Homebase first to launch Gift Card Store

Blackhawk Network, a leading provider of prepaid and financial payments products for consumers and businesses, today announced its Gift Card Store is available in Homebase, the UK's leading home enhancement retailer.

Blackhawk Network's Gift Card Store destination is an in-store fixed location display featuring branded gift cards in a variety of categories including music, dining, fashion and entertainment. Homebase customers can now purchase gift cards in the UK from top global and local brands including Debenhams, iTunes, Pizza Express and Ticketmaster.

"Consumers around the world continue to embrace gift cards sold in third-party locations," said Jim Strabo, Managing Director, Blackhawk Network's European operations. "We are thrilled with our new relationship with Homebase as we can now provide consumers with flexibility to choose from an assortment of gift cards through this respected home enhancement retailer."

Gift Card Store is available in 330 Homebase locations in the United Kingdom, and will soon be in Ireland locations also. In addition, Homebase branded gift cards will be distributed through other retailers throughout the Gift Card Store network in the UK.

"We are focused on providing customers with high-quality, innovative products that offer convenience," said Killian Quinn, Retail Trading Manager, Homebase. "By launching Gift Card Store in Homebase, we are able to expand our current gift offerings so our customers have more options in-store to make shopping easier."

In the United States, Gift Card Store's counterpart, Gift Card Mall™, offers more than 300 leading brands and access to 165 million unique customer visits per week. Consumer demand for gift cards is projected to grow in the US and throughout the world, in countries such as Australia, Mexico, Canada and France.

About Blackhawk Network's European Operations
Blackhawk Network is a subsidiary of Safeway Inc., a Fortune 100 company and one of the largest food and drug retailers in North America based on sales. As a leading third party prepaid provider, Blackhawk offers the industry's most popular prepaid gift cards in thousands of retail distribution locations. The company has revolutionised the way consumers give and receive gifts through the gift card destination program, which offers the convenience of buying leading retail gift cards in a network of top supermarkets, hypermarkets, convenience, pharmacy, specialty and Internet retailers. Leveraging its strong retail heritage and expertise in the grocery channel, Blackhawk Network currently partners with many of the top retailers in Europe.

Blackhawk Network's European operations are headquartered in London with an office in Paris. In addition to the UK and France, Blackhawk Network has offices in Australia, Canada, Mexico and the United States. For more information about Blackhawk Network visit www.blackhawknetwork.com.

About Homebase
Homebase is the UK's leading home enhancement retailer and is recognised for choice, style and customer service. It has more than 340 large, out-of-town stores throughout the UK and Republic of Ireland. In the financial year to February 2011, Homebase sales were £1.6 billion and it employed some 19,000 people across the business.

Homebase sells over 38,000 products across its home enhancement ranges, and has a growing Internet offering at www.homebase.co.uk. Homebase serves over 65 million customers per year through its stores and offers customers the convenience of home delivery for bulky, high-value items.

Homebase was the first UK DIY retailer to achieve Forest Stewardship Council Chain of Custody certification and the first national DIY retailer to be recognised with a Government TrustMark Award, achieved for its kitchen installation service.

Homebase is part of Home Retail Group, the UK's leading home and general merchandise retailer.

Source: Newsblaze
http://newsblaze.com/story/2012022800595900001.mwir/topstory.html