About the Episode

In this conversation, Olga Lopategui, founder of Restaurant Loyalty Specialists, shares her journey from corporate roles in international marketing to establishing her own consulting firm focused on restaurant loyalty programs.

She discusses the common pitfalls restaurants face when implementing loyalty programs, the evolution of these programs over the years, and the impact of third-party platforms on customer loyalty.

Finally, Olga emphasizes the importance of understanding customer data, key metrics for success, and the future trends in restaurant loyalty, including the integration of AI for better segmentation and analytics.

Takeaways

• Olga transitioned from corporate roles to consulting due to family commitments.
• Restaurant Loyalty Specialists focuses on helping chains optimize their loyalty programs.
• Common mistakes include neglecting ongoing management of loyalty programs.
• Loyalty programs have become more accessible to smaller chains over the years.
• Third-party platforms complicate the loyalty landscape for restaurants.
• Individual venues should focus on email marketing and in-store acquisition.
• Olga's passion for food drives her work in the restaurant industry.
• Consulting is tailored to the specific needs of restaurant chains.
• Key metrics for loyalty success include participation rates and spend lift.
• AI will play a significant role in the future of loyalty programs.

Timestamps

00:00 Impressive career led to founding own company. 04:22 Clients seek help evaluating loyalty program effectiveness. 06:59 Specialize in restaurant chains, knowledgeable about operations. 11:25 Brands often misjudge CRM software for growth. 15:11 Third-party platforms have minimal overlap with guests. 17:01 Promote first-party ordering on all packaging. 22:47 Restaurants make cities special and memorable. 26:15 Each platform suits different business needs. 29:23 Loyalty guests prioritize value, expecting brand discounts. 33:00 Focus on product preferences and consumption patterns. 35:38 AI enhancing segmentation through generative improvements. 37:52 Email for updates on restaurant loyalty news.