Episode 46 ポイントビジネス

Introduction:
Hello, my students. Welcome to my English learning podcast. Today's theme is 'Point Business’. Do you accumulate points for every purchase? OK, let’s crack on with the discussion.

Small Discussion Question 1:
Will you tell me about point business in Japan?

Sample Answer for Question 1:
Sure. In Japan, point business is a marketing strategy aimed at stimulating consumer spending. Customers earn points based on their purchases, which they can later redeem for discounts or other rewards. This encourages consumers to make more purchases and allows for consumer loyalty. For businesses, it's a way to attract and retain customers by offering added value.

Small Discussion Question 2:
Is point business effective, and what are its repercussions?

Sample Answer for Question 2:
I believe point business is effective in encouraging customer engagement and loyalty for companies. However, it can also lead to negative repercussions. For example, companies may prioritize point-based strategy over improving the quality of their products or services. Similarly, consumers may focus on collecting points rather than purchasing items or services they actually need.

Let’s see today’s vocabulary.

The term 'redeem（商品・特典などに引き換える）' often refers to the act of exchanging or converting rewards, points, or vouchers for goods or services. For example, “Frequent flyers who accumulate plenty of miles can redeem those miles for complimentary air tickets.”
 
Our next phrase is 'encourage someone to do（誰々に～するよう促す）.' This expression means to inspire, motivate, or support someone in doing something. For instance, “Her supportive words encouraged him to pursue his dreams.”
 
Moving on, we have the word 'loyalty（忠誠心）.' Within business, 'loyalty' typically refers to the degree of commitment or allegiance customers have towards a particular brand, product, or service. For example, “Building customer loyalty through exceptional service and quality products is key to long-term success.”
 
Now, we have 'repercussion（予期せぬ影響）.' Repercussion refers to the unintended consequences or effects of an action or event. For instance, “The decision to cut funding for education had far-reaching repercussions.”
 
Lastly, we have the adverb 'similarly（同様に）.' Similarly is used to indicate that something is done in a similar manner or has similar characteristics to something else mentioned. For example, “She enjoys painting; similarly, her brother finds solace in playing music.”

Conclusion:
Earning points makes us feel more comfortable or enjoyable when purchasing. It’s kind of an extra bonus for us. But why not have a second thought and consider if the item is really necessary? If you think it serves multiple purposes, let’s go ahead and make the purchase. Enjoy your shopping!

今日も、ご視聴ありがとうございました！
語彙や表現を強化したい方は、下記のExcel英単語帳もお求めください。