Here today, gone tomorrow: The story behind month-one customer drop-off

Retailers spend big to acquire customers and loyalty sign-ups. It pays off when shoppers stick around, but too many don’t.

What grocers need to know about the digital behavior of uncommitted customers

I shared new research and data with industry executives at GroceryTech 2025. Get the highlights of that session here.

The big revenue opportunity hiding in one extra monthly visit

When retailers convince their uncommitted customers to change their usual behavior, the resulting revenue boost is transformative.

Cash back vs. discounting: The strategic difference for retailers

Unlike discounts, personalized cash back rewards customer behavior without devaluing your brand or training price expectations.

Tasty Restaurant Group's third-party analysis validates Upside's impact

The study uncovered that Upside customers at the franchisee’s restaurants are more valuable than the general population.

See Upside's impact on your grocery business, any time

Get clear, validated insights into the incremental impact of every dollar you invest with Upside.

Tracking retail fuel trends: June 2025

The overall metrics show relatively little change month-over-month, but for fuel retailers, June was anything but ordinary.

The loyalty challenge: Why grocers must rethink retention for modern shoppers

Retailers must engage customers early in the relationship to win them back for each subsequent return trip — forming habits and building long-term loyalty.

The economy is sending mixed signals: Here’s what retail leaders need to watch

Headline metrics like revenue can be misleading. Understand the context and focus on driving true demand to stay ahead in your industry.

Things we won't carry — and why

Like Natural Grocers, there are some things you just won't find at Upside

Report: How retailers can win the uncommitted customer

Upside’s latest report can help retailers better understand cross-shopping behavior and form habits with customers that last.

What closed-loop attribution could unlock for Google Maps and retailers

Connecting digital discovery to in-store sales—opportunity for measurable impact and growth

Tracking retail fuel trends: May 2025

In this monthly recap, we take a closer look at the ‘freight recession’ and highlight data that shows it might not end anytime soon.

Boost MyThyme results with personalized offers: Make your loyalty program go further with Upside

Upside drives more visits from infrequent customers and influences existing loyalty members to spend 2x more.

How grocers helped shape a more powerful Upside

Innovation doesn’t happen in a vacuum, and it’s rarely linear.

How Smart Personalization Can Help Fresh Thyme Win Back the Basket

Smart personalization helps Fresh Thyme deliver value without sacrificing margin—driving growth without cannibalizing existing sales.

The Waze pilot proved Upside works

Surfacing real cash-back offers inside a map app led to successful outcomes for consumers, retailers, and Google alike.

From discovery to measurable impact: How Upside can help Google Maps win the moment

Upside’s cash-back offers can amplify what’s already working for your business to turn Google Maps into a commerce engine.

Shopping often, spending big: Learn about Upside users in Texas

We surveyed grocery shoppers and analyzed transaction data in Texas. See what we found here.

Shopping often, spending big: Learn about Upside users in Denver

We surveyed Natural Grocers shoppers and analyzed transaction data in Colorado. See what we found here.

See Upside's impact on your business anytime

Upside's analytics dashboard raises the bar for measurement. Use it to prove the incremental impact of every dollar you invest with us.

Even power players need teammates: How an assist from Upside can elevate your loyalty program

Upside drives more visits from infrequent customers and influences existing loyalty members to spend 2x more.

Dining often, spending big: Learn about Upside users in St. Louis

Two-thirds of surveyed Upside users in St. Louis aren’t in MyPanera. Here's how Panera can turn that untapped audience into loyal customers.

Why we pledge 1% of revenue to community initiatives like food rescue

Upside uses the commerce of today to create a better tomorrow, both in Texas and around America.

Cash back vs. discounting: Why cash back is the smarter choice

Personalized cash-back offers frame value as a reward for behavior, preserving brand equity while still increasing trips.

Mitra QSR and Big Four accounting firm validate Upside’s segmentation reports

The analysis confirmed that Upside accurately categorizes new and returning customers. This step is critical for determining incremental impact.

Tracking retail fuel trends: April 2025

Warmer weather powered substantial increases in demand, but changes in the crude oil market brought the unexpected.

Our network, your advantage: How Upside can help H-E-B win Dallas

Your stores can tap into Upside’s loyal network of fuel customers for real boosts in transactions and incremental profit.

Even MVPs need teammates: How an assist from Upside can elevate your loyalty program

Upside drives more visits from infrequent customers and influences existing loyalty members to spend 2x more.

Acquired fuel sites grow faster with Upside

For a growth-focused distributor like Offen, Upside can be a lever to protect and grow the value of your acquisitions.

Upside and loyalty: Triple the visits, 5x the spend

Boost key metrics and drive meaningful results by pairing loyalty and Upside together.

Compete smarter: Inside Upside's exclusivity model

Discover how limiting consumer choice drives demand, differentiates brands, and increases gallons.

Tracking retail fuel trends: March 2025

Retail fuel metrics often follow specific seasonal patterns, but March’s data bucked industry trends in a few different ways.

See Upside's impact on your business anytime

Upside's analytics dashboard raises the bar for measurement. Use it to prove the incremental impact of every dollar you invest with us.

