Meet The Disruptors: Damon Robbins Of Everyday Rewards On The Five Things You Need To Shake Up Your Industry
Compounding Entries System: This is one of our most unique features, allowing members to accumulate entries over time, increasing their chances of winning. It’s a simple yet powerful way to keep members engaged and excited.
As a part of our series about business leaders who are shaking things up in their industry, I had the pleasure of interviewing Damon Robbins.
Damon Robbins is an innovator in the business world, known for his strategic vision and entrepreneurial drive. As a former senior executive at News Corp, Robbins doubled the company’s iGaming profit through mergers, international expansion in the iGaming sector, and launching new ventures like News Compare, a financial services comparison platform. After his tenure at News Corp, Robbins founded Everyday Rewards, a groundbreaking platform that combines everyday shopping discounts with the thrill of sweepstakes, offering consumers unprecedented value and life-changing prize opportunities. Robbins is on a mission to revolutionize customer loyalty, aiming to give away $20 million a month through Everyday Rewards.
Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series. Before we dive into our discussion about disruption, our readers would love to “get to know you” a bit better. Can you share with us?
Absolutely, I’d be glad to share. My journey began in 2008 when I launched a startup that, although it didn’t succeed, was the first of its kind globally. The platform allowed users to place bets through a single account, while my company automatically distributed wagers across multiple sportsbooks to secure the best odds.
Following that, I launched a sportsbook in Australia for the country’s largest casino and wagering company, eventually managing all marketing and digital strategies for the group. This led me to take over a small media business, Racenet, where I scaled it significantly before selling it to News Corp.
During my time at News Corp, I was heavily involved in strategic projects, particularly merging assets and expanding internationally, especially within the iGaming industry. I saw firsthand how combining seemingly unrelated opportunities could lead to exponential growth.
After the successful sale of Racenet and my time at News Corp, I identified an untapped opportunity in the rewards space. Traditional loyalty programs seemed lackluster — collecting points for minimal rewards. I thought, “Why not make this more exciting?” That’s when the concept of Everyday Rewards came to life. My goal was to create a program that offers not just discounts but also the chance to win life-changing prizes, turning everyday shopping into an extraordinary experience.
What do you think makes your company stand out? Can you share a story?
Everyday Rewards stands out because we’re not just another loyalty program — we’re redefining what a loyalty program can be. Our unique value proposition lies in combining everyday discounts with exciting sweepstakes. It’s about providing people with real opportunities to win, rather than just offering points that expire or discounts they never use.
One story that really captures this is about a member named Cade B. After just two months with us, he won a major prize where he had the choice between a Porsche 911, a Winnebago Voyage valued at $83,000, or $100,000 in cash. This kind of impact is what sets Everyday Rewards apart; we’re giving people genuine chances for life-changing wins as they go about their regular shopping. It’s incredibly exciting to see those moments happen and to know we’re a part of them.
You are a successful business leader. Which three character traits do you think were most instrumental to your success? Can you please share a story or example for each?
First, I would say vision is crucial. You need to see opportunities where others see challenges. For example, during my time at News Corp, I recognized the potential in merging assets and expanding into international iGaming markets, a move that ultimately doubled the division’s profits.
Second, resilience. Building Everyday Rewards has had its share of challenges. As any entrepreneur knows, there are often more tough days than good ones. I had to push through initial skepticism, including my own doubts, to develop a platform that delivers unprecedented value and real rewards to our members.
Third, adaptability. The market changes quickly, and we have to be agile in response. For instance, when we first launched, we realized that our members preferred less frequent draws with bigger prizes. So, we adapted our model by introducing compounding entries to improve odds for ongoing members and increasing investment in our giveaways. This flexibility has been key to our growth.
Leadership often entails making difficult decisions or hard choices between two apparently good paths. Can you share a story with us about a hard decision or choice you had to make as a leader? I’m curious to understand how these challenges have shaped your leadership.
One of the toughest decisions I faced in the early days of Everyday Rewards was choosing between rapid scaling and focusing on building a strong, engaged member base first. The temptation was to scale quickly — spend heavily on marketing and chase growth numbers. However, we chose to grow more organically, prioritizing a deep understanding of the unique value we provide and fostering genuine engagement with our members.
This path wasn’t the easiest, but it paid off in creating a loyal and enthusiastic community. This decision taught me the importance of patience and the value of investing in quality over quantity.
