Blackhawk Network Shares Creative Solutions for Valentine's Day.

Company Offers Shoppers Five Tips to Personalize Gift Card Giving

PLEASANTON, Calif. -- Blackhawk Network, a market leader in card-based financial solutions and the largest provider of third-party prepaid cards in the United States and Canada today shared five creative ways to give gift cards this Valentine's Day. In over 60,000 store fronts, Blackhawk Network's Gift Card Mall carries gift cards ranging from restaurants to exclusive retail outlets to sports and entertainment. Shoppers are provided with a single location to shop for multiple gift cards that appeal to varying demographics.

"Finding the right Valentine's Day gift can be a challenging experience, especially with consumers who want to be more creative than giving the traditional candy and flowers," said Don Kingsborough, chief executive officer of Blackhawk Network. "In a recent survey, we found that more than 80 percent of recipients would prefer to do their own shopping. Our five tips on how to package gift cards ensure that the consumer is giving a personalized gift or experience that can be shared with a loved one, and the recipient gets a present that is tailored to their unique style."

Create a Memorable All-Day Experience. Prepare a special day with gift cards. Treat that special someone to a relaxing day at the spa with a Spa Wish gift card, followed by dinner at The Cheesecake Factory, a late night movie outing at AMC Theatres, and a Cold Stone Creamery ice cream indulgence at the end of the evening.

Equip Them for the Action. Sports fans will enjoy gift cards from any of the major sports leagues: NFLshop.com, and shop.NHL.com and NBA Store gift card. Do you have a NASCAR fan in the family? They will love a driver-themed gift card attached to a die cast car model. Fans can also focus on their sweetheart's favorite local teams such as San Francisco Giants, Pittsburgh Pirates, Cleveland Indians, Cleveland Cavaliers, Philadelphia Eagles and many more. Equip them for the event with a gift card creatively given inside a baseball glove, in a model replica stock car, attached to a hockey puck, or with tickets to an upcoming game.

Celebrate the Madness. With March Madness soon approaching, why not give the special basketball fan in one's life a gift card from their favorite NCAA team like Louisiana State University, Stanford, the University of Maryland, or the University of Florida, just to name a few. Gift cards can be coupled with a favorite team's pennant, apparel, or poster to start the celebration and celebrate school pride.

Prepare an Adventure. JetBlue Airways, Great America, A Cedar Fair Entertainment Company and Marriott gift cards can create a pleasant and relaxing experience for the recipient. Inserting one of these gift cards in a map, travel journal, travel organizer, or passport case will set them on an adventure that will create long-lasting memories.

Assemble a Gift Package. Include a Barnes & Noble gift card inside a favorite book; treat someone to a basket of beauty products and a gift card from Bath & Body Works; include an iTunes gift card with an iPod accessory such as a case or headphones; or place a BLOCKBUSTER gift card inside an empty DVD case.

About Blackhawk Network

Blackhawk Network, a subsidiary of Safeway Inc., is a prepaid and payments network, a market leader in card-based financial solutions and the largest provider of third-party prepaid cards. Blackhawk Network develops unique products in easy-to-use formats and delivers them to consumers through an exclusive retail network of leading grocery, mass, convenience, drug and specialty retailers. The network includes more than 60,000 store fronts and reaches more than 135 million consumers each week. Headquartered in Pleasanton, California, Blackhawk Network has offices in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom.