Ox&Pen

Leap Day is today! Once every four years, we get a February 29. You might know someone who celebrates a seventh or eighth birthday today. For those of us who get a birthday every year, that’s still an entire extra day in 2012, so why not make the most of it?

Head over to Witts, a neighborhood bar and restaurant at 2913 N. Lincoln in Lakeview, for trivia tonight at 8 p.m. You’ll get to display your acute knowledge of frequently-forgotten vice presidents, the print of Marge Simpson’s kitchen drapes and other completely relevant information. While you’re at it, enjoy a platter of wings for $10 and a domestic bucket for $12.50. If you’ve already made Leap Day plans, no worries; trivia night is every week at 8 p.m. And if this weather continues, you might get to enjoy the Witts patio sooner than later (that’s right, they have a patio).

Insider tip: the player chosen trivia round for this week will be American Beers and Breweries. To stay on top of clues like this, follow Witts on Facebook, and keep an eye out for exclusive promotions and loyalty rewards from them on Ox&Pen!

Continue reading “No Leap Day plans yet?…” »

Let’s talk about universal loyalty programs. Those of us earning frequent flier miles with an airline that is part of an alliance can likely redeem those miles for free flights on any airline in said alliance. The same is true of some credit card loyalty systems; every dollar you spend translates into a point that can be used at one of several merchants within the credit card’s network.

While the above examples truly embody the idea of a universal loyalty program, neither caters to small, local business owners or their patrons. Rather, those programs work best on a bigger scale; their loyalty networks are typically reserved for large, national (or international) chains.

In the very early stages of conceiving what would later become Ox&Pen, I knew supporting local businesses would be one of our critical objectives and that the loyalty component would be a huge driver in achieving that. I knew the network effect of the above mentioned loyalty programs could be extremely powerful for small businesses, but there were challenges in creating this with seemingly disparate neighborhood specialty shops.

Often, if our favorite mom-and-pop shop has its own rewards program, it involves a punch-card, where, you get something free with every 10^th purchase, but rewards can only be redeemed at that location. This system works well for people who live or work nearby. But if a particular vendor is on the other side of town, the effort required to get there 10 times might outweigh the benefit of receiving something for free. In this case, the punch-card loyalty program isn’t really added incentive to visit that store over another, and both the consumer and the merchant miss out.

However, with Ox&Pen, you can earn loyalty points for purchases and social engagement at a card shop near your home on one side of town, for example, and later redeem those points using your smartphone at that new lunch place near your work on the other. You feel good because you are shopping locally and earning loyalty points at the same time. The owner of the card shop is also happy; he gains an incremental sale that otherwise may have gone elsewhere. What a novel concept: creating a “loyal” customer, even if just a one-time shopper.

Not only does Ox&Pen’s model provide its members with plenty of flexibility in how their hard-earned points can be used; but business owners benefit by joining forces with other small, local establishments. As a network, they can much better compete against their big-box rivals in the loyalty game.

Continue reading “Universal loyalty program built for small, local…” »

Now that the Valentine’s Day hoopla is over, we can focus on what is, for many Chicagoans, the week of the year.

Chicago Restaurant Week starts tomorrow. From Feb. 17 through Feb. 26, select eateries around the city will be offering special, prix-fixe menus for lunch and dinner. It’s a great opportunity to get to know some of those restaurants you keep reading and hearing about.

Among the amazing options on the lineup is Leopold, one of the newest additions to the Ox&Pen network. The West Town favorite offers Belgian inspired food and drink, seasonally influenced and sourced locally whenever possible. Adding to the dining experience is an extensive selection of Belgian beers, food-friendly wines and classically inspired cocktails. Visit www.leopoldchicago.com for more info.

If you like Belgian beer, don't miss out on a trip to Leopold.

When Chicago Restaurant Week wraps up, you won’t be able to get a prix-fixe meal at Leopold. But, as an Ox&Pen member, you’ll get loyalty points for repeat visits and social sharing as well as exclusive promotional offers for this increasingly popular hot spot.

If you’re unable to visit Leopold during Chicago Restaurant Week (or even if you are!), consider signing up for Ox&Pen. With membership, you’ll get exclusive promotional offers and earn universal loyalty points for Leopold and many other great Chicago establishments. Perks like these are necessary in your exploration of new neighborhoods and local merchants and your frequent visits to your trusted favorites. It will be like the Restaurant Week that doesn’t end!

Interested in joining the universal loyalty program? Sign up now!

Continue reading “Where to go during Chicago Restaurant Week:…” »

Arguably Chicago’s second biggest holiday this week (not sure if anything can trump Lincoln’s birthday in this city), it’s Valentine’s Day. If you’re looking for ways to sweeten up the day and evening beyond the glut of candy sure to be found in your office kitchen, we suggest treating yourself (or a loved one) to something special at one of Chicago’s many unique, local merchants. Here are a few West Loop favorites:

Wine, cheese and hospitality
You’ve probably read about Vera in Chicago Magazine, the Sun-Times and countless other publications that have given the Spanish wine bar one of many

Vera Cheese Bar & Dining Room

gushing reviews. The warm and inviting décor and the seasonally rotating wines alongside Spanish sharable plates make Vera a perfect spot for couples or groups of friends sharing an evening of fine dining.

