David Polinchock writes:
So, I was shopping at Harrods while in London last week and I picked up a catalogue for Red Letter Days, a company that provides experience gift certificates.
Give your car fanatic the ultimate adrenaline rush with one of these thrilling driving experiences. From motor racing to rally driving, from Ferraris to MINI Coopers to Range Rovers, our huge range of highly original high-speed gifts are as much fun to give as to receive.Whether your kids dream of being a pop star or a secret agent, you can make their wishes come true. Our junior range is specially designed for the younger generation and includes junior rally driving, fame school, scuba diving and aerobatic flying with The Arrows.If you know someone who wants to explore a new direction, fulfill a lifelong ambition or simply perfect their skills under the guidance of an expert, why not give them a little inspiration with one of these unique experiences? They can record their own CD, learn how to walk a tightrope, bloom into a successful gardener or get a grounding in the music business.If you are looking for a truly unique gift of a lifetime, you will find it in our VIP collection. These are remarkable experiences for very special people: flying to the edge of space in a MiG fighter jet; driving a real Formula 1 car around a motor racing circuit; dog sledding across the arctic wilderness to the extraordinary ice hotel; a romantic escape at the exclusive Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park; or, only for the most adventurous, an unforgettable trip to Nepal to climb Mount Everest.Interesting! I have always felt that "memorable" and " exclusive" experiences, create deeper loyalty than a couple of points which can be earned out of loyalty programs.
Just got me thinking about how retail stores/ other brands can design & use experience gift certificates, which can be either redeemed against points or can be used to get customers back to the stores. To me it looks like a lot of opportunities are waiting to be explored with this idea.
