Retailer Services

Our Retailer Services is focused solely on serving the payment-related needs of retailers. Our clients include the world’s leading retailers in all market segments – department stores, consumer electronics, home improvement, discounters, grocery, office supply, sporting goods, jewelry, catalog, e-commerce, oil, and specialty retail. From a product perspective, we have proven expertise with all branded card products (private label, co-brand, gift, and loyalty card programs) and routinely support retailers in their evaluation of emerging payment products, partnership opportunities, and payment acceptance matters. Our client reach is global in scope, and we have advised retailers in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, U.K., Spain, Germany, France, Japan, and Australia.

Services Offered

Partnership Finance: We routinely advise retailers and third party card issuers on the formation and management of credit card partnerships, both private label and co-brand. We add value by providing a balanced perspective of the merits of various credit card alternatives, a practical understanding of the strategic, financial, and contractual trade-offs of each alternative, and an ability to create partnerships that generate lasting value. Moreover, we offer ongoing program management support to allow our clients to draw on us for best practices, strategic insights, and tactical support throughout the term of their card partnership.

Strategy/Product Development: First Annapolis supports retailers and third party card issuers in the development of successful business and product strategies. We add value by providing comprehensive market assessments, competitive analysis, primary and secondary research, financial analysis, benchmarking, and implementation support. These services leverage our industry experience and analytical expertise to help clients create and deploy winning strategies and tactics.

Portfolio & Risk Management: Our portfolio management team has years of industry experience at companies such as Fair Isaac, Citigroup, GE, MBNA, and others. Our services include developing strategies across the credit lifecycle (front-end through back-end), conducting best practices reviews and portfolio diagnostics, and providing implementation support. Our team is tactically-oriented with a depth of expertise in credit policy/underwriting, account management and collections. We routinely complete assignments on behalf of general purpose card issuers, private label card issuers, and specialty lenders with a depth of experience with retail financing programs across the risk spectrum.

Loyalty Program Support: First Annapolis offers a set of specialized services in the area of loyalty program support. Our core services in this area include loyalty program strategy development, vendor selection and negotiation, and implementation support. We advise clients such as card issuers, retailers, and loyalty program providers on program options and the selection of processing and servicing platforms. Recent engagements include managing an RFP process to select a loyalty program provider, providing extensive on-site implementation support for clients launching new loyalty programs and platforms, and completing various market studies of loyalty program strategies and opportunities. .

Mergers & Acquisitions Advisory Support: First Annapolis leverages its deep knowledge of the credit card industry and card portfolio performance to provide specialized M&A support to clients divesting or acquiring credit card portfolios. We manage the full purchase/sale process from start to finish or provide specific areas of support including valuations, diligence, negotiation, or fairness opinion support. In order to help clients achieve the most favorable outcome, we leverage proprietary analytical tools, experience with complex transactions, and strong relationships with leading buyers and sellers. We have developed strong expertise in structuring private label and co-brand partnerships, selling sub-prime or impaired assets, and facilitating customized portfolio swaps.

Strategic Sourcing: We help retailers with the selection of service providers in support of credit card, gift card, and loyalty programs. Based on over 15 years of experience, we rely on a disciplined approach, analytical rigor, project management experience, and proven expertise to achieve the most favorable outcome for our clients. Recent engagements include managing RFP processes for credit card and gift card processors as well as statement production, call center, database management and other services.