We’re working with Givex to make our marketplace more convenient for our consumers. Read below for more details.

Buca di Beppo joins new platform to provide an easy and secure way for consumers to buy gift cards and sell balances to receive instant funding

SAN JOSE, CA, July 26, 2011 /PRNewswire/ - Givex, a global technology company which powers loyalty and gift card programs across 50 countries worldwide, today announced an integrated partnership with Plastic Jungle, the web’s largest secured gift card exchange, to enable Plastic Jungle users to easily buy and sell select merchants’ gift cards processed by Givex and enjoy instant funding, an immediate electronic transaction on the Plastic Jungle website.

Plastic Jungle helps unlock the estimated $30 billion in unredeemed gift cards by allowing consumers to sell gift cards for up to 92% of the gift card value, buy new gift cards at their favorite brands for up to 35% off, or donate the value of their unused cards to their favorite cause. Users can also opt for instant funding via PayPal or Amazon.com gift cards for select retailers – all in a safe and trusted environment. This partnership will help drive unused gift cards back to the merchants, turning unredeemed gift card value into productive, high margin spend.

“We’re very pleased that our marketplace will become even more convenient for consumers through our integration with Givex,” said Bruce Bower, CEO of Plastic Jungle. “This partnership not only helps both businesses and consumers capture the value from unused gift cards, but also enables brands to better connect with their best customers while at the same time giving gift card merchants ways to participate in a fully integrated manner in the secondary gift card marketplace.”

The first brand to sign onto the platform is Buca di Beppo, the nation’s leading family style Italian restaurant chain.  Plastic Jungle users will now be able to enjoy instant funding for Buca di Beppo gift cards they sell to the site, while the value on these cards will be seamlessly transferred to new Buca di Beppo gift cards available to motivated buyers on the Plastic Jungle marketplace. In addition to Buca di Beppo, the integration features will also be offered to the entire roster of Givex merchants and further adds to Plastic Jungle’s existing relationships with leading payment processors, which now cover the vast majority of retailer gift card programs.

“It’s important for us to connect directly to our customers and ensure their experience with Buca di Beppo is as positive as possible,” said Trish Giordano, Vice President of Sales & Marketing for Buca di Beppo. “Plastic Jungle and Givex are making it easier for our customers to get the best value they can and we’re pleased to be a part of this new integration.”

“Businesses are constantly looking for new ways to excite and engage their best customers,” said Bryan Wang, Director Marketing at Givex. “That’s why we look forward to working with Plastic Jungle. This new channel gets gift cards into the hands of active users, driving revenue and visits.”

About Givex

Givex’s technology has now significantly evolved from the first gift card and loyalty programs that began in 1999. We now provide customizable tools that empower businesses of all kinds to acquire new customers, build, maintain and expand their customer database, effectively communicate with customers, and finally understand and reward their most loyal customers. Find out more at www.givex.com.

Read the full press release here: http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/givex-and-plastic-jungle-announce-partnership-to-integrate-gift-card-services-126161088.html

If you recall, an In The News post on April 21, 2011, announced Plastic Jungle’s selection as a finalist in the
TiE50 Awards Program.

Sure enough, Plastic Jungle was selected as one of the web’s most enterprising technology startups, which will be announced at TiE Silicon Valley’s annual flagship event, the TiEcon 2011 conference.

Of the 1,619 companies considered, only 289 were selected by an expert panel to compete as finalists, then the field narrowed to 50 Award Winners. The program’s sponsor, TiE Silicon Valley is the world’s largest not-for-profit network of entrepreneurs and professionals dedicated to the advancement of entrepreneurship.

See the complete list of TiE50 Award Winners and an overview of the program online  >>>

“Plastic Jungle was clearly ranked amongst the best of the breed by a team of 60 highly accomplished and experienced judges. These experts included globally recognized venture capitalists, CEOs, academia, and serial entrepreneurs,” said Mr. Vish Mishra, Chairman of TiEcon 2011 and President of TiE Silicon Valley. “Being recognized as a TiE50 winner is a true testament to their entrepreneurial spirit and world class caliber,” Mr. Mishra added.