Create your own Little Italy
Dining in? Stop by the family-run J.P. Graziano on Randolph, just west of Halsted, for the city’s finest selection of Italian meats, cheeses, bread and dessert. Pick up some Prosciutto de Parma, fresh mozzarella, hot sopresatta, aged Manchengo and fresh Italian bread for a dining experience rivaled only by a fresh meal on the streets of Florence.

Pamper yourself
You deserve it. Whether the past few weeks at work have been draining or you just need something to get you through the latest cold spell, check out HM Day Spa on Madison and treat yourself to the gift of relaxation. A haven for reflection and inner discovery, everything at this brand new facility is designed to give you the ultimate spa experience.

Put some spring in your style
You can’t quite feel it yet, but spring is right around the corner. Ditch those dismal grays and get ready for warmer weather by brightening up your wardrobe. Ladies, check out Tribeca on Madison for the latest colorful apparel handpicked from the runways of the hottest designers. Gentlemen, visit Entourage Man at Halsted and Washington where you’ll find the latest pieces that facilitate “style beyond desire.”

No matter who you’re with, enjoy the day as you explore the great establishments the West Loop has to offer.

Continue reading “Your guide to a very local Valentine’s…” »

comScore reported in December that 20 million mobile phone owners scanned a QR code in October 2011. The February briefing from trendwatching.com coined “point-know-buy,” the trend that is changing the way we access information: from text-based to image-based. We no longer need text-based searches to access information.

Use your phone to scan and sign up for early access to www.oxandpen.com.

Instead, we now find what we need simply by pointing our phones at visuals right in front of us. QR codes are one of the technologies fueling this next wave of “infolust.” It seems that those little squares full of black and white designs are here to stay for a while.

You’ll note that this isn’t the first time we’ve brought up QR codes. As you’ll soon learn, QR codes are an integral part of the Ox&Pen network. QR codes enable this sophisticated, smartphone-based platform to function seamlessly. With them, Ox&Pen members are relieved of the need for anything except their mobile device when redeeming offers or earning loyalty points.

To take advantage of a promotional offer, Ox&Pen members simply scan a QR code provided by the merchant. The same is true for checking in, which members do to earn loyalty points. No printing necessary. No need to dig through pockets and purses to find that easy-to-lose clumsy card or fob. It’s about the user experience; if you have your smartphone on you, you’re set. Just visit a merchant in the network, open up your Ox&Pen mobile app (coming soon!) and start scanning!

Continue reading “QR codes streamline universal loyalty network’s user…” »

We recently gave you a sneak peek at a few of Chicago’s most talked about eateries, retailers and service providers that will soon offer exclusive promotions and universal loyalty rewards on Ox&Pen. Since then, we have signed on many new merchants; read more about a few Chicago through-and-through vendors in which you might be interested:

Krista K Boutique
The first upscale women’s clothing store in the Southport Corridor, Krista K is now at the center of a thriving shopping area. In its first year of business, the boutique was named Chicago’s Best New Women’s Boutique by Chicago Magazine and was featured on ABC’s 190 North as one of Chicago’s top 3 Boutiques. Krista K has since been featured in Lucky, InStyle, Women’s Wear Daily, the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, Cosmopolitan, Travel + Leisure, Crains, Time Out, Daily Candy, Chicago Social, the Chicago Tribune, the Chicago Sun Times and more. In 2004, Krista K doubled the size of its original space to broaden its collection of denim and maternity.

Twilight Birch Series 2 by Darren Jones

By 2006, the maternity collection had outgrown this space and in need of its own home. Thus in August 2006, Krista K Maternity + Baby opened its doors a half-block north of Krista K.

Darren Jones Fine Art
Darren Jones is a Chicago-based artist who captures nature’s beauty in his paintings which evoke emotion and a sense of humanity. His work, featured in galleries and private collections across North America, in Europe, Australia and the Middle East, is impressionistic and contemporary in style. Jones paints out of his studio in Ravenswood and is inspired by fond memories of his mother’s gardens and the novel surroundings he encounters while traveling.

Armando Pedroso Fine Art
To create his inspirational and emotionally driven paintings, Armando Pedroso deconstructs and reconstructs layers of roofing tar, plaster, found objects, metals, symbols, rich acrylic colors and words. With paintings that are sometimes

Armando Pedroso

playful, gritty or with an urban feel, his focus is to encourage the viewer to act upon hidden passions and dreams. To get early access to promotions and loyalty rewards from these merchants and more, sign up for updates at oxandpen.com.

Continue reading “More Chicago originals join Ox&Pen……” »