eBucks, South Africa's award-winning rewards programme, has signed up leading mass merchant Makro, as a new strategic partner.

eBucks already has 26 other partners participating in the innovative multi-partner rewards programme. Other partners include leading brands such as First National Bank, Wesbank, RMB Private Bank, Look & Listen, Spec-Savers, Momentum Multiply, Arthur Kaplan Jewelers, kalahari.net, The Golfers Club and GardenShop.

According to eBucks CEO, Lezanne Human, the rewards programme is designed to add value to members. "The aim of the programme is to reward eBucks customers for goods and services they use regularly. The inclusion of Makro as the first national mass merchant partner offering a diverse range of products all under one roof to our list of partners, ensures that we live up to our intention to provide choice and flexibility to our 837 000 members.

"As Makro is an 'earn and spend' partner, our members can earn eBucks when purchasing a variety of general merchandise items from the 12 Makro outlets countrywide, excluding food, liquor and cellular. They may, if they choose, also use their eBucks Cards to spend their accumulated eBucks on any merchandise across the full Makro range of products. We are committed at all times to satisfying our members' appetite for diverse products. We are confident that Makro will further enhance our ability to execute this commitment. To date, we have allocated R440 million worth of eBucks to our members. We are certain that our members will find great joy in shopping with our new partner," she adds.

Chris Nezar, Marketing Director for Makro, says the organisation sees significant potential in the partnership.

"In today's competitive marketplace, rewards programmes can be a significant determinant in customer loyalty. Makro has teamed up with South Africa's leading rewards programme because of the value we see in such initiatives," says Nezar.

"With over 800 000 members, eBucks is a highly successful rewards programme with which we are pleased to be associated. We are certain that the partnership will add significant benefits for both eBucks members and all our customers."

"With eBucks driven by a belief that it should be helping members to buy practical, everyday goods, this partnership is another step forward for the programme," concludes Human.

The new partnership with Makro follows hot on the heels of the hugely successful launch of the eBucks card into the retail environment last year.

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.