Ebates Buys Cartera Commerce To Strengthen Its Loyalty Marketing Business

Ebates, the online cash back shopping firm and subsidiary of global internet services company Rakuten, announced Friday (Jan. 28) it has acquired Cartera Commerce, a provider of loyalty marketing solutions and rewards programs that is aimed at increasing revenue and customer loyalty.

In a press release, Ebates said the buy will further strengthen Ebates’ portfolio of loyalty marketing offerings and provide new programs to customers through Cartera’s established loyalty marketing platform.

“Ebates has demonstrated success as a leading independent loyalty marketer and has built its brand around providing the best service to retailers and consumers,” said Tom Beecher, CEO of Cartera Commerce, in the press release. “We are excited to leverage Ebates’ expertise and solutions to enhance the loyalty marketing services we provide to our clients — and to work together on new and exciting offerings for our customers.”

Cartera Commerce provides a platform for merchants, card issuers, airline frequent flyer programs and loyalty programs. Cartera partners with companies who use loyalty programs to reward their customers and helps those customers earn more rewards by shopping with online stores through Cartera-run, partner-branded websites. Cartera works with five U.S. credit card issuers and five U.S. airlines. Since its launch, it has given away more than 20 billion points and miles. Cartera will continue operations in Lexington, and Beecher will remain in his position as CEO.

“Ebates is thrilled to join forces with an industry leader like Cartera to provide even richer opportunities to our customers,” said Kevin H. Johnson, CEO of Ebates, in the same press release. “We are both working on similar opportunities, and together, we will be able to provide ever more compelling rewards and offers to consumers, as well as more effective marketing programs to our clients.”