The Prepaid Press - March 2009 - (Page 21)

GIFT CARDS & PROMOTIONS March 15 · 2009 - 21 The Ultimate Gift Card Network Opens Gift Card Opportunity for Small Retailers with membership including prominent positioning in The Ultimate GiftCard Marketplace, merchant partners will become exposed to online shoppers in numerous compelling ways. And, in these challenging economic times, retailers and direct marketers not offering gift cards are simply missing out on opportunities to gauge their customer service effectiveness as well as grow their sales.” The Ultimate GiftCard Network membership benefits: • Development and launch of each members’ own gift card program • Charter membership in a world-class multimerchant network • Attracting “motivated to buy” new customers to their store(s)’ • Increases to their store(s)’ sales and cashflowing efficiencies • A wide ranging and truly dynamic world wide web presence • Selling and trading opportunities to and with other network members (500+) Source: The Ultimate GiftCard Network (www.dynamicdebits.com) GiftCards.com Acquires Swapagift.com Will Enable Company to Sell Discounted Cards to Customers PITTSBURGH, PA (February 20, 2009) Wolfe. com, LLC, parent company of GiftCards.com, a provider of prepaid Visa debit cards to consumers and corporations, has announced its acquisition of Swapagift.com. Founded in 2003 as a gift card trading exchange, Swapagift.com allowed customers to buy, sell and trade unwanted gift cards. Today, through its Certified Partner program, Swapagift.com says it is the leading buyer of unwanted merchant gift cards in the secondary market. The acquisition of Swapagift.com enables GiftCards.com to sell discounted merchant gift cards to its customers. “GiftCards.com is excited about this new acquisition. In these difficult economic times, we are happy that we can offer discounted gift cards to our customers,” said Jason Wolfe CEO of GiftCards.com. “We have become a one stop shop for gift cards by offering Visa gift cards and discounted merchant gift cards from over 200 national retailers, supermarkets, and restaurants.” In a slow economic market discounted gift cards have become even more popular among “smart shoppers.” “We surveyed our customers and found that 96% use discounted gift cards for personal use,” said Michael Kelly, CEO of Swapagift.com. Even though spending on luxury items has decreased, people are still spending money on the things they need. The acquisition enhances the current gift card product line for GiftCards.com and allows Swapagift.com to focus on the card redemption services. As part of the acquisition, President MJ Kelly and CEO Michael Kelly will continue to oversee Swapagift.com to ensure the growth of the agent network. “We are really excited to be a part of the GiftCards.com family and look forward to working with them to make GiftCards. com the leading destination for consumer gift cards,” said President Kelly. “Today more than ever, people are looking for ways to save money. Discounted gift cards are just the answer. If your washing machine breaks, you still have to replace it,” said Wolfe. “Smart shoppers know they can use GiftCards. com to find gift cards that allow them to save 10% to 20% off at national retailers. Buying gift cards at a discount and using them for your next purchase gives the consumer instant savings. Even better, savvy shoppers can combine the discounted gift cards with coupons from sites like MyCoupons.com, our sister site, -- increasing their savings even more.” GiftCards.com also pays cash for unwanted gift cards. Customers can mail in their gift cards and receive cash. With millions of Americans receiving gift cards that go unused every year, GiftCards.com has added this Swapagift.com feature to their model. Source: Swapagift.com (www.swapagift.com) GiftCards.com (www.giftcards.com) LOS ANGELES, CA (March 2, 2009) Lakes Communication Services, a developer and marketer of prepaid debit products, has formed The Ultimate GiftCard Network. Lakes says that small, independent merchants in some of the most competitive sectors of retail are now able to exploit the marketing power of gift card, while also gaining a better presence in the online e-commerce space. “This marketing solution is ideally suited to the many small to mid-sized retail merchants that continue to exist without selling gift cards or promoting their business online,” said Jeffery Lakes, founder and CEO of Lakes Communication Services. “One example is the cost effective way we help each merchant partner develop and launch their own gift card program. Also, Retail Sales Show Unexpected Rebound January Sales Up, According to NRF WASHINGTON, DC (February 12, 2009) Postholiday bargains may have been too good for shoppers to pass up as January retail sales increased slightly over the previous month. According to the National Retail Federation, retail industry sales for January (which exclude automobiles, gas stations, and restaurants) increased 0.5 percent seasonally adjusted from last month and decreased 2.1 percent unadjusted year-overyear. January retail sales released by the U.S. Commerce Department show total retail sales (which include non-general merchandise categories such as autos, gasoline stations and restaurants) increased 1.0 percent seasonally adjusted from December but decreased 9.0 percent unadjusted year-over-year. “While 2009 got off to a surprising start, it’s going to be difficult for retailers to maintain this momentum,” said NRF Chief Economist Rosalind Wells. “We expect the first half of the year to present challenges while giving way to sustained growth in the fourth quarter.” While seasonal increases were encouraging for retailers, budget-conscious consumers still spent much less this year compared to last January. Electronic and appliance stores sales increased 2.6 percent seasonally adjusted from last month but decreased 7.4 percent unadjusted year-over-year. Sales at clothing and clothing accessories stores increased 1.6 percent seasonally adjusted from December and decreased 8.0 percent unadjusted over last January. As shoppers continued to save more and spend less, they continue to spend on the necessities. General merchandise stores sales increased 1.1 percent seasonally adjusted over last month and 3.5 percent unadjusted over last year. Additionally, health and personal care stores sales were flat seasonally adjusted month-tomonth and increased 3.5 percent unadjusted year-over-year. Source: National Retail Federation (www.nrf.com) InComm Gaming Opportunities on the Rise InComm’s 2009 Partner Alliance Boosts Online Gaming ATLANTA, GA (February 25, 2009) InComm, a provider of prepaid transaction processing and electronic point-of-sale (POS) distribution solutions, has just completed its 2009 InComm Partner Alliance. While the company says its annual Partner Alliance always facilitates industry networking and strategic planning opportunities, this year’s conference also emphasized growth opportunities in the online gaming category. With nearly 200% growth in gaming card sales year over year and a growing list of more than 60 top-tier gaming partners, InComm says it has leveraged its expertise in online gaming to emphasize profitable relationships for retailers and provides alike within the $8 billion dollar gaming industry. “This year was the first InComm Partner Alliance I had the opportunity to attend,” said Robert Ferrari, VP of Publishing and Business Development, Sanrio Digital Ltd and Typhoon Games Ltd. “It met and surpassed my expectations in many ways. The event was productive in terms of scheduled business meetings and formal introductions, and the venue was fantastic for networking. It was the perfect environment for preparing retail for Sanrio Digital’s upcoming release of Hello Kitty Online.” Retailers left with a heightened awareness for the gaming category as well as an increased desire to incorporate the online gaming cards into their current retail environments. “Expanding space for Online Gaming Cash Cards in the Retail Marketplace has already proven to be a rewarding opportunity for our partners,” said Brian Parlotto, Senior Vice President of Consumer Products. “In the last 6 months, one of our major convenience store retailers and Nexon have seen a significant lift from expanded distribution and promotion within the gaming category as a result of their fountain drink promotions. Several partners have also commented that they are looking forward to adding similar initiatives to their calendars in 2009.” InComm’s Fastcard Technology enables retailers to offer popular music, online entertainment gaming, gift and other card-based products with the ability to activate quickly and easily at the point of purchase. InComm’s patented and patent-pending stored-value technology solutions include applications for product activation and redemption, packaging, in- store displays, data management and much more. Source: InComm (www.incomm.com) Smart Transaction Systems Selects Hypercom To Extend Reach of Gift and Loyalty Card Programs PHOENIZ, AZ (February 11, 2009) Smart Transaction Systems (STS) a US-based provider of gift card, customer loyalty and stored-value card payment systems, has selected Hypercom’s Mobile Network service to extend the reach of its gift and loyalty card programs in the U.S. and abroad. STS will use Hypercom’s Mobile Network service in combination with handheld wireless point of sale terminals to allow mobile merchants, sports events and outdoor venues to accept gift cards or customer loyalty cards anywhere that cellular GSM/GPRS service is available. Short-term solutions are available for festivals, concerts and events. STS also has also successfully completed certification testing on Hypercom’s Optimum T4200 and M4200 multi-application countertop and mobile terminals including the T4210, T4220, T4230 and M4230. Merchants may use any of these models to process STS gift and loyalty transactions, or for check verification and cr http://www.GiftCards.com http://www.Swapagift.com http://www.Swapagift.com http://www.GiftCards.com http://www.Swapagift.com http://www.Swapagift.com http://www.Swapagift.com http://www.GiftCards.com http://www.Swapagift.com http://www.Swapagift.com http://www.GiftCards.com http://www.GiftCards.com http://www.GiftCards.com http://www.MyCoupons.com http://www.GiftCards.com http://www.GiftCards.com http://www.Swapagift.com http://www.Swapagift.com http://www.dynamicdebits.com http://www.Swapagift.com http://www.swapagift.com http://www.GiftCards.com http://www.giftcards.com http://www.GiftCards.com http://www.nrf.com http://www.incomm.com http://www.smarttransactions.com http://www.vct.com http://www.hypercom.com

