The ISI Vision  

Vision - "A safe, easy and cost effective alternative to existing international cash transfer services"

ISI has developed an innovative solution to the high cost of current electronic cash transfers or "cash-remittances" by offering an easy cost effective alternative - the first North American, cross-border, "International Stored Value /Gift Card Program". Using proprietary business and systems processes and financial transaction methodologies, ISI will launch the unique "Tarjeta Más™" program to the growing North American Hispanic/Latino marketplace. The program also offers product differentiation for those U.S. based retail and financial institutions that are actively searching for a way to attract the growing U.S. Hispanic/Latino market.

The ISI Stored Value platform interfaces with other networks allowing it to be used in retail outlets under recognized debit and credit systems. As an international marketing and sales distribution company, ISI provides a secure, e-commerce distribution channel and private server based network for its restaurant, retail and supermarket clientele. ISI will target deliver its program to the growing Hispanic immigrant expatriate market (these are foreign nationals now living in the U.S. that on a regular basis send money back to their home country) in the United States and others with family and friends in Mexico.

ISI is initially targeting the U.S. to Mexico cash remittance market as it accounts for more than 30 % of all cash remittances from the U.S. to Latin America.

  Market Opportunity  

ISI has identified through its research a unique niche market that it believes will translate into an explosive business opportunity. As such, the company will be targeting the growing needs of the largest and fastest growing "minority" segments of the U.S. economy. ISI plans on paying particular attention to delivering a safe cost-effective alternative to existing cash remittance services to the Hispanic/Latino population in the United States. The Mexican immigrant consumer is a key target market due in part to the huge growth of this demographic market and the fact that Mexican immigrants alone send home an estimated $15 billion a year in international cash transfers or "remittances". It is estimated that cash remittances from migrants in the United States to Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean alone will total almost $300 billion over the next ten years.

ISI has formalized agreements with the second largest Mexican retail organization in Mexico, Grupo Gigante. Grupo Gigante is currently present in 82 geographical locations, through 474 points of sale in Mexico; the area of Los Angeles, California, USA, Guatemala, and Costa Rica. Besides stores under the "Gigante" banner, Grupo Gigante also has in Mexico, majority interest in 78 Office Depot's, 83 Radio Shacks and owns 43 Tok's restaurants. Grupo Gigante has also recently launched its membership club concept "PriceSmart". The company is also in discussions and negotiations with other major retail and convenience stores and one of the largest pharmaceutical drugstore chains with over 1500 locations in Mexico.

In the U.S. the company is formalizing agreements with organizations that currently cater to and offer products and services to the Hispanic/Latino market. These include; local and national Check-cashing and Pay-Day loan organizations, local and National convenience store chains, regional "Ethnic" retail stores, a major National transportation company and key Hispanic/Latino service organizations among others.

  Sales and Marketing:  

ISI has identified 3 target markets:

1. The Hispanic/Latino market,
2. U.S.corporations with "expatriate" workers in Mexico and
3. Casual gift giver.

ISI will initially target its value proposition to the largest segment and user of "cash remittance" services - the Hispanic/Latino population, specifically targeting consumers that send money to Mexico. ISI will focus its initial advertising and promotional efforts on "Identification and Branding" of the "Tarjeta Más™" program.

Direct targeted marketing
In store (both U.S. and Mexico) promotional marketing pieces (posters, brochures etc.)
Billboard Advertising
Print media - Hispanic/Latino focused newspapers and magazines Direct response pieces
Web portal
Hispanic/Latino focused events - "Cinco de Mayo" celebration.
Television
30 and 60 second spots on Spanish language TV - Univision and Telemundo.
Advertising will identify participating Mexican retailers and direct purchasers participating U.S. based distributors where the card can be bought.
Direct response to advertise 800 number and website for purchase option.
Web portal registration and purchase option for those purchasers with Internet access.
Radio
Hispanic/Latino focused stations in major market concentrated metropolitan areas.
Direct response for co-marketing/advertising with participating U.S. based distributors.
Direct response to advertise 800 number and website for purchase option.

  Competitive Advantage:  

The Company's competitive advantages include existing infrastructure, which includes a Level 1 secure Data Center, proprietary software, systems and processes an experienced and knowledgeable management team and intimate knowledge and insight into the market. As a further barrier to entry, ISI has a unique advantage in that with the launch of its first card program it will have an established presence of over 200 retail locations in Mexico along with the only points of sale and access for the program in the U.S.

Though there are a number of electronic payments firms in the market including Western Union and Money Gram which are the largest and a number of firms offering "domestic" gift/stored value card services. None of these firms or any identified has developed or tried to deliver a service offering such as the ISI program.

  Products and Services:  

ISI employs a proprietary platform for optimal reliability and versatility allowing for rapid deployment and scalability. ISI maintains its servers and database systems in a Class I Data Center, which is operational 7 x 24 x 365. Our international marketing and sales offer a large and established niche marketing and distribution network unique in the industry. ISI's innovations will open up the Stored Value/Gift Card concept to the international Hispanic/Latino community.

During the second half of 2004, ISI expects to launch its services offering in two southwestern U.S. cities (Phoenix and Tucson Arizona) as part of a beta trail release before expanding its sales and distribution network to major metropolitan areas within the southwestern United States.

ISI plans to introduce and position the "Tarjeta Más™" program during the upcoming "Cinco de Mayo" (a popular U.S. Hispanic/Latino celebration) festivities.



ISO-8583 - This is a card transaction protocol, which is used by all of the financial transaction networks for the communication between ATM's, banks and processors. ISI utilizes a Java based open source package called JPOS, which has been customized for its particular use. Transaction Management Database - The ISI database, which has been built and tested, is an SQL-92 compliant database which will perform well in any enterprise class RDBMS such as Oracle, Informix or DB2. Financial Accounting System - ISI has developed a financial/management and accounting system which derives its data from the ISI database mentioned above and which has been tested and proven to reconcile against bank deposits and commission payouts. ACH System - Automated Clearing House is the accepted U.S. method of electronically transferring funds between financial entities. It is becoming the standard method for moving funds in limited international settings. ISI possesses proven ACH capabilities that it will use for purposes of funds transfers around the globe.

ISI has developed a demographically targeted "remote" delivery system for the purchase and acquisition of its programs and services. In a nut-shell an individual can purchase the card at any participating U.S. retail location, via the Internet or by phone. ISI intends to market the program primarily through its sales and distribution network of check-cashing centers, payday loan outlets, ethnic retailers, convenience stores and others. Upon registration and purchase a card is "registered" for pick up at the Service Center of any of the participating locations of ISI member stores by the recipient living in the host country (Mexico). ISI's target marketing eliminates the logistical headache and cost of delivery of the card via existing mail/courier services. ISI will "roll-out" its' first International Gift Card for its retail client Grupo Gigante.