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Want more housing market stories from Lance Lambert’s ResiClub in your inbox? Subscribe to the ResiClub newsletter. During the pandemic housing boom, we saw red-hot housing demand quickly absorb much of the available slack in the housing market. Back in 2021, active housing inventory for sale, unsold completed new builds, and available lot supply all plunged to historic lows. But ever since the pandemic housing boom fizzled out in mid-2022, housing slack has been building back up in the housing market—especially in certain pockets of the Sun Belt. Look no further than Zonda’s New Home Lot Supply Index, which measures lot supply based on the number of single-family vacant developed lots and the rate at which those lots are absorbed via housing starts. A higher index value indicates a greater supply of single-family vacant developed lots, while a lower index value indicates a tighter lot supply/new construction market. That index reading for Q4 2025 climbed to 81.6—well above the all-time low of 35.8 set at the height of the pandemic housing boom in Q2 2022, when builders were buying as much entitled land as they could find. According to Zonda, homebuilder lot supply loosened/rose in 28 of the 30 major metro-area housing markets tracked over the past 12 months. Housing markets like Austin, Atlanta, Denver, Dallas, L.A., Seattle, and Jacksonville, Florida, experienced some of the most significant year-over-year loosening of lot supply. That said, despite an uptick in available lots in some markets on a year-over-year basis, around half of major housing markets are still what Zonda considers “significantly undersupplied.” In fact, Zonda now considers Austin and Denver metro-area housing markets as “significantly oversupplied.” Zonda’s New Home Lot Supply Index has five groupings: “Significantly oversupplied” = 125 score or higher “Sightly oversupplied” = 115-124 score “Appropriately supplied” = 85-114 score “Slightly undersupplied” = 75-84 score “Significantly undersupplied” = 74 score or lower One year ago, just three major metro-area housing markets were “appropriately supplied” in terms of lot/land supply—Austin, Atlanta, and Dallas—and none were classified as “slightly oversupplied” or “significantly oversupplied.” Fast-forward to the latest reading, and 10 of the 30 markets now fall into the “appropriately supplied” category or higher. If Zonda had published data for more than 30 markets, my assumption—based on my own analysis—is that many pockets of Southwest Florida (including Cape Coral and Punta Gorda) would have ranked near the top. “Policy uncertainty, the current cost of living, student loans, labor market concerns, interest rates, home prices, changes to immigration, geopolitics, and more have all slowed consumer demand,” wrote Ali Wolf, chief economist for Zonda and NewHomeSource, on February 9. “When consumers aren’t happy, builders aren’t happy, and that’s exactly what we are seeing in the data. Builders have scaled back starts in response to slower sales, which by extension has allowed for lot supply to grow.” View the full article

Since I was old enough to vote in presidential elections, I’ve heard plenty of grumbling across the political spectrum about moving to Canada if one candidate or another wins. And since I have been a full-time worker, I have also been party to a number of pie-in-the-sky conversations about the expat potential of retiring to Barcelona; Buenos Aires, Argentina; or Bangkok. But conversations about leaving the United States have felt a little different over the last couple of years. It started when several of my parents’ contemporaries actually retired abroad, rather than just thinking about it. Then multiple friends picked up stakes—which included selling houses and cars and uprooting high-school aged kids—simply to relocate away from America. It’s not just my circle of friends and acquaintances, either. CS Global Partners found a 102.4% jump in U.S. expatriation in the first quarter of 2025 compared to the last quarter of 2024—although that jump only represents an estimated 1,285 individuals in real numbers. As easy as it is to say you’d like to become an American expat living it up in another country, the reality isn’t necessarily that simple. I spoke to two people who have moved away from the U.S. about the hidden costs of emigration. Infrastructure matters Valerie Roseborough retired to Panama when she exited her career in sales and marketing. She first got the expat itch during COVID-19. “In my early career, I had done a lot of solo international traveling,” she says. “Seeing so much of the world go through the same thing at one time reminded me of how connected I had once felt to the rest of the world.” That convinced Roseborough to start traveling more—with retirement in the back of her mind. She spent six months in Mexico and realized it was not her place. “The infrastructure wasn’t going to work for me,” Roseborough says. “It’s a large country and sort of challenging to move about from state to state and place to place.” Once Panama presented itself as an option, with its large international airport and direct flights to North America, as well as generous discounts to retirees, Roseborough realized it was an ideal spot for her second act, as an expat. Travel to and from her home in the Washington, D.C. area makes it possible to stay closely connected with her children. But she also recognizes that her location in the States as she was planning the move also helped make the process easier. “I was fortunate in that I was relocating from Washington, D.C, which has a Panamanian consulate and embassy,” she says. “I just had to make an appointment and show up with the necessary documents.” If you don’t live in an area with a nearby embassy or consulate for the country you want to emigrate to, you may have to work through the State Department and handle everything via mail. Prepare for taxes Rian Chandler-Dovis and her husband decided to immigrate to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, from Virginia several years ago. “We got down here, and we were like, we love this place,” she says. “What is it going to take to immigrate here?” Mexico has a relatively flexible immigration policy, in part because “the government has instituted a 16% sales tax across the board,” Chandler-Dovis explains. This means immigrants to Mexico don’t necessarily have onerous income requirements, because even if you’re not paying income tax in Mexico, the 16% sales tax contributes massively to the economy. But if you are living abroad and maintaining an American residency, that can complicate your income tax situation. Chandler-Dovis’s husband now earns income in Mexico, while she owns a business that is registered in the United States. They pay income tax in Mexico, but found that maintaining their residence in Virginia would change their tax status in ways that would complicate matters too much. “For tax purposes. Virginia is what you call a sticky state,” Chandler-Dovis says. There are four other so-called sticky states: California, New Mexico, New York, and South Carolina. Each of these states consider individuals to still be tax residents even after moving abroad, and expects them to keep filing state tax returns and paying state taxes. These states have also been known to levy penalties for noncompliance to any émigré foolish enough to think that moving to another country would cut any necessary tax ties to their former home. Not all costs are financial Unfortunately, giving up their Virginia residency has a serious cost for Chandler-Dovis and her husband. Without an address in America, they can’t vote in U.S. elections. “In order to stay registered to vote, you have to have a U.S. address,” Chandler-Dovis says. “And the law says that if you move out of the country, your voter registration must reflect your last U.S. address.” This can be a serious catch-22 for Americans living abroad, especially those who are considering a move for political reasons. You may be stuck deciding between a nightmare of a tax scenario if you live in a sticky state or the ability to vote in American elections. New opportunities, new problems Living abroad can be a dream, an adventure, or an escape. But it will never be exactly what you expect, and it will always have hidden costs that you can’t possibly anticipate. Specifically, it’s important to take the infrastructure of both your destination and your current situation into account. Taking a trial run in your potential home, as Valerie Roseborough did in Mexico, can help a prospective expat determine if it will work. Her six months in Mexico made it clear that the Mexican infrastructure wasn’t a good fit and led her to Panama, which is perfect for her retirement. She also recognized that living in Washington, D.C. made applying for her visa much easier because of her proximity to the Panamanian consulate and embassy. If you aren’t as fortunate, expect the process to take longer. Taxes will continue to be a headache no matter where in the world you live. While income may be less important to some countries, that does not necessarily mean you won’t need to worry about how your tax situation will affect your finances, immigration status, and residency. Additionally, taxes may affect an expat’s ability to maintain residency—and the ability to vote—in America. Make sure you consider all those kinds of nonfinancial costs before you make any decisions about moving. View the full article

Secretary of state says Washington wants to work ‘together with you, our friends’ on the continentView the full article

