Inner Circle by Brown Thomas FAQs

What is Inner Circle by Brown Thomas?

Inner Circle by Brown Thomas is an exclusive membership programme that is linked
to Encore loyalty. Memberships are purchased annually in advance and are valid
for 12 months. Inner Circle members enjoy a range of exclusive and valuable
benefits including collecting 5 points for every €1 spent with Brown Thomas and
Arnotts, free delivery on all online deliveries (excludes certain items for example
large items and furniture) and a choice of an exclusive gift.

Who can buy an Inner Circle membership?
To purchase an Inner Circle membership, you must be over 18, have an address in
the Republic of Ireland and be a member of the Encore loyalty programme. If you
are not a member of Encore loyalty, you will need to join before taking out an Inner
Circle membership (joining Encore loyalty is free).

How do I become an Inner Circle member?
You can purchase an Inner Circle membership in Brown Thomas stores or online, at
brownthomas.com or using the Brown Thomas app.
Once you have purchased an Inner Circle membership, you will need to link your
new Inner Circle membership/card to an Encore loyalty account. You will find
instructions for linking the accounts in the letter included with the Inner Circle pack
and on the Brown Thomas website. If the Inner Circle membership/card and loyalty
account are not linked, it will not be possible to earn points or redeem other Inner
Circle benefits.

How much does a membership cost?
An Inner Circle membership cost €350 for a 12-month term.

What happens when my Inner Circle membership is linked to my loyalty account?
When an Inner Circle membership is linked to an Encore loyalty account, the Encore
membership ‘tier’ is changed to “Inner Circle” on the day the membership term
begins. 

The new Inner Circle tier will appear on the “My Account” page when a
member is logged into their Encore loyalty account. The Encore account points
balance will remain on the account, and any points earned during the Inner Circle
membership term will be added to the Encore account points balance. Customers
may collect points using the Inner Circle card from the day of purchase. However,
the points will only appear on the account and be redeemable when the
membership term begins. All other Inner Circle benefits will be activated on the first
day of the term.

Can I buy an Inner Circle membership as a gift for someone?
Yes of course. However, the person you are buying the membership for must be a
member of Encore loyalty and will need to link the Inner Circle membership/card to
their loyalty account.

How does the Inner Circle membership work?
Inner Circle memberships are purchased in advance and expire 12 months from the
membership activation date. Once the membership is live (and linked to Encore
loyalty), members will automatically earn Encore loyalty points at the rate of 5 for
every €1 spent and will have free standard delivery automatically applied on all their
online orders.
Inner Circle membership comes with a range of exclusive and valuable benefits, as
listed below. Members will continue to enjoy their Inner Circle benefits for the
duration of the membership term.

Inner Circle benefits
Encore Points Earning
Inner Circle members will collect 5 Encore points for every €1 they spend with Brown
Thomas and Arnotts, in store and on the Brown Thomas and Arnotts websites and
apps, for the term of their membership. Standard Encore loyalty exclusions and terms
& conditions apply. 

The rate at which points are earned (5 points for every €1) is the
same across all stores and platforms. Points may be redeemed in Brown Thomas and
Arnotts stores, online, and via the Brown Thomas and Arnotts apps at the standard
rate of 100 points = €1. For example, if you spend €1000 in Brown Thomas, you’ll
collect 5000 Encore points which converts to €50 in Encore points to spend! Every
September, points earned in the previous calendar year will expire.

Inner Circle members will also collect an additional birthday point for every €1 spent
in the week leading up to and the week following their birthday; a total of 6 points
for every €1 spent in that period.

Choice of Exclusive Luxury Gift
New Inner Circle members may choose one from a selection of complimentary gifts
to be made available from the time their membership term starts. New gifts will be
added regularly during their membership term, and members will receive a series of
emails featuring a selection of gifts. Members may redeem one gift during the term
of their membership. The chosen gift will be delivered free of charge to their
registered postal address. Applies to all new Inner Circle memberships and
membership renewals.

Free Standard Online Delivery
Members will automatically have free standard home delivery applied on all orders
placed on the Brown Thomas and Arnotts websites and via the Brown Thomas and
Arnotts apps (excluding certain items e.g. large items and furniture). The benefit will
be applied from the day the membership is activated and will last until the last day of
the membership term. To avail of the free online delivery benefit members must have
a Brown Thomas or Arnotts online account that is linked to their Inner Circle (Encore)
account and must be logged into the account when checking out.

Be The First To Know; Exclusive Early Notification of Sales, Promotions and New
Product Launches

Inner Circle members will receive exclusive emails and app notifications to inform
them of Brown Thomas and Arnotts sales, promotions and new product launches
before they are announced to the public.

Invitations To special Inner Circle Events
Inner Circle members will be invited to a number of exclusive member-only events
during their membership term. Members will be notified of the events in advance.

Complimentary Delivery From Store, Including Gift-Wrapping
Free Home Delivery for purchases made In-store is available to Inner Circle members
in participating Brown Thomas and Arnotts stores. In order to redeem the benefit, the
member must provide proof that they are an Inner Circle member at the time of
booking by presenting their physical Inner Circle card or showing the Inner Circle
‘tier’ in app. Delivery will be made on the same day or next day depending on the
store, availability of the service and the member’s delivery address. For same day
delivery, requests must be made before 4pm. For next day delivery, requests must be
made before 6pm. The service is available only within a radius of 15 kilometers from
the store location. All goods left with Brown Thomas or Arnotts shall remain at the sole
risk of the member, and Brown Thomas Arnotts does not accept any liability for lost
or stolen goods howsoever arising. Same day delivery available in Brown Thomas
Dublin. Next day delivery is available in Brown Thomas Cork, Limerick and Galway.
This benefit is subject to availability.

