Blackhawk Network and Giant Eagle Offer Tips to Make the Most Out of Gift Cards

PLEASANTON, Calif. and PITTSBURGH, Nov. 15, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Blackhawk Network today announced tips to make the most out of gift cards this holiday season with its long-time partner, Giant Eagle, Inc., that operates over 220 supermarkets and over 200 fuel and convenience stores throughout Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, Maryland, and Indiana.

Gift cards have been the most requested holiday gift for 10 straight years, according to a recent study by the National Retail Federation[1]. Additionally, a September study by Blackhawk[2]—a pioneer of gift cards, payment tools and rewards delivered via a robust and convenient network—found that the majority of people surveyed (89 percent) plan to purchase at least one gift card this winter and agree that gift cards are easier to purchase than traditional holiday gifts.

"Our Gift Card Gallery delivers the selection and variety most popular with our customers," said Dan Donovan, Giant Eagle spokesperson. "We are thrilled to offer a robust Gift Card Gallery, our unique fuelperks!® promotion that rewards purchasing of retailer gift cards, network-branded gift cards and variable denominations, and to be a convenient one-stop destination for all their holiday shopping needs."

Giant Eagle stores will offer more than 200 gift card options—including retailer-specific and network-branded physical gift cards and eGifts—available for purchase for holiday shopping. In addition to purchasing gift cards for everyone on your list, Blackhawk and Giant Eagle offer the following tips to get the most out of gift cards this holiday season:

1. Cash in on special promotions. During peak holiday shopping periods, Giant Eagle offers unique retailer gift card promotions such as $.20 fuelperks! rewards and discounted gift card packs. For instance, from November 17 through December 7, Giant Eagle customers will earn $.20 in fuelperks! for every $50 spent on all retailer gift cards from its Gift Card Gallery.
2. Use gift cards for yourself. Gift cards can also be one of the best ways to stay on budget and cash in on special promotions. For example, if you shop at a particular retail store regularly—especially during the holiday season—buy that merchant's gift card for everything you are planning to purchase at that store, earn fuelperks!, and stick to the gift card's limit. Stretch your budget further by picking up the gift card when it's part of a special promotion.
3. eGifts can save you time. Out of time? A no-cost delivery option that is quickly increasing in popularity among gift-givers thanks to ease-of-use, personalization options and electronic delivery are eGifts, or electronic gift cards. eGift cards are delivered fast and free of charge, can include a personalized message to the recipient and can be redeemed by printing it out to use at the store or using the gift code online. Visit GiftCards.GiantEagle.com powered by Blackhawk to choose from nearly 200 eGift options. Physical gift cards are also available for purchase online.
4. Don't forget about network branded cards. Visa, MasterCard and American Express branded cards are great for those folks on your shopping list who are hard to buy for. The flexibility of these cards allows the recipient to make a purchase wherever the network is accepted. Giant Eagle offers a wide range of network branded cards in set denominations.

Also available and new for the holidays at Giant Eagle are Visa category gift cards that can be used on specific categories such as dining, movies or home goods—a perfect gift for the foodie, movie buff or new home owner in your life—and you can select the amount of the gift card within a set range at the time of purchase.

About Blackhawk Network

Blackhawk Network Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: HAWK) is a leading prepaid and payments global company, which supports the program management and distribution of gift cards, prepaid telecom products and financial service products in retail, digital and incentive channels. Blackhawk's digital platform supports prepaid across a network of digital distribution partners including retailers, financial service providers, and mobile wallets. For more information, please visit www.blackhawknetwork.com or product websites Cardpool, Gift Card Lab, Gift Card Mall, GiftCards.com and OmniCard.

About Giant Eagle

Giant Eagle, Inc., ranked among the top 40 on Forbes magazine's largest private corporations list, is one of the nation's largest food retailers and distributors with approximately $9.3 billion in annual sales. Founded in 1931, Giant Eagle, Inc. has grown to be the number one supermarket retailer in the region with more than 420 stores throughout western Pennsylvania, north central Ohio, northern West Virginia, Maryland and Indiana.

[1] National Retail Federation's 2016 Holiday Consumer Spending Survey is a survey conducted by Prosper Analytics & Insights from October 4–11, 2016. The sample size included 7,733 respondents.

[2] Blackhawk's gift cards survey is an Internet-based survey conducted by Blackhawk Network in July 2016. The sample size included 1,704 respondents.

CONTACT:
Courtney Brunkow
[email protected]
303-717-9575

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SOURCE Blackhawk Network

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