Spark Commerce Offers New Online-to-Offline Promotions & Analytics Platform

BOSTON, Jan. 3, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Spark Commerce has been working with select SMBs and marketing companies to help them improve their marketing reach and ROI using a unique card-linked and mobile redemption & analytics system.  Tools for increasing social activity and engagement are incorporated into the platform. 

Backed by a group of private investors with relevant expertise in payments, big data, direct marketing and social and mobile commerce, including Loeb Enterprises, the company was founded by Andrew Moss and Janssen Choong - serial entrepreneurs who helped launch HotWire, Customink, and BuyWithMe (acquired by Gilt Groupe).  The team is leveraging proprietary data and software that was derived from those ventures to implement some of the critical components, while adding new layers to incorporate added mobile and social functionality.

During an initial pilot program, Spark and niche marketing companies like Gluten-Free Saver recently demonstrated the platform's compelling characteristics for local merchants like Stone Hearth Pizza in Boston.  They were able to drive new trial and social sharing of Stone Hearth's gluten-free menu to a targeted group of customers that then spread the promotion via word of mouth.  As a result of this sort of isolated segment-to-product match, conversion metrics far exceeded expectations; and clients are finding it preferable to working with bank-focused "card-linked" companies like Edo Interactive, Cardlytics, or FreeMonee which can't target the consumer attributes that are uniquely actionable.

"It's very rewarding to be able to work with a high quality merchant like Stone Hearth and deliver valuable customers interested in the specific products they want to market," said Andrew Moss, Spark Commerce's CEO.  "As we expand on the platform capabilities we're rolling out and add partners, we expect to improve our ability to serve as a channel for new customer acquisition at a positive ROI (in a way generic daily deal sites cannot)."

"The 'Powered by Spark' platform is opening up compelling new opportunities for our business. We experienced exceptional word-of-mouth spread with our promotion and grew our audience with little effort and are now planning larger campaigns," said Zach Rachins, co-founder of Gluten-Free Saver.

About Spark Commerce Inc.
Spark Commerce Inc. has developed a platform for managing online-to-offline promotions that is uniquely capable of tracking ROI on campaigns through multiple channels.  Spark leverages proprietary data from social commerce campaigns and works with agencies, brands and direct marketers to close the online-to-offline loop & boost engagement.  Based in Boston, MA, Spark Commerce is privately held.  More at www.sparkcommerce.com.

SOURCE Spark Commerce