Plastic Jungle is the web’s largest secured gift card exchange, giving consumers the choice and flexibility to convert their gift cards into other forms of spending power — including cash, online balances to use for purchases at the millions of merchants that accept PayPal, Facebook Credits, and more — and to stretch their shopping dollars at their favorite merchants.  Plastic Jungle’s patent-pending marketplace and payment applications aim to safely unlock the estimated $30 billion in unredeemed gift cards trapped in the economy for the benefit of consumers and merchants alike. Based in San Jose, California, the company is privately held, with venture backing from Shasta Ventures, Redpoint Ventures, Jafco Ventures, First Round Capital, Bay Partners, Harrison Metal and Western Technology Investment.

“We are thrilled to be honored with a TiE50 Award at this year’s TiEcon,” said Bruce Bower, CEO of Plastic Jungle. “We’ve certainly seen a significant increase in consumer awareness for our secondary gift card market, and we’re very pleased to know that the TiE50 Award judges have also taken note of the value, choice and flexibility we bring to Plastic Jungle users.”

The TiEcon 2011 conference was held May 13-14th, 2011, at the Santa Clara Convention Center, in Santa Clara, California.

The PJ 10

What were we buying in March? Well, there weren’t any spectaular retail “events” that drove us to specialty stores, so as expected the top three gift card sellers were big box chains offering groceries and fishing supplies and everything in-between. Spring was a bit late late this year, so clearly we were driven to hot, caffeinated coffee, putting Starbucks into our Top 10 Gift Cards in March. And iTunes, with the diversity of media on offer these days, from music to books to TV and movies, proves it’s a great gift card to give and get.

Honorable mentions from March? JC Penney, Pottery Barn, Cabela’s, Barnes & Noble, and Nordstrom.

Salivating over the potential savings at a favorite store? If you’re ready to ditch your unused gift card and trade up to one of the favorites, you can safely and securely SELL or EXCHANGE your gift card on Plastic Jungle, with many different payout and trade options, including an Amazon.com Gift Card, Facebook credits and Paypal account funding.

Top 10 Gift Cards in March, 2011

10 SEARS

Purchase discount Sears Gift Cards on Plastic Jungle, currently at up to 9% OFF.

9 KOHL’S

Purchase discount Kohl’s Gift Cards on Plastic Jungle, currently at up to 14% OFF.

8 STARBUCKS

Purchase discount Starbucks Gift Cards on Plastic Jungle — when they come into stock. Set an Alert Now.

7 MACY’S

Purchase discount Macy’s Gift Cards on Plastic Jungle — when they come into stock. Set an Alert Now.

6 BEST BUY

Purchase discount Best Buy Gift Cards on Plastic Jungle, currently at up to 5% OFF.

5 LOWE’S

Purchase discount Lowe’s Gift Cards on Plastic Jungle, currently at up to 7% OFF.

4 iTUNES

Purchase discount iTunes Gift Cards on Plastic Jungle, currently at up to 7% OFF.

3 TARGET

Purchase discount Target Gift Cards on Plastic Jungle, currently at up to 5% OFF.

2 HOME DEPOT

Purchase discount Home Depot Gift Cards on Plastic Jungle, currently at up to 7% OFF.

1 WALMART

Purchase discount Walmart Gift Cards on Plastic Jungle — when they become available. Set an Alert Now.

What’s your favorite gift card of the moment? Something to get ready for spring — sporting goods or travel? Let us know in the comments below.

Mothers Day is this weekend! Happy Mothers Day to those of you who know the real meaning of sleep, can identify the origin of over 10 stains by sight, know that permanent marker is somewhat easily removed from walls using Lysol, and live with the realization that one day, in the very near future, absolutely nothing will happen to pick up the living room unless you bend over and pick it up yourself. Here’s to a day of proposed relaxation!

Plastic Jungle’s Mother’s Day Sweepstakes — STILL TWO DAYS LEFT TO ENTER! Make sure you get over to Plastic Jungle’s Facebook Page to choose which kind of mom you are and enter to win one of the few cards left in the few days the giveaway is open.

