January 5, 2010
For more information:
Eric Strautman
Marketing & Communications
iCARD Systems
Office 636.489.4698 ext. 2007 | Email eric.strautman@icardsystems.com
New Gifting app for Facebook launches, ‘powered by iCARD Systems
Those who use Facebook to stay connected with friends, family and peers can now quickly and easily customize an online gift card to send as a gift.
St. Louis, MO, USA December 29, 2009 – Facebook’s 350 million active users can now incorporate gift-giving functionality for their Facebook pages. “Facebook is great for staying connected with casual acquaintances, close friends and family,” said Andrew Barrett-Weiss, iCARD partner and affiliate manager. “Now whenever a gifting opportunity arises, they don’t even need to leave their Facebook page.”
The application is available at http://www.friendgiftr.com
For many users, Facebook has become a primary means of staying connected with friends and family; even moreso than a cellphone. The just-released Friendgiftr app enables one to enhance those connections through gift giving, without having to leave their Facebook page.
“The functionality is an important enhancement to Facebook,” said Barrett-Weiss. “For example, if you found out that today is someone’s birthday via Facebook, you can send a gift online almost immediately, making you look like a thoughtful, organized, generous an innovative person. Gift-giving functionality helps make Facebook more personal.”
The application allows Facebook users to customize an online gift card with personalization, a special message, denominations $10 to $100 and a variety of gift templates. When delivered, instantly or per scheduling instructions, the recipient uses the enclosed code to select gift cards from 150+ popular stores, restaurants, spas, theatres, online shopping sites, and more. “It’s a versatile gift, that has something for everyone,” said Barrett-Weiss.
Friendgiftr will be encouraging users to add its app by raffling away free $25 gift
cards every week, and $100 gift cards every month, for one year to lucky users who have the app installed, becomes a fan on Facebook, and/or follows its page on Twitter. There is no limit to how many times a user can win a free gift card.
Friendgiftr officially launched on December 19th, just days before the biggest eCommerce and gift-giving days of 2009. In the week prior, Facebook had experienced some significant outages. “That time of year is a tough one for launching a new app,” said Barrett-Weiss. “But, with all the gift giving going on, we couldn’t wait to get our feet wet and take some orders in 2009.”
“iCARD and FriendGiftr are pleased to have made this application available to Facebook users,” said iCARD Founder Jeff Ehney. “Combining the world’s most popular social media network with the world’s most popular gift… gift cards… and the fastest and most versatile gift-giving platform, is a winning combination.”
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About iCARD Systems
Founded in 1998, iCARD is a pioneer in the development of network-branded prepaid cards and was one of the first to offer Visat Gift Cards online. Today, iCARD is a leading provider of all manner of gift cards for corporate incentives, promotions and rebates. Additionally, iCARD is a dominant player in digital gift card delivery. Its emailable gift card gives consumers access to more than 150 top merchant brands. iCARD is an Independent Sales Organization for the Bancorp Bank and is a Hallmark Cards licensee. Its channel partners linclude American Greetings and AOL. iCARD has serviced more than 1,500 corporate client and more than a million cardholders. Learn more at http://www.icardsystems.com or order a gift card at http://www.icardgiftcard.com.
About Friendgiftr
Friendgiftr is the premiere digital storefront company currently offering over 120 of America's favorite retail and restaurant gift cards through Facebook. It is the grand prize winner of the prestigious Henry Kravis Award in venture capital and
entrepreneurship, and has received investor funding from Tech Coast Angels'
membership. Friendgiftr also placed first in a VentureBeat.com technology trends
competition, held in conjunction with the prestigious DEMO Conference for the
concept of merging social networking and e-commerce. It is partnered with
iCARD Systems, a leading back-end supplier of electronic and physical gift cards, and represented by the LA-based corporate law firm Buchalter Nemer. Friendgiftr is a Rob Carpenter production.