In an effort to vamp up their customer service, Boston Market has recently rolled out its new customer service initiative: Guest Service Excellence program just in time for the holidays. In a recent article from QSR, 
Boston Market Ramps Up Customer Services, Tony Buford, the’s brands chief operating officer said, “Like any service-oriented business, guest experience and customer service are items that we’re constantly working to perfect.” Corporate executives hit the road to visit Boston Market locations all across the U.S. as part of the program roll out in order to personally introduce employees to the new touchpoint in the program. The program focuses on five key points:

Whole Foods shoppers are dedicated, that’s no question. That’s why customers are known to drive more than an hour to get the experience at the Whole Foods that is just not offered at other grocery stores. Well, one thing may have been missing from the well-known health food grocer that’s now taking front stage, a loyalty program. Whole Foods Market spokesperson Michael Silverman sat down with Loyalty360 to give a little more insight into the testing of their new Whole Foods Market Rewards program. It is one of Whole Foods core values to satisfy, delight and nourish their customers so it was no surprise that when asked why now for the loyalty program, Silverman stated that their customers want it. The Whole Foods Market Rewards program is designed to both enhance existing customer loyalty and drive new customers into the shop. The loyalty program will include "unique and exciting offerings,” that follow in line with the same values Whole Foods values that has differentiated them from their competition since the beginning. Whole Foods Market will be testing the new loyalty program in Princeton, N.J., and then head to Philadelphia in the future. Plans then call for the program to expand nationally by the end of 2015. Read the full article from Loyalty360
here and find out more about Whole Foods Market Rewards.

Readers of INCENTIVE have recognized GiftCard Partners for excellence as an incentive industry supplier through an online voting process that took place February through April 2014. When the results were tallied GiftCard Partners was named one of the winners of Incentive Magazine's Platinum Partner Award. The industry’s most qualified corporate decision-makers marked their selections for the best gift card and merchandise suppliers in their field … the people, products and services that helped them most in motivating their employees and customers over the past year. The incentive industry winners were selected based on the following criteria: motivational appeal of the product line, customer service and speed of fulfillment, degree of promotional support and customization opportunities.

GiftCard Partners has been honored with the 2014 When Work Works Award for its use of effective workplace strategies to increase business, employee success and work-life balance.