Oberthur Awarded for the First Customised Scented Card
- Oberthur Technologies received the Elan award for best secure financial card design from the ICMA (International Card Manufacturing Association).
- This award is bestowed on Miss Kitty Perfumed Card issued in China by China Merchants Bank. The card includes Smart Fragrance technology enabling the user to choose to add in his own perfume or select one from a preset gallery.
- Perfumed cards are particularly popular on the Asian market. The first perfumed card was issued in Japan by JCB in 2005; the Linda Sweet Card (limited edition, 20,000 copies only) featuring a citrus-based fragrance was designed for young women (Linda Card cardholders). The Miss Kitty card was also designed to address women at CMB.
- For now, this particularly expensive technology is not intended for mass commercialisation but this launch illustrates the interest of both issuers and cardholders for increasingly customised products. Technological innovation is one of the driving forces behind the trend of “ultra-customisation”.