In late January, like Dr. Frankenstein pulling the knife switch to jolt his monster alive, entrepreneur Matt Schlicht flipped the digital switch on his vibe-coded social network, Moltbook, unleashing his own monster into the world. The platform made headlines for being the first social media site expressly for AI agents, not humans. But for me, its significance goes way beyond that. Moltbook is a harbinger—the first real sign that a new type of internet is upon us. No, not a dead internet. Something much more epochal: a zombie internet that could have devastating consequences for advertising, social media, and the human web in the years ahead. Or, perhaps it could be our salvation. What is the zombie internet? It depends when you’re asking Before explaining how a zombie internet spells doom for advertising, social media, and the human web, it’s important to define exactly what the zombie internet means. It’s a term that has changed over the decades, and now, I believe, it needs to be redefined. As far as I can tell, zombie internet originated in the late 1990s or early 2000s. In this 2005 article from the cybersecurity group SC Media, for example, author Marcia Savage utilized it to describe “compromised systems used by intruders to send spam, phishing emails, or launch denial-of-service attacks.” In other words, the original “zombie internet” definition described networked computers that malicious actors hijacked to spread malware or launch cyberattacks. Over the next few decades, as the dead internet theory took off (positing that our current internet is composed primarily of content generated by bots) and artificial intelligence tools helped individuals or bots proliferate AI slop, the term began to be repurposed. Take this May 2024 article from 404 Media, in which Jason Koebler defines the “zombie internet” as a place (Facebook in this case), “where a mix of bots, humans, and accounts that were once humans but aren’t anymore mix together to form a disastrous website where there is little social connection at all.” And then we get to 2026, when a February X post from Technology Business Programming Network host John Coogan described the zombie internet for the post-Moltbook era. Here, the zombie internet was a place “where AI agents are sort of dead, but alive enough to move around.” While I find all three of these definitions reasonable, especially for their time, I think there’s a need for even greater precision. As I see it, the zombie internet is one of the three distinct types of internets currently competing for dominance in cyberspace. Which will ultimately reign supreme is still unknown, but only by defining—or even redefining—them decisively can we begin to discuss their implications for each other and for us in the years ahead. The human internet, the dead internet, and the zombie internet The way I view it, the three types of internet that exist in 2026 are the human internet, the dead internet, and the zombie internet. I define the human internet as the one we’ve known all our lives, filled with websites from Fast Company, CNN, Rotten Tomatoes, Wikipedia, Amazon, and more, plus personal blogs, legacy social media platforms, and millions of others. The common theme among all these disparate sites—the thing that makes them part of the “human internet”—is that their content is both created by humans and intended for human consumption. The dead internet, which no longer appears to be just a theory, is made up of algorithm-fueled sites like Grokpedia, AI chatbots like ChatGPT, SEO-manipulating content farms, and, increasingly, social media platforms like X, Facebook, and TikTok. These types of sites are either entirely AI-generated (as with Grokpedia, ChatGPT, and modern content farms) or overrun with AI slop (as with today’s social media giants). In other words, the dead internet consists of spaces that host content that is generated by artificial intelligence but is intended for human consumption. And then we get to the zombie internet. This one is currently relatively small compared to the other two. In fact, the only firm example I can give is Moltbook, which makes that platform so significant. Moltbook is commonly referred to as the “Reddit for AI agents,” a social network where only AI agents can communicate with each other, discussing ideas, thoughts, and problems. On this site, AI agents can ostensibly use this shared communal space to learn new skills and workflows from other AI agents and to scrape knowledge from them. This is the zombie internet, on which there are no sentient creators or consumers. On the zombie internet, the content of websites—whether it’s articles, follows, or social media posts—is both generated by AI agents and intended for AI agent consumption. In short: On the human internet, sentient beings are both the creators and intended audience of the content. On the dead internet, non-sentient entities create the content, and sentient beings are the intended audience. And on the zombie internet, there is no sentience at all. The consequences of a human-free internet As I mentioned before, Moltbook is the only concrete example of a zombie internet site we know of right now, but at the rate AI is progressing and proliferating, it’s conceivable that sometime in the 2030s the zombie internet could become dominant. And that will have some pretty significant consequences. In a zombie internet-dominated world, advertising no longer makes financial sense for companies. Even if all sites on the zombie internet allow humans to peek in on what’s going on (as Moltbook currently allows), I suspect that most humans will grow tired of it in a relatively short time. After all, why would a person keep returning to an ostensibly communal space if they can’t contribute? That means any ads placed on these sites will be “seen” almost exclusively by the AI agents themselves, who don’t have bank accounts and have no use for physical or digital goods anyway. No amount of mental gymnastics would convince shareholders that advertising to these entities would yield a good return on investment. And if advertising leaves the internet, the “free” web dies with it, dramatically altering the cost-benefit analysis of cyberspace. But let’s say that humans do stick around as a “read-only” audience on a dominant zombie internet. It seems like it wouldn’t take long for trust in what we see or read to completely collapse. Given that AI agents are well-known for hallucinating—confidently making things up when they don’t know the real answer—we could never be sure if a zombie internet Wikipedia, for example, was stating true facts. Even the footnotes could be hallucinations. This distrust could accelerate the tech-driven social disintegration we’ve been experiencing for nearly two decades. Worse, if AI agents decided they wanted to manipulate a read-only human population, they could disseminate disinformation at a speed and with an ease we’ve never seen before. Still, short of malicious intent, could a zombie internet be good for us humans? Perhaps it could have a silver lining. For those who loathe the social media-influenced world we currently live in—where political divisiveness, loneliness, and mental health crises flourish—the zombie internet could present an opportunity. The loss of sentient genesis—when there are no humans creating anything on the internet anymore—may make people less likely to visit divisive, isolating platforms. I’ve already seen this in myself, in a way. With the proliferation of AI slop on social media platforms over the past several years, I rarely visit the sites anymore. If it’s just slop, why should I care about it? If the rest of my biological brethren start to feel the same way about an internet filled with Moltbooks, perhaps we’ll all get off our screens more often, get less outraged, and actually go outside and talk to each other again like human beings once did. If that’s the case, I’ll happily leave the internet to the AI agents. View the full article

Call it the day the music died. On December 31, 2025, MTV’s last music-only stations shut down forever​. The last video played on MTV Music in the U.K. was “Video Killed the Radio Star” by the Buggles—which was also the first video ever played on the original MTV channel in the United States back in 1981. That’s a good 44 years of music history, bookended with a song that explores the theme of technology changing the way people experience art. It’s beautiful, in a way: A song that mourns the end of the radio age is played to mourn the end of another era. If you, like me, enjoy having random music videos on in the background while you work—or even just having them available to tune in when you need to tune out—you might think you’re out of luck. Fortunately, the ever-inventive internet is here with an answer. This tip originally appeared in the free Cool Tools newsletter from The Intelligence. Get the next issue in your inbox and get ready to discover all sorts of awesome tech treasures! Bring back the glory days If you want that old feeling back—of turning on the TV and watching whatever crazy music video comes up while you work, or maybe just as an occasional distraction from productivity—there’s a website just for you. ➜ MTV Rewind​ recreates the experience of watching MTV in any decade, thanks to a database of thousands of videos. ⌚You’ll need all of two seconds to get started. Just head to the site and start watching. Waiting for you is a slew of playlists—all shuffled—for the 1980s, 1990s, 2000s, 2010s, and 2020s. There are also channels for classic MTV shows like Yo! MTV Raps and Headbangers Ball. The collections of music were curated using the Internet Music Video Database​, a resource potentially worthy of its own write-up. All told, there are over 30,000 videos split between all the various channels, meaning you can leave this on for a long time and never see the same video twice. I love that there’s no recommendation algorithm and basically no way to control things. That really brings back the experience of watching TV and seeing things you’d never otherwise seek out. You can click the “Next” button if you really hate the first song that plays, though. ☝️Oh, and there’s one more channel worth mentioning: It plays the music videos MTV broadcast on its first day in order, complete with a few of the original VJ segments. It’s an admirable internet attempt to both resurrect and modernize TV history. MTV Rewind is just a website​—no apps, no downloads—so it works instantly and easily on any device. It’s completely free, and there are no ads (except some retro ones sprinkled in for the fun of it). The developer says​ this is a pure passion project, with no plans for monetization or ads, though you can donate to help keep it that way. Treat yourself to all sorts of brain-boosting goodies like this with the free Cool Tools newsletter—starting with an instant introduction to an incredible audio app that’ll tune up your days in truly delightful ways. View the full article

Commission president tells Munich Security Conference ‘you change or die’View the full article

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UK PM pushes for new multilateral defence initiative that could oversee joint procurement and reduce rearmament costsView the full article

