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The initial thinking behind loyalty schemes/cards was to reward regular customers and, in turn, encourage repeat custom. In recent years, these schemes have become rich sources of data for the companies that issue them. This data is in turn used to find out what customers are buying and what they are interested in, with companies enjoying both strategic and financial benefits from the use of this data. Just as technology has advanced, loyalty schemes have, too. As a result, many critics argue that the consumer benefits of this practice are beginning to wane. But if this really the case – and more importantly, are loyalty schemes still worth our time and effort in 2019?

Coffee shops

When looking at the value of loyalty schemes, coffee shops are a great place to start. Many of us are probably already familiar with the stamp system whereby customers are rewarded with a free beverage after so many stamps. Although not strictly a coffee shop, McDonalds still employs this system and it has proven successful for many years. On the other hand, coffee giant, Starbucks, have ditched this scheme in favor of plastic loyalty cards akin to those handed out by supermarkets. Companies are undoubtedly collecting more data from customers in this way but the question is, are they passing on this benefit to the consumer? Starbucks’ current reward scheme states that you have to use you loyalty card 15 times before getting your free beverage which means, unless you drink as much coffee as Twin Peaks’, Agent Cooper, it’s likely that you’re never going to feel a noticeable benefit. As an aside, Coca-Cola recently acquired the UK brand, Costa, so you will now soon be able to comparer the two universal coffe brands’ loyalty schemes here in the U.S.

 

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Online VIP and loyalty services

A number of companies now offer online schemes which revolve around loyalty or paying a monthly premium to enjoy the benefits of VIP membership, which also encourages returning custom. The North Face reward customers with points with every online purchase while companies such as Barnes & Noble operate a VIP membership program which gives you 10% discount off virtually every item on the website.

With online gaming loyalty programs, platforms such as Aspers Casino, offer VIP perks and promotions such as special access to the ‘slot of the month’, and have also put in place different stages of VIP levels, depending on your input. If customers particularly favor a certain game, such as the popular Starburst slot game, for example, the bonuses and perks reward this loyalty and maintain high levels of consumer satisfaction and engagement. Again, your savings really depend on how much you use the service in question. However, The North Face’s scheme has certainly increased customer engagement and is highly praised by many online review sites.

Supermarkets

It’s impossible to talk about loyalty cards and schemes without mentioning supermarkets; after all, they are the most likely to be central to a consumer’s lifestyle than any other. With so many factors to consider, analysis of supermarket loyalty schemes is tough. Special deals and offers within the supermarket industry are transient, and this can have a massive effect on where people choose to do their shopping from one week to the next. Consumer magazine Which? has done a number of studies relating to the relative cost of shopping at ASDA or Tesco (formerly Fresh & Easy in the U.S. – remember them?) for example. With this information, the different loyalty schemes and cards can be factored in to assess their worth to each individual customer.

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Final thoughts

If you’re looking to save money then loyalty schemes and cards pale in comparison to shopping around for good deals. At the end of the day, it’s worth having a loyalty card as long as you don’t mind handing over your data to “the man”. A loyalty card or scheme should never be your sole reason for shopping in one specific place – but for now, at least, they do have a place within the consumer landscape.

Gambling is one of the most enticing forms of games. People all over the world practice gambling with money in one form or another. Some like to play cards, while others might be into slot machines. This is why when it comes to gambling, Casinos are treated as quite exotic. This is simply because you can find your favorite game as well as hundreds of others under just one roof.

Not only this, when it comes to Casinos, some of them are surely high up in the list of most beautiful architectures in the world. The sheer level of elegance and everything being over the top is what makes a Casino lively. So, for all the Casino connoisseurs out there, here is a list of ten of the best Casinos in the world which are worth checking out even though you like gambling or otherwise:

1. The Venetian Macao, China: This Quasi-Venetian mammoth of architecture is spread over 10.8 million sq. Ft. It also is known for having the highest number of restaurants built in a casino because of featuring 30 exquisite restaurants.
2. The Wynn Macau, China: From the family franchise of Wynn, this casino is located at Macau’s waterfront. With more than 500 tables and 840+ slot machines, this hotel-casino also features over 1,000 exotic rooms.
3. Caesar’s Palace, Las Vegas: Caesar’s Palace is a trademark in Las Vegas. Featuring exquisite roman baths and classic architecture, it is spread in about 1,66,000 sq. Ft.
4. Sun City Casino Resort, South Africa: With about 40 gaming tables and more than 850 slots, this casino is also known for its private safari facilities.They have recently started an online roulette India service exclusively made for Indians.
5. The Wynn Las Vegas, Las Vegas: This casino is the former title of being the world’s most expensive casino. Featuring a golf course as well as 19 dining styles, it is a masterpiece.
6. The Grand Lisboa, Macau: Showcasing the birdcage architecture, Grand Lisboa is the tallest building of Macau. With over 800 gaming tables and 1000 slot machines, it is also a dream destination for wine connoisseurs.
7. The Venetian Resort Hotel Casino, Las Vegas: Carrying the legacy of its family name, this hotel resort is perfect for those who want to experience the romance-filled atmosphere of Italy in Las Vegas. The best part of this resort is that it features 6 of the James Beard Award-winning chefs in their restaurants.
8. Foxwoods Resort Casino, Connecticut: Sure Las Vegas is America’s casino capital, but Foxwoods in Connecticut has the honor of being the America’s biggest casino. With over 17 different game tables and 7000+ machines, this structure is spread in a 4.7 million sq. Ft. area.
9. Resort World Sentosa, Singapore: It is certain that whenever the word expensive will come up you’ll think of this casino. With a total building cost of $5 billion, this casino resort embodies not just six hotels, Marine Life Park and a Universal Studio but an Adventure cove water park as well.
10. The Kurhaus of Baden-Baden, Germany: This certainly is not one of the flashiest casinos in the world, but, it carries a far more significance. This charming casino was built in the year 1820 and featured about 24 gaming tables and 113 slots.

There are some of the most beautiful and historically acclaimed casinos in the world. So, if you ever want to taste the favor of luxury, then make sure to check out these.

Taking control of your health doesn’t have to be a difficult ordeal. If you’re on the hunt for simple health tips, that will change your life, continue reading.

8 Health Tips That Will Change Your Life:

1. Don’t remain seated for more than two hours. Even if you work at a desk job, every two hours it’s smart to get up and walk around your office or to grab a coffee or a glass of water. As ideally you should aim to walk 10,000 steps a day and the longer you are sedentary the worse it is for your body as the human body is designed to be active.

2. Be careful when it comes to selecting skincare products. It’s important to pay attention to the ingredients list of your skincare products like you would the ingredients on food packaging. If you’re not sure what a particular ingredient is and whether it’s safe to use on your skin, simply conduct a short Google search to find out.

3. Grab a glass of water as soon as you wake up each morning. While everyone knows that it’s important to hydrate and to try and drink 7-9 glasses of water per day, you may be unaware of some of the extra benefits associated with drinking plenty of water. As examples, water can help your body flush out nasty toxins and can improve your focus. Drinking water can even boost your immune system and increase your resting metabolism.

4. Spend at least 20 minutes outside each day. Even in winter, it’s a great idea to go for a walk during your lunch break or after work as when you spend time outdoors, you’ll improve your heart rate and your blood pressure. Better yet, you can even relieve stress and anxiety by ensuring to spend time outdoors on an everyday basis. In summer, you may want to spend more time outdoors by signing up to play an outdoor sport such as tennis or soccer or to spend your summer swimming, hiking and stand up paddle boarding.

5. Consume probiotics on a daily basis. Probiotics can be taken in a tablet form and will ensure that your digestive system works efficiently. As added benefits probiotics can also boost your immune system and decrease your chances of developing eczema as well as allergies.

6. Listen to soothing instrumental music before you go to bed each day, It’s a great idea to listen to soothing instrumental music before you go to bed, in order to help your body relax and to fall asleep. If you suffer from regular insomnia, it’s well worth trying out this particular tip.

7. Start drinking green tea instead of coffee. Instead of drinking coffee in the morning, it’s a great idea to kick start your metabolism by grabbing a hot cup of green tea. As a bonus, green tea promotes healthy cell growth.

