KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- Pilot Travel Centers and PaySpot Inc., a U.S. prepaid and payments processor, have launched an exclusive, multi-year, multi-product sales and service agreement designed to expand Pilot's in-store prepaid services. PaySpot went live in 304 Pilot locations mid-July, integrating its electronic prepaid product delivery system with Pilot's existing point-of-sale (POS) system, enabling Pilot to expand its prepaid product portfolio to include PaySpot's industry-leading products and services.
TSC Group LLC has been a partner with Pilot for more than 15 years, providing them [image-nocss] with category management expertise, nationwide in-store service and merchandising for several of their key retail product categories. PaySpot and Pilot were introduced when TSC recommended PaySpot as a company that could expand Pilot's prepaid selection, introduce new category expansion, offer better service through an account management team and supply merchandising support.
PaySpot worked with TSC to plan and execute the Pilot implementation. The initial launch included prepaid wireless, long-distance, stored-value products and mall gift cards. TSC will perform an innovative in-store merchandising regimen that will ensure that Pilot's retail locations are always well stocked and properly merchandised.
"Pilot has been committed to the prepaid category for many years, and we have built a successful program," said Ed Leddy, director of marketing for Pilot. "Looking forward, there are exciting prepaid services, such as bill payment, yet to be unleashed. We're ready to take prepaid to the next level, and we believe PaySpot's innovation and TSC's retail expertise will help us to do just that."
PaySpot will introduce its bill payment service into Pilot stores. Through the bill payment program, Pilot can quickly and easily accept cash payment for hundreds of utility, telecom, cable, satellite and other service providers.
"Through superior merchandising techniques and a small expansion of the product portfolio, the first month has already delivered a significant increase in prepaid sales volume for Pilot...and we're just getting started," said Eric Mettemeyer, president of PaySpot. "With the introduction this fall of our bill payment and international prepaid wireless offerings, Pilot will truly take its prepaid program to the next level."
PaySpot and Pilot worked together to develop merchandising displays, allowing prepaid products to be displayed in up to four different high-traffic areas within each store. By working with TSC, the merchandising was deployed chain-wide in only two days with minimal disruption to Pilot sales staff.
PaySpot, a subsidiary of Leawood, Kansas-based Euronet Worldwide Inc., is a leading U.S. prepaid and payment processor. Launched in 2002, PaySpot offers a variety of prepaid products and payment solutions, including prepaid wireless, prepaid long distance, prepaid gift cards, prepaid debit cards, international wireless recharge, check guarantee, merchant processing and prepaid handsets, as well as bill payment and money transfer in conjunction with its affiliate RIA Financial. ThePaySpot system supports online electronic top-up at retail locations via a range of POS terminals or through integrated electronic cash registers for retailers with multiple locations and multiple checkout points.
TSC is a leading company in the sales, marketing and distribution of consumer brand products to America's top retailers.
Knoxville, Tenn.-based Pilot is the nation's largest retail operator of travel centers, catering to the professional driver and traveling motorist in 40 states with 304 retail interstate properties. It is owned by Pilot Corp., and Marathon Ashland Petroleum, Findlay, Ohio.
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