The new agreement will be launched through a relationship with Fifth Third Processing Solutions, a provider [image-nocss] of secure electronic payments and credit, debit and gift card processing services.
This patented digital gifting and marketing technology offers a turnkey solution for Thorntons to offer a variety of gift card services from traditional (plastic) to mobile. Thorntons also launched its gift card store for Facebook Platform to enable social gifting through both virtual and traditional plastic cards through clients' Facebook pages, giving access to Facebook's more than 500 million active users with virtually no ramp up time or dedicated resources.
Both the digital gifting and social gifting services allow consumers to purchase the gift cards, create customizable messages and send them instantly both via mobile phone as well as to the giver and recipient's Facebook page. A link for a secure virtual card is sent to an email address for printing options, as well.
Facebook gifting also increases brand exposure in social mediums and, for so many who rely on Facebook birthday and calendar reminders, it helps ensure important occasions are never forgotten.
"Digital gifting has seen tremendous growth in the past few years with the adoption of virtual gift cards, and now mobile devices provide a ubiquitous platform for consumer gifting due to the ease of use, cost savings and security features which are ideally suited for stored value programs," said Bruce Springer, president and CEO of Transaction Wireless.
Louisville, Ky.-based Thorntons Inc is a leading independent gasoline/convenience chain retailer, marketing throughout the Midwest. Thorntons ranks among Forbes magazine's 500 largest privately held companies, and they are one of Kentucky's largest privately held company with more than $1.4 billion in annual revenue. The company operates 163 gasoline/convenience stores, one travel plaza and eight car washes. It also distributes petroleum products through its wholly owned Thornton Transportation Co. and operate a river bulk storage terminal in Louisville.
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