p&mm and Alphyra launch first gift card for uk convenience retail sector

Alphyra, the largest cash acceptance network in Europe, will launch the first gift card designed specifically for the UK convenience sector utilising P&MM’s successful Spree Card platform. The new Spree Gift Card will operate across Alphyra’s Payzone network comprising of 29,000 active terminals in the UK.

Each gift card features a number of leading high street retailers including Boots, River Island, Waterstones, Halfords, Debenhams, JJB, HMV and Goldsmiths. The selection of retailers varies by both the special occasion and gender of the recipient. The value of the card can be redeemed at any of the retailers featured on the card.

There will be eight different themed cards available, each with a different message such as ‘Happy Birthday’, ‘Congratulations’ etc. and can be loaded with any value between £15 and £100 at the point of sale. Each gift card will be presented with an accompanying greetings card in which personal messages can be written.

P&MM, one of the UK’s leading marketing services agencies, launched the Spree Card in 2006 as a new way to pay incentive rewards, bonuses and commissions. Having already worked in the corporate sector with companies including Clydesdale & Yorkshire Bank, and Land Rover, the Alphyra branded Spree Gift Card will mark the first time that this technology has been utilised specifically for the consumer through the convenience retail sector.

John Sylvester, executive director of P&MM commented: “We are very excited about taking a product that has proven to be so successful in the corporate incentive sector and launching it on the consumer market as this is a great opportunity to transform the gift card industry by opening up new markets to the benefits of Spree.”

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Notes to Editors:
· P&MM has been established for 40 years and is the UK's premier marketing services agency specialising in performance improvement through delivering award-winning solutions for some of Britain’s biggest brands.
· P&MM is part of the Motivcom group of companies
· For more information on P&MM please visit www.p-mm.co.uk


For further press information or photography, please contact
David Stoch or Chris Lewis at P&MM’s Press Office,
Clareville Communications, 315-317 New Kings Road, London,
SW6 4RF, Tel: 020 7736 4022, Fax: 020 7736 3504,
email: davidstoch@clareville.co.uk / chrislewis@clareville.co.uk