MyPoints signs store deals in £8m UK push

Online loyalty scheme MyPoints is poised for an &£8m UK launch after tying up deals with major high-street retailers including Boots, Marks & Spencer and Dixons.

MyPoints, which claims to be the leading US loyalty scheme with 8 million members, hopes to outstrip rivals such as Beenz and WebRewards in Europe.

Supported by Great Universal Stores’ e-commerce financial information provider Experian, MyPoints will launch in the UK this summer, before rolling out across major European markets in the next 18 months.

MyPoints plans to sign agreements with up to 40 major UK brands. It also has deals with Currys, Halfords, The Link and PC World.

The company is to spend up to &£2m on advertising to build its membership, and will appoint online and media agencies.

Marketing director David Brosse says: “We hope to have five per cent of all UK Internet users signed up after a year.”

Customers will be e-mailed offers from MyPoints partner companies, and they will also be able to build personalised Web pages which filter out offers that are not expected to interest them.

Members will be rewarded with points for opening e-mails and clicking on product offers. They will be able to exchange these points for vouchers, which will be sent by post – and eventually through e-mail to be printed off – to be redeemed at high-street stores.