Press Releases
Visa Inc. Expands Small Business Discount Offers Program Globally
Web site provides easy access to local and worldwide discountsSAN FRANCISCO, 31 March 2008
Visa Inc. today announced the global expansion of its merchant offers program for small businesses. Visa Business cardholders now can access more than 130 discount offers, including country specific, regional and global offers. Discounts are currently available on products and services in 17 merchant categories- including car service/rental, computer/electronics, entertainment and telecommunications. Offers are conveniently presented in 11 local languages and are available at www.visa.com/visabusinessoffers.¹
A recent study² of more than 700 small business owners worldwide demonstrates the value and significance of online resources in helping to manage business finances. More than 75 percent of small business owners surveyed reported that they have sought discounts for office supplies, business travel or other business-related needs. In addition, nearly 80 percent indicated they would find value in having a single online source from which they could access offers targeted to small businesses such as theirs.
Visa Inc. created a merchant offers Web site that is truly global in scope. For example, a small business in Thailand could save 50 percent on local car rentals, while also receiving discounts on worldwide travel services. Offers are presented initially in 11 local languages: Arabic, English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Turkish and Ukrainian. Enhanced Web access capabilities allow users to search for offers by user-specified language and location as well as by multimedia descriptions of select product and service offers.
"We expanded our domestic discount offers program to help Visa Business cardholders extend their purchasing dollar and, in doing so, raised the bar for delivering real value to small businesses around the globe," said Raghav Lal, senior vice president, Small Business, Visa Inc. "Small business owners worldwide are focused on efficiently managing their bottom line and reaching their business goals. Providing them with online access to discounts from merchants that are relevant to their business is just one more way that Visa provides small business owners with more value in their payment card offering."
The program is also designed to drive exposure and volume for merchants via one of the 17 current offer categories, including car service/rental, computer/electronics, entertainment, insurance, lodging, management training, online, professional and travel services, publications, software and telecommunications.
"Enabling global commerce is a promise Visa delivers on every day," said Paul Romanko Americas EPP & Affinity Team Lead, Lenovo Americas. "By participating in the Visa Business Merchant Offer Program, merchants gain access to small business owners globally which ultimately translates into the opportunity for increased sales."
To access Visa Business discount offers, go to www.visa.com/visabusinessoffers.
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Notes to editors:
About Visa Inc.: Visa Inc. operates the world's largest retail electronic payments network providing processing services and payment product platforms. This includes consumer credit, debit, prepaid and commercial payments, which are offered under the Visa, Visa Electron, Interlink and PLUS brands. Visa enjoys unsurpassed acceptance around the world and Visa/PLUS is one of the world's largest global ATM networks, offering cash access in local currency in more than 170 countries. For more information, visit www.corporate.visa.com.
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¹ Discount offers are subject to terms and conditions at www.visa.com/visabusinessoffers.
² The Visa Small Business Study was conducted by Survey.com on behalf of Visa between September 17 and October 9, 2007. In total, 709 respondents from the U.S., UK, Germany, Brazil, Mexico, Hong Kong and Japan completed the online survey. Small business owners in this survey were defined as owners of companies with revenues less than $25 million and fewer than 100 employees.
Contact: Sabine Middlemass, Visa International, Tel: +1 650 432-8307, at globalmedia@visa.com or Colleen Smith, Fleishman-Hillard, Tel: +1 415 318 4183, at colleen.smith@fleishman.com