A new strategic partnership between Pion and Tillo is set to better connect brands with money-focused Gen Zalpha this festive period.
Pion, the verification platform with 20 years of student marketing experience, today announces a major strategic partnership with Tillo, the award-winning global gift card network.
The collaboration launches the first student discount marketplace using Tillo StoreFront, integrating discounted gift cards within their offering, pioneering a new revenue model designed to convert the hyper-pragmatic Gen Zalpha consumer into guaranteed customers.
For brands which previously have not invested in student discount programmes, the partnership captures enormous unmet demand for key brands frequently searched for by students.
The initiative also introduces a new way for verified students to save, using their discounted gift cards alongside their other money-saving tactics, thus providing an elevated level of support to meet the generation’s current budget crisis.
The partnership solidifies Pion’s commitment to understanding and solving the financial complexities faced by young consumers.
Data from Pion’s latest research, PION100, confirms the urgency. 74% of young consumers describe themselves as careful budgeters. This results in the "say/do" gap, where 83% of Gen Zalpha have positive feelings towards, but most can’t afford to splurge on them.
"Our platform's core traffic consistently shows high-intent searches for discounts at retailers who maintain premium pricing. This new solution is the direct answer to that industry problem, supporting both brands and Gen Zalpha connect with one another" says Dan Eder, Head of Content and Customer Experience.
With the critical holiday season approaching, the Tillo partnership presents a lucrative opportunity for brands to engage a new customer base.
“This isn’t just about making students happy, it’s about providing our partners with a guaranteed revenue pipeline that turns initial holiday transactions into lifetime customer data." Dan Eder continues.
"This strategic investment positions Pion as the essential partner for retailers preparing for the holiday period. By offering our student users exclusive discounts on gift cards from over 150 iconic student brands, we continue to ensure students are making significant savings on every transaction, both online and in-store.”
Alex Preece, CEO and Co-Founder of Tillo said:
“At Tillo, our goal is to make it easy for businesses to connect with the people who want to shop with them, and this partnership does that in a powerful way. Our technology gives brands a seamless route to reach value-seeking students while keeping the experience simple, fast, and rewarding. Working with Pion brings together two strengths - their deep understanding of the student mindset and our global gift card network - giving retailers a smarter way to build loyalty during the busiest time of the year.”
About Pion
Pion is the leading multi-consumer group verification solution that empowers brands to build and control their own gated discount programs, connecting them with millions of readily engaged and verified users. Its offering spans across 10 strategic consumer groups, including students, military, and healthcare workers. Built on 20 years of expertise in youth marketing through its student-facing platform, Student Beans, Pion accelerates brand growth from a single solution.
About Tillo
Tillo makes gift cards, rewards, and incentives simple, efficient, and profitable. Its award-winning platform connects over 3,000 global brands to a network of buyers across 40 markets and 25 currencies, processing billions of dollars in gift cards each year. Tillo is the first gift card provider certified for Customer Service Excellence and is setting the global standard for rewards and incentives.
