Merchant Warehouse will be showcasing the company’s innovative solutions available to merchants, ISOs and agents at the Electronic Transaction Association’s (ETA) 2010 Meeting and Expo at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas from April 13-15.

Details:
Who: Merchant Warehouse
What: Electronic Transaction Association Meeting & Expo 2010
Where: Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino, in Las Vegas. Booth 801
When: April 13-15, 2010

With nearly 3,000 attendees expected at this year’s 20^th anniversary conference, Merchant Warehouse will be showcasing a number of mobile payment applications that can be used on the iPhone/iPod Touch, Blackberry, Google Android and Windows Mobile devices that can be used with portable Bluetooth enabled card readers. There will also be a demo of the iPhone/iPod Touch with the iDynamo card reader from MagTek – an easy to manage cradle with an encrypted card reader designed specifically for the iPhone. The ideal products for those in the mobile workforce, these applications combine ease of use, advanced functionality and enhanced security.

Register for the Ultimate Home Office Giveaway – Worth up to $5000

While you are there, enter for a chance to win the ultimate home office giveaway! Visit booth 801 and ask about Merchant Warehouse’s educational webinar series for ISOs and Agents and you will be automatically entered into the drawing. Get organized with a collection of brand new office equipment and software to help improve productivity.

On Saturday, March 27th, 2010, Merchant Warehouse employees volunteered their time with Jumpstart, a national early education organization serving preschool children in low-income communities. Merchant Warehouse enjoyed a fun day cutting, coloring and organizing materials that will be used in pre-school classrooms in local urban schools.

Our volunteer coordinator had nothing but great things to say about how hard our group worked and the amount of materials we completed in the short time we were there. The materials we made will aid Jumpstart volunteers in teaching low-income pre-school children language and literacy, social and initiative skills.

About Jumpstart:

Jumpstart is a leading nonprofit organization dedicated to ensuring that every child in America enters school prepared to succeed. To support this mission, we bring college students and community volunteers together with preschool children in low-income communities for a full school year of individualized mentoring and tutoring. Jumpstart’s research-based curriculum is focused on building language, literacy, social and emotional skills in preschool children, while providing our volunteers with a rewarding way to have lasting impact in their communities.

To strengthen and sustain our program, Jumpstart works with education partners and sponsors in mutually beneficial collaborations. To learn more, click here.

If you’re an Agent or ISO and looking for more education, be sure to register for our webinars. Presented by industry experts, these free, one-hour webinars are held monthly and open to all. We cover a range of topics from tax tips to lead generation. Our webinars are loaded with useful information and tips to help you improve your bottom line. Register for one today: www.merchantwarehouse.com/webinars

Topics:

• The Real Deal on PCI – What You Really Need to Know
• What Makes Your Portfolio Valuable and How to Sell It
• Marketing Strategies to Generate Leads
• 10 Dirty Little Secrets in Your Agent Agreement
• Building and Managing Your Database of Leads

 www.merchantwarehouse.com/webinars

Are you an ISV or VAR developing and/or selling POS systems that need secure payment processing capabilities?

MerchantWARE^® by Merchant Warehouse^® is a complete suite of PA-DSS certified payment processing solutions designed especially for developers and VARs to deliver end-to-end card data protection for their customers. Combined with a generous, easy-to-grow revenue residuals program, the Merchant Warehouse Partner Program is the best one-stop shop for all point-of-sale environments. Explore our Partner Program today and the opportunity to develop a profitable, second revenue stream. Contact us at partners@merchantwaresolutions.com or 800.498.0823.

MerchantWARE Mobile:

Businesses “On the Go” can increase sales with iPhone^TM and iPod® Touch

Merchant Warehouse’s free Point of Sale application runs credit card transactions

on Apple mobile devices

BOSTON, MA – March31, 2009 - Merchant Warehouse, a premier provider of merchant accounts and credit card processing solutions, today announced its first mobile application for the Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) iPhone^TM and iPod® Touch, now available on iTunes and at the Apple App Store.

MerchantWARE Mobile is a point of sale application that allows merchants to run credit and debit transactions in real time.  A merchant only needs to install the application on their device, and have a merchant account and a connection to WiFi, Edge or a 3G network.  Unlike competitive solutions, MerchantWARE Mobile is free, has no gateway fees, and does not require an expensive third party license.  The solution is ideal for the mobile workforce where convenience and low costs are a necessity.

“We’re always looking to be one step ahead of our customer’s needs.  We saw an opportunity to help smaller mobile merchants who want the security and functionality to process transactions without having to invest in expensive, dedicated wireless terminals,” said Henry Helgeson, president and co-CEO of Merchant Warehouse. “We believe MerchantWARE mobile will provide these merchants with the tools they need to help grow their businesses.”

In the past, mobile workers such as contractors, insurance agents or tradeshow vendors would accept payments by check, cash or handwrite the credit card information and then later process the card back in their office.  These payment options are time consuming, un-secure, and expose merchants to the risk of bad checks and declined credit cards.  MerchantWARE Mobile addresses these concerns with secure and immediate processing of transactions – saving merchants valuable time and money.

