Retail finance and loyalty specialist Ikano, has announced that it is to work in association with IKEA BUSINESS London to handle the new loyalty programme for IKEA BUSINESS, the business outfitting arm of the retail furnishings giant.

Ikano, which already manages the consumer based IKEA FAMILY card, along with the Home Card and point of sale loan finance products for IKEA's 18 UK stores, secured the new contract on the strength of its significant understanding of IKEA's working practices and culture.

Membership of IKEA BUSINESS for small businesses in London, will be initially available to SME and start-up business customers of IKEA's Wembley, Croydon, Lakeside and Tottenham stores. Programme membership will offer personal service and immediate payment at the IKEA BUSINESS Point in store, as well as the opportunity to attend business start up workshops and networking events in the London stores, free of charge.

The project has seen Ikano enhance IKEA's current database to enable it to store additional business details, and Ikano has provided training in the membership programme's enrolment to IKEA co-workers. Ikano will also be able to show IKEA how well the programme is working via performance metrics reporting.

"By assisting in the delivery of IKEA Business's loyalty programme, Ikano can further help IKEA to develop and nurture its relationship with its customers, and this is why we're delighted to be involved in this project,"  explains Ikano's commercial director, Dan Joy.