The eBucks Rewards Programme has signed up a new earn and spend partner. The company's focus has been to move further into the lifestyle arena and the new partnership with GardenShop, South Africa's leading garden retailer, will accelerate growth in this area.

Lezanne Human, CEO of eBucks comments, "eBucks believes in joining forces with relevant companies that add value and offer tangible benefits to our customers. Now during summer we wanted a partner relevant to our members' lifestyle needs. This partnership with GardenShop could not have come at a better time."

"Our customers can enhance their homes and gardens using eBucks," she adds.

"We are excited to add GardenShop as one of our partners. eBucks is constantly looking to grow the offering to members, providing them with tangible rewards and real choice. GardenShop is an excellent fit for the business and our other partners fully support the addition of an attractive lifestyle partner."

Steve Crory, CEO of GardenShop comments, "We have seen how much value the programme has provided to both members and partners and realise it was just the solution we are after. We trust that our customers as well as eBucks members will enjoy this new affiliation".

GardenShop is no stranger to the rewards programme industry having gained much experience in implementing, internally and through external loyalty companies, various forms of a retention model. Through these previous initiatives GardenShop have developed a strong CRM competency and a loyal customer base of 40 000. However certain other key strategic objectives have repeatedly failed to be met.

In addition to increasing profitability and retention of partners' customers, one of the core reasons for eBucks' creation was to function as a cross-sell vehicle for partners. The multi-partner nature of the programme and the strong relationship with its members provides partners customised access to bases they wouldn't ordinarily have. This unique ability to assist partners not only in retention but also acquisition, was one of the main drivers for GardenShop to seek out this partnership with eBucks who has a base of over 760 000 members. eBucks also recently entered the 'bricks and mortor' world of retail with their eBucks Card with which members can earn and spend eBucks at various in-store partners now including GardenShop. The Card was first introduced in June 2004 and has seen a strong take-up by members, and activity in our partner's stores is increasing monthly.

About eBucks:

eBucks, the rewards programme offered by First National Bank (FNB) and RMB Private Bank, is acknowledged as one of South Africa's leading rewards programmes with highly active members spending in excess of 80% of the eBucks earned in any given month.