Gift Card Mall(TM) Expands into Michaels Stores Nationwide

Through its partnership with Blackhawk Network, the largest third-party
provider of prepaid gift-cards, Michaels will now carry Blackhawk's
signature Gift Card Mall, featuring more than 100 of the best branded
gift cards across a number of different categories including fashion,
tickets, electronics, home and sports. Brands include: iTunes, Cracker
Barrel Old Country Store(R), Macy's, Gap, The Home Depot(R),
AMC Entertainment(R), Sears, Foot Locker(R), Visa(R)
and Barnes & Noble Booksellers, to name a few.

"Our customers will welcome the convenience of having a wide variety of
gift cards available, in addition to Michaels' gift cards, as they
purchase holiday decor, stocking stuffers, last minute gifts and
creative gift card packaging," said Philo Pappas, executive vice
president of Category Management at Michaels. "Our partnership with
Blackhawk Network gives our customers yet another reason to make
Michaels a top destination for gifts for everyone on their list."

Currently reaching more than 165 million consumers a week, Gift Card
Mall is available through an exclusive retail network of leading
grocery, mass, convenience, drug and specialty stores. Michaels is the
only arts and crafts specialty retailer to offer the convenience and
selection of Gift Card Mall to its customers.

"Our mission is to simplify the gift card shopping experience for
consumers and give people what they want, when they want it," said
Talbott Roche, senior vice president of Blackhawk Network. "We are
thrilled to launch Gift Card Mall in Michaels in time for the holiday
season. Many consumers will be shopping at Michaels for crafts to
decorate their homes and now they will have the added convenience of
buying gifts at Gift Card Mall for their friends and family."

About Blackhawk Network

Blackhawk Network, a subsidiary of Safeway Inc., is a prepaid and
payments network, a market leader in card-based financial solutions and
the largest provider of third-party prepaid cards. Blackhawk Network
develops unique products in easy-to-use formats and delivers them to
consumers through an exclusive retail network of leading grocery, mass,
convenience, drug and specialty retailers. The network reaches more than
165 million consumers each week. Headquartered in Pleasanton,
California, Blackhawk Network has offices in the United States,
Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Mexico and the United Kingdom. For
more information about Blackhawk Network visit www.blackhawknetwork.com.

About Michaels

Michaels Stores, Inc. is North America's largest specialty retailer of
arts, crafts, framing, floral, wall decor, and seasonal merchandise for
the hobbyist and do-it-yourself home decorator. The company currently
owns and operates over 1000 Michaels stores in 49 states and Canada and
over 150 Aaron Brothers stores. For more information visit www.michaels.com.

SOURCE: Blackhawk Network

Blackhawk Network 
Teri Llach, 925-226-9028 
teri.llach@bhnetwork.com 
or 
MWW Group for Blackhawk Network 
Meghan Fintland, 415-318-4332 
mfintland@mww.com

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