CBRE and PRESEND redefine shopping center gift cards in Lithuania

In October 2016, CBRE has rolled out their new and innovative Visa-based gift cards at RYO Shopping Center. The gift card solution is the first of its kind in Lithuania, and is provided by PRESEND Nordic AB.

The first shopping center managed by CBRE to deploy the new gift card solution in Lithuania is RYO, which won an award for the Best Shopping Center in “Baltic Real Estate Awards 2016”. CBRE wanted an innovative and modern gift card solution to stand out in the market. PRESEND was selected due to their simple, secure and flexible prepaid solutions combined with their previous experience in the Baltic region.

“We realized that there was no complete gift card platform offered in the Lithuanian retail industry to suit our needs,” says Kristina Lipska, Financial Director of CBRE in Riga. “We wanted a gift card based on an international payment card system requiring only an existing POS terminal in the store. With our new Visa-based gift cards from PRESEND, we provide freedom of purchase to the customer on one side, and ease of service for the stores and the shopping center management on the other side.”

As the gift card product is associated with holidays and other important events, RYO placed great emphasis on the appearance of the card. “The card resembles a fragment of pale leather; it is enclosed in an impressive, luxurious envelope suitable as a valued gift,” says Jurate Gaspariuniene, center manager at RYO Shopping Center. The gift card is a key component in RYO’s brand strategy.

“PRESEND solidifies its position as the leading provider of gift cards in the Nordic-Baltic region,” says Jon Sederqvist Østmoe, CEO at PRESEND. “Our clients value the flexibility our modern gift card solution provides, and also the simplicity of onboarding their tenants. CBRE is a leading global real estate company, and we look forward to working together and to further develop our partnership.”

About RYO Shopping Center

RYO Shopping Center is owned by the Finnish investment company Pontos Group, whereas CBRE is the managing company of the shopping center. CBRE is the world’s largest commercial real estate services and investment company in terms of 2015 revenue. With over 220 shopping centers under management, CBRE is also among the largest shopping center managers in Europe.

RYO Shopping Center is located in Panevezys, and was fully reconstructed and rebranded in 2015. RYO won the category Best Shopping Center in the Baltic countries in the "Baltic Real Estate Awards 2016" contest organized by the national business portal. RYO’s tenant mix consists of well-known international and regional brands covering the leasable area of 24 200 sqm.