by Peter | Aug 31, 2017 | News, News Alerts
NEVER UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF A WOMAN
You may be stunned to learn just how much women’s economic power has increased in recent years. Their impact on consumer economy and influence in decision-making has elevated them to account for 85% of all consumer purchases. Understanding the factors leading to related statistics and how to appeal to this gender is critical to capture their business.
Factors leading to the decision makers demographic rise to power:
1. Women earn the majority of bachelor’s degrees (57%), master’s degrees(60%) and doctoral degrees (51%).
2. Seventy percent of women with children under 18 are working at jobs and at home.
3. Women control 60%+ of all personal wealth in the U.S.
4. Women purchase over 50% of traditional male products, such as automobiles, home improvement products, and consumer electronics.
5. Nearly 40% of U.S. working women earn more than their husbands.
This powerful force is expected to develop and dominate the marketplace for generations to come. Businesses must educate themselves on how to approach women and meet their purchasing needs. Research indicates “91% of women feel that advertisers don’t understand them.”
More Statistics on the purchasing Power of Women, including Millennials, Gen-X women, Empty Nesters and Boomer Women can be found here.
How to appeal to the decision making gender
Because women are sandwiched between raising children, working, caring for the home and caregiving for their elderly, their time is limited. Customer service and convenience are paramount to a good relationship and a satisfied shopper.
Training your sales and customer service staff to create a pleasant customer experience and recognize the importance of appealing to this shopper’s buying needs will help to increase sales and develop a repeat customer. To fail to acknowledge their presence or significance in the decision-making process will be a definite detriment to the ultimate sale of your product or service. Here’s a great read from Forbes.
Make your product or service easier to obtain with online purchasing options, electronic billing, customer financing, efficient point of sale equipment, and friendly marketing campaigns. If you’d like a NO CHARGE consultation for your business, Please contact us at 1.866.207.3298 or email to get started today!
by Peter | Aug 10, 2017 | News, News Alerts
Did You Know Credit Card Surcharges In Florida Are NO LONGER Prohibited?
Major changes to the interpretation of freedom of speech now make it possible for Florida merchants to recoup processing costs via surcharging.
SURCHARGE OR CONVENIENCE FEE – What is the difference?
SURCHARGE: An extra sum of money a merchant chooses to add to the purchase price when a customer uses a credit card. This is added to offset the processing fee imposed on the merchant by the credit card company for each transaction. The fee could range from 1.5% – 5%.
States and territories where adding a surcharge is illegal in 2023: Connecticut, Massachusetts, Puerto Rico.*
If you are in one of the places prohibiting a surcharge, consider offering your credit card customers a discount to pay in cash.
Some of these states are contesting the restriction of credit card surcharges, so call us for the latest information in your location.
CONVENIENCE FEE: This is a fixed charge added to a purchase price when an alternative payment method is offered. Examples would be paying online or by phone using a credit card. An example if a business allows a customer to pay an invoice online, you are paying the convenience fee for the privilege of being able to pay online. Each card company may have different guidelines – we can help you navigate these requirements.
THE BOTTOM LINE: Stay abreast of changes in this realm, things can always change. Read and know your contract provisions with each card network concerning Surcharges and Convenience Fees. KNOW YOUR STATE LAW, as it can differ from your card network requirements, and the state law dictates.
If you ever have questions regarding processing, fees, or charges on your business statement Card Systems can help. Whether you have general questions or are looking for alternative processing contact us today @ 866.207.3298 or by email.
*There are states where Courts have made surcharge laws unenforceable, including the ones below. In these states, using Cash Discounting is the most effective way to limit processing costs.
- California
- Florida
- Kansas
- Maine
- New York
- Oklahoma
- Texas
- Utah
Sound complicated? Don’t worry. It’s our job to know all the options available to you and help you choose the best solution for your business type, location, and sales methods.
by Peter | Aug 8, 2017 | News, News Alerts, Retail Industry News
Most small business owners ask themselves is ” will I be able to compete against my big box store and online competition?” When we hear the name Ace Hardware we may not always think about them being a small local business. In fact, each location is owned and operated by members of our local communities. You will notice that each Ace store has varying selections because the owners are empowered to make their own purchasing decisions. Inventory is not dictated by a corporate office, allowing each location to offer the right products and prices for their local community.
Ace Wins Big!
Locally owned and operated Ace Hardware stores throughout the country, have out-ranked Lowe’s, Home Depot and Menards as the favorite home improvement retailer. The small town hardware store achieved an incredible composite loyalty score of 63% in a Market Force Information study. They beat the Big Box stores!
