The Prepaid Press - May 15, 2008 - (Page 26)

RETAIL FOCUS May 15 · 2008 - 26 Retail Focus in Brief Convenience store industry sales reached a new high of $577.4 billion in 2007, but profits dropped by $1.4 billion, largely because of higher credit card fees, according to data released this morning by the National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS). Overall, industry revenues climbed only 1.4 percent, leveling off an extraordinary decade of growth that saw industry revenue grow more than three-fold from $174.2 billion in 1997. In a decidedly mixed year of industry performance, the biggest concern for convenience and petroleum retailers remains escalating credit card fees, which surged $1.0 billion, or 15.2 percent, to reach $7.6 billion. Meanwhile, industry pretax profits dropped by roughly the same amount, $1.4 billion, falling to $3.4 billion. The net effect is that the industry’s credit card fees are now more than double the industry’s pretax profits, an extraordinary development considering that credit card fees surpassed industry profits for the first time ever last year. NACS – www.nacsonline.com all Vesdia clients, Vesdia now also manages reward relationships with additional national merchants such as CVS/pharmacy and JoS. A. Bank Clothiers. Vesdia’s network includes a multi-channel merchant solution, which they say grows clients’ membership, increases cardholder purchases, and maximizes cardholder loyalty. Vesdia – www.vesdia.com round-trip flight purchased at delta.com within the qualification period will raise the American Express-branded prepaid card value by $50. So if a member purchases and flies three roundtrip flights, he or she will receive an American Express-branded prepaid card valued at $150. Delta – www.delta.com; American Express – www.americanexpress.com Contact us The Prepaid Press 20533 Biscayne Blvd., Suite 1142 Aventura, FL 33180 toll free: 866.203.2334 ph: 305.421.7209 • fax: 305.675.6432 info@prepaid-press.com www.prepaid-press.com Advertising Linda Simon, national accounts manager ext. 512 · lsimon@prepaid-press.com Brad Simon, major accounts director ext. 513 · bsimon@prepaid-press.com Michele Parsowith, sales assistant ext. 501 · mparsowith@prepaid-press.com Art department José Scaglione, creative director ext: 504 • art@prepaid-press.com Story ideas, PR & letters to the editor email: editor@prepaid-press.com Custom reprints José Scaglione, creative director ext: 504 • art@prepaid-press.com Permission to reproduce articles email: editor@prepaid-press.com tppEXPO’08 Lisa Brown, event director ext. 505 • lbrown@prepaidpressexpo.com Subscriptions Subscribe online at www.prepaid-press.com/subscribe.php ©Copyright 2008 The Prepaid Press. All rights reserved. The Prepaid Press is published 12x annually. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored, or transmitted, in any form, by any means, electronic, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without permission from the publisher. Domestic subscriptions are free; $65 foreign. Rather than ™ or ® in each occurrence, please be advised we are using names for editorial purposes only. Vesdia Corporation, a provider of loyalty marketing services, has grown its merchant-funded rewards network. Vesdia’s financial institution, airline, and affinity group clients can now offer their customers opportunities to earn rewards when they shop at multi-channel merchants and service providers ADT Home Security by Security Choice, DIRECTV, Hard Rock Cafe and Golfsmith. In addition to the merchant coalition available to Shoppers hitting the stores for moms, dads and grads can reap rewards on their entertainment purchases this spring. American Express has introduced an in-store promotion enabling shoppers to receive a free Spring Fling Card worth $25 from American Express Incentive Services when they purchase two American Express Gift Cards of any value at select drug stores and supermarkets through June 30, 2008. Shoppers can take advantage of this promotion by purchasing any two American Express Gift Cards or themed Gift Cards at participating retailers, completing a rebate form found at the in-store display and mailing it to the address noted on the rebate form. American Express – www.americanexpress.com Delta Air Lines is offering passengers an American Express-branded prepaid card valued at $50 for select round-trip, flights between New York City and the West Coast purchased at delta.com with any American Express Card. Each additional Prepaid Resources, a resource provider for the prepaid debit card industry, has launched PEARLS, its Provider Referral Listing Service. PEARLS connects program sponsors with processors and program managers best suited to meet their needs and interested in supporting their card program opportunities. Prepaid Resources has contracted with these independent providers forming a member-only network offering program sponsors a dynamic choice when searching for the right partnerships. There is no fee to the sponsor to enlist its program. Upon submission, the card program information is made available to the In-Network providers on a confidential basis. Supporting the referral service, Prepaid Resources’ team of prepaid professionals assist program sponsors in putting together the pieces needed for a successful card program, namely identifying program requirements, matching provider capabilities to their program needs and evaluating alternative service proposals. Prepaid Resources – www.prepaidresources.com Our Advertisers 14 Allstate 28 Auris Technology 18 Black Marlin Multimedia 3 CAT 24 Comercial Movil 15 Discover Network 13 iBasis 7 InComm 26 Jose Scaglione Design 9 NetworkIP 5 Pactolus 22 PayZone 4 Pentagon 6 Quatro Card 16 Regnum Group 27 STX 21, 23, 25 tppEXPO’08 19 Via One 8 WCGS IMPACT The ability to take a blank slate and create a lasting impression. Creativity is our greatest tool. Put our tool to work on your bottom line. José Scaglione Design Studio www.josescaglione.com http://delta.com http://www.delta.com http://www.vesdia.com http://www.americanexpress.com http://www.prepaid-press.com http://www.nacsonline.com http://www.americanexpress.com http://delta.com http://www.prepaidresources.com http://www.prepaid-press.com/subscribe.php http://www.josescaglione.com http://www.josescaglione.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of The Prepaid Press - May 15, 2008

The Prepaid Press - May 15, 2008 Prepaid Attracts Press Attention First Data to Acquire InComm Contents The Retske Report: To Everything There Is A Season Regulatory Rundown: Rules, Bills and Probes Courtesy of the FCC 5 Minutes With Ray Horak, Telecom Author The Prepaid Press Expo Spotlight The Age of Prepaid Prepaid Wireless in Brief Prepaid Wireless Roundup American Wireless to Sell Virgin Mobile Openet Introduces Flexible Accounts Prepaid Reviews Launches Pay as You Go Podcast Motorola Reports Losses APC Wireless Buys Movida Virgin Mobile to Deliver Limbo Services The State of Prepaid Technology Start Your Engines! The Legal Line PhoenixSoft Adds Service Providers Blackstone to Distribute Viscom Calling Cards Spot Rates IVR Technologies Releases Talking SIP 3.4 Calling Cards in Brief Former IDT Employee Wins $10.5 Million Payments in Brief Hypercom SmartPayments Certified for Windows Pacific Resource Credit Union Selects TMG New Payment Software for QuickBooks POS Blood in the Water Prepaid 101: Give Me the Power 7-Eleven to Hold Innovation Event First Data Gives Ingenico I-Series Class A Support Coinstar Kicks Off Change Reuse Program Payment Application Data Security Standard Issued Forrester Predicts Online Sales to Climb Retail Focus in Brief Our Advertisers Contact Us

The Prepaid Press - May 15, 2008

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