Evaluating Branded Value to Determine the Power of Brands: Does Brand Still Matter in the Digital Age?

In Blackhawk's survey, the respondents report high levels of trust in brands. Ninety-one percent of respondents said that they trust their favorite brand somewhat or very much. Trust in brands is also higher than other entities that consumers interact with, such as banks, social networks, the government and the media.

Blackhawk commissioned the independent research to study branded value—a branded object of value that can be accepted in payment or exchange for another product or value. Branded value can include things like gift cards; loyalty points; rebates; alternative payments like mobile wallets, app payment methods, and contactless payment methods; and targeted offers. Marketers have long used these tools to create rewarding experiences and build consumer engagement, and are now beginning to define and understand them as branded value.

"In the past, shoppers might have believed what a brand told them from a commercial alone. Times have obviously changed. But we believe brands are as powerful as ever—the ways they connect with consumers have just evolved. Branded value is a perfect example: the act of paying cannot typically be circumvented in the shopping process, but it can be elevated. By going beyond just offering a branded payment solution to creating one that actually makes life easier or adds real value for customers, brands can generate greater loyalty and engagement," said Talbott Roche, CEO and president of Blackhawk Network, a leading global provider of solutions and technology that helps brands create rewarding experiences. "Our research confirmed that there is a powerful opportunity for marketers to provide branded value solutions that can solve a host of marketer pain points including cart abandonment, declining foot traffic, new customer acquisition or faltering loyalty. Even older tools like coupons can be enriched and made more effective with relevant branded value products, targeting and integrated contextual delivery."

The research findings were published in an ebook today entitled, "Branded Value: Rewarding Experiences Driving Consumer Engagement and Spending" and were based on a survey of more than 1,000 American adults conducted in October of 2016. Key findings from the survey include:

Consumers are using different forms of branded value at high rates: In the last year, 83 percent of the consumers surveyed have used a a gift card (plastic or egift), 81 percent belong to a loyalty program, 42 percent used a reward received after submitting a rebate, and 36 percent regularly use a mobile or contactless payment option.

Branded value can be a path-to-purchase motivator:

o   Branded value rewards can motivate consumers to convert at ecommerce checkout. Though shoppers are still most motivated by free shipping, the shoppers surveyed reported that the following would also motivate them to complete an online purchase: a gift card to the store (54 percent), loyalty points (30 percent), rebates (28 percent) and a mobile payment option (11 percent).
o   Branded value can motivate shoppers to go in store to purchase something that they were planning to buy online. Though the greatest motivator is a sale, the shoppers surveyed would also be motivated by a branded value offer (48 percent), a gift card (47 percent), or a rebate paid out on a prepaid card (31 percent.)

Branded value solutions can be a good way to drive customer acquisition: Branded value can be a strong motivator for shoppers to try something new. Nine in ten of the respondents would use a gift card or egift they received from a brand they had never tried before. Additionally, the surveyed users of various forms of branded value say it would motivate them to try a store or website they wouldn't have tried otherwise:

• Seventy-two percent of the offer users surveyed say targeted offers would prompt them to visit a store or website they wouldn't have gone to otherwise.
• Forty percent of the rebate users surveyed believe rebates have prompted them to try a website or store they otherwise wouldn't have tried.
• Thirty-nine percent of the coupon users surveyed believe a coupon has prompted them to try a website or store they otherwise wouldn't have tried.
• Thirty-five percent of the alternative payment users surveyed indicate that an alternative payment option has prompted them to try a website or store they otherwise wouldn't have tried.

Branded value can make consumers feel a greater affinity to brands and drives incremental spending: Responses from surveyed users of a variety of different types of branded value demonstrate it can be a powerful sales and loyalty driver:

• Of the surveyed gift card users: 95 percent are satisfied and 70 percent very satisfied when receiving a gift card. The consumers surveyed report spending, on average, $27 over-and-above the original value of the gift card.
• Of the surveyed egift users: 93 percent are satisfied and 64 percent very satisfied when receiving an egift. They spend, on average, $29 over-and-above the original value of the egift.
• Of the surveyed rebate users: Eighty-two percent would likely recommend a retailer offering a rebate, and 83 percent report that a retailer offering a rebate makes it more likely that they'll end up making a purchase.
• Of the surveyed alternative payment users: Mobile payment options make 26 percent feel more loyal to the brand/retailer in question. Seventy-seven percent would likely recommend a retailer offering a form of alternative payment (like a mobile wallet) and 78 percent also believe that a retailer offering a form of alternative payment ups the likelihood of them making a purchase.
• Of the surveyed loyalty program users: Over a third (36 percent) feel more loyal to a brand/retailer after redeeming loyalty points from it. Eighty-five percent would likely recommend a retailer offering loyalty points. Eighty-nine percent also report that a retailer offering loyalty points increases the likelihood of them making a purchase.

To download the complete "Branded Value: Rewarding Experiences Driving Consumer Engagement and Spending" ebook, visit: https://blackhawknetwork.com/branded-value/.

*About the "Branded Value: Rewarding Experiences Driving Consumer Engagement and Spending" Report
"Branded Value: Rewarding Experiences Driving Consumer Engagement and Spending" is an Internet-based survey conducted independently by Leger on behalf of Blackhawk Network in October 2016. The sample size included 1,034 American respondents ages 18+.

About Blackhawk Network
Blackhawk Network Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: HAWK) is a leading global stored value and payments provider, which supports the program management and distribution of gift cards, telecom products, and financial services products in retail, digital and incentive channels. Blackhawk's digital platform enables the management of stored value products, promotions, and loyalty programs 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.

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

SOURCE Blackhawk Network