Major online shopping mall operator Rakuten Inc. is going to extend on a trial basis from April its point-based customer reward plan to the brick-and-mortar stores of businesses that sell their goods or services via its website.
The new measure will allow consumers who use the Rakuten site to earn points by shopping at physical stores of member companies and use shopping points earned online at physical stores, the firm said Tuesday.
Under the new system, shoppers will be issued with magnetic R Point Cards, which will give them 1 point worth ¥1 for every ¥100 purchase just as in shopping on the Rakuten site. The card will keep track of the holders' point balance via point-of-sale terminals commonly used at retail stores.