Alexandru Foaie, CashClub founder: Why cashback can change the way we buy

Alexandru Foaie, CashClub.ro founder, discusses cashback, e-commerce, customer loyalty, entrepreneurship and the development of a global platform.

Alexandru Foaie is one of the founders and administrators of the CashClub.ro loyalty platform. With 10+ years of experience in e-commerce, he has had several other attempts to develop businesses in this field, but the project that truly gained traction was the platform offering cashback, discount codes and coupons, as well as digital vouchers with discounts for purchases at over 1,300 partner stores. The platform was launched on the Romanian market 6 years ago, and this year it will also complete its transformation into a global platform.

C&B: What is the mission you have taken on through your work?

Alexandru: Our mission is for the CashClub ecosystem to have a positive impact on all the factors involved. CashClub helps users improve the way they shop through a simple process: they check, compare, activate benefits and make more informed choices. It also helps partner stores increase their sales through a commission/sales model that gives them full control over their budget and helps them build customer loyalty.

C&B: What is the most important problem you currently see in the field you operate in, and how do you think it can be solved?

Alexandru: As this is a period of pressure on both personal and business budgets, we have already designed the business model in such a way that it can also be a solution during financially difficult periods. As a result, we are currently seeing growth across all areas: number of users, number of transactions and number of partner stores.

C&B: What is the most valuable lesson you have learned throughout your experience and that you believe is worth passing on?

Alexandru: The most important business lesson I have learned is that competitive advantage is not determined by the idea, but by the ability to execute consistently and adapt faster than the market.

In the business environment, opportunities appear and disappear quickly, and the difference between companies that grow and those that stagnate is the discipline with which they validate their assumptions, make decisions and continuously optimize their product and business model. At CashClub, I understood that success is built through hundreds of small improvements, based on user feedback and data analysis, rather than through a few spectacular decisions.

I believe leaders need to maintain their long-term vision, but also be flexible enough to change direction when reality requires it. Resilience, discipline in execution and a constant focus on creating value for the customer are, in my opinion, the elements that differentiate a sustainable company from one that only experiences a momentary success.

C&B: If you had the opportunity to change one single thing in Romania, what would it be and why?

Alexandru: If I were to change one single thing in Romania, I would invest in developing a culture of trust. Trust between people, between the private sector and the state, and between entrepreneurs and their partners.

The lack of trust generates bureaucracy, additional costs and a permanent reluctance towards collaboration and innovation. By contrast, high-performing economies are built on solid relationships, predictable rules and long-term partnerships.

I believe Romania has talented people and entrepreneurs capable of building businesses that are competitive at an international level. In order to capitalize on this potential, we need an environment in which trust, transparency and meritocracy become the rule, not the exception. This would be, in my opinion, one of the most important drivers for development across all areas: economic, civic, political and educational.

C&B: How can we work together to help people, companies and communities develop better?

Alexandru: I believe sustainable development begins when everyone involved benefits. Personally, I strongly believe in this partnership-based approach and we try to give as much as possible back to our partners. People need solutions that help them manage their money better and get more value from their everyday spending. Companies need loyal customers and tools that generate long-term growth, not just one-off sales. Communities thrive when these two objectives come together.

When technology is used to create real value for consumers and measurable results for companies, a virtuous cycle is created: people save money, companies grow, and the local economy becomes stronger.

And in order to close the loop of saving and budget planning, I believe the surplus should subsequently fuel investments or education. This is how we close a cycle that sustains its own growth: people buy from local companies and save significant amounts of money that they would otherwise lose, local companies increase their sales, and people receive money back that they can direct toward education or investments, again in local companies. This entire ecosystem leads to growth across all areas, and we would have created greater prosperity and a more educated society.

Alexandru Foaie’s experience at CashClub.ro shows how technology, cashback and customer loyalty can contribute to building a sustainable business. Through an ecosystem that benefits both consumers and partner stores, CashClub aims to transform the way people shop, save and make decisions, while supporting business growth and the local economy.