Ok, thank you for that. Let’s now jump to the primary focus of our interview. Let’s begin with a basic definition so that all of us are on the same page. In the context of a business, what exactly is “Disruption”?
In business, disruption means challenging the status quo. It’s about breaking away from traditional methods and creating something entirely new that changes the game. It’s not just about doing things differently; it’s about doing things better, in a way that redefines how an industry operates.
How do you perceive the role of ‘disruption’ within your industry, and how have you personally embraced it? Is it a necessity, a strategy, or something else entirely in your view?
I see disruption in our industry as both a necessity and a strategy. For too long, coupon sites and loyalty programs have remained stagnant, providing little real value to consumers. By combining everyday savings with the opportunity to win luxury prizes, we’re not just shaking things up — we’re creating an entirely new category. To me, disruption is about anticipating what customers want before they even realize it themselves and delivering it in a way that exceeds their expectations.
What lessons have you learned from challenging conventional wisdom, and how have those lessons shaped your leadership style?
Challenging conventional wisdom taught me that fear of failure is often the biggest barrier to innovation. I’ve learned to embrace failure as part of the process — it is still extremely scary at times. Each setback is a learning opportunity. For example, when we first launched, some aspects didn’t work as expected, like the frequency of our prize draws. We listened, adapted, and evolved. This approach has shaped me into a more empathetic and flexible leader, focused on constant learning and improvement.
Disruptive ideas often meet resistance. Could you describe a time when you faced significant pushback for a disruptive idea? How did you navigate the opposition, and what advice would you give to others in a similar situation?
Having worked for a multinational like News Corp, most leaders believe they have heard and seen it all. My role was to disrupt from within, whether with gambling or financial services. The key is to work hard to know that the hypothesis is really sound, and you believe you can deliver.
Then, you need to deliver consistently so that others across the business know when you speak, you are true to your word and do not put them at risk. My advice to others? Stay the course, and let the data and real-world results do the talking.
What are your “Five Innovative Approaches We Are Using To Disrupt Our Industry”?
- Compounding Entries System: This is one of our most unique features, allowing members to accumulate entries over time, increasing their chances of winning. It’s a simple yet powerful way to keep members engaged and excited.
- User-Friendly Experience: We’ve designed the platform to be intuitive, easy to use, and accessible to all, making sure anyone can join, participate, and win without hassle.
- Genuine Value Proposition: Unlike many programs, our members don’t just get points — they get real discounts and the chance to win life-changing prizes. It’s value with excitement.
- Community Building: We’re not just a rewards program; we’re creating a community where members feel valued and connected, fostering a sense of belonging and shared excitement.
- Constant Innovation and Feedback Loop: We’re always listening to our members, adapting our offerings, and finding new ways to add value and excitement to the Everyday Rewards experience.
Looking back at your career, in what ways has being disruptive defined or redefined your path? What surprises have you encountered along the way?
My career has been defined by disruption, starting with a failed startup and then moving into roles as an intrapreneur within multinational companies. My strength has always been breaking new ground and bringing an entrepreneurial mindset to drive disruption from within.
The biggest surprise I’ve encountered is that innovation or disruption from within an established business often faces significant obstacles and is likely to fail. To truly achieve meaningful disruption, great companies often set up “skunk works” projects or create separate, offsite entities to foster their own culture of innovation. This approach prevents them from being slowed down by the traditional ways of doing things.
Beyond professional accomplishments, how has embracing disruption affected you on a personal level?
On a personal level, embracing disruption has been my life and is really my personality. It has taught me to embrace push-back, grow comfortable with uncertainty, and always find the hidden opportunities within even the most emotional challenges.
In your role as a C-suite leader, driving innovation and embracing disruption, what thoughts or concerns keep you awake at night? How do these reflections guide your decisions and leadership?
What keeps me awake at night is ensuring that we’re constantly adding real value to our members and more members are trusting our brand to join. Are we meeting their needs? Are we staying ahead of their expectations? These reflections guide me to always stay focused on our mission — to provide genuine opportunities for value and reward.
You are a person of great influence. If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. :-)
I would start a movement that combines financial literacy with everyday decision-making tools, particularly aimed at younger generations. Imagine an app that teaches smart spending, saving, and investing as they shop. It would make financial health a natural part of daily life and empower people to make better choices every day.
How can our readers further follow your work online?
You can follow my work and stay updated on all things Everyday Rewards by visiting our website Everyday Rewards and following us on our social media channels. We regularly share news
This was very inspiring. Thank you so much for joining us!