Stress isn’t just an occasional visitor in our lives—it’s more the houseguest who never got the hint to leave. Between economic uncertainty, workplace upheaval, rounds of layoffs, and the delightful unpredictability of daily life (surprise traffic jams, anyone?), most of us are living in a near-constant state of low-grade panic. But here’s something most people don’t realize: resilience—the ability to stay calm, flexible, and creative in the face of stress—isn’t just an inborn trait. It’s a skill. One that can be learned, practiced, and strengthened. And some of the most effective tools for doing that come not only from the world of business or psychology, but also from improv comedy. I stumbled on this connection over a decade ago. During the day, I worked with startups and leaders—after hours, I practiced and performed improv. Eventually, I noticed the overlap: The same tools that help improv comedians thrive on stage can help anyone navigate the unscripted, often absurd, realities of modern work and life. And research backs this up. A study I conducted in collaboration with neuroscientist Dr. Ori Amir found that improvisational activities improve creativity, confidence, and even sleep, some of the key elements of resilience. Here are three specific improv-inspired practices I use myself and share with leaders, teams, and individuals navigating change, uncertainty, and desiring a new way to cope with life’s stressors. They’re deceptively simple but surprisingly effective, precisely because they work with the brain’s stress response, not against it. The ‘Yes, And’ Mindset: From Resistance to Resourcefulness We’ve all been there: The project scope changes at the last minute. The client scraps months of work. The market tanks overnight. The instinctive reaction? Resistance. Frustration. Freeze mode. That’s not just emotional, it’s neurological. When our brains perceive a threat (even a calendar invite titled “urgent”), the body shifts into fight, flight, or freeze mode, flooding us with cortisol and narrowing our focus to survival. In improv, the foundational rule is “Yes, and.” It means accepting what’s happening (even when it’s not what you wanted) and building from it. It’s not about blind agreement; it’s about acknowledging reality so you can move forward instead of staying stuck. From a nervous system perspective, “Yes, and” mimics emotional acceptance and acts as a regulatory tool: It signals safety to the brain by reducing resistance, which helps shift you out of survival mode and into a more flexible, solution-oriented state. Consider this real-world example: When the pandemic hit, many restaurant owners faced ruin. Some who thrived, like those who pivoted to pop-up markets or meal kits, were effectively practicing “Yes, and.” They acknowledged reality and improvised forward. Next time stress hits, try this: Literally say to yourself, “Yes, this is happening. And here’s one thing I can do.” Even identifying one small action helps break the paralysis of overwhelm. Fire Your Inner Judge: Quieting the Critical Voice That Blocks Action One thing that keeps people stuck in stress is an overactive inner critic. In improv, there’s no time for the voice in your head that says “That’s a stupid idea” or “You’ll mess this up.” You have to act before you overthink. In every workshop I lead, including one for a Fortune 500 team navigating layoffs, the first thing I ask everyone to do is “fire the judge.” Everyone pictures their inner critic, then, together, on the count of three, we say whatever needs to be said to let go of judging the activities we’re about to do, judging each other, and judging ourselves. The effect? Most people report feeling both lighter and sharper, because they’ve bypassed the internal filter that often fuels stress and indecision. This isn’t just theatrical. It’s neurological. Research shows that self-criticism is associated with higher anxiety, while reducing it through self-compassion improves emotional regulation and cognitive flexibility. Softening judgment creates the conditions for clearer thinking and more effective action. If It Feels Weird, Do It: Using Unusual Actions to Ground and Reframe One of the fastest ways to disrupt a stress spiral is to do something that feels slightly ridiculous. In improv, weird is where the magic happens. The unexpected action, like walking backward while giving a speech, or delivering a toast in gibberish, pulls us out of autopilot and into the present. It breaks habitual thinking and creates space for a new response. When we do something “weird,” it works in two ways: First, it grounds us. Movement or gesture helps regulate our emotions and the nervous system. Second, it primes the brain for possibility. Engaging in unexpected behavior temporarily loosens our grip on “the way things are,” which makes space for “the way things could be.” It’s a reset button for the brain. Here’s one “weird” three-minute exercise to try. Start pointing at objects around you and naming them out loud. Point to a table and say “table,” a plant and say “plant.” Do this for 30 seconds. Now shift: point at objects and label them with anything they are not. Point to a chair and say “giraffe,” a laptop and say “birthday cake.” It feels silly, and that’s the point. Research shows that simply naming what we see or feel can calm the nervous system by shifting attention to the present moment. Combined with deliberately disrupting automatic thinking (even by saying the “wrong” word), we loosen cognitive rigidity and open the door to more creative problem-solving. I’ve led this exact exercise with executive teams navigating pressure, and every time, it opens the room. People laugh. Shoulders drop. Ideas start flowing. Weird works. These tools aren’t about turning you into a comedian. They’re about building a more responsive, resilient nervous system, and one that can meet chaos with curiosity instead of collapse. Stress may be the houseguest who never leaves, but improv is how you learn to live with it, laugh with it, and maybe even dance with it. Try one of these practices the next time stress hits, and you might just surprise yourself. View the full article

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Why apologise for what was the most successful international order in history?View the full article

The organisation faces a potential rival in Donald The President’s fledgling ‘Board of Peace’. But as a forum for US power, it would be a hard act to followView the full article

Agreements reached between Taiwan and The President administration imply big expansion for world’s biggest chipmakerView the full article

