• Readers can simply link their card to earn money whilst shopping with their favourite brands 
• Data will ​help brands ​understand and influence where, why and how customers shop 

The Scottish Sun is rolling out a new app which will help readers give their bank balance a healthy boost whilst they shop.

Free app, Sun Cashback will give users cashback whilst they shop online and in-store and help brands understand and influence where, why and how customers shop.

In partnership with Airtime Rewards, card link technology will allow shoppers to earn back a percentage of the money they spend at a number of leading brands – including Just Eat, ​Laithwaite’s, Holland & Barrett and ​Feelunique – giving readers’ wallets a lift when spending on treats. Travel giant TUI is also on board, ​which will help holidaymakers earn while on their future breaks. 

The Scottish Sun reaches more than 3.4m people, and following market testing of Sun Cashback, 80% of Sun Savers – the Sun’s loyalty scheme which has a user base of more than one million – said they were interested in participating.

The level of cashback ranges between different partners – from 2% to 12% for first time shoppers, depending on the brand. New Just Eat customers can expect to earn £4 back when spending £40 on their favourite takeaway, and new MandM Direct customers will get nearly £10 back when spending £79.99 on a new pair of outdoor running trainers. On an ongoing basis, shoppers will get £1 back when spending £20 with Holland and Barrett on healthy essentials. 

The simple mechanism, which sees customers register their payment cards to the free app and spend as normal, will unlock rich customer insights on new, lapsed and previously unknown customers for brands. 

The app will also allow partners to deliver offers direct to readers’ smartphones, to re-engage and deliver tailored rewards. Based on rich data from Visa and Mastercard, brands will be able target offers based on whether customers are new, existing or lapsed, and also on their value.

Combining targeted offers along with rich analytics capability achieves a holy grail for marketers – demonstrating guaranteed return on investment, and provable incrementality of advertising spend.

When High Street shops open back up, payment card data will allow partners to understand the impact of their digital advertising on physical retail sales.

Richard Bogie, Managing Director at News Scotland said:​ “This is a truly compelling customer proposition, with no points, coupons or fuss – cash is a far more immediate and flexible benefit. 

“While many retailers and brands are cutting back the benefits of loyalty scheme memberships, Sun Cashback will offer partners huge scale, flexibility and powerful actionable insights to help them create compelling marketing campaigns across channels. 

“Our existing insight and scale paired with this powerful technology will help partners deliver the right deals, at the right time, to the right people – and deliver to their bottom line.” 

Alan Muir, Editor at The Scottish Sun said: ​“Bringing affordable good times to our readers has always been a key part of The Sun’s strategy – and something we deliver day-in and day-out through our digital, print and promotions like £9.50 Holidays. 

”The beauty of Sun Cashback is that it will give something back to readers every time they shop. All they have to do is register their card, it really is as simple as that.”