Tony Titone, Senior Product Marketing Manager for Sharp Electronics Corporation, was seeking a way to increase cash register product sales by both convincing retailer buyers to stock the product and increasing consumer interest. He knew he needed to set his product apart from the competition and wanted to give his customers a tangible value when selecting Sharp Electronics.

Titone chose to partner with First Data through First Data’s Referral Partner Program and the two corporations worked together to offer a special processing promotion for Sharp Electronics consumers at the point-of-sale. This partnership included support on marketing messages for display models, product boxes and inside the product boxes. It also included First Data’s 1-800 call center services, which have unexpectedly helped generate additional cash register sales for Sharp.

“When we talk to retailers about why they should carry a Sharp product, this offer really stood out for them,” says Titone. “Our competition doesn’t offer it. No one else has an offer like this.”

ClientSharp Electronics Corporation

ChallengeDifferentiate Sharp Electronic Corporation’s cash register products amidst competitors and increase sales

SolutionFirst Data Referral Partner Program

ResultsIncrease in retail buyer ordersIncreased consumer sales and satisfaction

A FIRST DATA CUSTOMER SUCCESS STORY:

SHARP ELECTRONICS CORPORATION FINDS A UNIQUE WAY TO INCREASE SALES WITH FIRST DATA’S REFERRAL PARTNER PROGRAM

firstdata.com © 2011 First Data Corporation. All rights reserved. Page 2

The Challenge

Sharp Electronics Corporation wanted to increase its cash register sales with both

retailers and end-users. Their challenge was to not only convince retailer buyers that

Sharp Electronics’ cash registers would sell and should be stocked on their shelves,

but also to increase interest in Sharp cash registers amidst consumers. Sharp needed a

speed-to-market solution that would differentiate their product amidst the competition.

The Solution

Through First Data’s Referral Partner Program, Sharp was able to find the speed-to-

market solution they were looking for. First Data and Sharp partnered to offer consumers

a unique processing opportunity when they purchase Sharp Electronics cash registers.

As part of this partnership, First Data provides several services to support the promotion

for Sharp—all at little to no cost or effort for Sharp.

First Data and Sharp collaborated on promotional materials that are now included on

display models, on the outside of product boxes, and inside the boxes. The partners also

created a custom webpage for the promotion. “The First Data team and the Sharp team

really worked together,” said Titone. “It’s really helped our rate of customers calling in to

request information about processing services.”

Additionally, First Data has dedicated an 800 number call-center service for customers

enquiring about Sharp’s processing promotion and the customer service benefits have

exceeded Tony Titone’s expectations. “We had a customer call in who had purchased a

cash register from us and wanted First Data processing services but also wanted to buy

more cash registers. First Data called me, and I was able to reach out to the customer. We

sold 30 more cash registers, which is a nice side benefit that I wasn’t expecting.”

Finally, not only do Sharp Electronics cash register end-users receive a special value

for processing services through the partnership, but Sharp receives a portion of the

processing revenue for customers they refer to First Data.

The Results

First Data’s Referral Partner Program has exceeded Tony Titone’s expectations.

Consumers are excited about the processing promotion and retailer buyers have

increased their cash register orders and are stocking more supply. Additionally, end-

users are purchasing the cash registers because they know and trust both Sharp

and First Data. Titone says that the processing offer “is a really nice proposition” for

prospective end-users, differentiating Sharp products from the competition.

Further, the partnership has helped Sharp increase sales in ways that Titone hadn’t

expected. “Part of the program, quite honestly, which came as a surprise to me, was that

First Data actually feeds sales leads back to me. Their responsiveness has been great.”

The success has Titone thinking about the future. “We’re looking to expand to other product

categories within Sharp and also we’re looking to expand overseas to Western Europe.”

A First Data customer success story: Sharp Electronics Corporation

“My experiences with setting up new programs with First Data have been nothing short of amazing.Tony TitoneSenior Product Marketing ManagerSharp Electronics Corporation

Interested in learning how a referral partnership can drive your business? Visit the First Data Referral Partners section on firstdata.com.