BNC.com $50 Amazon.com Gift Card – Brand Name Coupons (dot com) is excited to give away a $50 Amazon.com Gift Card. Just “Like” the BNC Facebook page and post a comment, or sign up the Amazon Daily Deal Newsletter (a thrilling thing in itself for any deal hunter) and leave a comment on the entry page. Details, terms and conditions outlined on the entry page. The giveaway will close on May 31st, 2011. The BNC staff will randomly pick a winner.

Frugal Novice $10 Burger King Gift Card Giveaway – Four lucky readers will each win a $10 Crown Card (gift card) to Burger King! This contest is open to all US & Canadian residents. Mandatory Entry: “Like” Burger King on Facebook, then comment on the Frugal Novice blog’s entry page. Don’t forget, while you’re there you can select your “Tender 8? and get a coupon for free tenders! The contest is open through May 16, 2011.

NYC Single Mom $100 Restaurant.com Gift Card Giveaway – One NYC Single Mom Reader will win a $100 Restaurant.com Gift Card. Required Entry: Subscribe to NYC Single Mom.com via email and confirm subscription and you must leave a comment. There are tons of ways to get extra entries. For details and giveaway rules, see the entry page. Winner will be selected by random.org when contest ends, May 13 2011.

People StyleWatch Gift Card Giveaways – Here are a set of style and fashion-related giveaways. No purchase is necessary, and when you consider the amount of cool prizes there will be a lot of entries, but it’s fun to wonder what you might get: $350 Gift Cards to David Meister, $150 SwimSpot Gift Cards (perfect timing!), plus other drawings for jewelry, accessories and more. Giveaways close May 9, 2011 (HURRY!); see People StyleWatch Giveaway Rules for additional details.

Houston Garden Center’s $100,000 Gift Card Giveaway – If you live in or around Houston, it’s time to do the yard! 1,000 lucky winners will get a $100 Houston Garden Center Gift Card. Complete the official entry form and you could win a $100 gift card. Then, in the $25,000 Landscape Challenge, one winner will be chosen from the 1,000 gift card winners and will be determined by which winner has used their $100 gift card to create the most beautiful or unique design using Houston Garden Center plants. Entrants must be a legal resident of Harris County, Texas or any adjacent county. Contest ends Sunday, May 8, 2011. See entry page for full rules.

Little Chief Honeybee $50 Urban Outfitters Gift Card Giveaway – Style conscious and sweet with a Nashville edge, Little Chief Honeybee is giving away a $50 Urban Outfitters Gift Card. Just follow her blog, “Like” her on Facebook and more to enter. See entry page for details. Giveaway closes “the end of the month” (May).

It’s our genuine wish at Plastic Jungle that Moms of every style in every corner of the world have a great Mother’s Day on May 8, 2011. Make sure to comment, and let us know what you win, and how you spend your day and your Plastic Jungle savings!

In the News:
Out of 1,619 tech startups in the running, Plastic Jungle is chosen as a
2011 TiE50 Finalist.

The TiE50 Awards Program acknowledges the web’s most enterprising technology startups, and is TiE Silicon Valley’s premier annual awards program acknowledging startups worldwide.

Of the 1,619 companies, only 289 were selected by an expert panel to compete as finalists. The final judging to pick winners will commence on April 20, 2011 and winners will be announced on April 30, 2011.

But first, if Plastic Jungle has impressed you with our ease in gift card selling or discount gift card purchasing power, TiE Silicon Valley invites you to VOTE for Plastic Jungle to gain additional recognition by its panel of experts in the Internet category.  Voting is easy: just enter your email address in the box provided and then scroll down to Plastic Jungle and click on the green  ’Like’ button.

As the web’s largest secured gift card exchange site, Plastic Jungle is the best way to sell, buy, exchange or donate gift cards on the Internet. We offer the most innovative, most convenient, and safest way to get the most out of gift cards. All transactions are guaranteed, and along with the best prices, Plastic Jungle offers industry-leading features such as donating the proceeds of the sale of your gift cards to charity, offering a number of payout options, and helping you to replace your gift cards in case they are lost or damaged. We also provide free shipping for all gift card sellers and buyers.

