Standard poised to offer loyalty card

by Kate Gibbs Media Week 18-Sep-07, 13:50

LONDON - The Evening Standard is planning to launch a contactless loyalty card scheme to help stave off competition from the London freesheets.

The card, which would use similar technology to the Oyster card, is slated to be called Eros – after the newspaper's emblem -- and is likely to involve third-party brands.

It is also understood that the scheme could tie in with Barclay-card's new contactless card, the Barclaycard OnePulse, which combines the features of a credit card, Oyster and a cash-less card in one.

The scheme would mean hassle-free purchasing for commuters, besides the advantages of the loyalty scheme, but exact details on how the card would work are yet to be released. If the card were introduced, it would be a first for the newspaper sector.

An Evening Standard spokesman confirmed it was investigating loyalty schemes and was currently in talks with partners, but would not release further details.

Barclaycard spokesman Andrew Bond said nothing was settled.