Shopkick partners with Target for nationwide mobile loyalty program

May 23, 2012 | By Jason Ankeny

Target will expand Shopkick's location-based mobile rewards program across all of its 1,764 U.S. retail locations.

The free Shopkick app, which is available for devices running Apple's (NASDAQ:AAPL) iOS and Google's (NASDAQ:GOOG) Android, offers rewards points called "kickbucks" to smartphone users who enter traditional brick-and-mortar stores, scan consumer goods and make purchases. Consumers can redeem kickbucks to claim prizes like gift cards, movie tickets, Facebook Credits and iTunes downloads. Shoppers can also sign up to receive special in-store coupons and discounts.

Target--which began trialing the Shopkick app in seven cities in late 2010--represents the startup's largest retail partner to date. In addition to Target, marquee merchant allies include Macy's, Best Buy, Crate and Barrel, West Elm and The Sports Authority. More than 250 malls across the U.S. have deployed the Shopkick technology as well.

Shopkick boasts more than 3 million active users and told Mashable that verified walk-ins to partner stores now top the 7 million mark. Shopkick reports that its average user is 30 years old, with less than 8 percent of all users younger than 18. Women make up 64 percent of Shopkick users; more than half of those women have children.

Late last year, Shopkick partnered with Visa to offer cardholders rewards points at the point of sale. The two firms launched "Buy and Collect," offering kickbucks when shoppers use their Visa credit or debit card at participating retailers.

For more:
- read this release
- see this Mashable article