TiE Silicon Valley is the world’s largest not-for-profit network of entrepreneurs and professionals dedicated to the advancement of entrepreneurship. TiE provides a platform for mentoring, networking and education to over 14,000 members in 56 chapters across 13 countries.

TiE Silicon Valley’s annual flagship event, the TiEcon 2011 conference on May 13^th and May 14^th, will be held in Santa Clara, California.

If working on your taxes has worn the springs out your home-office chair, or you’ve run out of paper printing receipts, it’s time to pull out that Staples Gift Card and make some quick purchases to keep the momentum going. April 15^th is within shouting distance!

Staples’ online “Hot Deals Center” is a great place to find favorite products the store makes special purchases on. Today in Hot Deals, find a quality “managers” office chair for $89.99 or a case of 20 lb copy paper for $29.99 – a savings of $17.00 off the regular price. Or check the Staples Weekly Ad for local deals.

Save even more when you purchase a discounted Staples Gift Card or eCODE (eGift Card) on Plastic Jungle >>>

None in stock? Make sure to set a Staples email alert to be notified when they become available at Plastic Jungle. Remember, when purchased or traded at Plastic Jungle, you’ll never pay shipping fees on any gift card.

Check the Balance on Your Staples Gift Card or Staples eGift Card (eCODE)

In Store: You can check the balance at the register of any Staples store.

Online: Go to Staples online card-balance check tool.

Via Phone: Call Staples Customer Service at 1-888-609-6963. When you call, be sure to have your Staples Gift Card number and PIN in front of you.

Sell Your Gift Card or eGift Certificate

Once you know your balance, you can sell or trade your Staples Gift Card or Staples eGift Card securely on Plastic Jungle. At Plastic Jungle, you can also trade your Staples Gift Card for an Amazon.com Gift Card, use it to donate the funds to charity (Gift Cards for Good—look for the green ribbon at checkout), or even fund a PayPal account.

To know how much your gift card is worth in exchange on Plastic Jungle, on the main page, click “Sell Gift Cards” at the top of the page. Look up the store and enter the gift card balance you’ve just acquired. You’ll see instantly what your gift card balance is worth in cash or trade.

Check other Plastic Jungle blog posts for the same “Check Your Gift Card Balance” information for other stores, including Sears, Land’s End, Macy’s, Best Buy, Lowe’s, and more.

Let us know what your favorite Staples products are – is there something you get a great deal on at Staples, time after time? We’d love to hear your feedback!

In case you’re wondering, Yes! We at Plastic Jungle hear your feedback and work to improve the site every day.

We’ve got some new website enhancements to help you come to a quick decision about which gift card will be the one for you.

Who will have the best discount?

Sort Your Gift Card Searches

Now, after you perform a search for a card, say you choose a category from the pull-down menu on the left, you can search for the biggest discount by clicking on the “Discount” heading. Automatically, the cards with the biggest discounts, no matter which merchant they come from, are listed at the top of the page.

Alternately, you can adjust how the results appear by toggling the “Merchant” heading to see the merchants in a-z order or z-a order, or by Gift Card “Value”, “Discount”, or purchase “Price”.

Each merchant’s page, displaying which gift cards are available for purchase, now also has that functionality, and you can sort cards by price, discount, or value.

• Price is the cost of the gift card. Remember, what you see is what you get. Plastic Jungle does not charge shipping or handling fees.
• Discount is the percentage off you’ll receive from the full value of the gift card.
• Value is the full value of the gift card.

If you’re wondering what the BEST DEAL on Plastic Jungle is at any point in time, go ahead and click the  button. Then sort by discount (arrow up) and the most discounted cards will come to the top of the list.

Finding an eCODE – a Discounted Electronic Gift Card – Is Now Much Easier

Right from the Plastic Jungle home page, you can click through to see what stores are offering eCODES at the moment.