“MerchantWARE Mobile for the iPhone and iPod touch is the tip of the iceberg for innovative mobile applications from Merchant Warehouse,” said Helgeson.  “Over the next few months we will be addressing the need for mobile applications that will assist merchants who may be utilizing other wireless devices powered by Blackberry, Windows Mobile and others.”

With security breaches being a top concern for merchants and consumers, MerchantWARE Mobile eliminates worry as all customer information is encrypted and sent over a secure SSL connection.  Additionally, all data is stored on Merchant Warehouse’s secure servers, not the merchant’s mobile device.

MerchantWARE Mobile features include:

• Easy to run secure credit card transaction, including sales, refunds and voids;
• Encrypted and secure SSL connections for safely transmitting customer information;
• Reporting capabilities including, transaction summaries, totals by card type and date and transaction details;
• Automatic end of day batch processing to avoid hassles and downgraded transactions;
• Access to the MerchantWARE Virtual Terminal enabling users to process transactions through the same merchant account from any web connected computer.

More information on MerchantWARE Mobile is available at; http://merchantwarehouse.com/credit_card_software/merchantware_mobile.

iPhone and iPod Touch are trademarks or registered trademarks of Apple, Inc.

About Merchant Warehouse
Merchant Warehouse was founded in 1998 on the principle that businesses should be able to purchase credit card processing software, POS equipment and merchant services at a reasonable price.  With over 55,000 merchants, Merchant Warehouse now sets the standard for price, innovation, customer service and integrity.  For more information, please visit www.MerchantWarehouse.com.

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Contacts:

Brian Waldman, Vice President of Marketing and Strategy

Merchant Warehouse

800.941.6557 x2050

bwaldman@merchantwarehouse.com

In 2008, everyone at Merchant Warehouse  made it clear how important Corporate Philanthropy is to our organization. We aren’t just another credit card processing company.  We are members of our community.  Here is a summary of what we accomplished:

MW Casual Friday Charity Donations
Last year, our average donation to charity each Friday was about $250.00. We increased that for 2008 to $300.00 per week. In addition, we raised a total of $14,770.00 which was donated to local, national and international charities. Here is part of the snapshot of where your donations went:

• Organization in the fight against cancer: $4,487 (72% increase from 2007)
• Organization benefiting children: $3636
• Organizations battling hunger and homelessness: $1,660
• Neighborhood & Community Organizations: $772
• Organizations battling specific diseases: $1,181

MW in the Community
MW employees donate a lot more than money; they also donate their time and efforts in the community. We began the year with the Dash for the Difference through Boston Cares. This “Amazing Race” style service event found the MW team taking home the first place finish in the corporate division. In doing so, we helped contribute to the $25,000 raised for Boston Cares.

In May, we completed our second annual Corporate Volunteer Day with Boston Cares where employees cleaned, painted, organized and planted at the Saint Ambrose Shelter in Dorchester. The work they did allowed St Ambrose to continue providing shelter, support, and hope for homeless families in transition.

Through our work with Habitat for Humanity, MW employees helped rehabilitate a house. They did everything from scraping and painting to securing flooring and building a porch.

MW finished up the year with their highest participation of any event with Frosty’s Friends. Through this program with Boston Cares, employees doubled the number of gifts they gave in 2007, reaching out to 80 children at the East Boston ABCD Head Start Center. In addition, MW donated hundreds of dollars worth of sports equipment and art supplies to the Casa Nueva Vida shelter for women and children in Jamaica Plain.

Walks and Runs
In May, employees participated in the 20 mile Walk for Hunger. Participants raised money and walked for Project Bread who funds more than 400 emergency food programs in 135 communities statewide.

At the JPMorgan Chase Corporate Challenge we had 22 employees who walked and ran the three mile race through Boston. The proceeds from the challenge went to Camp Harbor View, giving at-risk children from Boston the opportunity to attend summer camp.

In September, MW participated in the Boston Marathon Jimmy Fund Walk, joining in the battle against cancer, and raising $2,651.00 in the process. The money raised benefitted the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute to help change the odds for patients facing all forms of cancer.

We finished the year by with the Best Buddies 5K Gobbler. This Thanksgiving 5K helped raise money for Best Buddies in their quest to enhance the lives of people with intellectual disabilities.

Partnerships in the Community
Merchant Warehouse was extremely excited to begin its partnership with Best Buddies through their Jobs program which has received national recognition. The President’s Committee on the Employment of People with Disabilities has recognized Best Buddies Jobs as a national model of supported employment focusing on white collar and other non-traditional employment opportunities for people with cognitive disabilities.

In addition, MW sponsored Boston Cares through their Summer Nights, Fenway Lights fundraiser. As a Grand Slam sponsor of the event, Merchant Warehouse helped support Boston Cares and their ability to run more than 100 volunteer projects every month.

Greening our Company
Over the course of the year, MW purchased 519 green tags to offset our carbon emission by investing in clean, renewable energy through the Bonneville Environmental Foundation. These tags represent the offset of 389.25 US Tons of carbon emissions to our environment. We also made the switch to using 30% recycled paper in our office for all of our printing needs.