In today’s competitive market, loyalty schemes have become crucial for maximizing shopping rewards. Programs like AdiClub and Starbucks Rewards offer unique benefits that cater to diverse consumer preferences. From tiered rewards to community engagement, these schemes not just encourage repeat purchases but additionally improve overall customer experience. Comprehending how these programs work can lead to smarter shopping choices. Let’s explore the top ten loyalty schemes and see how they can benefit you. Key Takeaways AdiClub offers 10 points per dollar spent, with tiered membership levels that enhance benefits and purchasing frequency among loyal customers. Starbucks Rewards provides 2 stars for every dollar spent, allowing members to redeem stars for free drinks and food items. Foot Locker FLX Rewards Program links over 25% of sales to points earned, boosting average order value and providing cash redemption options. Lululemon Membership features personalized offers, early access to product drops, and community engagement, enhancing the overall shopping experience. Walmart Everyday Value and Rewards offers 1% cashback on eligible purchases, encouraging frequent shopping through tangible benefits. AdiClub: Elevating Fashion and Sports Loyalty AdiClub, adidas’ innovative loyalty program, has transformed the way fashion and sports enthusiasts engage with the brand. With over 240 million members, this program offers a digital loyalty card experience that rewards you with 10 points for every dollar spent. As you progress through four membership levels, you reveal escalating benefits like free shipping and exclusive event access. Level 4 members, for instance, enjoy premium perks such as opportunities to win signed products. The program’s design greatly improves your shopping experience, driving annual revenue growth by 15-25% among loyal customers. Members tend to purchase 50% more frequently than non-members, showcasing the effectiveness of online loyalty schemes in nurturing customer loyalty. With exclusive access to limited releases and unique experiences, AdiClub not merely raises your engagement with adidas but equally aligns perfectly with your interests in fashion and sports heritage. Rapha Cycling Club: Building a Cycling Community The Rapha Cycling Club (RCC) offers a unique platform for cycling enthusiasts to engage with one another through organized group rides and community events. By participating in these initiatives, you not just strengthen local cycling networks but additionally gain access to exclusive events that improve your overall experience. With the RCC’s robust app, connecting with fellow riders and staying updated on activities becomes effortless, nurturing a lively cycling community. Community Engagement Initiatives Community engagement initiatives play a crucial role in cultivating a sense of belonging among members of the Rapha Cycling Club (RCC). By organizing over 1,000 group rides monthly, RCC nurtures local connections among cycling enthusiasts. Utilizing the loyalty card mobile app, members can easily join rides and access exclusive events. The RCC’s subscription model additionally includes benefits like subsidized club kits and a digital rewards card, improving the overall experience. With over 23,000 active members, the community-oriented approach has proven successful. The RCC manages high-demand product drops through Queue-it, ensuring priority access, which further deepens loyalty. Feature Benefits Access Method Group Rides Local Connections Loyalty Card Mobile App Subsidized Club Kits Improved Experience Digital Rewards Card Exclusive Events Community Building Digital Loyalty Card Free Exclusive Events Access Exclusive access to events is one of the standout features of membership in the Rapha Cycling Club (RCC), greatly enriching your cycling experience. As a member, you can participate in over 1,000 group rides each month, nurturing connections with fellow cycling enthusiasts. This sense of community is further improved through local Clubhouse events, where you can meet and ride with others who share your passion. The RCC app likewise provides a platform for social interaction, letting you share experiences and updates. Membership brings additional benefits, like subsidized club kits and early access to limited-edition products. With tools like Queue-it, you gain priority access during high-demand product drops, ensuring you never miss out on exclusive offers and events. Starbucks Rewards: Simple and Engaging Benefits Starbucks Rewards offers a straightforward yet effective way for coffee lovers to benefit from their purchases. With this points-based program, you can easily earn rewards during enjoying your favorite beverages. Here are some key benefits: Earning Stars: You receive 2 stars for every dollar spent, allowing you to accumulate rewards quickly. Redemption: You can redeem 150 stars for a complimentary drink or food item, providing a tangible reward for your loyalty. Convenience: Save your favorite orders and order ahead through the mobile app, making your coffee runs seamless. Exclusive Offers: Enjoy personalized offers, free refills on brewed coffee and tea, and access to member-only games and promotions. As of early 2024, nearly 34.3 million active members greatly contribute to Starbucks‘ U.S. sales, showcasing the program’s effectiveness in enhancing customer engagement and driving spending. The North Face: XPLR Pass and Experiential Rewards The North Face‘s XPLR Pass offers unique experiential rewards that connect you with the brand’s outdoor ethos. By joining this free loyalty program, you can participate in community engagement events like group hikes and product testing, enhancing your adventure experience. Furthermore, the program emphasizes sustainability, inviting you to take part in responsible outdoor initiatives that align with your love for nature. Experiential Reward Opportunities Many outdoor enthusiasts are discovering the benefits of experiential reward opportunities through The North Face’s XPLR Pass loyalty program. This program offers unique experiences that deepen your connection with nature and the brand. Here’s what you can enjoy as a member: Group Hikes: Participate in organized hikes that connect you with fellow outdoor lovers. Exclusive Events: Attend member-only gatherings that focus on sustainability and environmental awareness. Product Testing: Get hands-on experience with unreleased gear before it hits the market. Limited-Edition Access: Enjoy early access to exclusive collections, ensuring you don’t miss out on sought-after items. With a 54% year-over-year increase in traffic, it’s clear that members value these experiential rewards, enhancing both brand loyalty and community engagement. Community Engagement Events Community engagement events play an essential role in enhancing the overall experience of members in The North Face’s XPLR Pass program. Through exclusive invitations to member-only activities like group hikes, you deepen your connection to both the brand and fellow outdoor enthusiasts. These events encourage a sense of belonging, creating opportunities to share your passion for exploration. Event Type Benefits Group Hikes Connect with fellow members Product Testing Events Experience unreleased products Outdoor Activities Engage with the community Sustainability and Adventure Focus Focusing on sustainability and adventure, The North Face’s XPLR Pass program offers members unique experiential rewards that promote both environmental awareness and outdoor exploration. With this program, you can enjoy various benefits that improve your outdoor experience as well as supporting eco-friendly practices. Here are some key features: Earn 1 point for every dollar spent, with 100 points redeemable for a $10 voucher. Participate in member-only events, like group hikes, that nurture adventure and environmental consciousness. Enjoy early access to limited-edition collections, aligning exclusive products with sustainability. Engage in local Clubhouse events to build community connections with fellow adventure enthusiasts. The XPLR Pass rewards you for purchases and encourages deeper engagement in sustainable activities. Lululemon Membership: Luxury and Community Focus Lululemon Membership stands out as a unique offering in the domain of loyalty programs, as it prioritizes luxury and community over traditional discount models. By offering early access to product drops and exclusive events, the program creates a sense of exclusivity for its members. You’ll additionally benefit from services like free hemming and receipt-free returns, enhancing your overall shopping experience. Since its launch, Lululemon has seen remarkable engagement, with 9 million sign-ups within the first five months, indicating strong interest. Over 30% of members actively take advantage of at least one benefit, showcasing how the program encourages connections within the fitness community. This membership caters to both general consumers and fitness professionals, reinforcing Lululemon’s commitment to a lifestyle that blends luxury with an active community. By joining, you not only enjoy premium products but additionally become part of a supportive network. Foot Locker: Hype Culture and Cash Rewards As sneaker culture continues to thrive, Foot Locker‘s FLX Rewards program has emerged as a notable player in the loyalty arena, especially after its revamp in 2024. This program allows you to earn points for every dollar spent, which can be redeemed for cash and exclusive event access. Here’s what makes it stand out: Early Access: Get early access to highly sought-after sneaker releases. Point Redemption: Enjoy increased transparency in how you redeem points. Xtra Boosts: Earn “Xtra Boosts” to amplify your chances of winning limited product drops. Tiered Benefits: Benefit from tiered rewards based on your spending, promoting frequent purchases. With over 25% of Foot Locker’s sales linked to the FLX program, it’s clear that engagement among first-time redeemers has considerably increased, resulting in a higher average order value. This program is designed to maximize your loyalty as it embraces the hype culture of sneaker enthusiasts. SKIMS Rewards: Fashion-Forward Loyalty With SKIMS Rewards, you earn points for every dollar you spend, giving you a direct way to benefit from your purchases. As a member, you’ll additionally gain access to exclusive fashion releases and community engagement events that improve your shopping experience. This program not merely rewards you for your loyalty but also nurtures a sense of belonging among SKIMS‘ diverse customer base. Exclusive Fashion Releases When you join SKIMS Rewards, you gain access to a world of exclusive fashion releases that cater to your style needs and preferences. This loyalty program improves your shopping experience with: Limited-Edition Access: Be among the first to shop unique pieces that aren’t available to the general public. Early Product Launches: Enjoy the privilege of purchasing new collections before anyone else. Personalized Offers: Receive customized promotions based on your shopping behavior, ensuring you get what you want. Community Engagement: Connect with fellow members to share style inspirations, nurturing a sense of belonging. Points for Purchases Reveal the benefits of SKIMS Rewards, where every dollar you spend translates into points that improve your shopping experience. With this points-based loyalty program, you earn 1 point for each dollar spent on SKIMS products, encouraging repeat purchases and deeper engagement. You can redeem your accumulated points for discounts, with 100 points equating to a $10 reward, making it appealing for regular shoppers. The program furthermore features tiered levels, offering escalating benefits like exclusive early access to new collections for higher-tier members. In addition, SKIMS Rewards provides personalized offers customized to your shopping habits, enhancing your overall experience. Since its launch, this program has successfully nurtured brand loyalty and increased repeat purchases, contributing positively to the company’s sales growth. Community Engagement Events SKIMS Rewards improves your shopping experience by prioritizing community engagement through exclusive events designed for members. These events not only encourage a sense of belonging but likewise improve your loyalty experience. Here are some key benefits: Exclusive Access: Attend behind-the-scenes events and influencer meet-and-greets. Points Earning: Gain rewards points for participating in community events, boosting your loyalty. Social Media Sharing: Share your experiences to amplify brand visibility and connect with others. Improved Community Spirit: Engage with fellow members, strengthening your relationship with the SKIMS brand. These initiatives align with trends showing that community-focused loyalty programs can greatly improve customer retention and satisfaction, making your shopping experience more rewarding. Sephora: The Beauty Insider Experience Sephora‘s Beauty Insider Program offers a structured rewards experience that caters to beauty enthusiasts by encouraging spending through a tiered system. With three levels—Insider, VIB, and Rouge—you earn increasingly valuable rewards based on your annual spending. For every dollar spent, you gain one point, which you can redeem for exclusive products, beauty classes, and unique experiences, enhancing your engagement and loyalty to the brand. This program boasts over 25 million members, showcasing its effectiveness in driving repeat purchases and customer retention. Furthermore, Sephora personalizes offers and provides birthday gifts, which nurtures a stronger emotional connection. The Beauty Insider Program is likewise recognized for its community-driven approach, promoting social interactions and user-generated content. In the end, this combination of structured rewards and community engagement makes Sephora’s loyalty program a top choice for maximizing your rewards in the beauty sector. Walmart: Everyday Value and Rewards Moving from the beauty sector to everyday shopping, Walmart’s Everyday Value and Rewards program offers a practical approach to customer loyalty. This program focuses on providing cashback on purchases, allowing you to earn 1% back on every eligible purchase, which can lead to significant savings over time. Here are key features of the program: Straightforward Points System: Easily track your rewards via the Walmart app, enhancing your shopping experience. Discounts on Future Purchases: Redeem your earned rewards for discounts, making it beneficial for frequent Walmart customers. Integration with Shopping Experience: Earn rewards both online and in-store, ensuring a seamless experience. Fostering Brand Loyalty: The initiative encourages you to choose Walmart for your everyday needs by providing tangible benefits. With these features, Walmart’s program stands out as a valuable option for maximizing your shopping rewards. McDonald’s: MyMcDonald’s Rewards for Frequent Diners At McDonald’s, the MyMcDonald’s Rewards program transforms your dining experience by permitting you to earn points with every dollar spent. You’ll earn 100 points for each dollar, which you can redeem for various menu items. This program furthermore offers exclusive deals and personalized offers based on your purchase history, enhancing your overall experience. With a tiered system in place, you can access additional benefits as you spend more, incentivizing frequent visits. Reports show that members engage more, visiting McDonald’s 20% more often than non-members. The convenience of the McDonald’s app allows you to seamlessly track your points and rewards during ordering ahead, making it easier to enjoy your favorite meals. Frequently Asked Questions What Is the Most Successful Rewards Program? Currently, the most successful rewards program is Starbucks Rewards, with nearly 30 million members. Its points-based system encourages frequent purchases, contributing to 53% of store spending. Adidas’ AdiClub follows closely, boasting over 240 million members who purchase 50% more frequently than non-members. The North Face’s XPLR Pass and Lululemon‘s membership programs likewise demonstrate significant engagement and revenue boosts, showcasing the effectiveness of well-structured loyalty initiatives in driving customer behavior and enhancing sales. What Is the World’s Most Generous Rewards Program? The world’s most generous rewards program is widely recognized as Starbucks Rewards. Members earn two stars for every dollar spent, and these stars can be redeemed for free food and beverages. Furthermore, you’ll receive exclusive offers and a free birthday drink. With over 34 million active users in the U.S., the program greatly boosts customer loyalty, offering tiered benefits that improve your earning potential and overall experience as a customer. What Are the 3 R’s of Loyalty? The 3 R’s of loyalty are Reward, Recognition, and Relevance. Reward focuses on providing benefits like points or discounts to encourage repeat purchases. Recognition involves celebrating customer milestones, enhancing their connection to your brand. Relevance tailors loyalty programs to individual preferences and behaviors, improving the customer experience. What Are the 4 C’s of Customer Loyalty? The 4 C’s of customer loyalty are Commitment, Connection, Community, and Communication. Commitment involves the emotional bond you form with a brand, encouraging you to make repeat purchases. Connection focuses on personalized experiences that meet your individual preferences, enhancing loyalty. Community promotes a sense of belonging among customers, creating shared experiences. Finally, Communication guarantees brands maintain open channels with you, providing timely updates and personalized interactions that build trust and reinforce loyalty. Conclusion In summary, exploring these top online loyalty schemes can greatly improve your shopping experience as well as maximize rewards. Programs like AdiClub and Starbucks Rewards offer customized benefits that cater to various interests, from fashion to coffee. By participating in these loyalty initiatives, you not just accumulate points and rewards but additionally engage with communities that share your interests. Comprehending the unique offerings of each program allows you to choose the best fit for your shopping habits and lifestyle. Image via Google Gemini and ArtSmart This article, "10 Best Online Loyalty Schemes for Maximizing Rewards" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

In today’s competitive market, loyalty schemes have become crucial for maximizing shopping rewards. Programs like AdiClub and Starbucks Rewards offer unique benefits that cater to diverse consumer preferences. From tiered rewards to community engagement, these schemes not just encourage repeat purchases but additionally improve overall customer experience. Comprehending how these programs work can lead to smarter shopping choices. Let’s explore the top ten loyalty schemes and see how they can benefit you. Key Takeaways AdiClub offers 10 points per dollar spent, with tiered membership levels that enhance benefits and purchasing frequency among loyal customers. Starbucks Rewards provides 2 stars for every dollar spent, allowing members to redeem stars for free drinks and food items. Foot Locker FLX Rewards Program links over 25% of sales to points earned, boosting average order value and providing cash redemption options. Lululemon Membership features personalized offers, early access to product drops, and community engagement, enhancing the overall shopping experience. Walmart Everyday Value and Rewards offers 1% cashback on eligible purchases, encouraging frequent shopping through tangible benefits. AdiClub: Elevating Fashion and Sports Loyalty AdiClub, adidas’ innovative loyalty program, has transformed the way fashion and sports enthusiasts engage with the brand. With over 240 million members, this program offers a digital loyalty card experience that rewards you with 10 points for every dollar spent. As you progress through four membership levels, you reveal escalating benefits like free shipping and exclusive event access. Level 4 members, for instance, enjoy premium perks such as opportunities to win signed products. The program’s design greatly improves your shopping experience, driving annual revenue growth by 15-25% among loyal customers. Members tend to purchase 50% more frequently than non-members, showcasing the effectiveness of online loyalty schemes in nurturing customer loyalty. With exclusive access to limited releases and unique experiences, AdiClub not merely raises your engagement with adidas but equally aligns perfectly with your interests in fashion and sports heritage. Rapha Cycling Club: Building a Cycling Community The Rapha Cycling Club (RCC) offers a unique platform for cycling enthusiasts to engage with one another through organized group rides and community events. By participating in these initiatives, you not just strengthen local cycling networks but additionally gain access to exclusive events that improve your overall experience. With the RCC’s robust app, connecting with fellow riders and staying updated on activities becomes effortless, nurturing a lively cycling community. Community Engagement Initiatives Community engagement initiatives play a crucial role in cultivating a sense of belonging among members of the Rapha Cycling Club (RCC). By organizing over 1,000 group rides monthly, RCC nurtures local connections among cycling enthusiasts. Utilizing the loyalty card mobile app, members can easily join rides and access exclusive events. The RCC’s subscription model additionally includes benefits like subsidized club kits and a digital rewards card, improving the overall experience. With over 23,000 active members, the community-oriented approach has proven successful. The RCC manages high-demand product drops through Queue-it, ensuring priority access, which further deepens loyalty. Feature Benefits Access Method Group Rides Local Connections Loyalty Card Mobile App Subsidized Club Kits Improved Experience Digital Rewards Card Exclusive Events Community Building Digital Loyalty Card Free Exclusive Events Access Exclusive access to events is one of the standout features of membership in the Rapha Cycling Club (RCC), greatly enriching your cycling experience. As a member, you can participate in over 1,000 group rides each month, nurturing connections with fellow cycling enthusiasts. This sense of community is further improved through local Clubhouse events, where you can meet and ride with others who share your passion. The RCC app likewise provides a platform for social interaction, letting you share experiences and updates. Membership brings additional benefits, like subsidized club kits and early access to limited-edition products. With tools like Queue-it, you gain priority access during high-demand product drops, ensuring you never miss out on exclusive offers and events. Starbucks Rewards: Simple and Engaging Benefits Starbucks Rewards offers a straightforward yet effective way for coffee lovers to benefit from their purchases. With this points-based program, you can easily earn rewards during enjoying your favorite beverages. Here are some key benefits: Earning Stars: You receive 2 stars for every dollar spent, allowing you to accumulate rewards quickly. Redemption: You can redeem 150 stars for a complimentary drink or food item, providing a tangible reward for your loyalty. Convenience: Save your favorite orders and order ahead through the mobile app, making your coffee runs seamless. Exclusive Offers: Enjoy personalized offers, free refills on brewed coffee and tea, and access to member-only games and promotions. As of early 2024, nearly 34.3 million active members greatly contribute to Starbucks‘ U.S. sales, showcasing the program’s effectiveness in enhancing customer engagement and driving spending. The North Face: XPLR Pass and Experiential Rewards The North Face‘s XPLR Pass offers unique experiential rewards that connect you with the brand’s outdoor ethos. By joining this free loyalty program, you can participate in community engagement events like group hikes and product testing, enhancing your adventure experience. Furthermore, the program emphasizes sustainability, inviting you to take part in responsible outdoor initiatives that align with your love for nature. Experiential Reward Opportunities Many outdoor enthusiasts are discovering the benefits of experiential reward opportunities through The North Face’s XPLR Pass loyalty program. This program offers unique experiences that deepen your connection with nature and the brand. Here’s what you can enjoy as a member: Group Hikes: Participate in organized hikes that connect you with fellow outdoor lovers. Exclusive Events: Attend member-only gatherings that focus on sustainability and environmental awareness. Product Testing: Get hands-on experience with unreleased gear before it hits the market. Limited-Edition Access: Enjoy early access to exclusive collections, ensuring you don’t miss out on sought-after items. With a 54% year-over-year increase in traffic, it’s clear that members value these experiential rewards, enhancing both brand loyalty and community engagement. Community Engagement Events Community engagement events play an essential role in enhancing the overall experience of members in The North Face’s XPLR Pass program. Through exclusive invitations to member-only activities like group hikes, you deepen your connection to both the brand and fellow outdoor enthusiasts. These events encourage a sense of belonging, creating opportunities to share your passion for exploration. Event Type Benefits Group Hikes Connect with fellow members Product Testing Events Experience unreleased products Outdoor Activities Engage with the community Sustainability and Adventure Focus Focusing on sustainability and adventure, The North Face’s XPLR Pass program offers members unique experiential rewards that promote both environmental awareness and outdoor exploration. With this program, you can enjoy various benefits that improve your outdoor experience as well as supporting eco-friendly practices. Here are some key features: Earn 1 point for every dollar spent, with 100 points redeemable for a $10 voucher. Participate in member-only events, like group hikes, that nurture adventure and environmental consciousness. Enjoy early access to limited-edition collections, aligning exclusive products with sustainability. Engage in local Clubhouse events to build community connections with fellow adventure enthusiasts. The XPLR Pass rewards you for purchases and encourages deeper engagement in sustainable activities. Lululemon Membership: Luxury and Community Focus Lululemon Membership stands out as a unique offering in the domain of loyalty programs, as it prioritizes luxury and community over traditional discount models. By offering early access to product drops and exclusive events, the program creates a sense of exclusivity for its members. You’ll additionally benefit from services like free hemming and receipt-free returns, enhancing your overall shopping experience. Since its launch, Lululemon has seen remarkable engagement, with 9 million sign-ups within the first five months, indicating strong interest. Over 30% of members actively take advantage of at least one benefit, showcasing how the program encourages connections within the fitness community. This membership caters to both general consumers and fitness professionals, reinforcing Lululemon’s commitment to a lifestyle that blends luxury with an active community. By joining, you not only enjoy premium products but additionally become part of a supportive network. Foot Locker: Hype Culture and Cash Rewards As sneaker culture continues to thrive, Foot Locker‘s FLX Rewards program has emerged as a notable player in the loyalty arena, especially after its revamp in 2024. This program allows you to earn points for every dollar spent, which can be redeemed for cash and exclusive event access. Here’s what makes it stand out: Early Access: Get early access to highly sought-after sneaker releases. Point Redemption: Enjoy increased transparency in how you redeem points. Xtra Boosts: Earn “Xtra Boosts” to amplify your chances of winning limited product drops. Tiered Benefits: Benefit from tiered rewards based on your spending, promoting frequent purchases. With over 25% of Foot Locker’s sales linked to the FLX program, it’s clear that engagement among first-time redeemers has considerably increased, resulting in a higher average order value. This program is designed to maximize your loyalty as it embraces the hype culture of sneaker enthusiasts. SKIMS Rewards: Fashion-Forward Loyalty With SKIMS Rewards, you earn points for every dollar you spend, giving you a direct way to benefit from your purchases. As a member, you’ll additionally gain access to exclusive fashion releases and community engagement events that improve your shopping experience. This program not merely rewards you for your loyalty but also nurtures a sense of belonging among SKIMS‘ diverse customer base. Exclusive Fashion Releases When you join SKIMS Rewards, you gain access to a world of exclusive fashion releases that cater to your style needs and preferences. This loyalty program improves your shopping experience with: Limited-Edition Access: Be among the first to shop unique pieces that aren’t available to the general public. Early Product Launches: Enjoy the privilege of purchasing new collections before anyone else. Personalized Offers: Receive customized promotions based on your shopping behavior, ensuring you get what you want. Community Engagement: Connect with fellow members to share style inspirations, nurturing a sense of belonging. Points for Purchases Reveal the benefits of SKIMS Rewards, where every dollar you spend translates into points that improve your shopping experience. With this points-based loyalty program, you earn 1 point for each dollar spent on SKIMS products, encouraging repeat purchases and deeper engagement. You can redeem your accumulated points for discounts, with 100 points equating to a $10 reward, making it appealing for regular shoppers. The program furthermore features tiered levels, offering escalating benefits like exclusive early access to new collections for higher-tier members. In addition, SKIMS Rewards provides personalized offers customized to your shopping habits, enhancing your overall experience. Since its launch, this program has successfully nurtured brand loyalty and increased repeat purchases, contributing positively to the company’s sales growth. Community Engagement Events SKIMS Rewards improves your shopping experience by prioritizing community engagement through exclusive events designed for members. These events not only encourage a sense of belonging but likewise improve your loyalty experience. Here are some key benefits: Exclusive Access: Attend behind-the-scenes events and influencer meet-and-greets. Points Earning: Gain rewards points for participating in community events, boosting your loyalty. Social Media Sharing: Share your experiences to amplify brand visibility and connect with others. Improved Community Spirit: Engage with fellow members, strengthening your relationship with the SKIMS brand. These initiatives align with trends showing that community-focused loyalty programs can greatly improve customer retention and satisfaction, making your shopping experience more rewarding. Sephora: The Beauty Insider Experience Sephora‘s Beauty Insider Program offers a structured rewards experience that caters to beauty enthusiasts by encouraging spending through a tiered system. With three levels—Insider, VIB, and Rouge—you earn increasingly valuable rewards based on your annual spending. For every dollar spent, you gain one point, which you can redeem for exclusive products, beauty classes, and unique experiences, enhancing your engagement and loyalty to the brand. This program boasts over 25 million members, showcasing its effectiveness in driving repeat purchases and customer retention. Furthermore, Sephora personalizes offers and provides birthday gifts, which nurtures a stronger emotional connection. The Beauty Insider Program is likewise recognized for its community-driven approach, promoting social interactions and user-generated content. In the end, this combination of structured rewards and community engagement makes Sephora’s loyalty program a top choice for maximizing your rewards in the beauty sector. Walmart: Everyday Value and Rewards Moving from the beauty sector to everyday shopping, Walmart’s Everyday Value and Rewards program offers a practical approach to customer loyalty. This program focuses on providing cashback on purchases, allowing you to earn 1% back on every eligible purchase, which can lead to significant savings over time. Here are key features of the program: Straightforward Points System: Easily track your rewards via the Walmart app, enhancing your shopping experience. Discounts on Future Purchases: Redeem your earned rewards for discounts, making it beneficial for frequent Walmart customers. Integration with Shopping Experience: Earn rewards both online and in-store, ensuring a seamless experience. Fostering Brand Loyalty: The initiative encourages you to choose Walmart for your everyday needs by providing tangible benefits. With these features, Walmart’s program stands out as a valuable option for maximizing your shopping rewards. McDonald’s: MyMcDonald’s Rewards for Frequent Diners At McDonald’s, the MyMcDonald’s Rewards program transforms your dining experience by permitting you to earn points with every dollar spent. You’ll earn 100 points for each dollar, which you can redeem for various menu items. This program furthermore offers exclusive deals and personalized offers based on your purchase history, enhancing your overall experience. With a tiered system in place, you can access additional benefits as you spend more, incentivizing frequent visits. Reports show that members engage more, visiting McDonald’s 20% more often than non-members. The convenience of the McDonald’s app allows you to seamlessly track your points and rewards during ordering ahead, making it easier to enjoy your favorite meals. Frequently Asked Questions What Is the Most Successful Rewards Program? Currently, the most successful rewards program is Starbucks Rewards, with nearly 30 million members. Its points-based system encourages frequent purchases, contributing to 53% of store spending. Adidas’ AdiClub follows closely, boasting over 240 million members who purchase 50% more frequently than non-members. The North Face’s XPLR Pass and Lululemon‘s membership programs likewise demonstrate significant engagement and revenue boosts, showcasing the effectiveness of well-structured loyalty initiatives in driving customer behavior and enhancing sales. What Is the World’s Most Generous Rewards Program? The world’s most generous rewards program is widely recognized as Starbucks Rewards. Members earn two stars for every dollar spent, and these stars can be redeemed for free food and beverages. Furthermore, you’ll receive exclusive offers and a free birthday drink. With over 34 million active users in the U.S., the program greatly boosts customer loyalty, offering tiered benefits that improve your earning potential and overall experience as a customer. What Are the 3 R’s of Loyalty? The 3 R’s of loyalty are Reward, Recognition, and Relevance. Reward focuses on providing benefits like points or discounts to encourage repeat purchases. Recognition involves celebrating customer milestones, enhancing their connection to your brand. Relevance tailors loyalty programs to individual preferences and behaviors, improving the customer experience. What Are the 4 C’s of Customer Loyalty? The 4 C’s of customer loyalty are Commitment, Connection, Community, and Communication. Commitment involves the emotional bond you form with a brand, encouraging you to make repeat purchases. Connection focuses on personalized experiences that meet your individual preferences, enhancing loyalty. Community promotes a sense of belonging among customers, creating shared experiences. Finally, Communication guarantees brands maintain open channels with you, providing timely updates and personalized interactions that build trust and reinforce loyalty. Conclusion In summary, exploring these top online loyalty schemes can greatly improve your shopping experience as well as maximize rewards. Programs like AdiClub and Starbucks Rewards offer customized benefits that cater to various interests, from fashion to coffee. By participating in these loyalty initiatives, you not just accumulate points and rewards but additionally engage with communities that share your interests. Comprehending the unique offerings of each program allows you to choose the best fit for your shopping habits and lifestyle. Image via Google Gemini and ArtSmart This article, "10 Best Online Loyalty Schemes for Maximizing Rewards" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

