Perka Goes National with Loyalty Program Platform That Demonstrates Increased Customer Visits for Local Businesses

Local merchants tired of Internet daily deals and steep-discount coupons see Perka as a more sustainable way to grow their business

Portland, OR – October 5, 2011 – After operating a stealth pilot program of its cardless loyalty marketing platform for neighborhood Portland businesses, Perka, Inc. announced its plans for national expansion. The company entered the Seattle market today and has plans for more than 25 cities over the next 12 months.

“The response from local merchants who have started using Perka is overwhelmingly positive,” said Alan Chung, CEO and co-founder of Perka. “Whether it’s a pizza parlor, coffee shop or a specialty retailer, business owners are telling us that our loyalty marketing platform provides them with an easy, sustainable method of attracting even more repeat customer visits.”

Local merchants are on a constant search for ways to drive more customer traffic and sales. While daily Internet deals have captured the mindshare of local business owners lately, research shows that they can potentially damage their operations and reputation if not used carefully. The Perka loyalty marketing platform is a counterpoint to one-time deals because it lets merchants operate long-term, highly personal programs that help them recognize their customers, reward them with incentives and make targeted offers that customers find valuable.

“Perka allows me the ability to reward the backbone of my business, my loyal customers. Now they get a chance to know that I appreciate their business and value them as a regular visitor. In small business, with this volatile economy, it is these customers that sustain us,” said Ty Dupuis, owner, Flying Pie Pizza in Portland, Oregon.

How Perka Loyalty Programs Work

Merchants who subscribe to the Perka system receive an easy-to-use iPod-based POS device to authenticate customer visits and purchases. Customers check in using the free Perka smartphone app or by sending an SMS text message, and then the merchant validates each specific purchase. This personal interaction enables merchants to get to know their regular customers even better since each check in displays the customer’s name and how frequently they visit. Business owners work directly with a Perka loyalty specialist to design a custom incentive program for their unique business.

For a complete description of the Perka platform, and what customers are saying about it, visit www.getperka.com.