Method and system for building a database and performing marketing based upon prior shopping history
First Claim
1. A method of building a customer database using checks from a variety of different banks comprising:
- detecting a customer'"'"'s checking account identification number for use as a unique customer identification code;
entering the unique customer identification code into a processor containing a database that maintains customer records including the customer'"'"'s name and address, the checking account identification number, and customer transactional data over a pre-selected time interval;
comparing said checking account identification code with said database;
generating a response with said processor to signal the presence of the customer'"'"'s identification code or the failure to locate the customer'"'"'s identification code;
creating a new record in said database for that customer'"'"'s identification code in response to a processor response indicating the failure to locate, so that the customer'"'"'s name and address is entered into the record along with the customer'"'"'s transactional data; and
selecting customers in said database whose last transaction date is prior to a pre-selected interval of inactivity so that that grouping of infrequent customers is available for marketing efforts.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and system is disclosed for performing targeted marketing on infrequent shoppers. A check reader is provided for automatically reading the MICR code of a plurality of checks drawn on a plurality of different banking institutions. Circuitry detects the customer'"'"'s checking account number in the MICR code of the checks. A terminal enters data relating to the customer'"'"'s shopping habits. A database of the store'"'"'s customers is created in response to the check reader, circuitry for detecting, and terminal. The selection is then made of a list of customers from the database who have not shopped at the store since a preselected date.
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Citations
41 Claims
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1. A method of building a customer database using checks from a variety of different banks comprising:
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detecting a customer'"'"'s checking account identification number for use as a unique customer identification code; entering the unique customer identification code into a processor containing a database that maintains customer records including the customer'"'"'s name and address, the checking account identification number, and customer transactional data over a pre-selected time interval; comparing said checking account identification code with said database; generating a response with said processor to signal the presence of the customer'"'"'s identification code or the failure to locate the customer'"'"'s identification code; creating a new record in said database for that customer'"'"'s identification code in response to a processor response indicating the failure to locate, so that the customer'"'"'s name and address is entered into the record along with the customer'"'"'s transactional data; and selecting customers in said database whose last transaction date is prior to a pre-selected interval of inactivity so that that grouping of infrequent customers is available for marketing efforts. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A system for performing targeted marketing on infrequent shoppers comprising:
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a check reader for automatically reading the MICR code of a plurality of checks drawn on a plurality of different banking institutions; circuitry for detecting the customer'"'"'s checking account number in the MICR code of said checks; a terminal for entering data relating to the customer'"'"'s shopping habits; means for creating a database of the store'"'"'s customers in response to said check reader, circuitry for detecting, and terminal; and means for enabling the selection of a list of customers from said database whose prior transactions at the store during a prescribed time internal do not meet predetermined criteria. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A check transaction processing system comprising:
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means for entering a customer'"'"'s checking account number as a unique customer identification code within a retail establishment; a processor programmed to store a database which includes a plurality of unique customer identification codes and check cashing histories of prior customers of the retail establishment; means for causing said processor to compare each newly entered unique customer identification code against said database; means within said processor for generating a signal indicating the presence of a complete customer information record or of an incomplete customer information record as a result of said comparison; means for generating a second database of customers whose check cashing histories do not meet predetermined criteria; and means for selectively effecting promotion of the retail establishment to customers within said second database. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A method for building a customer database comprising:
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in response to the presentation of a customer'"'"'s check at a point of sale, entering the customer'"'"'s checking account identification code from the check, along with customer transaction data; storing a first database of said customer'"'"'s checking account identification codes and customer transaction data; generating a second database of customers whose last checking account identification code entry data falls prior to a pre-selected date, such that said second database constitutes a record of relatively infrequent customers; and effecting sales promotion to said customers within said second database, wherein said sales promotion is efficiently directed toward only said relatively infrequent customers. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. The system for performing marketing comprising:
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means for entering a checking account number in response to the presentation of customer'"'"'s check of the point of sale, along with customer transaction date data; means for generating a signal upon entry of a checking account number of customers whose prior transaction at the store during a prescribed time interval fails to meet predetermined criteria; and means responsive to said signal for effecting sales promotion to said customers, wherein said sales promotion is efficiently directed toward only said class of customers who fail to meet said predetermined criteria. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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Specification