MEMPHIS, TN -
(WMC TV) - A Memphis-based startup has launched an app that turns your smart phone into your favorite restaurant's customer loyalty card.
StiQRd (www.stiqrd.com, Twitter @stiQRd) was born out of founder and CEO Aaron Prather's frustration with managing a wallet full of restaurant punch tickets and point cards.
"We hated carrying around all those paper punch cards in our wallets and losing track of them," he said. "So it's like, hey, why don't we come up with a solution where we put it on a phone?"
They did.
EmergeMemphis (http://www.emergememphis.org/) donated the seed money to get Prather's team started. Now 16 Mid-South restaurants and businesses have joined the StiQRd network to convert their customers' smart phones into loyalty cards.
1,000 members and counting are already using the app to scan the StiQRd code on participating restaurants' tables and bars.
"Scan it, and it automatically gives you your point," said Prather. "When you have enough points on your account for that restaurant, your reward will pop up on the screen, and you're ready to get your reward."
Instead of swiping a loyalty card or punching a ticket, StiQRd members simply show a participating restaurant their smart phone screens when a reward is ready. The restaurants, as well as StiQRd's technical staff, can confirm the reward by database.
They can also track customers who attempt to fool the system with multiple scans in one sitting, so don't get any bright ideas.
The Kooky Canuck, 97 S. 2nd St. (http://www.kookycanuck.com/), signed on to StiQRd two weeks ago. Owner Shawn Danko said it's already generating repeat customers ready to "...scan, collect and redeem."
"It's keeping people coming back as we're seeing multiple scans from the same users (on different visits), so that's great," Danko said.
The StiQRd app will also locate participating restaurants in other cities where you travel. That's part of the reason why Prather has already branched out of Memphis and won restaurant clients in Florida, New Jersey and California.
"My wallet has so many cards," said Ashley Parks of California, visiting a friend at The Kooky Canuck. "(StiQRd) is free. It's as easy as that as scanning. It's a great idea, and I think it's going to take off."
SCORES OF THE WEEK:
Pit Side Grill, 5500 Victory Lane, Memphis Int'l. Raceway, Millington, TN, 99 on April 13
Bob's Sports Bar & Grill, 2244 Whitten Rd., East Memphis, 97 on April 11
Fratelli's Garden Café, 750 Cherry Rd., Memphis Botanic Garden, East Memphis, 97 on April 12
Ken Neely's Hickory Bar-B-Que, 7444 Winchester Rd., Hickory Hill/SE Memphis, 95 on April 10
Popeye's Louisiana Kitchen, 1296 N. Germantown Pkwy, Cordova, TN, 95 on April 12
Café Ole, 959 S. Cooper St., Cooper-Young/Midtown Memphis, 94 on April 11
Tops Bar-B-Q, 3970 Rhodes Ave., U of M Park Ave. Campus Area, 94 on April 12
Stein's Restaurant, 2248 S. Lauderdale St., South Memphis, 93 on April 10
Sonic Drive-In, 2460 Poplar Ave., Binghampton/E. Memphis, 93 on April 9
TGI Friday's, 7733 Winchester Rd., Southwind Area/SE Memphis, 92 on April 10
Skimo's Restaurant & Bar, 1166 N. Houston Levee Rd., Cordova, TN, 92 on April 11
El Nopal, 2843 N. Houston Levee Rd., Cordova, TN, 91 on April 11
Abuelo's Mexican Food Embassy, 8274 Hwy. 64, Bartlett, TN, 91 on April 9
New Mexico Restaurant, 1184 Covington Pike, East Memphis, 91 on April 9
Patrick's Steaks & Spirits, 4972 Park Ave., East Memphis, 90 on April 10
Quizno's, 2465 Whitten Rd., East Memphis, 90 on April 12
The Four Way, 998 Mississippi Blvd., South Memphis, 89 on April 10
Sonic Drive-In, 7450 Winchester Rd., Hickory Hill/SE Memphis, 89 on April 10
Fleming Prime Steakhouse, 6245 Poplar Ave., East Memphis, 88 on April 11
Payne's Bar-B-Q, 1762 Lamar Ave., Near Glenview Park, 88, date not listed
Church's Fried Chicken, 2963 Park Ave., U of M Park Ave. Campus Area, 87 on April 10
Burger King, 6700 Stage Rd., Bartlett, TN, 86 on April 12
Coletta's Italian Restaurant, 1063 S. Parkway E., South Memphis, 85 on April 9
Sheridan's Latte's & Frozen Custard, 6745 Stage Rd., Border of East Mem./Bartlett, 85 on April 12
Thai Bistro, 1250 N. Germantown Pkwy, Cordova, TN, 82 on April 12
Pearl's Oyster House, 299 S. Main St., Downtown Memphis, 78 on April 9
Los Pilares Mexican Restaurant, 6063 Mt. Moriah Rd., Hickory Hill/SE Memphis, 66 on April 13 (FAILURE)
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