2008-09-24 23:49:02 -

- Planet Group, Inc. Anna Beaty, 402-964-1945 abeaty@planegtroupinc.com Opticard, a leading provider of gift and loyalty card-based programs, today announced its partnership with the National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA). The NCPA represents America's community pharmacists and pharmacy owners. Under the agreement, Opticard will act as the exclusive loyalty and stored value processing provider for the NCPA and its 23,000+ members. The partnership will ultimately provide NCPA members with a simple and effective way to offer their own consumer loyalty programs.

"Our members want to reward their customers for their loyalty to the independent pharmacy and encourage their continued patronage," said Stephen Giroux, PD, NCPA President and owner of five pharmacies in Western New York. "We surveyed our members and

an overwhelming majority asked us to offer this benefit; so we listened."

Through this new benefit, NCPA members can choose a frequency, dollar or discount-based rewards program with customized loyalty cards featuring store logos and information. These programs will reward pharmacy consumers with in-store dollars, free services or products, or discounts.

"Opticard is extremely pleased to partner with an organization that is so tightly focused on member benefits and consumer loyalty," said Dave Ingwersen, President at Opticard. "Opticard's loyalty programs deliver fantastic results, which will enable NCPA's members to increase sales, build brand awareness and generate consumer excitement."

"The NCPA needed a proven provider with a track record of success in the gift and loyalty space," said Giroux. "Opticard is a clear industry leader and is equipped to serve each of our member's unique needs and requirements."

This benefit is part of the NCPA membership campaign launched in June that hopes to reach every independent pharmacy owner in the United States. The association plans to improve membership benefits while getting an expanding membership actively involved.

About Opticard

Opticard is an industry leader in implementing and managing a variety of card-based programs. Opticard processes over 20 million transactions per year at over 50,000 installed POS locations, representing billions in transaction volume annually. Opticard has been in business since 1995 and is headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona. Opticard is a subsidiary of Planet Group, Inc. www.opticard.com

About NCPA

The National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA(R)) represents America's community pharmacists, including the owners of more than 23,000 community pharmacies, pharmacy franchises and chains. Together they represent an $84 billion health-care marketplace, employ over 300,000 full-time employees and dispense nearly half of the nation's retail prescription medicines. www.ncpanet.org

Partnership will allow NCPA members to offer discounts with
consumer loyalty programs