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AutoNation USA Hires Frequency Marketing, Inc. To Develop Program

22 December 1998

AutoNation USA Hires Frequency Marketing, Inc. To Develop Customer Loyalty Program; AutoRewards Program to Recognize and Reward Best Customers

    CINCINNATI--Dec. 21, 1998--AutoNation USA, the world's largest automotive retailer, announced that it has selected Frequency Marketing, Inc. (FMI), a Cincinnati-based frequency/loyalty marketing firm, to develop a loyalty program for its customers.
    The program, dubbed AutoRewards, will directly support AutoNation USA's commitment to redefining the car purchase experience and making every AutoNation USA customer a "customer for life." Through a blend of recognition and value-added rewards, the AutoRewards program will encourage customers to increase their usage of AutoNation USA's products and services including new and used car purchases, automotive maintenance, vehicle rentals and accessories. AutoRewards will begin operating in the Denver market on December 26, 1998, with a national staged roll-out to follow.
    Noted for revolutionizing the auto market, AutoNation USA introduced valued retailing techniques to the automotive market with innovations such as no-haggle prices, hassle-free ownership, a family-friendly purchase environment and a guaranteed return policy. "We considered many marketing firms in our search for the right one to help us realize our vision of recognizing and rewarding our customers. FMI understood our unique challenges and brought the necessary expertise and technology to the table," notes Maria Bailey, Vice President, AutoRewards, of AutoNation USA. "FMI's proprietary software platform will allow us to get our program into the marketplace in an unprecedented 60 - 90 days."
    "AutoNation USA is once again demonstrating their extraordinary vision and market leadership by making this commitment to customer retention. We're pleased and honored to be working with such a recognized innovator and are looking forward to the expedient launch of the AutoRewards program," states FMI President, Richard G. Barlow.
    Republic Industries, Inc. is the world's largest automotive retailer. The company owns the nation's largest group of franchised automotive dealerships and operates the AutoNation USA pre-owned vehicle megastore chain. Republic also owns and operates National Car Rental Systems, Inc., Alamo Rent-A-Car, Inc. and CarTemps USA.
    Frequency Marketing, Inc. is a specialized marketing services company providing complete resources for the design, implementation and management of frequency-marketing programs which recognize and reward customers based on tracking their purchase behavior. Founded in 1981, FMI has worked with such notable clients as Cracker Barrel Old Country Stores, General Electric, Bell Atlantic, American Express, The Walt Disney Company, Waldenbooks, Harrah's, Prudential, General Motors, AT&T and ITT Sheraton. Additionally, FMI publishes COLLOQUY, The Quarterly Frequency-Marketing Newsletter, the first and only publication to report exclusively on frequency-marketing programs across all industries.