HBC PLANS CROSS SHOPPING FOR BAY AND ZELLERS CUSTOMERS
By Adnews Staff
Toronto-based Hudson's Bay Co. has announced a new "cross-shopping" plan for customers of its Bay and Zellers chains, according to a report in the Globe and Mail. The plan would allow Bay and Zellers customers to use one credit card at both chains and would see the introduction of a joint loyalty program. By the fall, HBC plans to let customers use their Bay cards at Zellers stores and their Zellers cards at Bay stores. The report goes on to say the company may eventually issue only one HBC card. The loyalty program would see customers begin collecting points as part of a new joint rewards program. The new loyalty program would replace the current Club Z points program at Zellers which remains separate from the Air Miles program at the Bay. HBC also announced the move towards e-commerce with the launch of a new site at http://www.hbc.com. The reports says the site will initially carry products such as toys, appliances and sporting goods but not clothing.