Blockbuster.com Launches GiftCard and Custom Greeting Card Service; GiftCard/Gift Certificate Industry up More Than 60 Percent in Two Years.DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 13, 1999-- Just in time to take advantage of the burgeoning gift card/gift certificate industry and the increasing popularity of online shopping, Blockbuster (NYSE NYSE See: New York Stock Exchange :BBI BBI Blockbuster Inc. (stock symbol) BBI Berlin Brandenburg International (Airport) BBI Broadband-Interactive BBI Browser-Based Interface BBI Best Brains Inc. ) is making its popular GiftCards and new, personalized holiday greeting cards See e-card. available on its Web site, blockbuster.com. The gift card/gift certificate industry has exploded in the past two years from an estimated $11 billion-a-year industry in 1997 to a projected $18-20 billion this year, according to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. industry expert Daniel Horne, PhD., chairman of the department of marketing at Providence College
Rhode Island, island, 15 mi (24 km) long and 5 mi (8 km) wide, S R.I., at the entrance to Narragansett Bay. It is the largest island in the state, with steep cliffs and excellent beaches. and director of research for 800/GIFTCERTIFICATE. "Gift cards are now accepted as a thoughtful, personal gift as more people have realized how much they enjoy receiving gift cards themselves," says Horne. "Unlike cash, the gift card signifies thought, while still allowing the recipient choose the exact gift they want." The appeal of gift cards differs among recipients, says Horne. For example, women enjoy them because they like the shopping experience, while young people like having money of their own to spend. In addition, young people often prefer the gift card over the gift certificate because it feels "grown-up grown-up adj. 1. Of, characteristic of, or intended for adults: grown-up movies; a grown-up discussion. 2. " to have something that looks like a credit card. Blockbuster.com is making its GiftCards even more appealing by allowing customers to send them inside a personalized greeting card. The greeting cards are not electronic, "cyber" cards, but high-quality, printed greeting cards, shipped via first class mail by the US Postal Service postal service, arrangements made by a government for the transmission of letters, packages, and periodicals, and for related services. Early courier systems for government use were organized in the Persian Empire under Cyrus, in the Roman Empire, and in medieval (USPS (1) (Uninterruptible Switching Power Supply) A power supply for a computer that contains its own battery and uninterruptible power supply (UPS) circuitry. See power supply and UPS. ) or second-day via UPS. "We are delighted to introduce this new personalized service to our members via blockbuster.com," said Greg Smogard, senior vice president, relationship marketing for Blockbuster. "Our members are looking for Looking for In the context of general equities, this describing a buy interest in which a dealer is asked to offer stock, often involving a capital commitment. Antithesis of in touch with. creative, convenient gift ideas with a personal touch -- especially during the busy holiday season. Now the gift of entertainment can be purchased with the click of a button." Blockbuster teamed up with Moore Interactive to provide the service with Moore's unique, patented printing process that allows for a fast turn-around time in printing customized greeting cards, allowing most orders to be shipped within 48 hours. Customers can choose from 18 greeting card designs -- from Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwaanza to birthdays or anniversaries -- for just $2.95 per card. The cards also can be personalized with the customer's own message. Blockbuster GiftCards are available in denominations ranging from $5 to $50 and are redeemable for rental or purchase of thousands of videos, DVDs and video games at participating Blockbuster Video stores nationwide. As an added bonus, a free movie/video game rental coupon will accompany every GiftCard or greeting card purchase. The new service is part of Blockbuster's commitment to build on its store-based business through e-commerce. Visitors to blockbuster.com will notice additional new services, such as better navigation, and simplified order handling. Blockbuster Inc. (NYSE:BBI) is a publicly traded subsidiary of Viacom Inc. and is the world's leading renter of videos and video games with approximately 6,900 stores in the United States, its territories and 25 other countries. The company may be accessed internationally at blockbuster.com. Viacom Inc. is one of the world's largest entertainment companies and a leading force in nearly every segment of the international media marketplace. |
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