Harps Launches Mobile Rewards Program With Birdzi

Harps Food Stores has launched a mobile rewards app with Birdzi, a provider of personalized digital customer engagement solutions for grocery retailers, the companies announced March 9.

Faced with a new audience of online shoppers amid COVID-19, the Harps Rewards program gives Springdale, Ark.-based grocer a platform to digitally engage shoppers and maintain loyalty among new and existing customers. With Harps Rewards, which launched in February after a six-month implementation, Birdzi offers Harps tools to engage customers, including personalized ad flyers, shoppable recipes and digital coupons.

After evaluating solution providers, Harps selected Birdzi in February 2020 to help drive its marketing efforts through AI and personalization. In addition to Harps Rewards, Birdzi’s platform provides a roadmap for expansion as Harps’ program matures.

“After thorough conversations during the decision-making process, Birdzi felt like the natural choice to transform our digital strategies and accelerate our ongoing growth. We’re excited about the flexibility that Birdzi gives us across marketing, merchandising, pricing and beyond,” said David Ganoung, VP of marketing for Harps.

Birdzi also helped Harps navigate local challenges the grocer was facing, including using personalized, targeted shoppable flyers and digital coupons in response to local newspapers ceasing the printing of grocery ads.

“With the launch of Harps Reward, we’re excited to help empower the brand’s digital experience,” said Shekar Raman, co-founder and CEO of Birdzi. “With our platform, we strive to create value for retailers anywhere on the loyalty spectrum, be it just beginning or mature programs. Harps has had great success in attracting the newly engaged digital audience brought on by COVID-19. With a rewards program that offers shoppers a personalized experience, Harps will have the tools to maintain and grow this new audience into a highly loyal audience.”

Harps Food Stores is a 100% employee-owned company that operates 114 stores across Arkansas, Oklahoma, Missouri and Kansas.