The Prepaid Press - January 2009 - (Page 25)

GIFT CARDS & PROMOTIONS Dec. 2008 / Jan. 2009 - 25 SCA’s PrizeSuite Enables Promotions Web-Based Promotions Engine Eliminates Budget and Time DALLAS, TX (December 16, 2008) Online promotions are booming and expected to nearly triple over the next five years – surging to a staggering $22.8 billion industry, according to Internet Media Research Firm Borrell Associates. But because of budget and time constraints, many businesses are currently forced to pass on them. To eliminate these issues, SCA Promotions, a provider of promotional risk coverage for contests, games and events, has launched PrizeSuite, an online promotions engine that provides businesses with fast and affordable instant win promotions. PrizeSuite, developed in conjunction with SCA’s technology partners, is a turnkey, handsoff solution that enables businesses to deliver customized online games and sweepstakes in a matter of days, for as low as 35 cents per lead. “Thanks to the multi-pronged power of online promotions, their use in marketing campaigns is skyrocketing. However, many businesses have been left out of the online promotions space because of cost and time constraints,” notes Tony Ebert, Director of Sales for SCA Promotions. “With PrizeSuite, we have eliminated these problems by taking our most popular online instant win promotions and developing a customizable, turnkey engine where the heavy lifting such as complex coding and program security is already done. Instead of designing an online promotion from scratch, businesses and agencies need only to select the desired online promotion and prize amount, and send us their logo or creative branding. We do the rest – and we make it fast and affordable.” PrizeSuite features three types of promotion platforms: Prizecode, a unique code- driven instant win game designed to drive foot traffic to businesses and events; SweepsToGo, an easy way to capture contestant information and generate a secure random result for a guaranteed prize; and InstaWinGame, which enables marketers to access a variety of high-end animated flash games. Each promotion can be customized to reflect the unique needs and goals of the promotion sponsor. All of the PrizeSuite promotions deliver components key to a successful online promotion: 1) a big money instant win promotion that generates buzz and compels consumers to act; 2) online registration that captures valuable customer data for ongoing marketing; and 3) a customized email message sent at the end of the instant win game play that can contain a coupon or special offer designed to drive repeat sales. “With PrizeSuite, we have packaged big money online promotions into scalable, customizable, turnkey solutions that give every business the ability to capitalize on the enormous marketing power online promotions provide,” says Ebert. Source: SCA Promotions (www.scapromo.com) Amex and Rymax Offer Gift Cards For Use in Various Employee and Consumer Loyalty Programs NEW YORK, NY and PINE BROOK, NJ (November 21, 2008) Rymax Marketing Services, Inc., a national manufacturer’s representative in the incentive industry, and American Express, issuer of multi-use gift cards, have announced the availability of American Express Gift Cards through Rymax offices nationwide. Rymax will offer the Card to clients for use in programs including sales incentive, employee recognition, customer loyalty and more. “We’ve seen strong interest among businesses in using the American Express Gift Card in incentive programs,” said Stefan Happ, general manager, American Express Gift Card. “We’re pleased that through our new partnership with Rymax, we will be better able to meet the needs of this growing market.” The American Express Gift Card can be redeemed at U.S. retailers and restaurants that accept American Express Cards. “Our goal is to provide our clients with a broad choice so we can create customized incentive programs,” said Jessica Brown, Special Projects Manager at Rymax. “The American Express Gift Card is a sought-after premium product that customers and employees can use as they choose, and that makes it an exciting option for our clients.” The American Express Gift Card available through Rymax range in denominations from $50 to $200, and can be refunded if lost or stolen.* Source: American Express (www.americanexpress.com) Rymax (www.rymaxinc.com) TransCard Announces Corporate Gift Card Website Reward and Incentive Card Site Launches CHATTANOOGA, TN (November 10, 2008) TransCard, a provider of prepaid debit card solutions branded with Discover Network, MasterCard and STAR associations, has launched its corporate reward and incentive card website, www.igcards. com. Whether corporations want to provide employees with performance improvement incentives, awards for sales contests, annual bonuses or holiday gifts, TransCard says its prepaid cards take care of corporate prepaid card needs, and more. “Prepaid cards can be loaded with any amount of money for any occasion or need - from honoring an employee of the month; to motivating your sales force or distribution channel; or simply to reward customers and employees,” says Craig Fuller, CEO of TransCard. “We use them in our corporation as an employee perk to recognize those who have went above and beyond in one way or another; the reward is immediate and employees can use the funds in whatever way they choose. Prepaid cards truly function as a multifaceted solution to any business issue or as a unique tool to achieve any corporate goal.” According to a study in the Harvard Business Review, giving employees even small amounts (as little as $5) can boost morale. TransCard offers eight different cards: a standard blue, black, silver or gold card; a traditional gift-style card; a “Thank You” card; a “Congrats” card; and a “Happy Holidays” card. Source: TransCard (www.transcard.com) MT&L Offers Gift Card Removal and Destruction Service Safely Disposes of Nearly Expired Card Inventories NASHVILLE, TN (November 24, 2008) MT&L has launched a new service to enable safe, secure and efficient destruction of gift cards and gift card packaging before they reach their expiration date. and executed by two technicians to ensure accuracy and security throughout the entire procedure. The technicians utilize scanning software to record merchandiser and card information before feeding the returned cards into a shredding device for secure destruction. “Working with the platform providers to ensure timely and effective removal of cards and card packaging is another way we deliver on our promise of providing secure card services. This program fits with our approach of serving as a one stop shop for gift card issuers, from concept to usage, or even expiration,” said Bob Brolsma, General Manager, MT&L. MT&L provides this service for cards produced by any manufacturer, and the company consults on various types of recall procedures, working with customers from in-store locations to large distribution centers to effectively execute the program. Source: MT&L (www.mtlcard.com) How It Works When the third party platform providers responsible for maintaining the gift cards on store shelves identify nearly expired inventory, they send a recall request to MT&L. Since Visa, MasterCard and Discover require complete documentation accounting for the numbers of the cards removed from store shelves and destroyed, MT&L then ships a kit to each store or distribution center housing the cards, with postage paid, self-addressed packaging and instructions detailing which card numbers to pull from the shelves and ship to MT&L. Once the nearly expired cards arrive at MT&L’s Tier 1 Visa, MasterCard and Discover certified facility, each step of the process is monitored Heartland Payment Systems Acquires Chockstone Expands Reach for Gift Card and Loyalty Programs PRINCETON, NJ (November 18, 2008) Heartland Payment Systems, Inc. (NYSE:HPY), a provider of credit/debit/prepaid card processing, payroll, check management and payments solutions, has closed on its acquisition of Chockstone, Inc., a privately held provider of gift card programs and loyalty solutions. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed. Based in Portland, OR, Chockstone says its loyalty platform helps businesses of all sizes identify their most profitable customers and market to their unique needs – thereby increasing the frequency of their visits and the size of their average purchases. Using real-time analysis of guest behavior, the technology creates targeted point-of-sale-based promotions. Chockstone’s loyalty marketing and gift card solutions are used in more than 65,000 restaurant, convenience store, and other retail locations in North America – including Subway, Tully’s Coffee and Plaid Pantry. “Heartland’s acquisition of this premier niche provider expands our ability to equip businesses nationwide with enhanced gift card and loyalty programs,” said Robert O. Carr, chairman and chief executive officer of Heartland Payment Systems. “Chockstone’s strong solution provides added value to business owners who want to improve and maximize their customer relationships.” “We are very excited to become part of Heartland, a company widely respected by business owners and the industry,” said Jeff Lipp, chief executive officer of Chockstone. “By adding Chockstone’s services to its payments services, Heartland can offer merchants proven loyalty and gift card programs that provide a competitive edge in the market today. Heartland believes, as we do, that if you invest in your customers, you’ll earn their loyalty.” Source: Heartland Payment Systems (www.heartlandpaymentsystems.com) Chockstone (www.chockstone.com) http://www.americanexpress.com http://www.rymaxinc.com http://www.igcards.com http://www.igcards.com http://www.scapromo.com http://www.transcard.com http://www.mtlcard.com http://www.prepaidgrapevine.com http://www.heartlandpaymentsystems.com http://www.chockstone.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of The Prepaid Press - January 2009

