Exchanging $50 for a shirt you really really want is a fair trade, right? Not exactly. Some consumers are seeking more from brands than a simple exchange of currency for goods. Yes, loyalty programs, such as a free cup of coffee for every 10 you drink, have been around forever. But that might not be enough. Brands are pushing their creativity to develop fun, exciting new ways to give consumers a pat on the back to say, “Thank you, you’re really special.” A designer brand is rewarding fans willing to pass on happy blog comments with merch, FourSquare-like companies rewarding top contributors with branded gear, and vending machines are rewarding mental agility.

“Happy Hunter” — Spanish clothing brand, Desigual, is rewarding loyal customer that want to say a few kind words about the brand with free merchandise. Fans sign up for Desigual items they would like to be rewarded with at the “Happy Hunters” website. The clothier then sends fans a blog post to write some kind words about the brand. The first 100 to get a reply from the blogger wins the item they selected on the “Happy Hunter” website. And if you don’t get a response, the 20 percent discount for being a “Happy Hunter” member isn’t bad.

GetGlue — It seems like everyone is “checking in” these days. With FourSquare on the rise and new service-based check-in services, such as Topguest and Plancast, popping up all over the place, GetGlue is against some stiff competition. GetGlue’s twist is to reward top contributors. When users sign up, they are asked to choose products they enjoy. They are then given recommendations based on their preferences. Like FourSquare, those contributors that rate and review the most products are given guru status. Unlike FourSquare, however, GetGlue’s members are rewarded with brand stickers to further support their favorite brands. Stickers might be just the beginning however, as HBO is teaming up with GetGlue and there might be an opportunity for some real merch.

Smart Vending Machine — Money can’t buy you… a bag of chips? If the British company, Britvic’s Juicy Drench, has anything to say about it, customers need to work a little bit harder to get a drink. The company’s vending machines reward mental agility by forcing consumers to play from over 40 “mind games” on the machine’s touch screen to test alertness. The games are meant to re-enforce the brand’s message: “brains perform best when they’re hydrated.”

Supportland — Point-based loyalty rewards have been around for quite a while. You are probably a member of two or three brands with such a program. Supportland adds a twist to the traditional points-based reward programs. The Portland-based company leverages a network of 50 locally owned brands to incentivize consumers to continue to buy local. Consumers that use the Supportland card in the company’s network earn points that can then be used at any of the Portland shops. For instance, Poppy Massage offers a one-hour massage for every 500 points earned at any business or businesses in the Supportland network.

Prediction
Exchanging cash for goods is how economies have been running for thousands of years. I give you some money and you give me a product or service, right? Consumers are increasingly seeking more out of the relationship than just products and services. They want a pat on the back, saying “We really, really appreciate your patronage.” As more brands seek to reward customers not in just points, but in a more meaningful way, services that link customers and brands, such as Supportland and GetGlue will increase in popularity.

Image via GetGlue