Monday, August 8, 2011

CashStar Sees Strong Adoption of B2B Digital Gifting Platform Among Leading Retailers, Incentive Firms and Third-Party Distributors


Dell, Starbucks, T.G.I. Friday’s, Best Buy, deal united, FitFund, I Love Rewards, GetMD and Ovation Incentives Among Organizations Signing On with Digital Gifting and Incentives Company, Representing More Than $1.5 Billion in Potential eGift Card Sales
SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--IMA 2011 Executive Summit - CashStar, the digital gifting and incentives company, today announced that it has significantly expanded its leadership position in the B2B and incentives market with the addition of new clients and distribution partners. In the past several months, the company has signed on six new distribution partners, representing hundreds of incentive programs and millions of dollars in eGift Card sales, and added 15 of North America’s leading brands to its B2B product suite client roster, representing an additional $1.5 billion in potential sales.
“Ovation Incentives is looking forward to capitalizing on our recent partnership with CashStar. The company’s versatile B2B platform will enable us to instantly reward our clients in real-time with some of America’s best known retailers and brands”
Distribution Partners Continue to Select CashStar as Preferred Digital Gifting Partner
CashStar’s digital gifting and incentives platform enables distribution partners to easily deliver highly-personalized eGift Cards across online, mobile and social channels through an easy-to-use Web interface. By consistently providing new and innovative digital solutions for the incentives and rewards market, CashStar continues to attract distribution partners looking for a trusted digital gifting provider. The following partners recently signed on and represent hundreds of creative and innovative gift card programs:
  • deal united, providers of the PAY.BY.SHOPPING alternative payment method, will buy CashStar-powered eGift Cards for distribution to Facebook users in the U.S.
  • Ovation Incentives, a business incentive and performance company focused on developing multi-country, multi-currency, multi-language reward and recognition programs, will leverage CashStar’s platform to instantly reward its clients with eGift Cards
  • FitFund, which builds community-based wellness systems that brings schools, employers, merchants, governments, non-profits and citizens together onto one cohesive platform that rewards healthy and activity living, will leverage the CashStar platform to power the eGift Card rewards for myfitfund, earned when a participant reaches a fitness goal
  • WeSave, which operates an exclusive community and membership program for state government employees, providing promotions and special offers to its member base from thousands of merchants across the country, will offer CashStar-powered eGift Cards
  • I Love Rewards, which develops, designs and implements innovative incentive solutions for small and medium-sized companies, as well as Fortune 1000 businesses, will incorporate CashStar’s network of retailer eGift Cards into their rewards and incentive programs
  • Get MD, which operates online communities for specific medical groups, providing offers and raising money for medical research, will also leverage the CashStar platform as a way to raise funds for research, recruit donors and reward contributions.
“Ovation Incentives is looking forward to capitalizing on our recent partnership with CashStar. The company’s versatile B2B platform will enable us to instantly reward our clients in real-time with some of America’s best known retailers and brands,” explained Riaz Resh, executive sales manager, Ovation Incentives. “The flexibly and desirability of CashStar’s extensive range of eGift Cards will also provide a great user experience to anyone lucky enough to receive one. Online tracking of rewards is also a bonus.”
“As market leaders in rewards and recognition programs, we’re thrilled to add the emerging category of digital gift cards to our offering,” explained Nadir Ebrahim, director, vendor partnerships. “Our partnership with CashStar will greatly enhance our ability to help our customers engage their employees with meaningful and immediate rewards.”
These new distribution partners join CashStar’s exclusive roster including Bridge2 SolutionseBillme™, Great Lakes Scrip CenterNational Gift Card Corporation and SVM, representing more than $3 billion in gift card sales.
“We’re excited to make CashStar’s eGift Cards available to players,” said Dr. Jarg Temme, CEO and co-founder of deal united. “By partnering with CashStar, we will provide great eGift Card offerings that monetize gamers on Facebook, Bigpoint, Upjers, Ubisoft and many other gaming platforms.”
“Rather than just providing consumers with a code, CashStar delivers a superior experience for both the channel partner and the consumer by providing a branded eGift Card that is easier and faster to redeem at checkout,” explained David Stone, co-founder and CEO of CashStar. “As a result, retailers and channel partners are able to offer a complete brand experience while consumers are guaranteed the best in-store experience possible.”
Leading Retail Brands Continue to Select CashStar’s B2B Digital Gifting Solutions
By providing an easy way for retailers to manage and distribute their bulk digital gifting programs based on their needs and preferences, CashStar continues to grow its roster of customers taking advantage of its B2B suite, which includes eCorporate Direct™, a digital order entry system for managing bulk purchasing, and eCorporate Application Programming Interface™ (API), which provides third parties with an easy way to distribute large quantities of eGift Cards on demand as part of incentive and rewards programs. Combined, these new brands represent an additional $3 billion in potential gift card sales.
CashStar’s eCorporate Direct is now being used exclusively by Best Buy, Regal Entertainment, Edwards Theatres, Regal Cinemas, United Artists, Staples, T.G.I. Friday’s, Williams-Sonoma, Pottery Barn, Pottery Barn Kids, PBteen and west elm. These brands join existing customers including The Home Depot, Brinker International, Chili’s Bar and Grill, Romano’s Macaroni Grill, Maggiano’s Little Italy, On The Border, O’Charley’s, Ninety-Nine Restaurants and Stoney River Legendary Steaks.
CashStar has added Dell, Starbucks, PF Chang’s China Bistro, Regal Cinemas, United Artists, Spa Finder, Staples, T.G.I. Friday’s, Williams-Sonoma, Pottery Barn, Pottery Barn Kids, PBteen and west elm to its impressive list of existing eCorporate API customers, which includes The Container Store, CVS/pharmacy, Gap, Athleta, Banana Republic, Old Navy, Piperlime, JC Penney, Lands’ End, O’Charley’s, Ninety-Nine Restaurants, Stoney River Legendary Steaks, Papa John’s, The Home Depot, Travelocity and Uno’s Chicago Grill.
“Building upon our leadership and innovation in establishing the digital gifting category, CashStar is now tying together its unrivaled retail network of 200 of the top North American retailers with leading B2B distribution partners through our continued focus on innovative products and technology solutions,” continued Stone.
About CashStar, Inc.
CashStar is the preferred digital gifting and incentives partner for retailers and incentive partners nationwide. Its powerful platform delivers retailers high-margin sales, promotes online and in-store traffic and encourages customer loyalty by providing consumers with the most personal, compelling and convenient gifting experiences available. CashStar is the only company to successfully combine an on-demand digital gifting and incentives platform with innovative multichannel marketing strategies. More than 200 retails brands and partners are successfully partnering with CashStar to drive incremental sales, increase retention and boost profitability including Gap, Williams-SonomaPottery Barnwest elm, Piperlime, Athleta, Dell, Chili’s Bar and Grill, Maggiano’s Little Italy, Romano’s Macaroni Grill, Old Navy, Banana Republic, Best Buy, The Children’s Place, Hot Topic, The Container Store, CVS/pharmacy, The Home Depot, Landry’s Restaurants, Pizza Hut, Regal Cinema, Staples, Starbucks, Travelocity, Great Lakes Scrip, SVM, eBillme, NGC and WeSave. To learn more about how CashStar is constantly innovating the way businesses deliver personalized gifting experiences to consumers and partners in the digital world, please visit www.cashstar.com or e-mail sales@cashstar.com.

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