David Jones steals a march on rival Myer with Qantas Frequent Flyer tie-up
Just a week after Myer outlined grand plans for an overhaul of its loyalty program, the Flying Kangaroo revealed it would become the new credit card rewards partner of David Jones.
Airline rewards programs have become key to luring and retaining customers, and David Jones shoppers will soon be able to redeem their Qantas Points on a range of rewards across the Qantas Frequent Flyer program, including over 20 million reward seats, flight upgrades, hotel stays and other travel perks.
The rollout comes just as Olivia Wirth — the former head of Qantas Frequent Flyer who is credited with turning the airline's loyalty program into a booming revenue generator — prepares to relaunch Myer's 'market-leading' loyalty program later this year in a bid to fuel sales and unlock data to target shoppers.
Now Myer executive chair, Ms Wirth told an investor day briefing last week that the Myer One loyalty scheme was a strength for the retailer, but it must be made stronger to drive customer spending.
David Jones' 'landmark' partnership with Qantas comes as it prepares to remake its own loyalty program later this year.
In-store or online shoppers will be able to earn and redeem either David Jones Rewards Points or Qantas Points.
Qantas Frequent Flyer has become Australia's largest loyalty programs with over 17 million members since its launch in 1987.
Two-thirds of all Qantas Points are earned by frequent flyers are on the ground, and 35 per cent of all credit card spending in Australia is on a Qantas Points-earning card.
David Jones chief executive Scott Fyfe said the 187-year-old business wanted to recognise and reward customers with a new premium loyalty experience.
'We are incredibly proud to bring together two iconic Australian brands as we prepare to launch the new David Jones Rewards program,' Mr Fyfe said.
'Of the 55 million visitors to our physical stores and 110 million visitors to davidjones.com each year we know a large number of our customers are also frequent flyers, so we're thrilled to welcome the national carrier to our department store and give Qantas members access to the David Jones premium brand curation.
'The new David Jones Rewards program is a key initiative under our Vision 2025+ strategy, which delivers a solid runway towards future growth and, most importantly, will deliver millions of Australians more choice, more value, and more rewards.'
Qantas Loyalty boss Andrew Glance said half of Qantas Frequent Flyers already shop regularly at David Jones.
'The number of points members have earned through retailers has doubled in the last five years, and we anticipate it will double again by 2030, as we expand our footprint across a growing range of retail categories,' Mr Glance said.
From August, Myer will roll out its loyalty program across the newly acquired Apparel Brands portfolio — which includes Just Jeans, Jay Jays, Jacqui E, Portmans and Dotti — as well as its own labels Sass & Bide, Marcs and David Lawrence. A broader relaunch is slated for October.
Ms Wirth also flagged plans to expand Myer One partnerships with other companies like Commonwealth Bank and Virgin Airlines, allowing customers to redeem points beyond the Myer store network.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Sydney Morning Herald
6 hours ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
It's a long shot. But Sydney FC should be applauded for having a crack at Thomas Müller
Domestically, the Australian football economy continues to shrink. Club distributions are down from over $3 million per season to an all-time low of $530,000, and so most clubs don't even bother trying to sign big names. It's beyond them, and there is little appetite from club owners to dig their hands even further into their pockets. And when they do, they have to settle for the likes of Douglas Costa, who had already had his run through MLS by the time he washed up at the Sky Blues last season, but has proved to be a worthy signing, or Juan Mata, who was many years past his peak when Western Sydney Wanderers had the chance to grab him - as evidenced by his on-field output. Mata might yet return next season, but if he does, he'll be a luxury add-on for the Wanderers, rather than a key starting player. A-League clubs have largely pivoted towards bringing through academy players - and so they should. They've finally learned how to turn young, homegrown talent into sizeable transfer fees, and flipping kids for cash is the only way they can be sustainable in the long term. It's good for the game, too. It's a shift that is already benefiting the Socceroos and, in turn, will reinforce the A-League's legitimacy as a breeding ground and relevance for the many fans in Australia who follow European football but not the local product. The more that A-League alumni players can reach the top levels, the more it says to the unconverted that our competition is worth keeping a close eye on. But that can't be all that the A-League is, or will be. For one thing, those youngsters need to have hardened pros next to them in the dressing room to learn from. If the A-League was too reliant on experienced players in the past, it now runs the risk of going too far the other way. A careful balance has to be struck. Star power has always been the thing that moves the needle in this country, but it's never been more true than today. As mass culture continues to splinter into a million micro-niches, the need to have something - or someone - with cut-through power is critical. Müller is that sort of someone. And for every player who opts for the megabucks, there might be one per cent of them who are happy to forego those earnings for the glorious Australian lifestyle, of which the appeal to foreigners we sometimes underestimate because we're so lucky to experience it 24/7. Del Piero, don't forget, turned down more money elsewhere - and even a contract offer from Liverpool - because he was so attracted by the wonders of Sydney. Loading To ask the question of Müller is to send a message to the rest of the football world - and to sceptical local fans - that the A-League still has ambition. There's no risk in trying. In fact, the risk is not trying, and never knowing if he might have been the next Del Piero. At worst, you get a polite rejection. At best, you spark the sort of rare moment that can reignite interest in the domestic game, especially at a time when eyeballs are hard to win.
