iRemit, TV shopping network in deal to boost sales, debit card use

MANILA, Philippines - iRemit, the Philippines’ largest non-bank remittance company, partnered with Home Shopping Network Inc. (HSNI), encouraging families of Filipinos working abroad to shop through television. Announced on Tuesday, the partnership is expected to boost sales of “Shop TV"—a 24-hour show carried on free TV and cable channels. The partnership will also increase usage of iRemit’s special Visa debit cards which can be used to purchase items featured on the show. Besides being a personalized debit card, iRemit Shop N Pay Visa card can also be used to withdraw cash from automated teller machines. The card is also accepted by international establishments since it is affiliated with Visa, the world’s largest retail electronic payment network. More than 50,000 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) use the debit card, iRemit Chairman Bansan Choa said. Ever since the card was launched in September, it has a reloading ratio of 60 percent, iRemit president Harris Hacildo said. “This new initiative of iRemit brings choice, convenience, speed and reliability to our customers abroad. With this new addition, iRemit is now a one-stop shop for Filipinos," said Choa. Not only is Shop TV considered as among the top two marketing shows locally, it has also successfully sold 120 products on the air. It has generated some P500 million in sales in a given year, said Ismail Zaini, HSNI general manager. The company’s agreed to partner with iRemit to expand its reach since it expects a 20 percent sales decline for next year, owing to the global slowdown. - GMANews.TV