Just look for the following link, right below the    button on the Plastic Jungle home page:

View All Electronic Gift Cards 

With eCODEs you can take advantage of online savings opportunities right away: as soon as your payment is processed, the eCODE is emailed to you.  You can pay for items in your online cart at the selected merchant AND possibly still use valid discounts or free shipping codes.

When you purchase eCODEs on Plastic Jungle, it will be sent to the email address you registered in your Plastic Jungle account. Please add customerservice@plasticjungle.com to your email address book to ensure delivery. Shop with the card on the merchant’s website, just like you would use a regular gift card.

What update would you like to see on Plastic Jungle? How can we make your experience buying gift cards, exchanging gift cards, and donating gift cards easier and more fun?  Let us know at blog@plasticjungle.com

BY THE WAY:  ONLY 3 DAYS LEFT to enter Plastic Jungle’s Spring Cleaning Sweepstakes. Sell a gift card on the site to WIN!!

It’s very easy to become a pet person, and studies show that the health benefits of owning a pet are huge. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that pets are a positive health influence.

My dog Fielder, and his bff.

According to the CDC, pets can decrease your blood pressure, cholesterol levels, triglyceride levels, and feelings of loneliness.

Pets can increase your opportunities for exercise and outdoor activities and opportunities for socialization.

If you’re ready to jump into pet ownership, PetSmart Charities sponsors a National Adoption Weekend, and all PetSmart Stores in the US, Canada, and Puerto Rico will host a three-day pet adoption event, from April 29 – May 1, 2011, with a goal of helping to find thousands of pets a lifelong, loving home.

Whether you’re looking for a solution to a pet problem, or just need a bag of dog food, you’ll find pet supplies, grooming, training, the convenient PetsHotel or Doggie Day Camp at PetSmart stores across the country. Each of the 850+ PetSmart locations has different amenities, but you’ll always find quality supplies online at Petsmart.com. Petsmart.com also will link you to PetSmart sales and promotions at local PetSmart stores.

Make sure to set an Notification alert for PetSmart to get an email when discounted PetSmart gift cards become available on Plastic Jungle. PetSmart Gift Cards are valid in stores and online, and when purchased or traded at Plastic Jungle, you’ll never pay shipping fees. PetSmart eGift Certificates (eCODEs) are redeemable online only at PetSmart.com and cannot be used at any traditional PetSmart retail stores.

Check the Balance on Your PetSmart Gift Card or PetSmart eGift Certificate

Online

Get your balance at PetSmart’s online balance checker.

In-Store

You can visit any PetSmart location and check the balance at the register.

Phone

Check the balance by calling a Customer Care Representative at 1-800-820-6189. When you call, be sure to have your PetSmart Gift Card number and PIN in front of you.

For the latest on PetSmart Gift Card and eGift Certificate terms and conditions, check the PetSmart Gift Card page.

Sell Your Gift Card or eGift Certificate

Once you know your balance for any gift card, you can safely sell or trade your PetSmart Gift Card or eGift Certificate on Plastic Jungle. At Plastic Jungle, you can also trade your PetSmart Gift Card for an Amazon.com Gift Card, use it to donate the funds to charity, or even fund a PayPal account.

To know how much your gift card is worth in exchange on Plastic Jungle, on the main page, click “Sell Gift Cards” at the top of the page. Look up the store and enter the gift card balance you’ve just acquired. You’ll see instantly what your gift card balance is worth in cash or trade.

Check other Plastic Jungle blog posts for the same “Check Your Gift Card Balance” information for other stores, including Sears, Land’s End, Macy’s, Best Buy, Lowe’s, and more.

My family adopted a pet a few years ago. I wasn’t a dog person before, but I can’t imagine life without Fielder now. If you have a pet adoption story that might have changed you in some way, you can share it to encourage others to adopt at PetSmartCharities.org, and we’d love for you to come back and leave a comment here, too!

Cash in those gift cards you have tucked away and put more spending money in your wallet. When you do, you’ll have a chance to WIN the $50 gift card of your choice.

• Step 1: Sell your unused gift cards on Plastic Jungle between March 14-March 31, 2011.

• Step 2: Complete the registration form on Plastic Jungle’s Facebook Sweepstakes page to confirm your gift card sale.

