Makers of S&H Green Stamps Make a Play for Online Business

Remember S&H Green Stamps, that venerable loyalty currency introduced in
1896? Well, it’s making a comeback, if new investors have anything to say
about it.

These new investors, led by a member of the founding Beinecke family, are
launching S&H greenpoints.com,
their entry into the online loyalty marketplace.

“S&H greenpoints is a complete marketing tool for retailers,” says Rod
Parker, president of S&H greenpoints.com.

“It represents the most valuable branded digital rewards currency
available, offers both online and offline ways to earn and redeem points,
and offers consumers a convenient and universal way to earn rewards.”

Consumers earn S&H greenpoints for their purchases in three ways by
shopping at an authorized bricks-and-mortar merchant, by using the S&H
greenpoints credit card, or by shopping online through S&H greenpoints’ portal.

Those points can then be redeemed for rewards or donated to charity
through an alliance with the United Way. The rewards include movie tickets,
CDs, travel options, or other merchandise.

S&H greenpoints has the benefit of a nostalgic name, but it’s arrived late
at the online loyalty game. More established players include MyPoints.com, FreeRide.com, Promotions.com CyberGold, and Netcentives.

The company has forged offline relationships with a few retailers, such as
Foodtown (a metropolitan New York-based grocer), Virginia-based Red Front
Super Market and J&J Food Center in Pontiac, Michigan. And letters of
intent have been signed with online partners more.com and ShopEaze.com. But S&H greenpoints.com
has a lot of catching up to do, if it plans to make a serious play.