POINT-OF-SALE SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF GROUP REWARDS

摘要

A method and apparatus for managing a group reward program is disclosed whereby a group of consumers is registered with a merchant as a shopping group. The group is encouraged to make a minimum purchase of goods or services from the merchant through the offerint of a group reward. The group may become eligible for a reward after it acheives a desired minimum purchase goal established by the merchant. The minimum purchase goal may be determined based on the average purchases by the group as a whole, the average purchases of each member of the group, the individual purchases of each group member and other like methods. The minimum purchase goal may further be subject to a time limitation. Group purchases are monitored by the merchant's point-of-sale terminal network. In this manner, the members of the group encourage each other to make an appropriate amount of purchases from the merchant so that the group may earn the reward. This groups behavior, in turn, enhances the merchant's sales.