Of the four companies selected Ace Hardware’s score was 63%. The remaining competitors were Menards 60%, Lowes 55% and Home Depot 51%. A poll of more than 7800 consumers was used to determine the home improvement rankings. Ace Hardware was strong in most categories, especially ease in finding merchandise, knowledgeable and service-driven staff, and speedy checkouts.
Small Business Works For The D.I.Y. Consumer
The study also shows that 60% of the consumers polled consider themselves “DIY enthusiasts. Those are the consumers who make their own purchases and complete their own home improvement projects. As for the “do-it-for-me” group, 22% purchase the material and outsource the work.
“Home improvement could be a bright light in the retail sector with remodeling projects on the rise and consumers more confident about investing in their homes,” says Ray Walsh, CEO of Market Force Information, “…retailers must continue to focus on the customer experience to differentiate their offer and capture a greater share of this growing market, excelling in areas such as value, store cleanliness and merchandise variety and availability.”
Card Systems understands the challenges of small to medium-sized businesses. One of the most complicated tasks is to determine what system is right for me? Whether you’re in need of a basic credit card terminal, the point of sale system, integrated solution, or need to take payments online, we can help you choose the right solution for your business. Call today 866.207.3298 or email for more information how we can increase your business efficiency and workflow.
More…
Reference:
ACE
HBS Dealer
by Peter | Jul 26, 2017 | Business to Business News, News, News Alerts
We have recently received callers indicating “Credit Card Systems” has contacted them numerous times with a robocall. A robocall is a computerized autodialer that, when picked up, delivers a prerecorded message typically with a very friendly voice. In the past, robocalls have been associated with emergency announcements and political campaigns. More recently, these automated calls are an easy way for telemarketer scammers to get through to easy victims. These automated calls are an inexpensive way for fraudsters to get a hold of your personal information. This “con” initiated by robo callers like “Rachel” has been going on for years.
Real People Not Robocalls
We are not “Credit Card Systems” and we do not make robocalls. Remember, if you get a robocall that’s trying to sell you something, that call is illegal unless you have given that company-specific permission to call you.
What can you do about it?
- Immediately hang up
- Don’t press any keys to speak to an operator
- Do not respond in any way, it will probably lead to more robocalls
- Don’t give them your number to add you to their do not call list (they don’t have one)
- Never give out personal information
- Never call back
- Block their phone number (easy step on today’s smartphones)
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has tried to shut down the process, but usually, the perpetrators are out of the country using US spoofed phone numbers. And because they are still making money with the process, they just won’t quit.
For anyone unfamiliar with Caller ID Spoofing here is a brief summary: “Caller ID spoofing is the practice of causing the telephone network to indicate to the receiver of a call that the originator of the call is a station other than the true originating station. For example, a Caller ID display might display a phone number different from that of the telephone from which the call was placed. Caller ID spoofing is used to describe situations where the motivation is considered malicious by the speaker or writer.” It’s important to note that
It’s important to note that caller ID displays can’t always be trusted and it’s possible that the originating caller may not be the number being shown on your screen. A quick Google search for “How to spoof caller ID” results in an astounding 241,000 plus results.
Card Systems NEVER makes robocalls and should you ever be in doubt of the legitimacy of a phone call please feel free to hang up and contact us by dialing 866.207.3298.
by Peter | Jun 23, 2017 | Clover, News, News Alerts, POS Systems
Help Your Business Run More Efficiently
The new Clover Flex is an all in one device that will help you better assist customers, no matter where they are in your business. Need to bust a line? Use the Clover Flex to work transactions and reduce line congestion. Having a device you can use anywhere your business takes you from the counter, the table, or in a customer’s home is sure to benefit daily operations.
A unique device that is just as easy to hold as it is to pass to your customer to complete debit or signature transactions. Offering the ultimate in flexibility and customer service this device is sure to delight its users.
Clover Flex Features
- Built-in barcode scanner and receipt printer
- Compatible with existing Clover devices
- Fully operation Point of Sale applications in the palm of your hand
- Fast and Flexible wi-fi and 3G wireless options
- Electronic signature capture and receipt tracking
- PIN entry without the need for an additional pin pad
- Swipe, Dip, and NFC enabled
- 5′ HD screen with touch display
- Built in camera
- Lightweight all in one solution weighing approximately 1 pound
This device is truly as flexible as your business needs. Whether you need to take an order online and complete it at the counter, tableside checkout, or sidewalk sale the Clover Flex can handle the task quickly and easily. This device will even allow your employees to clock in and out with photo verification. Maybe you would like to add a gift card or loyalty club for your customers? You can manage it all from this powerful handheld device and the easy to use Clover online dashboard from any internet connected computer.
Contact us today for more details about how the Clover Flex can start helping your business today!
Call 866.207.3298 or email
