Cold Stone Creamery launches Facebook eGifting solution powered by First Data

Atlanta First Data, a leader in electronic commerce and payment processing, and Cold Stone Creamery have teamed up to offer a new gifting application through Facebook whereby Cold Stone customers can now quickly and easily send a tangible “item-level” gift (e.g., ice cream creations, shakes) to a friend or loved one’s Facebook account or e-mail address.

Cold Stone Creamery, with more than 1,300 U.S. locations, is the first merchant to launch a gifting program using First Data’s eGift solution. Unlike other solutions in the marketplace, Cold Stone customers benefit from the convenience of being able to gift multiple small items to one or more recipients with a single transaction, according to First Data.

“We’re making it easier for people to share a Cold Stone moment, even if time or distance prevents them from being together. Now you don’t have to wait for special occasions to share ice cream; you can send Cold Stone gifts instantly, any day, just because,” said Daniel Beem, president of Cold Stone Creamery.

Consumers can access the First Data eGift Social application through Cold Stone’s Facebook page or website and select one or multiple friends to send gifts to; either by adding them from Facebook or entering their e-mail address. The sender selects which product they would like their friend to receive, adds a personal message and proceeds through the secure checkout process.

The recipient then receives a Facebook message, e-mail or both, with an alert that they have received a gift, the account number and redemption instructions. Visiting any participating Cold Stone location, the recipient redeems the eGift item in a flavor of their choice by using the account number at the point of sale.