Idle pumps, lost profits: How to capture more gallons without adding sites

By attracting customers earlier in their decision-making process, fuel retailers can boost capacity utilization without adding new sites.

New stores, no cost? How a fresh approach can help Raley’s grow

Partnering with Upside can drive new stores’ worth of revenue, for a 2% lift in sales — no CapEx or OpEx required.

How restaurant franchisees drive smart growth with Upside

Upside boosts meal turn while also protecting profit, giving franchisees what they’re looking for.

How smart personalization is helping grocers win back the basket

Personalizing offers protects margins and prevents cannibalization, allowing grocers to provide value profitably.

Retail media networks turn engagement into revenue, but are grocers getting the full picture?

These networks effectively reach loyal shoppers. Paired with Upside’s offers for uncommitted customers, one and one can make three.

New stores, no cost? How a fresh approach can help Smart & Final grow

When you partner with Upside, you’ll drive an increase in sales equivalent to opening new stores, no CapEx or OpEx required.

How Upside can help sustain loyalty momentum for Sprouts Farmers Market

Keep the excitement going beyond Year One. Personalized promotions can turn occasional users into super users for Sprouts Rewards.

How Cardenas Markets increased total customer spend by 87% with Upside

Partnering with Upside helped this regional grocer turn new shoppers into loyal customers, driving profitability.

Arby’s franchisees partner with Upside to drive meaty results and win-win-wins

Balancing franchisee, corporate, and ownership goals can be challenging — but with Upside, everyone benefits.

How an Iowa family became Arby's regulars

How The Fresh Market can win more customers with Upside

Tracking retail fuel trends: February 2025

Demand picked up as warmer weather thawed much of America, but a refinery fire marred an otherwise encouraging month.

How Upside can help QT Pay maintain its first-year momentum

QT Pay is off to the races, but as with any program, some members will inevitably churn over time. Upside can help minimize that number.

Unlock the power of Upside's fuel network

How Wendy’s franchisees earn profit and drive growth with Upside

Upside boosts meal turn while also protecting profit, giving both corporate and franchisees what they're looking for.

New stores, no cost? How a fresh approach can help grocers grow

Grocers that partner with Upside drive an increase in sales equivalent to opening two new stores, no CapEx or OpEx required.

Strengthen your loyalty launch with Upside

See how one grocer boosted key metrics and drove meaningful results by pairing loyalty and Upside together.

How Jane became a Wendy's regular

Meet Jane. Before her local Wendy's joined Upside, she'd visited just one time in the past 12 months. Upside's cash back offers changed that.

Unlocking grocery growth: Breaking through the plateau

Grocers that put their stores on Upside drive sales increases equivalent to building new stores, no CapEx or OpEx required.

Upside's most popular blogs of 2024

Revisit our top insights from the past year — with much more to come in the future.

Tracking retail fuel trends: January 2025

Sanctions on Russia led to a rise in crude prices, while a cold snap suppressed fuel demand. Get your full trend update here.

'Breaking Down Buying Trends': The top three takeaways from our experts

Upside’s retail experts broke down the trends shaping the way we shop in a live webinar. We’re revisiting the conversation’s highlights.

Convenience store competition: How small operators can contend with bigger players

Small c-stores often don’t have the upfront capital that larger operators use to expand. We’ll highlight the other ways they can grow.

Where do people go out to eat on Christmas? (No, it's not just Chinese.)

We determined the businesses that are most likely to be open for the holidays — and the ones that see the biggest boost in visits.

Cracking the loyalty code: How to set a new program up for success

By bringing more new and uncommitted customers into your orbit, you can maximize the impact of a loyalty program from day one.

Tracking retail fuel trends: December 2024

Cold weather and the holiday season brought expected declines in demand. Plus, we take a closer look at c-store metrics.

Is a 10-cent discount worth it? The full story on static fuel offers

We break down the costs and benefits of static, per-gallon fuel discounts for both retailers and consumers.

How Roy Rogers is winning customers without relying on the value menu

Diners have plenty of choices for affordable meals outside of the home these days. But are value meals and blanket discounts good for your business?

Winning the uncommitted customer: Lessons from Save A Lot’s journey

Save A Lot CIO Jennifer Hopper spoke with me on stage at Grocery Impact 2024. Find out what she had to say.

Tracking retail fuel trends: November 2024

Despite a rise in holiday travel, fuel demand still fell month-over-month in November. Get a full look at the numbers here.

Retailer survey: Cautious optimism spurs greater focus on growth

Our latest survey shows retailers are thinking less about surviving and more about growing, a notable shift from the beginning of 2024.

Tracking retail fuel trends: October 2024

Sign and rack prices are expected to fall this time of year, but disruptions brought about by inclement weather have changed the story.

Fuel Trends by Upside: Methodology and FAQs

Take a closer look at how we built our Fuel Trends data series.

Meet ‘The Total,’ your bottom line for retail insights

Upside’s LinkedIn newsletter is packed with relevant insights across the fuel, c-store, grocery, and restaurant industries.

Tracking retail fuel trends: September 2024

Aligned with year-over-year trends, we observed low sign prices and foot traffic at U.S. stations. October should hold more of the same.

