Belly
Over the last year you may have noticed those little countertop iPads popping up in 7-Elevens and restaurants across the city. They’re the brainchild of Chicago-based digital rewards program Belly. According to its founder, Logan LaHive, the goal is to revolutionize “in-store technology.” Belly screens have been popping up all over the city, ostensibly taking the Facebook concept of “checking in” to a whole new level, actually giving you something for what social networking has trained us to trade in for free. Basically, you sign up for a membership card, scan the barcode at the counter, and accrue points with a tiered list of rewards just for showing up. More free stuff for doing what you do anyway? Sign us up.
Best of Chicago 2013
