Lakeville Little Caesars the first to help schools with label-based donations
Little Caesars Pizza in Lakeville is first in the nation to offer cash donations to local schools using Labels 2 Learn, a new online label redemption program.
For every pizza sold, Little Caesars will donate 20 cents directly to the schools selected by their customers.
“We want to say ‘thank you’ to our customers in a way that inspires their loyalty,” said Mark Bloomquist, co-owner of the local franchise. “Rather than spend our money on advertising, let’s work together to fund the field trips, athletics, art and other activities that enrich our kids’ school experiences.”
“We are seeing more customers and have received more school orders as a result of our Labels 2 Learn promotion,” Bloomquist said. “The number of labels redeemed online for our schools have surpassed our most ambitious expectations, indicating real customer support for the program.”
“These numbers have delighted us,” says Brad Thompson, president of Labels 2 Learn. “This is the first online label donation program in the country. With the help of innovators like Mark and Cindy, we’re able to market-test the technology that enables consumer brands to donate their marketing money to cash-strapped school programs without the expense and hassle of traditional label redemption programs.”
More than $20 million in label donations flows back to schools every year from consumer brands like General Mills, Kemps, Tyson Foods and Campbell’s Soup. But more than 150 million labels have to be cut, sorted, counted and shipped to make that happen, Thompson said. “This is a tedious process that burns out parent volunteers — but they are compelled to do it because the schools need the money.”
The Labels 2 Learn technology enables a Little Caesars customer to enter a unique code found on each pizza box online at Labels2Learn.com, which triggers the 20 cent donation to the school selected by the customer. Or customers can simply drop labels off at the school’s office. Codes can be quickly entered by keystroke, barcode reader or smartphone app. Schools pay nothing to participate — even the bar code readers are free — and the school can spend the money as it chooses.
“We have high hopes for this new way of connecting with our customers,” Bloomquist said.
The Bloomquists own a second Little Caesars franchise in Faribault, where they are also running the Labels 2 Learn program.