The Prepaid Press - January 2009 Economic Crisis Sharpens Focus on Stored Value Cards Industry Veterans Weigh In on 2009 Prepaid Opportunities Contents From the Publisher: Ready for Change? The Prepaid Press Thanks its Editorial Advisory Board Regulatory Rundown 2008 Milestones Prepaid Wireless Providers Capitalize on Economic Downturn Prepaid Telecom in Brief APCC Services Settles With Calling Card Providers Boost Mobile Offers All-in-One Prepaid Package SonarTel Prepaid Customers Can Use Accounts in More Countries BillSoft Selected by Integra Telecom Pingo Adds PC “SoftPhone” Calling kajeet, the Cell Phone Service for Kids, Wins Award Prepaid Wireless Roundup The State of Prepaid Technology: Wholesalers & White Label Services New Millennium Releases Wireless Survey Results 5 Minutes With Paul Amick, EVP & Co-Founder, PhoenixSoft Millions Could Cut Cell Phone Bills in Half New Virgin Poll Reveals Buying Habits The Legal Line BioPay Expands Offering for Underbanked IDT to Sell European Prepaid Payment Business iPayStation Launches Network for Distributor Stored Value Solutions Appoints New VP Cellular South Offers Mobile Banking for Regions Bank Javelin Research: Processor Important in Prepaid MiCash Announces New Prepaid Debit Card Monitise and eCommLink Partner Platamovil Selects PhoenixSoft’s Cirrus Softswitch Prepaid Market Forecasts to 2011 Payments & Processing in Brief Prepaid 101: Gift Cards SCA’s PrizeSuite Enables Promotions MT&L Offers Gift Card Removal and Destruction Heartland Payment Systems Acquires Chockstone Amex and Rymax Offer Gift Cards TransCard Announces Corporate Gift Card Website Gift Cards & Promotions in Brief Our Advertisers Contact Us

The Prepaid Press - January 2009

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