
expected 2021 merchant gift card sales1
expected 2021 Visa and Mastercard prepaid card sales1
of Millennials still shop in-store at least once a month2
For Blackhawk Network, it all started with branded plastic cards that hang on racks in grocery stores. Twenty years later, these gift cards come in both physical and digital formats and are more popular than ever—in fact, the global gift card market is expected to reach $750 billion by 2026.1
For a twelfth consecutive year, gift cards remain the most requested gift according to the National Retail Federation.2
Our clients have seen an increase in loyalty program participation after adding gift and eGift cards to their redemption catalogues.
Last year, 61% of people we surveyed spent more—an average of $31.75 more—than the value of a gift card they received.3
Visa and Mastercard Prepaid Cards, including plastic and virtual options, can be sold in-store and online. They are perennially popular for gift giving because they can be used everywhere Visa and Mastercard credit or debit cards are accepted.
These days, Visa and Mstercard Prepaid Cards are more than just a last-minute gift that is bought off a rack. We offer shoppers the option to go online and design their own cards for a more personal and memorable gift. And there’s also a digital version that can be delivered quickly via email.
One-third of gift cards are purchased on the same day they’re given as a gift.1 That’s a great reason to sell Visa and Mastercard Prepaid Cards in-store and online for last-minute shoppers.
People spend more on gift cards—about $4 more on average1—when they’re planning to use the cards themselves.
Birthdays top the list of reasons to give a gift card.1 Physical Visa and Mastercard Prepaid Cards and virtual gift cards offer flexible options that everyone can appreciate.
At Blackhawk Network, we take pride in leading the branded payments industry with new and exciting products that people love to give and receive.
Our themed Happy Card gift cards take an interest, hobby or holiday and include six to eight merchants where the card can be used. They make gift giving feel more personal—plus they give the featured brands additional opportunities to extend reach to new customers.
Welcome at hundreds of locations, this gift card offers leisure, wellness, pampering and more. Whether recipients prefer relaxation or rejuvenation, massage or meditation, WaySpa is a great way to give a stress-reducing experience.
Although these prepaid cards can be used everywhere Visa or Mastercard credit or debit cards are accepted, Canadian cardholders get 5% back on their cards when they use them at dozens of participating merchants.
By positioning lottery gift cards in check-out lanes, retailers* can build lottery awareness and increase sales. Our QuickTicket™ gift cards are activated in-lane and give shoppers easy access to quick pick numbers for Lotto 6/49® or LottoMax® with Encore. They simply pay for and activate the gift card at the in-lane register to enter the numbers in the next available draw.
* Note: QuickTickets are currently only available in Metro store locations across Ontario.
Instead of getting more stuff that they don’t need, most people would prefer to receive the gift of a great experience. Life Experiences gift cards provide the opportunity for people to give a meaningful and memorable gift to a friend or loved one, or to simply indulge their own desire for fun, entertainment, or adventure.
The One4all Card offers recipients the ultimate variety in choice-based rewarding, giving you the freedom to eat, shop or play at any of the merchants that appear on the front of the card. You are free to use the same card across multiple brands. Simply present your card for food, merchandise or services at time of payment.
People’s tastes vary widely, so when selecting rewards, it can be difficult to find a single option that will appeal to everyone. The Entrée Card solves that problem by giving recipients the choice of hundreds of restaurant options, all on one card. Rather than limiting card holders to a single location, the Entrée Card allows card holders to use their reward card at many of Canada’s best neighbourhood restaurants.
Mobile phones, tablets and game consoles have forever changed how consumers interact with their music, games, movies and books. Blackhawk Network’s prepaid products have transformed how and where they pay for their entertainment—in-store, online or via a mobile device.
Reloadable prepaid cards offer a smart way to spend and manage money. We offer a number of robust, alternative payment tools that help cash-based consumers load money on a convenient and secure card.
1Mercator Advisory Group, 15th Annual U.S. Open-Loop and Closed-Loop Prepaid Cards Market Forecasts, 2017–2021, Sept & Nov 2018.
2Blackhawk Network Retail Trends and Transformations Study, conducted by Murphy Research, March 2019.