Blackhawk Network announcedthat it will distribute closed-loop gift cards in select U.S. Post Offices thisholiday season.
“The USPS is excited to workwith Blackhawk Network to offer gift cards in our post offices – it is acompletely natural fit,” said Nagisa Manabe, USPS chief marketing andsales officer and executive vice president. “We have been focused onproviding more consumer services and products and working with Blackhawk allowsus to offer one of the best managed programs and product suites to ourcustomers. The new gift card mall will really make our patrons’ experience withUSPS even better.”
The company said in its release that it will expand to morePostal Service locations in 2015. The Postal Service has sold open-loop giftcards in its stores since 2011. It has also sold greeting cards. While the moveseems like an obvious fit, since it could encourage people to go directly tothe Post Office when they need to send a present and skip stores all together,there still needs to be some education so that the public will be aware thatgift cards are an option at the Post Office.
Overview by Ben Jackson, Director, Prepaid Advisory Service for Mercator Advisory Group
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