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

The Prepaid Press - March 2009 Contents The Retske Report: A Disconnect in Connecticut Regulatory Rundown 5 Minutes With Brooks Smith, CEO of InComm TracFone Launches SafeLink Wireless in NY iPayStation Enables International Top-Up Comverse Launches Next-Generation IMS Solution Prepaid Companies Agree to Pay $2.25 Million Prepaid Telecom in Brief Boost Mobile Reintroduces Itself Virgin Mobile Announces New Branding Campaign The State of Prepaid Technology: Becoming a Virtual Operator Prepaid Wireless Roundup New Prepaid Calling Plans from Verizon Wireless The Legal Line Jobless Benefit Debit Card Usage Debated InsurCard Provides Catastrophic Relief Solution Metavante, Monitise Americas Launch Text Banking TransCard Provides Personal Financial Management Walmart to Help Americans Manage Finances Payments and Processing in Brief Prepaid Consumer and Employee/Partner Incentives CashStar Launches Interactive Gift Card Platform VIPGift Continues Sales Expansion Pentagon Installs Unique Card Personalization Line Digital Promotions Grow in Popularity The Ultimate Gift Card Network Retail Sales Show Unexpected Rebound Smart Transaction Systems Selects Hypercom GiftCards.com Acquires Swapagift.com InComm Gaming Opportunities on the Rise VCT Adds Equipment to New Jersey Facility Gift Cards and Promotions in Brief Our Advertisers Contact Us

The Prepaid Press - March 2009

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