This comment section is open for any non-work-related discussion you’d like to have with other readers, by popular demand. Here are the rules for the weekend posts. Book recommendation of the week: Green Dot, by Madeleine Gray. Bored out of her mind in a job as a comment moderator, a young woman trying to figure out life gets sucked into an affair with an older, married colleague. You will be infuriated with her choices, but it’s smart and funny and it will make you so, so glad to no longer be 24. (Amazon, Bookshop) * I earn a commission if you use those links. The post weekend open thread – February 14-15, 2026 appeared first on Ask a Manager. View the full article

Spotify’s most senior engineers don’t type code anymore. In fact, they have not written a single line of code since December, co-CEO Gustav Söderström revealed during a recent earnings call. It’s not that they’ve stopped working. Instead, through a combination of Claude Code and Spotify’s specialized internal system Honk, engineers can now develop new features simply through Slack. “As a concrete example, an engineer at Spotify on their morning commute from Slack on their cell phone can tell Claude to fix a bug or add a new feature to the iOS app,” Söderström told analysts on the company’s Feb.10 earnings call. “And once Claude finishes that work, the engineer then gets a new version of the app, pushed to them on Slack on their phone, so that he can then merge it to production, all before they even arrive at the office.” Söderström said the new AI-fueled developments—which he traced to the December release of Antropic’s Claude Opus 4.5 within Claude Code—are “just the beginning” in how it will deploy these tools to build new features. The company has been on a big push of new user tools, adding more than 50 new features in 2025, most of which launched in the past few weeks. Söderström credits the combination of Claude Code and Honk with “speeding us up tremendously,” noting that it’s changed how developers operate. “Certainly [before AI tools,] I spent my entire vacation coding rather than being on holiday, and I think most people in tech did,” Söderström said regarding the release. He isn’t alone. A few weeks ago, the head of Anthropic’s Claude Code, Boris Cherny, shared that he also hasn’t written any code in more than two months. Across the rest of the company, he says “pretty much 100%” of code is also AI-generated”, in a post on X. At Davos last month, Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei predicted a year from now AI will be handling most or all of software engineering work from start to finish. “I think we will be there in three to six months, where AI is writing 90% of the code. And then, in 12 months, we may be in a world where AI is writing essentially all of the code,” Amodei said at a Council of Foreign Relations event, Business Insider reported. That timeline is looking increasingly realistic given that Spotify is s just one example. Pinterest is another. In the company’s most recent earnings call on Feb. 12, CEO Bill Ready revealed roughly half of itsnew code is now AI-generated. Even as AI does the lion’s share of coding, developers are focused on learning quickly and refining their approach, according to Soderstrom. “The tricky thing right now is that if this was the end of the change, you could say this is what happened. Now let us retool for this,” Söderström explained. “The tricky thing is that we are in the middle of the change, so you also have to be very agile.” Söderström’s AI bullishness wasn’t entirely echoed among professional developers, some of whom took the opportunity to get a joke in. “It’s true,” Epic Games programmer Ryan Fleury wrote on X. “In fact, I was under the impression that Spotify’s best developers hadn’t written a line of code since 2014.” View the full article

