MCLEAN, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Today at Fashion Digital NY, digital identity solution provider ID.me announced its acquisition of Perkla, an innovative online shopping portal for students. The acquisition expands ID.me’s reach while protecting retailers from fraud and helping them acquire student shoppers in a more personal and direct way. Perkla’s student shoppers can now access student-only deals by registering with ID.me’s retail rewards marketplace for free at www.ID.me.
ID.me’s technology allows student shoppers to prove their identity online, unlocking exclusive student discounts and cash back rewards otherwise unavailable on the web. The ID.me Marketplace also turns shopping into a game by rewarding students with increased cash back on purchases for sharing offers, connecting their Facebook account, and making repeat purchases through the ID.me site. ID.me’s engagement strategy gives student shoppers strong incentives to become brand evangelists and drive word of mouth business.
“We’re excited to welcome Perkla and Perkla’s retail partners into the ID.me family,” said Blake Hall, CEO of ID.me. “Students are tomorrow’s affluent shoppers, and we’re looking forward to helping brands form lifelong connections with the student community in a fun way that creates value for everybody.”
Justin Belmont, CEO of Perkla, has now taken on the position of ID.me’s Director of Product Management, leading the company’s product initiatives for its new retail rewards marketplace. Belmont notes, “Perkla found success online by offering a curated selection of leading brands and deals for students. I’m thrilled to be bringing ID.me’s eligibility verification capabilities to Perkla’s retail partners and creating an even richer shopping experience for students everywhere.”
Perkla was started by Columbia Business School classmates Justin Belmont, Josh Kaplan and Marc Lombardo who secured partnerships with 40+ leading student retailers, including: Reebok, Theory, Nine West, Converse, Express and Cole Haan. Perkla’s student members come from over 150 colleges and universities and both GQ Magazine and Fox Business News have profiled the company.
In addition to Perkla retailers, ID.me works with over 500 other retailers and advertisers, including: Under Armour, Dell, Target, Macy’s, Priceline, Groupon, Wayfair, Marriott, Nordstrom, Columbia, Newegg, Best Buy, Overstock, Jockey, AutoZone, Home Depot, Bloomingdale’s, Blue Nile, Cole Haan, Carter’s, Expedia, Gamestop, Gilt Groupe, GNC, Hertz, Orbitz, KitchenAid, Lego, Ann Taylor, Sephora, Petco, Staples, TOMS, The Limited, Ulta, Walgreens, Walmart and many other leading brands. Retailers interested in partnering with ID.me can visit: https://www.id.me/partner-with-us and read the Under Armour case study.
About ID.me
Veteran-founded and led, ID.me is the first digital identity network that allows consumers to prove who they are online while controlling how their information is shared with brands. For participating organizations, ID.me acts as a trusted intermediary, capable of verifying consumer identity and group affiliations in real-time. This allows brands to ensure a consistent customer experience across offline and online channels while reducing costs, fraud and security risks associated with manual verification. ID.me has partnered with leading brands, including Under Armour, Overstock.com, Uber, Jockey and dozens more across a wide spectrum of retail categories. ID.me’s plug-in technology works with the leading ecommerce platforms, including Magento, Demandware and Spree. For more information, visit http://www.ID.me, Facebook or Twitter.