8. Swap your dinner plates for smaller dinner plates. One way to feel satiated while consuming smaller portions is to swap your current dinner plates for smaller dinner plates.

So what are you waiting for? It’s well worth trying out all 8 health and lifestyle tips listed above. As you’ll be sure to find one which you love.

As a business owner, it’s your responsibility to ensure that you have a plan in place to ensure your business’ long term success. In order to discover a wide variety of effective business tips, which will help your business grow, continue reading!

Business Tips for Entrepreneurs:

1. Don’t be afraid to ask for advice. Remember that there’s no shame in asking for advice, in order to help your business grow. As no matter how smart you are or how big your vision for your business is, it’s highly likely that your business could benefit from the advice of an experienced business mentor. Who’ll be able to use their wealth of knowledge in order to take your business to the next level.

2. Don’t be afraid to fire employees who are not meeting your expectations. While it may seem cruel to fire employees, if some of your employees continually fail to meet your business’ expectations, it’s well worth firing them as soon as possible. As in order to run a successful business, you need to employ team members who are just as passionate and excited about your business as you are. Also, keep in mind that lazy or uninspired employees can adversely impact your business’ culture and may cause talented members of your staff to look for jobs elsewhere.

3. Make sure to fairly compensate your business’ top performers. If you value your business’ top performers they’ll be far more likely to stick with your company for the long term. So make sure to offer bonuses and leadership training opportunities for all of your business’ top performers. As a bonus, if you get into the habit of rewarding exceptional work, other employees in your business may be inspired to lift their game.

4. Always listen to your customers. Your customers will always be vocal about what they like about your business as well as the areas of your business which they believe should be changed. Instead of being arrogant and ignoring your customers’ comments and feedback, make sure to take your customers feedback seriously. As you’ll be able to use your customers feedback to make wise strategic changes to your business. Better yet, if you make a habit out of listening to your customers, you should find that more customers will flock to your business as a direct result.

5. Protect your intellectual property. If you don’t protect your intellectual property other businesses in your industry may try to steal your ideas. So it’s well worth legally protecting your intellectual property. Especially if your business has innovative, groundbreaking ideas, that you believe other businesses would love to steal for their own benefit.

6. Always keep an eye on your business’ finances. As a business owner, you are responsible for managing your business’ finances. Even if you have a financial advisor and an accountant, it’s crucial to make sure that you know your business’ gross profit, net profit, expenses, debt, cash flow, and tax rate.

So if you’re an entrepreneur who is determined to succeed, it’s well worth referring back to this handy article from time to time.

Anthony Bourdain was a celebrated celebrity chef who was passionate about traveling the world in order to discover new food flavors and to learn new recipes. Bourdain was best known for his travel-themed cooking shows Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown and Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations. To discover some of the most interesting locales which Bourdain visited to shoot episodes of his TV series, simply continue reading. Anthony Bourdain’s most exciting travel destinations:

1. Tokyo, Japan –  When Bourdain visited Tokyo, Japan, he filmed in a cafe where guests where served by robot waiters. If you have any interest in being served authentic Japanese cuisine by friendly robot waiters, it’s well worth following in Bourdain’s footsteps and booking a plane ticket to Tokyo.

2. Malaysia – Bourdain visited Malaysia due to his passion for fusion cooking as Bourdain wanted to learn how to combine western ingredients and cooking techniques with Malaysian ingredients and cooking techniques. In Malaysia, Chef Wan guides Bourdain through a floating market in order to purchase fresh ingredients to prepare a scrumptious seafood dish.

3. Sicily, Italy – In Sicily Bourdain showed his viewers where to find the best cannoli in all of Italy and embraced his wild side by jumping off an imposing sea cliff.

4. Brittany, France – Bourdain also filmed an episode in Brittany, which is located in northern France. In this episode, Bourdain got to sample a wide array of scrumptious French treats such as crepes, oysters and apple cider.