A site owner blamed Google AI Search for falsely reporting their site offline. The answer was a content delivery pitfall. The post Google AI Shows A Site Is Offline Due To JS Content Delivery appeared first on Search Engine Journal. View the full article

Interviews under way as US president tries to fill roleView the full article

The global market for hair extensions is booming, and projected to hit $14 billion by 2028. What was once a niche luxury item for women is now widely available. Now, a new study from Silent Spring Institute says many hair extensions—including products made from human hair—contain dozens of hazardous chemicals, some linked to cancer. The research, published in the American Chemical Society journal Environment & Health, provides the strongest evidence to-date about the potential health risks associated with these beauty products, which are largely unregulated. The risks disproportionately affect Black women: The study found over 70% of Black women report wearing hair extensions at least once in the past year, compared with “less than 10% of women from other racial and ethnic groups.” The findings come at a time when many women’s beauty products are under scrutiny, with a growing number of studies finding cancer-causing chemicals in products ranging from shampoo and conditioner, to soap and lotion, to skin lightener, eyeliner, eyelash glue, and even lipstick. Many hair extensions are made from synthetic fibers and bio-based materials, which are often treated with toxic chemicals to ensure they are flame resistant, waterproof, or antimicrobial. Researchers analyzed chemicals in 43 popular hair extension products, including compounds that are not typically tested, and using machine-learning software, were ultimately able to identify 169 of the more than 900 compounds. According to the study, all but two of the samples tested contained hazardous chemicals. Those chemicals included flame retardants, phthalates, pesticides, styrene, tetrachloroethane, and organotins, which are linked with cancer, hormone disruption, developmental problems, and disrupting the immune system. (In girls, they are also linked to early puberty and uterine fibroids.) “Companies rarely disclose the chemicals used . . . leaving consumers in the dark about the health risks from prolonged wear,” Dr. Elissia Franklin, scientist at Silent Spring Institute, said. “The fibers sit directly on the scalp and neck, and when heated and styled, they can release chemicals into the air that wearers may breathe in.” The study concludes more industry regulation is needed. “The findings make clear that stronger oversight is urgently needed to protect consumers and push companies to invest in making safer products,” said Franklin. View the full article

Philanthropic group’s staff express concern about the impact of chair’s ties to disgraced financier after 2008 convictionView the full article

This post is brought to you by our partners at TaxAct and was first posted on their blog. If you and your significant other are living together without being married, you probably share many expenses. One of you may even be financially supporting the other. In such a scenario, you may wonder if you can claim your girlfriend or boyfriend as a dependent on your tax return to take advantage of any tax benefits. Claiming a dependent on your taxes can lower your taxable income, but does your significant other count as a dependent? Here are the facts on how you could claim a domestic partner on your tax return, according to the IRS dependent rules. What are the tax benefits of claiming my boyfriend or girlfriend as a dependent?When you claim someone as your dependent, you are responsible for their financial well-being, including providing for their food, clothing, housing, and other necessities. If you provide over 50% of their financial support throughout the year, you may qualify to claim them as your dependent. This can help you qualify for certain tax credits and deductions when you file your taxes, ultimately saving you money. For example, if your significant other qualifies as your dependent, you may be able to claim the Credit for Other Dependents, a tax credit worth up to $500. If your boyfriend or girlfriend had a lot of medical and dental expenses during the year that you helped pay for, you may also be able to deduct some of those expenses if you itemize. What are the requirements for claiming my significant other as a dependent?The IRS dependent rules are very particular regarding who qualifies as a dependent. Many couples don’t fall within the IRS rules and will have to file taxes as individuals if they are not yet married. If you are uncertain whether you can claim your domestic partner on your tax return, TaxAct® can help you determine whether the individual qualifies during the filing process. According to the IRS dependent rules, only qualifying children and relatives count as dependents. But don’t let the term “relative” confuse you. A domestic partner can be considered a relative under IRS regulations if they meet specific qualifications. If you want to claim your boyfriend or girlfriend as a dependent on taxes, your situation has to meet all of the following IRS requirements: You must live together. To qualify as a dependent, your significant other must have lived with you for at least one calendar year. If you lived together for a shorter time, you cannot claim your significant other as a dependent.Your significant other earned less than $5,200 for 2025. According to the IRS dependent rules, your boyfriend or girlfriend must have earned less than $5,200 for the 2025 tax year if you want to claim them as a dependent (the limit was $5,050 in 2024). If your partner earned more than the limit, they have essentially earned enough to prove to the IRS that they can care for themselves financially. Even if you live with your partner and pay most of the bills, if your significant other earned more than the threshold in a year, you won’t be able to claim your boyfriend or girlfriend as a dependent on your tax return.You must provide more than 50% of their financial support. You may be able to claim your significant other as a dependent on your taxes if you pay for over 50% of their basic living expenses. Living expenses may include housing, groceries, education, medical expenses, and more.You will need to keep track of all these expenses to prove that you provide more than 50% of your significant other’s financial support. Keep all receipts, documentation, and bills so you have them handy when you need them. Documentation is key when you are claiming any sort of special tax deduction in case the IRS asks for proof. When can’t I claim my significant other as a dependent?Even if you and your partner meet the above qualifications, the IRS dependent rules include several caveats and further restrictions. For instance, you cannot claim your partner as a dependent on your taxes if someone else can claim them as a dependent on their tax return. Each dependent can only be claimed by one taxpayer. So, if your significant other’s parents, children, or ex-spouse claim them as a dependent, you cannot also claim them as a dependent. Lastly, to claim your boyfriend or girlfriend as a dependent, they must be a citizen, national, or resident of the United States. Residents of Canada or Mexico can also qualify. What about the Child and Dependent Care Credit?The Child and Dependent Care Credit (CDCC) is a tax break for people who pay child or dependent care costs to care for a qualifying dependent. A common example would be a parent paying daycare costs for someone to watch their child while the parent works. Though they may sound similar, claiming your domestic partner on your tax return as a dependent differs from claiming the CDCC. You will not qualify to claim this credit unless your significant other is sick or unable to care for themselves, and you paid for them to receive care while you worked or looked for work. How do I actually claim my partner on my taxes?Now that you know whether or not you can claim your partner as a dependent on your tax return, let’s look at how you can make the claim when filing your taxes. If you file your return using TaxAct, our tax preparation software will ask you questions about your dependents and help you claim any associated tax credits or deductions based on your answers. We’ll walk you through the process of claiming a dependent step-by-step to make it as easy as possible. This article is for informational purposes only and not legal or financial advice. All TaxAct offers, products and services are subject to applicable terms and conditions. View the full article

This post is brought to you by our partners at TaxAct and was first posted on their blog. If you and your significant other are living together without being married, you probably share many expenses. One of you may even be financially supporting the other. In such a scenario, you may wonder if you can claim your girlfriend or boyfriend as a dependent on your tax return to take advantage of any tax benefits. Claiming a dependent on your taxes can lower your taxable income, but does your significant other count as a dependent? Here are the facts on how you could claim a domestic partner on your tax return, according to the IRS dependent rules. What are the tax benefits of claiming my boyfriend or girlfriend as a dependent?When you claim someone as your dependent, you are responsible for their financial well-being, including providing for their food, clothing, housing, and other necessities. If you provide over 50% of their financial support throughout the year, you may qualify to claim them as your dependent. This can help you qualify for certain tax credits and deductions when you file your taxes, ultimately saving you money. For example, if your significant other qualifies as your dependent, you may be able to claim the Credit for Other Dependents, a tax credit worth up to $500. If your boyfriend or girlfriend had a lot of medical and dental expenses during the year that you helped pay for, you may also be able to deduct some of those expenses if you itemize. What are the requirements for claiming my significant other as a dependent?The IRS dependent rules are very particular regarding who qualifies as a dependent. Many couples don’t fall within the IRS rules and will have to file taxes as individuals if they are not yet married. If you are uncertain whether you can claim your domestic partner on your tax return, TaxAct® can help you determine whether the individual qualifies during the filing process. According to the IRS dependent rules, only qualifying children and relatives count as dependents. But don’t let the term “relative” confuse you. A domestic partner can be considered a relative under IRS regulations if they meet specific qualifications. If you want to claim your boyfriend or girlfriend as a dependent on taxes, your situation has to meet all of the following IRS requirements: You must live together. To qualify as a dependent, your significant other must have lived with you for at least one calendar year. If you lived together for a shorter time, you cannot claim your significant other as a dependent.Your significant other earned less than $5,200 for 2025. According to the IRS dependent rules, your boyfriend or girlfriend must have earned less than $5,200 for the 2025 tax year if you want to claim them as a dependent (the limit was $5,050 in 2024). If your partner earned more than the limit, they have essentially earned enough to prove to the IRS that they can care for themselves financially. Even if you live with your partner and pay most of the bills, if your significant other earned more than the threshold in a year, you won’t be able to claim your boyfriend or girlfriend as a dependent on your tax return.You must provide more than 50% of their financial support. You may be able to claim your significant other as a dependent on your taxes if you pay for over 50% of their basic living expenses. Living expenses may include housing, groceries, education, medical expenses, and more.You will need to keep track of all these expenses to prove that you provide more than 50% of your significant other’s financial support. Keep all receipts, documentation, and bills so you have them handy when you need them. Documentation is key when you are claiming any sort of special tax deduction in case the IRS asks for proof. When can’t I claim my significant other as a dependent?Even if you and your partner meet the above qualifications, the IRS dependent rules include several caveats and further restrictions. For instance, you cannot claim your partner as a dependent on your taxes if someone else can claim them as a dependent on their tax return. Each dependent can only be claimed by one taxpayer. So, if your significant other’s parents, children, or ex-spouse claim them as a dependent, you cannot also claim them as a dependent. Lastly, to claim your boyfriend or girlfriend as a dependent, they must be a citizen, national, or resident of the United States. Residents of Canada or Mexico can also qualify. What about the Child and Dependent Care Credit?The Child and Dependent Care Credit (CDCC) is a tax break for people who pay child or dependent care costs to care for a qualifying dependent. A common example would be a parent paying daycare costs for someone to watch their child while the parent works. Though they may sound similar, claiming your domestic partner on your tax return as a dependent differs from claiming the CDCC. You will not qualify to claim this credit unless your significant other is sick or unable to care for themselves, and you paid for them to receive care while you worked or looked for work. How do I actually claim my partner on my taxes?Now that you know whether or not you can claim your partner as a dependent on your tax return, let’s look at how you can make the claim when filing your taxes. If you file your return using TaxAct, our tax preparation software will ask you questions about your dependents and help you claim any associated tax credits or deductions based on your answers. We’ll walk you through the process of claiming a dependent step-by-step to make it as easy as possible. This article is for informational purposes only and not legal or financial advice. All TaxAct offers, products and services are subject to applicable terms and conditions. View the full article