Perth Now
11 hours ago
- Perth Now
New 50-year UK, Aussie military pact signed
Defence and Foreign Ministers from the United Kingdom and Australia have signed a new 50-year military pact designed to underpin Australia's acquisition of nuclear-powered submarines. The deal was signed in Geelong on Saturday, the hometown of Australia's Defence Minister, and dubbed 'The Geelong Treaty'. Officials from Australia and the UK have been forced to voice renewed enthusiasm for the AUKUS agreement, amid a US review of the deal. America's defence and foreign minister-equivalents have not been part of AUKUS meetings in Australia this week. Donald Trump and UK Prime Minster Keir Starmer and expected to meet in Scotland this week. At Geelong on Saturday, Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles said the new pact meant jobs and military security. The Geelong Treaty reaffirms the Australian and UK commitment to getting nuclear powered submarines. Gaye Gerard / NewsWire Credit: News Corp Australia 'It's a treaty which will last for 50 years,' Mr Marles said during a signing ceremony with his UK counterpart. 'It is a bilateral treaty which sits under the trilateral AUKUS framework, itself embodied in a trilateral treaty that was signed that I signed in Washington, DC., in August of last year. 'In doing this, AUKUS will see 20,000 jobs in Australia. It will see, in building submarines in this country, the biggest industrial endeavour in our nation's history, bigger even than the Snowy Hydro scheme,' Mr Marles said. 'In military terms, what it will deliver is the biggest leap in Australia's military capability, really, since the formation of the navy back in 1913.' Alongside Mr Marles, UK Secretary of State for Defence John Healey dubbed the Geelong Treaty a powerful agreement. Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles, right, and UK Secretary of State for Defence John Healey, second from the right, signed the Geelong Treaty on Saturday. NewsWire /Pool / Jeremy Piper Credit: News Corp Australia 'It is a treaty that will support tens of thousands of jobs in both Australia and the UK,' Mr Healey said. 'It is a treaty to build the most advanced, most powerful attack submarines either of our nations have ever had. It is a treaty that will fortify the Indo-Pacific. 'It will strengthen NATO and we're the politicians signing it today; But this is a treaty that will define the relationship between our two nations and safeguard the security of our country for our children and our children's children to come. 'So this is a historic day.' The two ministers have been joined in a series of meetings by Foreign Minster Penny Wong and UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy this week. The treaty signing also comes as the largest British flotilla in 30 years arrives in Darwin, with the HMS Prince of Wales aircraft carrier docking in Darwin on Wednesday. It was the first time a British aircraft carrier visited Australia since 1997, and brought troops to take part in the massive Talisman Sabre exercises, which run annually across northern Queensland and PNG.
Perth Now
12 hours ago
- Perth Now
‘Good to go': Why now is the best time for Aussies to lodge tax returns
With the average Aussie tax refund sitting at around $1,177 ING's Matt Bowen shares his top tips on how to make sure you don't waste a penny. Patient taxpayers with simple affairs have been given the thumbs up to lodge their returns after more than 90 million pieces of information was pre-filled into Australian myGov accounts. Four weeks into the new financial year, the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) said 'it's time to lodge'. WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: How to make the most of your tax refund. 'You've been patiently waiting, but now you're good to go,' Assistant Commissioner Rob Thomson said. 'Whether you lodge using a registered tax agent or lodge yourself through myTax, pre-fill information will now be available.' Thomson said taxpayers should check that pre-populated information from employers, banks, government agencies and private health insurers is accurate. They then need to work out what is missing and calculate any deductions they are entitled to. 'Don't forget that you need to include all sources of income in your tax return,' Thomson said. 'This includes side-hustles, linked income from providing ride sourcing services or selling services via an app. 'Remember, the ATO has 40 industry and occupation specific guides to assist you in what you can claim and what records are required to prove it.' Assistant Commissioner Rob Thomson said that the ATO had completed pre-fill of over 91 million pieces of information available for individual tax returns from employers, banks, government agencies and private health insurers. Credit: Australian Taxation Office Australians can file their tax returns from July 1, but experts suggest not getting twisted up in that date. That is because you want to make sure your document is complete and accurate before you hit the lodge button, to avoid a follow-up call from the ATO. CPA Australia tax lead Jenny Wong said it is not uncommon for early lodgers to have to amend their returns later, so holding fire can save you in the long run. 'Cost-of-living pressures could mean some people are eager to lodge their tax return as quickly as possible to access a refund, but it's important to be patient, gather your evidence and claim everything you are entitled to,' Wong said. 'Firing the starting pistol on your tax return too quickly means you could end up shooting yourself in the foot.' Deductions must be related to purchases made before June 30 if you intend to claim them in this tax return. What you can claim will depend on what you do for work. The ATO and accountants know the difference. 'It is important that taxpayers take reasonable care when lodging, as penalties may apply where people have not taken reasonable care and increase when they are reckless or intentionally provide false information,' Thomson said. More than $2.2 billion in penalties were dished out to taxpayers who failed to comply with their obligations in 2023-2024. October 31 is the deadline for Australians lodging their return themselves. For those using the services of a registered tax agent, you have more time — until May the following year. But make sure you have reached out to them and have the ball rolling before the start of November. If you fail to lodge in time, the ATO may impose penalties, starting with a $330 fine. 'We will consider your circumstances when deciding what action to take,' Thomson said. 'It is important that taxpayers take reasonable care when lodging as penalties may apply where people have not taken reasonable care and increase when they are reckless or intentionally provide false information. 'Our preferred approach is to work with taxpayers to help them meet their tax obligations.' Most refunds are issued within two weeks, but the process can take longer if the ATO has queries. 'This process cannot be sped up, even if you call us,' Thomson said. 'You can keep track of your return by logging into the ATO app or ATO online services through myGov. Paper tax returns can take up to 50 days to process. Wong said there is a misconception that lodging your return straight away puts you at the front of the queue for a refund, 'but it's not that simple'. 'Take your time, get your facts right, and lodge a full and comprehensive claim when you're ready,' she said.
