10.00am

Welcome

 

Andrew Sellers – VA Chairman & Development Manager – Commercial, John Lewis &

Kieron Guilfoyle, CEO, 3V Transactional Services, the conference’s headline sponsor.

 

The Retail Landscape

 

What are the high’s and low’s of the retail industry, what shape is retail in today?  Tim Danaher, editor, Retail Week shares his thoughts how the market looks today and his predictions for the future.

 

Tim Danaher – Editor, Retail Week

Technology & The Consumer, a perfect match?

 

Gift cards from retailers, gift cards from banks, prepaid debit cards, payroll cards, prepaid on my Oyster card........with so much innovation in the market are we in danger of leaving the customer behind?  How ruled are we by the technology?

 

Yvonne West – Sainsbury’s

 

What is Prepaid and am I in it?

 

Marilyn Bochicchio - President Paybefore & former President NBPCA, USA

 

Gift vouchers and gift cards are part of a new global economy – the prepaid market.  What does this term prepaid mean?  Other than gift cards and vouchers what other opportunities in the pre-paid market are there for me?  

 

Marilyn opens the prepaid section with an overview of the prepaid market, cutting through the jargon and giving an in-sight into how the market is developing.  She will then work with the various speakers to determine the opportunities that are available in the UK and how to go about capitalising on this lucrative, developing market

Practical Applications of Prepaid Products

 

Transportation - the Oyster card has changed the way Londoners pay for not only for travel but also payments in shops.  Smart transportation cards are now set to launch across the UK.

Chris Oulds – ALCO Consulting

 

General Purpose Prepaid Cards – with no bank account or credit card available many UK citizens are reliant on cash.  Prepaid cards allow access to services only available to holders of credit and debit cards.

Jamie King – IDT Finance

 

Product Specific cards – Londoners can now buy their favourite evening newspaper – The Evening Standard – using the EROS card, a world first.

David Tymms – imovo EROS Card

 

Corporate Benefits – prepaid cards can be used in a number of ways in the corporate market including expenses cards and employee motivation.

Mark Simon - Tuxedo Money

 

Foreign Exchange – going abroad, you don’t need travellers cheques you need a prepaid card.

Chris Jacklin - Travelex

 

On Line Payments – internet shopping increases every year, prepaid cards give reassurance to internet shoppers, new technology offers a unique prepaid method of on line payment.

Kieron Guilfoyle – 3V

Legal & Regulatory Issues in Prepaid

 

The Financial Services Authority Prepaid Q&A

 

Dominic Peachey - FSA

 

With the E-Money Directive currently under review in Brussels and the current lack of legislation around closed loop programmes Dominic wants to hear from the industry.  This your opportunity to hear from and speak to Dominic, Senior Policy Advisor at the FSA.

 

Managing Regulation in your prepaid programme

 

Robert Courtneidge – Salans,

Current and future legislation may be one of the biggest risks to your card or voucher.  Robert explains the main legal regulations and how to manage the development of your programme through the regulators.

 

Gift Cards – Not Just for Traditional Retailers?

 

Rachelle Smith – PrePay Technologies, is joined by

Simon Barnett – PizzaExpress

Caroline Watson – Gift Days Out

Jennifer Lashua – Starbucks

Anthony Graham – 360 Money

 

Currently in the UK the gift card and voucher market is dominated by traditional high street retailers.  New entrants from non-retail backgrounds are emerging including restaurants, days out and the world of sport.  What advantages do gift cards offer non-traditional retailers and how can a high street retailer capitalise on strategic alliances with new entrants to the market?

 

Developing & Implementing Sustainable Sales & Marketing Strategies

 

Selling in-store - One of the major advantages of gift cards is the ability to be merchandised and displayed in-store.  Putting the cards out in front of customers means the cards ‘sell themselves’?  Every customer knows gift vouchers are in the till so they just ask? With his experience in US and UK retailing Keith Brand talks through in-store display and gives an insight into making the most of above and below the line marketing.

Keith Brand – Tefisto Partners

 

Gift Card Centres & Gift Card Stores - Gift Card Centres, Shops and Stores have become a feature of many high street retailers.  The concept of selling your gift card in another’s store is one of the key advantages of gift cards.  Whilst the gift card mall concept has taken the Americans by storm how are the Brits fairing and what are the long term prospects, is this sales channel meeting expectations?

Natasha Toothill – VA Vice Chairman & Director Gift Services, payzone, is joined by Yvonne West – Sainsbury’s and Ian Sanders - WHSmith

 

Selling to the Corporate Market & Understanding National Insurance Contributions on Gift Cards & Vouchers - With 45% of the annual sales of vouchers and gift card being sold into the B2B market this is an essential sector for any sales and marketing strategy.  The panel talk the advantages and disadvantages of selling to the corporate market and how to approach the operational issues faced by distributors of cards and vouchers to this sector; along with the key facts about Employer & Employee tax contributions on gift cards and vouchers.

Graham Sellors – Jordan Media, panel moderator is joined by Helen Child, G-T-P, Julie White, Grassroots, Manoj Jadeja, John Lewis and Tracey Norton, Ernst & Young.

 

Virtual Spending! - Gift cards, e-vouchers and mobile phone technology are just some of the ways consumers can spend both on the web and in store. What are the advantages of e-gifting, how easy is it to facilitate and what about mobile phone technology how will this shape the future?

Tim Bishop – lastminute.com, panel moderator is joined by Amanda Mickelburgh, ReD, Kieron Guilfoyle, 3V, Andrew Sellers, John Lewis, Don Cameron, Mobiqa & Stephen Rothwell, Eagle Eye Technology

 

Gift Cards & Vouchers Today; Managing The Risks of Tomorrow

 

The gift card and gift voucher market is moving at a rapid pace in the UK.  Every month brings new innovation, so where is the market today?  More importantly what will it look like tomorrow?  Giftex Prepay assess the future based on four risks – Demand, Competition, Regulatory and Partner Risks.  A lively, informative presentation and debate to round off the conference.

 

Andrew Johnson – The VA

Tony Craddock – Giftex Prepay

 

6.00pm

Conference Closes

ReD this years Associate Sponsor Closes Conference and invites you to the Networking Cafe Jazz Supper