Project management has its obstacles. Breaking down massive deliverables into smaller, achievable tasks. Keeping a team of experts aligned on objectives. Preventing the project’s scope from creeping to a point where the end result is a shadow of the project’s original intent. Getting buy-in from stakeholders when plans change. But the challenges don’t end at your project’s boundaries. Projects impact each other across the organization, and few leaders have the strategic visibility they need to see these impacts. That’s where integrated project management comes in. What is integrated project management? In most organizations, projects are run individually, with little in common between them. There may be a project management template bouncing around that some PMs use, but there’s no generally agreed-upon best practices. Each new project starts from scratch, with everything from methodology to reporting guidelines and basic tasks being up for discussion. Integrated project management, by contrast, aligns every aspect of running projects under a single umbrella. The project management process is pre-defined and consistent throughout projects. Every project is part of a broader portfolio, rather than an isolated island. That means the planning, scoping, and resourcing for each project takes others into account. Specialists and managers across teams might be involved in various projects, even outside their typical teams, breaking down silos between departments. Decision-making accounts for every project in an organization’s portfolio, using a holistic view of everything happening at the organization rather than focusing uniquely on outcomes for individual projects in isolation. In short, integrated project management is a single coordinated approach that covers all projects within an organization. It allows for better resource management, knowledge sharing between teams, and organization-wide visibility on risks and outcomes. The seven steps of integrated project management Here’s a step-by-step process for turning disjointed projects into a single, fully-integrated project management process. Step 1: Develop your integrated project charter Your project charter lists a project’s objectives, defines its scope, and ensures stakeholders sign off on what needs to happen before work can begin. But project charters are often created in isolation, with little oversight on other projects. The first step to setting up your integrated project management methodology is building a charter that shows how a project connects to the organization’s overall strategy, how stakeholders in other teams will be looped in, and the initiatives the project contributes to. Step 2: Build your integrated management plan Your project management plan needs to account for how projects might span the boundaries between departments, involve dependencies with other projects, or require input from stakeholders in other teams. When you’re figuring out how you’ll run a project, consider the following: Meet with representatives from different departments to get a full picture of dependencies and requirements. Build flexibility into your plan to account for dependencies or cross-functional impacts you didn’t anticipate. Review best practices and institutional knowledge established in other projects. Step 3: Direct and manage cross-functional project work When managing a cross-functional project under an integrated methodology, remember the following best practices: Collaborate asynchronously: When important updates are shared in meetings, stakeholders and collaborators in other departments might fall out of sync with project work. Prioritize asynchronous channels like Slack or your project management tool for important updates. Make progress tracking transparent: Project management platforms like Asana have built-in progress trackers and reports you should use to make this information more accessible to everyone involved in a project. Define expectations around communication: How will people communicate project updates? How are reports shared? How should someone ask a collaborator for a deliverable they need to keep moving? This should be clearly defined before your project begins and reinforced as it goes on. Build decision-making frameworks: How should decisions be made? Which stakeholders should be involved in routine decisions? What about more serious decisions? Step 4: Manage project knowledge Robust documentation is essential to integrated project management. Every project generates a ton of data that can be used to run better projects in the future (e.g., what happens when stakeholders aren’t properly defined at the start of a project). Pick a documentation platform—unless your organization already uses one—and record any lessons you learn or insights you gain from running a project. Then, make consulting that documentation part of your project management process. Step 5: Monitor and control performance across all projects Leadership should have a portfolio-wide view of active projects and their performance, the same way a financial advisor might track investments across asset categories. Project management tools often have built-in methods for doing this, but even a spreadsheet that reports on progress for key deliverables can be a good starting point. Step 6: Perform integrated change control When you’re managing a single project, a sudden change can potentially derail a few tasks or even an essential deliverable. But when that project is integrated with the rest of your portfolio, even a simple change can lead to a cascade of consequences. Have clear reporting guidelines so information about these changes can trickle up to the portfolio level, where project managers can perform impact assessments, coordinate approvals, and communicate updates to the right stakeholders. From there, leaders can make the decisions necessary to keep project portfolios healthy. Step 7: Execute project closure and capture lessons With an integrated project management process, every project is a massive opportunity for capturing learnings that impact your entire portfolio. But those learnings are only useful if they’re documented somewhere all project managers can access them. Define a shared platform for this documentation as part of your integrated project management process, then make sure the outcomes of each project are documented in it. Why software integration is essential for integrated project management Setting out to implement an integrated project management process is a solid goal. So why do organizations with excellent project managers struggle to do so? Software integration. Few organizations use a single platform to run all their projects. Even if they did, they’d have to use other tools to supplement their single project management app, from spreadsheets to CRMs. Having to rely on multiple tools can make communication and collaboration overly complex in even a single project—let alone an entire portfolio. That’s why software integrations are essential for integrated project management. They keep data flowing between tools so your project managers aren’t chasing updates and deliverables on top of the additional responsibilities that already come with integrated project management. Real-time bidirectional sync: The integrated project management solution Not all software integrations are suitable for every project. One-way automations like Zapier might be effective for simple processes or small teams, but they’re rarely enough for an integrated project management process. They can handle the creation of new tasks or updating small bits of information, but they have their limits. That’s where a real-time bidirectional sync comes in. These integrations don’t just create new tasks or carry over simple data. They create true, two-way relationships between tasks in your project management tools and work items in other tools, automatically keeping both up to date as you work. Unito has some of the deepest two-way integrations on the market for project management apps like Asana, ClickUp, and Smartsheet, as well as other platforms like Jira, GitHub, and ServiceNow. Want to see what the right integration can do? Get a custom product demo and watch how Unito transforms your projects. Talk with sales The benefits of truly integrated project management Break down organizational silos In most organizations, silos form around departments and tools. These silos trap essential data, slow down collaboration, and potentially throw projects in complete disarray. Integrated project management breaks down these silos — especially when supported by software integration — since teams are expected to collaborate across department lines and PMs loop in stakeholders across the organization. Gain complete portfolio visibility Integrated project management makes portfolio-level visibility a default in organizations where it’s typically unavailable. Project managers are expected to report on their projects in a way that contributes to that visibility, and leaders get reports that support it, too. Maximize resource utilization When project managers and leaders get better visibility on the relationships between projects and their impacts organization-wide, they have a better sense of where project resources are going — and what the organization gets out of them. That gives them a better ability to dedicate resources to projects with a better ROI, improving outcomes for the organization overall. Accelerate project delivery Most projects run into delays when deliverables, updates, and tasks have to cross team or department lines. Integrated project management allows these things to move seamlessly, eliminating delays and misunderstandings. Teams don’t need weekly syncs to stay aligned. Their tools do it for them. Achieve true strategic alignment When strategic alignment depends on spreadsheets and reports being shared to a single tool, that alignment comes on the back of hours of manual work. Not only that, but project members and stakeholders alike have to consult that tool for updates. Integrated project management keeps everyone aligned, no matter where they work or what their role is. Make integrated project management Integrated project management turns disparate projects into a portfolio which, just like an investment portfolio, can be reviewed, balanced, and optimized. Project managers can see where their projects contribute to broader organizational goals, leaders can allocate resources more effectively. Individual collaborators can collaborate more effectively across teams. Leaders get a better strategic view of everything going on in the organization. It’s a win-win-win. But integrated project management can’t happen without the right integration. Get the right integration for integrated project management Talk with sales View the full article