eBay Adds B2B Gift Card Services From Blackhawk

Online marketplace eBay Inc. will add business-to-business gift cards from Blackhawk Network Holdings Inc. to its roster of products, Blackhawk announced Wednesday.

The expansion—Blackhawk already provides other gift card services to eBay—will help the marketplace with its B2B sales, Blackhawk says.

Now, businesses can order eBay gift cards to reward or incentivize customers through loyalty, acquisition, retention, or promotional programs. Customers will be able to order both physical and digital cards and personalize them. Other features of the program include self-service for ordering and managing orders and the ability to track orders and view order history. Gift cards are available in amounts from $5 to $500.

“As part of our partnership with eBay, we are delivering significant value by helping to grow and manage its B2B gift card program, while enabling eBay to become more competitive in this space,” said David Tate, Blackhawk senior vice president, in a press release.

Blackhawk said its August acquisition of CashStar Inc., a specialist in digital gift cards, will benefit the expansion of the eBay program.

Gift cards are a favored product, with loads once again increasing. Total loads grew 6% in 2016 to reach $133.9 billion, according to Mercator Advisory Group.

EBay has offered Blackhawk gift card products since 2010 when Blackhawk’s Gift Card Mall was first offered on eBay.