Bink, the financial tech start-up which links loyalty schemes to payment cards , has partnered with luxury department store chain Harvey Nichols.
The partnership, which launches later this year, will see Bink’s payment linked loyalty (PLL) technology embedded into Harvey Nichols’ existing rewards scheme across seven of its UK stores.
Bink links a person’s payment card to their loyalty schemes, such as those offered by supermarkets and high street retailers, meaning they collect points and gain the benefit of money-off coupons automatically.
Serial entrepreneur Lee Clarke, 48, founded the company in 2014 after becoming frustrated at missing out on offers because he did not carry a wallet-load of cards around with him.
“We’re thrilled to partner with Harvey Nichols; technologies such as contactless payments, mobile, and Payment Linked Loyalty are transforming the retail industry and we are delighted that Harvey Nichols are embracing these trends,” Clarke said.
Rob Partridge, group acquisitions and retentions manager at Harvey Nichols, added: “As adopters of loyalty technology ourselves, we’re committed to streamlining our customers’ shopping experience and ensuring they can earn and redeem their rewards conveniently.
“For this reason, a simple add-on such as Bink’s Payment Linked Loyalty is the perfect solution for us.”
The partnership is the latest in a string of new deals for Bink as it begins its expansion into new markets, building on success with retailers including Avios, Virgin Atlantic and the Arcadia Group, which includes Topshop, Topman and Miss Selfridge.
Clarke previously told BusinessCloud that Bink will automatically be downloaded on 10 million smartphones by early 2018.
“Early next year we’ll be distributing Bink inside other apps that may already be on your telephone,” he said.
“It will be downloaded when you update your phone. There will also be a full UK rollout of the standalone Bink app. In the UK alone Bink will be on 10 million-plus handsets automatically for people to be able to use.”