Complimentary Clothing Alterations with Home Delivery
A complimentary basic alterations service is available to Inner Circle members.
Members are required to provide proof that they are Inner Circle members at the
time of booking by presenting their physical Inner Circle card or showing the Inner
Circle ‘tier’ in app. Alterations available with this benefit are cuff and hem
alterations: sleeve length, skirt/dress length and trouser/jeans length. Home delivery
on alternated garments is available only where the delivery address is within a15-
kilometer radius of the store where the item was purchased. Members whose
address is outside of this radius of the store will be able to collect the altered items
from the store where the items were purchased. The service is available in Brown
Thomas and Arnotts stores. The service is not available in BT2 stores. All goods left
with Brown Thomas or Arnotts shall remain at the sole risk of the member, and Brown
Thomas Arnotts shall not be liable for lost or stolen goods howsoever arising. This
benefit is subject to availability.

Hands-Free Shopping
A complimentary Hands-Free Shopping service is available to Inner Circle members
in selected Brown Thomas and Arnotts stores. members are required to provide proof
that they are Inner Circle members at the time of booking by presenting their
physical Inner Circle card or showing the Inner Circle ‘tier’ in app. Members must
also provide their full name and a mobile number when requesting the service, and
must present their receipt when collecting their shopping. Shopping must be
collected on the same day of purchase, and all bags must be collected at least 30
minutes before the store closes. All goods left Brown Thomas or Arnotts shall remain
at the sole risk of the member, and Brown Thomas Arnotts does not accept any
liability for lost or stolen goods howsoever arising. This service may be unavailable at
certain times and is not currently available in BT2 stores.

Complimentary In Store Beauty Treatments
Members can enjoy up to 2 complimentary In-store beauty services during the term
of their Membership. Appointments are for a facial, appointment with a skin
therapist or with the Beauty Style Team (60-minute make-up appointment). Product
is not included. Members must book in advance and quote their Inner Circle Card
number and any applicable redemption code provided when booking. This benefit
is subject to availability and is currently available in Brown Thomas Dundrum and
Grafton Street only.

Birthday Treats
Members will be offered surprise birthday treats in the run up to their birthday and will
earn 1 additional Encore point for every €1 they spend in the week leading up to
and following their birthday (6 points for every €1 spent in the period).
How do I avail myself of the membership benefits?

The 5 Encore points and free online delivery will be automatically applied to each
members’ loyalty account. The choice of exclusive gifts and gift redemption process
will be shared with members by email once the membership term begins. To redeem
some of the other benefits members may need to use a code that will be provided,
and may be required to provide proof that they are a member of the Inner Circle,
by presenting their Inner Circle card or tier on the app.

What happens when my annual membership expires?
Inner Circle membership does not automatically renew. Members who wish to
continue to avail of Inner Circle benefits uninterrupted, must renew their membership
before it expires. We will notify members 4 weeks in advance of the membership
expiration date to let them know that it is due to expire, and how they can renew.

What happens to the points I’ve earned when my membership expires?
When your membership expires, your Encore loyalty tier will be changed based on
your total spend in the previous calendar year, and your benefits and points-earning
rate will be those associated with that tier. However, as soon as you take out a new
membership, your tier will be changed to Inner Circle, and you will once again enjoy
all the benefits of Inner Circle membership.
If I take out membership again after 12 months, will I receive another gift?
Yes. Every Inner Circle member will get to choose a gift once their membership is
activated. This is the case for new members and customers who renew their
membership.

What if I want to cancel my membership?
Inner Circle membership can only be cancelled within 14 days of purchase and will
automatically expire at the end of the 12-month membership term. You may cancel
your Inner Circle membership within 14 days of purchase by contacting the loyalty
team at Brown Thomas. If you decide to cancel your membership, any points
earned at the higher rate will be deducted from your account. If you have
redeemed a gift within the cancellation period, you will be asked to return the gift.
Any refund will be applied to the card used to purchase the membership.

Can I return or exchange an Inner Circle membership after 14 days?
Unfortunately, not. Inner Circle membership may be cancelled for a refund within 14
days but may not be exchanged, and may not be returned for a refund or
exchanged for another product after that period.

What if I’m not a member of Encore loyalty?
Inner Circle by Brown Thomas is linked to the Encore loyalty Programme. In order to
enjoy the benefits associated with Inner Circle, you must be a member of Encore
loyalty. If you are not a member, you must join before becoming an Inner Circle
member (Encore loyalty is free to join!).

How do I join Encore loyalty?
If you wish to create a new loyalty account to which an Inner Circle account is to be
linked, you must use the special online form. There is a QR code which links to the
form and instructions included in the Inner Circle pack and on the Brown Thomas
website.

Can I transfer an Inner Circle membership to someone else?
No, unfortunately it is not possible to transfer an Inner Circle membership. The
membership will belong to the person named on the account when it was linked to
Encore loyalty.

Can I add associate loyalty cards to an Inner Circle membership?
No, unfortunately it is not possible to link additional/associate cards to an Inner Circle
account.

Do the points I earn as an Inner Circle member expire in the same way as Encore
loyalty points?
Yes, the Encore points you earn as an Inner Circle member are subject to the same
expiry rules as Encore points. On 30th September each year, Points earned in the
previous calendar year will expire. We will notify members in advance of this
happening each year.

N.B. standard exclusions apply to the earning and redeeming of loyalty points. See
www.brownthomas.com for full terms and conditions.