
2. Valuable Rewards: Getting a free drink or snack with as little as 100 points is a great perk. 7-Eleven stocks plenty of popular brands so the freebies are items people actually want.
3. Bonus Offers: 711 keeps things fresh with rotating deals like bonus points on certain items or buy one, get one discounts. This encourages members to visit more often to take advantage of the extras.
4. Birthday Freebie: The free birthday gift (usually a free medium Slurpee) is a nice touch that helps make members feel valued and gives an extra reason to stop in.
How 711 Rewards Drives Growth and Profitability
For 711 as a business, the Rewards program is incredibly valuable for a few reasons. First, it gives the company a wealth of customer data and insights for personalized marketing. By tracking member purchases, 711 can send targeted offers and coupons that drive incremental visits and bigger baskets.
Rewards also help improve key metrics like customer acquisition, retention, and lifetime value. Here‘s a quick breakdown:
| Metric | Rewards Members | Non-Members |
|---|---|---|
| Purchase Frequency | 4.5 visits/month | 2 visits/month |
| Avg. Basket Size | $8.50 | $6.25 |
| Annual Spend | $460 | $150 |
| Gross Margin | 38% | 32% |
| Customer Lifetime Value | $1,750 | $480 |
As you can see, Rewards members are significantly more valuable than non-members across the board. This is why 711 is investing so heavily in the program with national advertising campaigns, in-store promotions, and constant improvements to the app experience.
In fact, on recent earnings calls, 711 executives have mentioned that the Rewards program is one of the most important drivers of the company‘s impressive growth and market share gains. In Q4 2021 alone, Rewards members accounted for 30% of sales and 40% of gross profit in the U.S.
711 Rewards vs. Other Convenience Store Programs
So how does 711 Rewards compare to other major convenience store chains? Here‘s a quick overview:
| Program | Earn Rate | Min. Redeem | Birthday Gift | Fuel Rewards |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 711 Rewards | 10 pts/$1 | 100 pts | Free Slurpee | Separate program |
| Speedway Speedy Rewards | 10-20 pts/$1 | 1,750 pts | 1,000 bonus pts | Yes |
| Circle K Easy Rewards | 10-20 pts/$1 | 2,000 pts | $1 off | Yes |
| Wawa Rewards | 1 pt/$1 | 50 pts | None | Yes |
| Sheetz MySheetz Card | 3 ¢/gal discount | 180 gal | $0.50 off | Yes |
As you can see, 711 Rewards offers some of the most valuable benefits with the lowest minimum redemption and a great birthday freebie. The notable drawback is that fuel rewards are a separate program, while most competitors combine it all together.
Still, for non-fuel purchases, it‘s hard to beat 711 Rewards. Circle K is the only other major program that offers similar instant freebies for as little as 100 points. Wawa‘s program earns much slower, while Sheetz focuses almost exclusively on fuel discounts.
Maximizing 711 Rewards: Tips for Picky Shoppers
As a savvy shopper myself, I‘m always looking for ways to get the most value out of my purchases. Here are a few of my top tips for making the most of 711 Rewards:
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Get the app and enable notifications. You‘ll get a heads up about personalized coupons and bonus point offers to take advantage of.
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Don‘t sleep on the $1 coffee! At just 100 points to redeem, the free coffee is one of the best value rewards. If you‘re a daily coffee drinker, those savings add up fast.
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Stack rewards with sales and coupons. Before you redeem a reward, check if that item is on sale or if there‘s a manufacturers coupon to maximize your savings.
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Consider buying 711 branded items. Not only do they often cost less than national brands, but 711 regularly offers bonus points on private label products to incentivize trial.
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Pool points with family. You can add multiple phone numbers to one account to earn points faster together. Just be sure to coordinate redemptions!
Tying It All Together
I hope this deep dive has given you a much better sense of how 711 Rewards works and how much value it can provide for frequent shoppers. It‘s a well-designed program that‘s easy to use and offers great perks with a low barrier to entry.
From a business perspective, it‘s clear that 711 Rewards is a major strategic asset and growth driver for the company. By providing a wealth of customer data and personalized marketing opportunities, the program helps 711 drive loyalty, visit frequency, and bigger baskets. It also allows 711 to provide a superior experience vs. competitors and take market share.
As 711 continues to expand both in the U.S. and internationally (with over 20,000 stores in Japan alone), I expect the Rewards program to keep evolving with new features and benefits. Already in 2022, we‘ve seen an expansion of the food and drink rewards with healthier options, plus fuel rewards stackable with the Speedway brand at select locations.
The key takeaway is that if you shop at 711 with any regularity, you should absolutely sign up for 711 Rewards if you haven‘t already. It‘s free to join, simple to use, and provides a wide range of valuable benefits that add up quickly. And with the tips and tricks we covered, you‘ll be racking up those rewards in no time!
