GiftCards.com
| File:GiftCards.com Logo.jpg | |
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1999 |
| Founder | Blackhawk Network (CEO) |
| Headquarters | , U.S. |
Area served | United States |
| Products | Gift cards |
| Parent | Blackhawk Network Holdings (2016–present) |
| Website | Official Website |
GiftCards.com operates as a digital retailer specializing in gift cards and is headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.[1][2] The platform provides gift cards from a vast array of major national chains and local enterprises,[3] including Vanillagifts.com, Best Buy, Barnes & Noble, Sephora, Coach, Amazon.com, among others.[4][5][6] Additionally, GiftCards.com offers prepaid cards under the Visa and MasterCard brands. Recognized as the leading online gift card marketplace,[1][7][8] the company has been featured multiple times on the Inc. 5000 list, with its latest appearance in 2015.[9][10] Since 2016, GiftCards.com has been a subsidiary of Blackhawk Network Holdings, following its acquisition that year.[11]
History
GiftCards.com originated in 1999 when entrepreneur Jason Wolfe established the company in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania under the name DirectCertificate.com. Initially, the business focused on distributing paper gift certificates for various merchants rather than plastic gift cards. In 2003, Wolfe acquired the GiftCards.com domain for $40,000. Three years later, in 2006, he sold DirectCertificates.com to Digital River, a Minnesota-based firm. However, Wolfe reacquired the company in 2007 and subsequently rebranded it as GiftCards.com in 2008. By 2009, the company reported $44 million in revenue.
The firm operates from a suburban location near Pittsburgh where it directly prints gift cards and ships them to customers. In 2010, GiftCards.com employed 60 people, growing to a workforce of 100 by 2013. Annual sales surpassed $100 million by 2014, supported by a portfolio of 12 granted patents and 45 additional patents pending. During this period, GiftCards.com also formed a strategic alliance with CashStar, enabling the sale of gift cards from more than 50 retailers. By 2015, the company had sold its six millionth gift card.
In 2016, Blackhawk Network Holdings announced its acquisition of GiftCards.com. The transaction was officially confirmed through a press release from GiftCards.com, which disclosed the purchase price as $120 million.
Products
GiftCards.com features gift cards from approximately 500,000 diverse businesses across the United States, ranging from well-known national brands to smaller local enterprises. Prominent retailers offering gift cards through the platform include Best Buy, Sephora, Yankee Candle, Amazon.com, Pottery Barn, Starbucks, The Cheesecake Factory, Gap, Macy's, and Bloomingdale's, among many others. Additionally, GiftCards.com supplies Visa and MasterCard gift cards. For an additional charge, customers have the option to customize their gift cards by adding personal photos, messages, or other design elements. All gift cards are produced at the company’s printing facility located in the suburbs of Pittsburgh.
Philanthropy
In 2013, Jason Wolfe, the company's founder and CEO, launched the charitable program "You Gift, We Gift." This initiative involves Wolfe and his son traveling across the United States in an RV to distribute gifts and gift cards directly to children facing hardships.
References
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