Key Ring

Key Ring operates as a mobile solutions provider, centered around its flagship shopping application designed to digitize consumer loyalty cards and streamline the shopping experience. The company was founded as Mobestream Media in 2008 by Chris Fagan and Ross Bates. The inspiration for the app came from Fagan, a former enterprise systems integration consultant and U.S. Army veteran, who grew tired of carrying numerous plastic loyalty cards while traveling for business. Leveraging his technology background, he launched the first version of the app on the Android marketplace in June 2009.

The business offers a free mobile application that functions as a digital wallet for consumers, allowing them to scan and store their loyalty, rewards, and membership cards. Key features include the ability to access digital weekly ads for over 160 retailers, create interactive shopping lists, and receive location-based coupons and promotional offers. Users can add cards by scanning the barcode or manually entering the UPC number. The platform saw significant early traction, achieving 1 million installs within its first few years and growing to over 10 million users just four years after launch.

Key Ring's revenue model is based on serving as a marketing platform for retailers and consumer packaged goods (CPG) brands. The company provides business clients with a backend portal to create and distribute customized offers to users via push notifications and in-app messages. Advertisers leverage Key Ring’s proprietary loyalty graph data and geotargeting capabilities to intersect with shoppers during their planning and purchasing journey, driving in-store sales. The business has undergone two significant acquisitions. In September 2012, it was acquired by Gannett Co. for an undisclosed amount and operated under its G/O Digital marketing division. Subsequently, in December 2020, InMarket acquired Key Ring from Vericast, integrating it into its suite of owned-and-operated apps to enhance its first-party data offerings and attribute ROI from loyalty transactions.

Keywords: mobile loyalty app, digital wallet, rewards cards, shopping application, mobile coupons, retail marketing, CPG advertising, customer engagement, loyalty program, shopper data, in-store promotion, geotargeting, digital circulars, shopping list app, consumer rewards, mobile marketing platform, first-party data, retail technology, customer loyalty, Mobestream Media