Our takeaways from NACS 2024

Following four days in Vegas with the top talent in fuel and c-store retail, these topics are at the top of our minds.

Our takeaways from Groceryshop 2024

Following three days in Vegas with some of the best retailers in grocery, here’s what we’re thinking about for the rest of the year and beyond.

Grocery shopping in 2024: Consumer spending trends and what’s next

Shifting consumer behavior is changing what it takes to stay competitive in grocery.

Podcast: Upside talks ‘uncommitted customers’ with Supermarket News

Upside CEO Alex Kinnier discusses how loyalty members don’t always behave loyally — and how grocers can win more foot traffic.

Q&A with GetGo: How this retailer turns uncommitted customers into loyal customers

Of the new and non-loyalty customers Upside brought to GetGo, over 60% joined myPerks.

Q&A with Giant Eagle: How this grocer earns more loyalty from uncommitted customers

Of the new and non-loyalty shoppers Upside brought to Giant Eagle, over 60% joined myPerks.

Loyalty members don't always behave like loyal customers

Our survey of 1,900 consumers shows that the majority of your loyalty members shop around like any other customer.

Variable pricing strategies and consumer perceptions

A number of variable pricing strategies are making their way into public consciousness. Here’s what you need to know.

Customer loyalty programs and their impacts on buying behavior

Loyalty programming remains a critical investment, but data shows it’s not changing customer behavior.

Inflation-adjusted sales: What your revenue numbers aren’t telling you

Due to an increase in cross-shopping, topline revenue gains can be misleading. Factoring for inflation shows a different picture.

Consumer price sensitivity: Why cross-shopping is more prevalent than ever

Consumers aren’t spending less — they’re just spreading trips around to buy less at each store. Our Consumer Spend Report has more.

How Upside's strategic partnerships drive growth for retailers

Strategic consumer partnerships help Upside retailers expand their reach to earn more transactions and more profit.

Consumer economic sentiment in 2024: Inflation has cooled, but shoppers are still wary

Upside’s Consumer Spend Report featured a new consumer survey about economic sentiments and household finances.

Consumer spending trends in 2024 and the rise of the uncommitted consumer

Breaking down Upside's inaugural Consumer Spend Report

How grocers can stay profitable during an economic downturn

With prices rising and competitors multiplying, grocery stores have to capture more visits to keep growing. Here’s how.

Consumer c-store demand: Even as top-line revenue rises, other metrics tell a different story

Transaction data from more than 1,700 c-stores shows demand is actually in decline. We contextualized the numbers and interviewed consumers to find out what’s behind the shift in shopping behavior.

In multi-category marketplaces, grocers and fuel retailers help each other win

Upside invests millions of advertising dollars to drive more transactions to participating retailers across multiple categories.

Heritage Grocers Group shares how Upside helps win and retain more shoppers

CMO Adam Salgado and COO Prabash Coswatte say that Upside helps differentiate Heritage Grocers Group in the market, helping them generate a 75% return on investment.

With more fees and higher prices, who's really to blame?

Consumers and politicians often pin the blame on retailers, but the real picture isn’t quite so clear. What’s driving high fees, and where do we go from here?

Dynamic pricing vs. personalized promotions: Mutual benefit makes all the difference

Personalized promotions center the customer while protecting the retailer’s margin; they sit at the intersection of efficiency and fairness.

How grocers bridge the gap from loyalty membership to loyal behavior

Most loyalty members behave like any other shopper. Here's how grocers can turn their average members into super-users.

Bridging the gap between loyalty membership and loyal behavior

There's a gap between loyalty membership and behavior; retailers have an opportunity to turn their average members into super-users.

Q & A with Cascade Dining on their Upside experience

Papa John’s operators discuss their experience with various marketing partners to drive sales, and what makes Upside different.

C-store revenue is up, but what about demand?

Upside reviewed transaction data from 1,700+ convenience retail locations and surveyed 1,500+ consumers. Here’s what we found.

What to do with Upside in low-margin fuel environments

Today, thousands of retailers use Upside to win more visits and higher customer spend at a positive, fully-attributable ROI.

Diners travel farther for cash back

On average, Americans travel about three miles for a casual meal outside the home. Restaurateurs are turning to Upside to get them to go farther.

Navigating thin margins in fuel and avoiding the 'vicious cycle' of cost-cutting

When fuel margins are low, retailers make less profit. But industry executives say cutting costs can make pre-existing pressures worse.

Consumers are spreading around their grocery trips. So what?

With prices rising and their options multiplying, grocery shoppers are seeking out value now more than ever.

Fuel promotions that change customer behavior at the pump

Upside surveyed consumers on effective fuel offers. Then, we reviewed transaction data from 30K fuel sites to learn what really changes buying behavior.

Retailer survey: Costs remain top-of-mind even as inflation cools

Upside polled thousands of retailers to understand the biggest challenges they currently face, and a common theme emerged.

How mobile apps can turn gas station visitors into c-store shoppers

Using mobile apps is second nature for today’s shoppers. C-stores can leverage that behavior to reach more customers and increase pump-to-store conversion.