In addition, we have set a course to introduce a number of new initiatives to help our company be more green in 2009. Keep an eye on the About Us section of our website for a new Green Page which will be coming out soon.

Thank You
Thank you to everyone who contributed their time, money and passion over the past year. We saw a huge increase from 2007 in how we were able to contribute to the community, and we have set 2009 up to be a truly great year of giving back.

Merchant Warehouse has been named among the top 100 businesses in the Boston/Cambridge/Quincy (Massachusetts/New Hampshire region) category on the Inc. annual ranking of the 5,000 fastest-growing private companies in the country. The company also posted a strong overall rank on the coveted Inc. 5000 list with three-year sales growth of 145.3 percent. The Inc. list is the most comprehensive look at the most important segment of the economy – America’s independent-minded entrepreneurs. Taken as a whole, these companies represent the backbone of the U.S. economy.

“We are honored to be included in the Inc. 5000 list among some of the top companies in the United States,” said Henry Helgeson, President and Co-CEO of Merchant Warehouse. “Celebrating our tenth year in business, we have seen tremendous growth, and that success is in direct correlation with our dedicated employees and the loyalty of our customer base.”

“Our second annual Inc. 5000 continues the most ambitious project in business journalism,” said Inc. 5000 Project Manager Jim Melloan. “The Inc. 5000 gives an unrivalled portrait of young, underreported companies across all industries doing fascinating things with cutting-edge business models, as well as older companies that are still showing impressive growth.”

With more than 40,000 merchant customers and ten years experience, Merchant Warehouse has set the standard in the credit card processing industry by providing credit card processing software, POS equipment, and merchant services ethically and at a reasonable price.

About Inc.com
Inc.com, the daily resource for entrepreneurs, delivers how-to guides, advice, tools, breaking news, and rich multi-media to help business owners and CEOs start, run, and grow their businesses. Inc.com offers dynamic marketing solutions to help advertisers effectively reach Inc.com’s audience of business leaders. Visit http://www.inc.com.

About Inc. 500|Inc. 5000 Conference
Each year, Inc. magazine and Inc.com celebrate the remarkable achievements of today’s entrepreneurial superstars – the privately held small businesses that drive our economy. The Inc. 500|Inc. 5000 Conference brings together members of the Inc. 5000 community-both a new class of Inc. 5000 honorees and the list’s alumni-for three days of powerful networking, inspired learning, and momentous celebration. For the first time ever, this powerful networking event is open to all. Please join us September 18-20, 2008 at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in Washington, D.C. For more information or to register, visit www.Inc500Conference.com or call us at 877-211-0489.

Throughout my 2 years working in this industry, I have noticed a few common threads that have remained unchanged over the years: Merchants do not WANT to accept credit cards, and furthermore, don’t have TIME to spend researching processing companies.  They want a quick fix and easy fix.  But I have seen this industry change more rapidly in the past 3 years than any other industry, and merchants are having a hard time keeping up.  

By the time a merchant calls in to Merchant Warehouse, chances are he/she has spoken with 2-3 credit card processing companies and has been told 2-3 completely different things.  Most of the time, it seems like competitors will throw a lot of numbers and “deals” at the merchant without backing any of it up with facts or statistics.  These competitors only know how to “sell” but know nothing of the merchant account industry itself.  By the time the merchant gets to me, he/she is more scared to accept credit cards than ever before.

On a typical incoming sales call, the merchant arrives already frustrated, confused, and extremely guarded.  Luckily, when I started working for Merchant Warehouse, I spent 8 full weeks in training before I ever touched a phone, and every Friday morning the Sales Team gathers for a weekly meeting with the Executives to discuss industry changes. – This IS an extremely competitive industry, and as Merchant Warehouse reps, we are required to know what we are selling, and who we are selling to.  

I am able to educate the merchants who come to me knowing nothing about any of this “credit card stuff” and I have found that there are very few questions I can’t answer – even for the most educated merchant!  One would be surprised at how many merchants I’ve talked to who say, “Oh, I never knew THAT” “Thank you for telling me that; the other guy I talked to never brought that up.”  “No, he didn’t explain this to me; I totally get it now!”  The call ends with a happy, educated merchant who, 99% of the time will come back and set their account up with me.  

The best part about feeling knowledgeable is that I get to relax when I’m on the phone with a merchant.  Then they, in turn, also feel relaxed, and pretty soon we’re debating about who’s going to clinch the division title this year…  (That’s baseball for you non-sports fans!)

Erin Leddy – Account Executive

This blog stinks.  At least it did until now.  Starting today, we will be posting the real stuff.  The insight into the mysterious world of credit card processing and merchant accounts that we think is lacking from any other blog. 

We will have key employees from every major department of our in-house team posting about the issues they run into every day during their jobs here at Merchant Warehouse.  They promise to be insightful, honest and if we can help it, interesting and educational.

Expect to hear about what we are seeing in the merchant services industry and what credit card machines are new to the market.  We will share stories of success and also areas where we think we need to get better.  In other words, the day to day life working for a merchant account provider as written by the best employees in the industry.

We hope you enjoy and please let us know if you have any feedback or suggestions for topics.