Blackhawk Expands B2B Offerings with CardLab Buy (Sept. 15, 2014)
In a bid to build out its B2B incentives platform, Blackhawk Network has acquired CardLab Inc., a Dallas-based provider of customizable prepaid incentive and rewards cards. The purchase brings CardLab’s Web-based card design and distribution platform under the Blackhawk umbrella.
“[CardLab’s platform] provides great flexibility for small and medium-sized businesses,” said Talbott Roche, president, Blackhawk Network. “It also offers a quick and easy way for department heads of larger companies to meet their immediate needs for smaller scale, customized customer ‘thank you’ rewards, employee incentives or event giveaways.” Under terms of the acquisition, CardLab will operate as a unit of Blackhawk’s InteliSpend business, with CardLab CEO David Jones reporting to Sheree Thornsberry, general manager, InteliSpend.
In addition to growing its B2B business, Blackhawk recently has been expanding its footprint in mobile. Earlier this month, the company integrated its gifting platform with Google Wallet, enabling wallet users to manage and spend gift cards using their mobile devices. That move followed Blackhawk’s August partnership with Barclays Bank to launch an e-gifting feature for the bank’s Pingit mobile banking service.
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