Gilt Launches First Customer-Loyalty Program

Today Gilt becomes the first flash-sale site to launch a customer-loyalty program. The Gilt Insider Program members will be rewarded for not only for spending but for interacting on the site. You can earn points for making a purchase, referring friends or just visiting a Gilt sale. You can also exchange points for perks like early access to sale and free shipping.

Another advantage of the points are the new status levels: select, premium or noir. As members acquire more points they move up in tiers, get wait-list priority and a dedicated customer service line. "It's expensive from a technology perspective," Elizabeth Francis, chief marketing officer, said of the program. "We communicate frequently with our customers. We knew what our members wanted. This is a great way for us to engage."