Walgreens wants to get us moving, more specifically walking with their new program Walk with Walgreens. It is an online program that provides participants with education, inspiration and rewards.  The site looks very much like a social networking site with the opportunity to view videos, blog postings and add friends to your account.  You can even connect your Facebook account to your Walk with Walgreens profile.  Rewards are earned by logging the steps from your walk, hit your goals or just comment on other walkers’ posts.  Coupons are offered from a number of Walgreen partners.  Just for registering, you are given a First Steps Kit, that offers discounts on shoe inserts and pedometers.  New Balance also provides participants with a discount on sneakers.

During the month of April, Walk with Walgreens is holding and instant win game and sweepstakes with the top prize being an all expense paid trip for two to NYC, spending money and attendance at the season finale of Celebrity Apprentice. There are other  great prizes such as Walgreen’s gift cards.

This program is a great way to combine social media with wellness. Hopefully folks will take it seriously and get out to walk and not stay attached to the site reading what others are doing.  To register visit walk.walgreens.com

The Philadelphia Union soccer team offers Loyalty Rewards for season ticket holders.  In lieu of paper tickets, fans use a plastic card for entry into the games. Loyalty points are earned for arriving at the game early, coming in inclement weather or seeing a less popular team play mid-week.  In addition, the Union recently added points for fans that watch away games on TV.  Accumulated Points are used to bid on online auctions for teams related items such as jerseys, attendance at practice and the opportunity to upgrade to better seats.  Other teams have put rewards programs in place that provides points for every dollar spent in the stadium.  The difference is Loyalty Rewards is not based on purchases, although that will be incorporated into the Union’s program in the future.  The Union is in its third season, which regularly has sold out or near sold out games.

Shop Your Way Rewards is a free program that allows you to earn points from not only Lands’ End, but Sears, Kmart, The Great Indoors and mygofer.com.  It has to be one of the easiest programs available to both earn and use points.  Points are accrued for purchases both on-line and in the store.  If you don’t have your member number, you simply provide the associate with your phone number or email address to have credit applied.  10 points are earned for every $1 spent.  At check out you can indicate how many points you would like to have deducted from your purchase.  Every 1000 points is worth $1.  Show Your Way also invites you to become a bonus member, that only requires that you provide your email address.  In exchange, you will receive bonus offers that give you the opportunity to earn additional points for the purchase of designated products.  There are VIP levels within the program for members that purchase in excess of $2500 annually.  There is a silver, gold and platinum level.  These loyal shoppers will enjoy 5x-15x points on special bonus days, their birthday month and on cyber bonus days as well as twice yearly bonus savings books.  Specialty clubs for tools through the Craftsman Club and Kidvantage Club for kids clothes round out this comprehensive rewards program. For more information, visit their website at www.shopyourwayrewards.com

Fandango, the online site for purchasing movie tickets has a program which allows you to earn points on select cinema reward programs. When ordering online you simply provide your theater rewards program number to earn points. Fandango will automatically send your card number along with your order to participating theaters for processing. They will credit you once tickets are retrieved at the theater.  Currently the following rewards programs are participating:  AMC Stubs, Cobb Moviegoer, Wehrenberg MVP and Regal Crown Club.  Fandango expects to add additional programs in the future.  You can get more information at fandango.com as well as link to the reward programs on their site.

Outback Restaurants offers its loyal diners a rewards program entitled My Outback Rewards.  The program is structured different from most in that points earned are not automatically provided to your account.  Each time you dine, you receive a 14 digit code at the bottom of the receipt, in which you must load into the program’s website.  After signing up to be a member of My Outback Rewards, I was unable to determine what  the actual point value is for each code, although there is an indication that it is based on the net purchases of food and beverages.  Signing up will give you 250 points immediately into your bank and then there are surveys (the most current being May 2011) on the site that upon completion will also award 250 points.  When shopping in the Rewards Gallery, there were only a few items to choose from with the least number of points required being 2500, for a dessert or appetizer.  There is also the option to participate in a sweepstakes, which “costs” 50 points for entry.  The opportunity listed was for an Outback dinner for two.  Within the Rewards website, Outback asks its members to provide emails of friends to share information regarding the program, however no points are awarded for providing this information.

Although a fan of Outback Restaurant, the MyOutbackRewards program in the opinion of the Loyal Shopper  falls short and is not worth the effort to participate.

Health insurance provider, Humana Inc. offers a rewards program to its members for healthy lifestyle behaviors.  The program entitled HumanaVitality is a comprehensive wellness solution focused on physical activity, education, nutrition and screenings and is designed to help members succeed at pursuing better health.

The program begins with a health assessment that will provide a “Vitality Age”.  This is the patient’s true age, which demonstrates how current behaviors are impacting their health and shows where to make lifestyle improvements.

A set of “personal pathways” or recommended goals are established.  Incentives to help reach these goals are offered in four categories which include fitness, healthy living, prevention and education.  Members earn points called Vitality Bucks for completing their goals. As points are earned they will move from the Blue level to Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum with potential rewards increasing at each level.  Points can be redeemed for movie tickets, music downloads, electronics as well as discounts with participating merchants.  All reward opportunities are listed in the HumanaVitality Mall.  Information regarding HumanaVitality is available at www.humana.com.

Modell’s Sporting Goods was founded in 1889 and is the nations oldest family owned and operated sporting goods retailer.  They currently have 140 stores located from New Hampshire south to Virginia.  Their rewards program is called MVP Rewards Program.

Dick’s Sporting Goods started as a bait and tackle store in Binghamton, NY and although now public, the family still heads the company of 480 stores throughout the country.  They offer a ScoreCard Rewards Program for their Loyal Shoppers.

When comparing the companies based on their Loyalty Programs,  Modell’s offers a more comprehensive and beneficial program.  Highlights include:

• You earn 1MVP point for every dollar spent either in store or on-line
• 400 points will earn you a $20 reward certificate printed at the register
• Special events, sweepstakes and prices
• Family and friends discount

Although on-line purchases will earn points, at this time it is not possible to sign up for the MVP on their site.

The ScoreCard Rewards Program also provides you with 1 point for every dollar spent, however you will only earn a $10 certificate for every 300 points.  Both in store and on-line purchase qualify for rewards points.  There are no additional  benefits offered to participants.

American Eagle stores offer on-trend clothing and accessories for young men, women and kids which includes American Eagle Outfitters, Aerie and 77kids brands.  The AEREWARD$ program promotes one card for all three brands.  1 point is earned for every dollar spent on-line or in stores. Points are totaled every 3 months with the earned discount coupon sent to the customer.  The number of points earned determines whether 15, 20, 30 or 40 percent is awarded.  The coupon is for a one time use and does expire.  You can sign-up or get more information at www.ae.com.