NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--American Express has teamed up with basketball icon Shaquille O’Neal to encourage Card Members to Shop Small and get 2X Rewards this holiday season. As part of the partnership, American Express will be working with O’Neal to raise awareness for the company’s largest and longest running campaign to connect Card Members with their favorite small businesses – the Shop Small® for 2X Rewards offer. In addition, American Express, an official sponsor of the NBA and six of its teams, has also partnered with O’Neal, a four-time NBA champion, for the 2016-17 NBA season.
To support the Shop Small® for 2X Rewards offer, American Express produced a comical online video series that features O’Neal and special celebrity guests visiting local small businesses across the country to find the perfect holiday gifts for friends and family. To kick off the campaign, O’Neal is joined by Grammy Award-winning musician Kendrick Lamar. The two enjoy an afternoon at local LA soap shop, Soaptopia, sampling unique scents including the exclusive “Luscious Lamar Bar” and “Shea Butter Shaq.” This first episode launched on American Express’ digital channels today and can be viewed here. As part of the campaign, spots featuring O’Neal and other surprise guest shoppers at two additional Shop Small locations will be released in the coming weeks on American Express social channels.
American Express will also work with the Basketball Hall-of-Famer and its team and venue partners to create special in-venue experiences for NBA fans as part of its Shop Small campaign. The first will take place on November 10 at the Chicago Bulls vs. Miami HEAT game in Miami, Florida.
“Along with being celebrated for his Hall of Fame basketball career, Shaquille is an American Express Card Member, an entrepreneur and philanthropist who embodies many of the key characteristics of what our brand represents,” said Brad Minor, Vice President of Global Brand Partnerships and Experiential Marketing at American Express. “Shaquille O’Neal is one of the most recognizable athletes in the world, and we’re stoked to be working with him to help encourage consumers to support small businesses this holiday season through our Shop Small for 2X Rewards campaign, as well as partner with him on our larger NBA season sponsorship plans.”
“As a Card Member since 1992, American Express has been a part of my life from when I began my NBA career to today,” O’Neal said. “I am excited to partner with such an internationally respected brand that has supported small businesses for more than 25 years. As a businessman myself, I understand how important it is for our communities to Shop Small and have a personal stake in supporting American Express’ 2X Rewards campaign.”
To begin earning 2X rewards, Card Members can enroll in one of more than 50 U.S. Consumer and OPEN Small Business American Express Cards at www.amex.co/shopsmalloffer and shop at qualifying small merchant locations and websites now through December 31, 2016.
About Shop Small® for 2X Rewards Offer
In 2010, American Express founded Small Business Saturday®, a grassroots initiative to help drive consumers to shop at small businesses in communities across the country. Today, Small Business Saturday, which this year takes place on November 26, has become a national holiday alongside Black Friday and Cyber Monday as well as a successful global movement. Over the years, American Express has broadened the campaign to encourage millions of Americans to shop small on Small Business Saturday and throughout the holiday season.
Earlier this year, American Express introduced a first-of-its-kind offer, Shop Small® for 2X Rewards, to further expand its ongoing support for its expanding network of small businesses during the critical holiday shopping season. Now through December 31, 2016, when American Express Card Members can use an eligible Card at qualifying small merchants- from retail shops to restaurants to dry cleaners- they can earn 2X rewards – from Membership Rewards® points to miles with Delta® to Cash Back and more.
With the addition of 1.6 million new merchant locations1 that have started accepting American Express Cards over the past two years, Card Members now have even more places than ever before to Shop Small. Eligible merchants can be found on the Shop Small Map at shopsmallnow.com.
American Express is also providing its small merchants with marketing materials and resources to help them promote the Shop Small® for 2X Rewards offer, including free online ads, signage, email templates, social posts and more. Small merchants can access such free materials during the offer period and year-round at the American Express Merchant Marketing Corner at marketingcorner.americanexpress.com.
How It Works
Now through December 31, 2016, American Express Card Members can enroll an eligible American Express Card online or through a mobile device at www.amex.co/shopsmalloffer to begin earning 2X rewards when they Shop Small. American Express Card Members will be awarded in their Card’s specific rewards.
Eligible Card Members can earn 2X Rewards as follows:
Blue Cash EveryDay & Blue Cash Preferred Card: Earn an additional 1% cash back per dollar of purchases in the form of Blue Cash Reward Dollars, which can be redeemed for statement credits
Blue Sky Points: Earn one additional Blue Sky point per dollar of purchases
Delta SkyMiles®: Earn one additional mile per dollar of purchases
Hilton HHonors™ Points: Earn three additional Hilton HHonors™ Bonus Points per dollar of purchases
Lowe’s Business Rewards Points: Earn one additional Lowe’s Business Rewards point per dollar of purchases
Membership Rewards® program-enrolled Cards: Earn one additional Membership Rewards point per dollar of purchases.
Plenti Points: Earn one additional Plenti Point per dollar of purchases
SimplyCash: Earn an additional 1% cash back per dollar of purchases in the form of a statement credit
Schwab Cash Back: Earn an additional 1.5% cash back per dollar of purchases deposited in an eligible Schwab account
Starwood Preferred Guest Starpoints®: Earn one additional Starpoint® per dollar of purchases
Card Members can find small businesses where they can earn 2X rewards by visiting the Shop Small Map at shopsmallnow.com. The Shop Small 2X Rewards offer applies to the first $100,000 in purchases for each eligible American Express Personal Card and the first $250,000 for each eligible OPEN Small Business Card.
Card Members will not earn 2X rewards on any bonus they may already enjoy with their Card, such as when they spend on certain types of purchases or at certain merchants. If a Card Member has Additional Cards on their account, these will be automatically enrolled when the primary Card Member enrolls. Additional Card Members can earn 2X Rewards for the primary Card Member's account. Prepaid and Corporate Cards, American Express Cards issued by other financial institutions, The Plum Card® and certain other Cards are not eligible.
For more information on the Shop Small for 2X Rewards offer and full terms and conditions, visit www.amex.co/shopsmalloffer.
About American Express
American Express is a global services company, providing customers with access to products, insights and experiences that enrich lives and build business success. Learn more at americanexpress.com and connect with us on facebook.com/americanexpress, foursquare.com/americanexpress, linkedin.com/company/american-express, twitter.com/americanexpress, and youtube.com/americanexpress.
Key links to products, services and corporate responsibility information: charge and credit cards, business credit cards, Plenti rewards program, travel services, gift cards, prepaid cards, merchant services, corporate card, business travel and corporate responsibility.
About Shaquille O’Neal
Shaquille O’Neal is a four-time NBA Champion and three-time NBA Finals MVP. The recently retired, 15-time NBA All-Star was named as both the highest ranked athlete in the NBA and the most influential in sports in 2011. With a PhD in Leadership and Education, this iconic marketing and social media marvel was ranked among the “100 Most Creative People in Business” by Fast Company Magazine with an online presence that has grown to become the second most followed US athlete on twitter.
As a celebrity, athlete, business professional and comedian, Shaquille O’Neal has an enormous and devoted fan base across a variety of demographics. To learn more about Shaq, visit Shaq.com; Follow Shaq on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
1 Based on internal comparison of American Express small merchant locations in December 2013 to American Express small merchant locations in December 2015.