• Winners will be announced starting on or about March 25th, 2011 to assure cards are received and verified.

What are you waiting for? Selling gift cards on Plastic Jungle is fast, easy, and secure. With Plastic Jungle, all transactions are guaranteed, and you won’t pay shipping if you’re selling a traditional card.

So, if a card is lost in a drawer, why not clean it out and go for the possible double-payout: relinquish money stored on the card as cash, PayPal credit, an Amazon.com Gift Card, or Facebook credits, then possibly win another $50. With drawings every day, the sooner you enter, the more chances to win you get.

If you have questions about swapping or selling your gift card after visiting Plastic Jungle’s Sell Gift Cards page, check out our Seller Learning Center, where many frequently asked questions about selling gift cards on Plastic Jungle are answered. Still have a question? Check out the Plastic Jungle FAQ page for answers. You can see the Spring Cleaning Sweepstakes official rules on PJ’s Facebook page. No purchase is necessary.

Hurry! Time’s running out to sell your gift card and enter the sweepstakes. Clean your way to cash!

An eventful week in world news may have distracted attention from the need for aid in Japan, but the need remains. Images of Japan’s tsunami and earthquake devastation still pour out of the country (as reflected in this Bloomberg news article), and at this point, the affected are no longer expressing shock, but the question: “How do we go about getting back to normal?”

And while it’s likely everyone is putting off shopping trips as they watch financial markets bounce around, that doesn’t change the fact that most people still want to help and donate to Japan’s relief efforts.

As mentioned in the Hartford Courant’s March 18 article on donating to Japanese relief, by Korky Vann, you can find myriad ways to help Japan, even when you are short on cash. This includes donating accumulated hotel rewards points, and in the case of United, Continental, and American Airlines, donations of $50 or $100 will get you rewarded with bonus miles on your frequent flier account.

The article also mentions Plastic Jungle: “At PlasticJungle.com, you can donate unused gift cards (minimum balance of $25) to the Red Cross, Direct Relief or Global Giving.”

If you’ve got unused gift cards, you’ve got a means to donate. Check out our Nonprofit Directory. You can donate the value of your unused gift cards in a matter of minutes to any nonprofit listed in the directory.

Begin your donation process by linking to Plastic Jungle’s Sell Gift Cards page. You will be offered the opportunity to donate part or all of the proceeds from your gift card sale to an organization of your choice. You can donate a plastic gift card (Plastic Jungle provides you with a free shipping label), or an e-gift card.

Plastic Jungle will forward the funds to your nonprofit of choice, along with a donation report, by the 30th of the following month. Remember that all of Plastic Jungle’s transactions are guaranteed. Donating via Plastic Jungle is safe, easy, and efficiently effective.

Plastic Jungle will provide you with a receipt for your tax-deductible gift.

If you’re a nonprofit and would like to become listed in our directory, go to our PJ for Nonprofits page. You’ll find out how to become a nonprofit affiliate (a very simple process), and how Plastic Jungle can help you raise funds for your local, national, or even international cause. For questions regarding the nonprofit directory, email fundraising@plasticjungle.net.

Let’s see if we can get a count on how many readers can spare an unused gift card to help Japan recovery. Please leave a comment if you’re taking the initiative to give via Plastic Jungle, and let us know who your intended nonprofit is.

We know that aid comes from many places so here are several other ways that you can help relief efforts:

American Red Cross

Your donation to the American Red Cross will help support disaster relief efforts to help those affected by the earthquake in Japan and tsunami throughout the Pacific.

Global Giving

Global Giving has already raised over $1.8 million for the Japan relief efforts.  Go to their site and make a tax-deductible contribution and they will send you progress updates so that you can see how your gift is making a difference.

eBay Giving Works

eBay is helping their users donate to relief agencies through the buying and selling of items. To ensure that all funds raised go to the relief efforts, eBay is waiving the standard donation processing fees on these donations.

Our hearts go out to those impacted by this terrible disaster and its aftermath.  We send our sincerest wishes for a thorough recovery to all those affected around the world.