Private Label 2011: Innovative Reward Strategies & Retail Lending

Oct. 28, 2011 - PRLog -- Boston, MA -- Some retailers have responded to the deleveraging of the U.S. consumer by revamping their private-label programs and using them to boost retail sales.

While Mercator Advisory Group has covered the private-label market before, the emphasis of Mercator's newest report, Private Label 2011: Innovative Reward Strategies & Retail Lending, is on the rewards strategies retailers are using to differentiate their programs.

This report highlights the ongoing M&A activity among private-label issuers and the market's appetite for credit assets. This report first examines the expansion and contraction of the private label credit card market over the last 10 years. Next, the implementation of the most innovative private-label credit card reward strategies are reviewed, an update of the features included in leading private-label programs is provided, and finally the impact these programs will have on the future of retail lending is suggested.


Highlights of the report include:

Private label credit market trends over the past 10 years.

Market share estimates for the top private-label issuers, reflective of recent mergers and acquisitions.

Discussion of the key features of private-label programs at the top U.S. retail firms, and what means of differentiation exist.

Private-label program implementation best practices.


Michael Misasi, research analyst at Mercator Advisory Group and author of the report comments, "While private-label seems to be achieving mixed results, companies on the frontier of innovation when it comes to rewards programs are showing that consumers will respond if retailers sweeten the deal. The success of these firms amidst an active M&A market could reinvigorate other private label issuers and their retail partners."

The report is 30 pages long and contains 14 exhibits.

Companies mentioned in this report include: BJ's Wholesale, Costco, Walmart, Sam's Club, Virgin Records, Tower Records, Linens N' Things, Borders, Circuit City, GE, Citi, Capital One, JPMorgan Chase, Alliance Data, Target, Wells Fargo, HSBC, TD Bank, Kohl's, Hudson Bay, J. Crew, Victoria's Secret, J. Jill, The Children's Place, Zale Corp., Office Depot, Interbrand, Home Depot, Best Buy, CVS, Walgreens, Coach, Amazon, Dell, Nordstrom, eBay, Lowes, Publix, Staples, Dollar General, Avon, Kohl's, Costco, Victoria's Secret, Auto Zone, Tiffany & Co., GameStop, GAP, Bed Bath and Beyond, Polo, Old Navy, Sherwin-Williams, Michael's, ROSS, PetSmart, J. Crew, Banana Republic, Marshalls, TJ Maxx, Radio Shack, Aeropostale, American Eagle, Toys R' Us, Urban Outfitters, Bath & Body Works, Dick's Sporting Goods, Dollar Tree, Whole Foods, Big Lots, Family Dollar, Tractor Supply, Macy's, American Girl, Anthropologie.

Members of Mercator Advisory Group have access to this report as well as the upcoming research for the year ahead, presentations, analyst access and other membership benefits.

Please visit us online at www.mercatoradvisorygroup.com.

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About Mercator Advisory Group
Mercator Advisory Group is the leading, independent research and advisory services firm exclusively focused on the payments and banking industries. We deliver pragmatic and timely research and advice designed to help our clients uncover the most lucrative opportunities to maximize revenue growth and contain costs. Our clients range from the world's largest payment issuers, acquirers, processors, merchants and associations to leading technology providers and investors. Mercator Advisory Group is also the publisher of the online payments and banking news and information portal PaymentsJournal.com.