5. Dubai – While in Dubai, Bourdain got to enjoy a bit of fine dining at a few of Dubai’s most exclusive restaurants before dining with a few young sheiks, who were happy to share their stories about everyday life in Dubai with Bourdain and his viewers. For a contrast, Bourdain also shared a meal with some foreign workers, who choose to work in Dubai, often for little money, in order to support their family members in their impoverished home countries.

6. Ecuador-  Bourdain proved that he has no reservations when he was brave enough to feast on a guinea pig, during a trip to a popular street market.

7. Rome, Italy – While in Rome Bourdain encourages his viewers to do as the Romans do and to indulge in traditional fare such as artisan pizza and cheese. This particular episode is unique as Bourdain chose to film it in black and white as an ode to the classic Italian film “La Dolce Vita”.

8. Haiti – Bourdain visited Haiti not only to learn how to cook traditional Haitian fare but also to volunteer at a relief camp which was set up after the 2010 earthquake which struck Haiti.

Destinations which Anthony Bourdain didn’t get a chance to film in:

1. Costa Rica – While Bourdain had plans to film a new episode in Costa Rica, unfortunately, if you’re searching for Anthony Bourdain Costa Rica episodes, you’re out of luck as Bourdain committed suicide before he was able to shoot an episode of Parts Unknown or No Reservations in Costa Rica.

So what are you waiting for? There’s no better time than the present to rewatch old Anthony Bourdain episodes and to start thinking about your next overseas trip.

If you enjoy learning about the careers of musicians and music producers, continue reading about the successful careers of artist and music producer Miriam Linna and Christian vocalist and guitarist Bob Bennett.

Everything you need to know about Miriam Linna:

Miriam Linna is a successful record producer who founded the independent music label Norton Records in 1986 with her husband, fellow musician Billy Miller.

1. Miriam Linna was an artist before she became a successful music producer. While Linna was a founder member of The Cramps, Linna quit after a year in order to join the rock and roll band, Nervus Rex. After which Linna ended up singing for the Zantees and The A-Bones.

2. In 2014 Linna released her first solo album. Linna waited until 2014 in order to release her first solo album, “Nobody’s Baby”, which was published by her own record company, Brooklyn based Norton Records. Most of the tracks which featured on “Nobody’s Baby” were unique covers of little known tracks from the 1960s. As “Nobody’s Baby” received positive glowing reviews Linna released a second follow up album in 2015, “Down Today”.

3. Miriam Linna has pursued multiple different careers. As well as being a successful artist in her own right and a very accomplished music producer, Linna also worked as a professional writer and publisher and wrote articles and editorial pieces for multiple magazines. Examples of which included Sepia Magazine, The Flamin Groovies Monthly and the magazine which she published with her husband Smut Peddler.

Everything which you need to know about Bob Bennett singer: Bob Benett is a successful Christian singer who was born in California and who has been professionally singing since 1979.

1. Bennett started playing the guitar at age 9. At the tender age of 9, Bennett had the urge to pick up his first guitar. After finding out that he was a natural, Bennett decided to start his first band with some of his classmates.

2. Bennett didn’t start singing Christian music until 1979. Bob Bennett only started singing Christian music when he converted to Christianity in 1979. When Bennett was inspired to start writing songs about his faith and newfound love of God.

3. Bennett’s album “Lord of the Past: A compilation”, attracted attention from Billboard Magazine. In 1990 Billboard Magazine included Bennett’s popular album “Lord of the Past: A compilation” as the 30th album on their Top Contemporary Christian Chart. Furthermore the number one track on this particular album, which was also named “Lord of the Past”, reached the number spot on the Christian Radio Chart in 1990.

4. Bennett toured with another successful Christian artist. Michael Card Bennett attributes some of his success as a Christian artist to touring with his friend, fellow Christian artist Micheal Card. In 1990 the two men joined forces on Card’s tour The Way of Wisdom. The Way of Wisdom was a runaway success and sold-out shows across the country.

5. Bennett writes most of his songs. Bennett still writes most of his songs and is still inspired to write lyrics based on his faith.

Hopefully, you enjoyed learning a bit about the successful careers of vocalist and guitarist Bob Bennett and vocalist and music producer Miriam Linna.