Blackhawk Frontline Retail Sales Merchandising Team

Blackhawk is a branded payment company that provides financial services like prepaid gift cards, e-gifts, and rewards programs for both merchants and consumers. It acts as an intermediary, facilitating the distribution of branded payment solutions through its network. The company offers both digital gifting platforms for brands to host their own programs and physical gift cards for consumers.

Briefly describe the nominated team: history and past performance (up to 1,250 characters):

In the dynamic landscape of retail merchandising, Blackhawk Network (BHN) has established itself as a leader through its unwavering commitment to execution, performance, and innovation. BHN's approach to branded payments and gift card merchandising has set new standards for the industry, delivering measurable outcomes and sustained value for both clients and employees.

Pioneering the Branded Payments & Gift Card Industry

BHN's journey began in 2001, when it helped pioneer the branded payments industry by introducing the gift card category to grocery stores. This innovation laid the foundation for a company that would grow to serve over 30,000 retail stores across North America. BHN's scope has since expanded to include digital rewards and corporate payouts, enabling organizations across diverse sectors to leverage payment solutions for their most critical business challenges.

The Power of a Dedicated Merchandising Team

Central to BHN's success is its in-house merchandising team, established in 2013. With 350 merchandisers operating in the US and Canada, the team is responsible for stocking, organizing, and ensuring compliance of gift card fixtures, while building strong relationships with store personnel. This structure is supported by specialized field management, client service, and planning and logistics teams, each playing a vital role in recruiting, training, project execution, and fulfillment.

Execution and Performance: Setting the Standard

BHN's operational excellence is reflected in its rigorous performance standards and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). The company consistently achieves over 98% execution on KPIs, a benchmark that translates into millions of restocked inventory items and billions of dollars in replenished products annually. These KPIs drive every aspect of in-store execution, from promotional activities and fixture installations to regulatory audits and inventory counts.

The outcomes speak for themselves: BHN boasts a 99.85% store visit compliance, and has replenished $1.65 billion in face value for customers, moved 29 million cards from backstock to fixtures, and filled 1.45 million out-of-stock items during visits. With 188,000 continuity visits completed, BHN's scale and consistency are unmatched.

Industry-Leading Tenure and Employee Engagement

In an industry notorious for high turnover, BHN stands out for its exceptional employee retention and tenure. Forty percent of merchandisers have been with the company for over five years, and the attrition rate is just 28%-dramatically lower than the industry average.

Outline the team's achievements since July 1, 2023 that you wish to bring to the judges' attention (up to 1,500 characters):

Blackhawk Network Merchandising: 2024 Excellence in Action

Blackhawk Network (BHN) stands as the industry leader in gift card merchandising, delivering unmatched scale and precision. In 2024, BHN serviced over 30,000 retail stores and completed 187,000+ visits, achieving a 99.85% success rate-far surpassing the industry average. With 98%+ execution on KPIs, BHN replenished 29 million gift cards and $1.65 billion in face value, while filling 1.45 million out-of-stocks.

Beyond operational excellence, BHN's workforce reflects stability and expertise: 40% of merchandisers have 5+ years of tenure, and attrition is just 28%, compared to an industry norm of 75%-85%. Comprehensive training, compliance checks, and benefits underscore BHN's commitment to quality and employee well-being.

Differentiators include dedicated client service managers, rigorous data analysis, and proven year-over-year performance. Customer testimonials highlight BHN's reliability and impact, reinforcing its role as a trusted partner. In short, BHN combines scale, precision, and people-first values to set the benchmark for merchandising excellence.

Explain why the achievements you have highlighted are unique or significant. If possible compare the achievements to the performance of other players in your industry and/or to the organization's past performance (up to 1,500 characters):

Blackhawk Network Merchandising - 2024 Highlights

• Only dedicated gift card merchandising team in the industry.
• Serviced over 30,000 unique retail stores in 2024 - most in the gift card industry.
• Completed over 187,000 service calls in 2024 - most in the Gift Card Industry.
• 99.85% success visit rate - merchandising industry average 95%.
• 98%+ Execution on key performance indicators (KPIs) resulting in millions of restocked inventory and billions of dollars in replenished products annually - Industry average - 95%.
• 29 million gift cards were replenished onto the sales floor.
• 1.45 million out-of-stocks filled.
• 1.65 billion face value replenished.

Industry-Leading Tenure & Employee Outcomes

• 40% of Merchandisers: Have 5+ years of tenure, reflecting stability and expertise. Industry average- 25%.
• 28% Attrition Rate: Far below the industry average of 75%-85% for retail merchandisers.

Reference any attachments of supporting materials throughout this nomination and how they provide evidence of the claims you have made in this nomination (up to 1,500 characters):

References slides include company history, Point of Differences, Testimonial & Key Metrics Dashboard.