CrossCheck Blog

The Fall 2018 edition of the National Retail Federation’s “Consumer View” focuses on the increase in consumers engaged in value shopping. “Beyond the Bargain Bin: The Rise of the Value-Conscious Shopper” was compiled after the organization surveyed over 3,000 U.S. adults to gather data on their shopping behavior and attitudes.

“Consumers’ choices in terms of where, how and why they buy are redefining retail and creating a new playbook for the industry,” stated the National Retail Federation (NRF). Learning the shifts in the consumers' shopping patterns by demographic breakdown is useful for retailers as they search for new ways to increase sales revenue.

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The “location, location, location” mantra of real estate resonates across many industries, including automotive retail where the close proximity of auto dealerships to one another is a plus. Location is also an advantage for automotive tradeshows such as the 2019 NADA Show scheduled for Jan. 24 – 27, 2019 at San Francisco’s Moscone Center, one of the most sought-after venues in the world.

The large gathering of auto dealers, managers, consultants and industry experts — projected at 10,000 strong — will immerse themselves in a huge exposition, educational opportunities, franchise meetings, social events and the entire San Francisco Bay Area. NADA offers a dedicated website for the show with details about schedules, speakers, blog articles, travel and accommodations, exhibitors and social media channels.

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At CrossCheck, our primary business is helping merchants make a sale when a consumer is standing in front of them. Since the completion of a sale often hangs by a thread, this sense of urgency is the inspiration behind our Plus Sales service — the place where the proverbial “buck stops” in the realm of check guarantee. Let me explain.

If you have ever worked in retail, you know that you generally have only one shot at making the sale. If the consumer says, “I’ll be back later,” well, as we say around here, “The be-back bus doesn’t stop here anymore.”

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According to a AAA survey, “One-in-three U.S. drivers cannot pay for an unexpected car repair bill."

The survey also stated that “64 million American drivers would not be able to pay for an unexpected vehicle repair without going into debt.”

Along those same lines, Cars.com reports “the average auto repair bill comes to between $500 and $600 — and 1 in 3 motorists can't pay it without incurring debt.”

Given that many drivers on the road are unprepared for the high cost of vehicle maintenance and repair — and don't have the cash or available funds on their credit or debit cards — it would be wise for shops to know what they can do to help customers pay for the cost of auto repairs.

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As an ISO/MSP, you are accustomed to people asking for advice about all the things happening in the retail payments space, including questions such as, “What is the most common form of payment?”

And you are probably accustomed to hearing things like:

• No one writes checks anymore.
• Cash is going away.
• Everybody is using mobile payments now.
• Soon we will have real-time payments for everybody.

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The 2019 NADA Show at Moscone Center in San Francisco (Jan. 24 – 27, 2019) has ratcheted up its educational offerings to auto dealers and their department managers with the Professional Series, Distinguished Speaker Series, and multitrack seminar sessions and workshops. Education, of course, is only part of the program offered to attendees. Other components include the NADA expo, franchise meetings and social events.

The NADA Show has an established reputation as the premier event for automotive manufacturers and auto dealers. Its dedicated website for the show details schedules, keynote speakers, blog articles, travel and accommodations, exhibitors and more.

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Furniture retailers everywhere are preparing for one of the largest home furnishings tradeshows in the world. The Winter Las Vegas Market is scheduled for January 27 – 31 at the World Market Center, presenting a wide range of products, education and services. A variety of home furnishing professionals such as buyers, retailers, and interior designers will attend this massive market to learn business practices, network with professionals, and see new product demonstrations. With over five million square feet of exhibitor space, this is the perfect event to learn how to grow a furniture business and view potential new inventory to entice customers.

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American consumers have an intimate relationship with their credit cards. Most don’t really understand the numbers that drive this business for the banks that issue the cards, or who pays the “freight” to keep it going, especially at car dealerships. This article will provide an overview of who pays what to whom, and how much they pay. You will be surprised.

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Cash, check or charge, there are only three ways to guarantee the payment of delivered building supplies to residential or commercial job sites. Simultaneously, there are only three main channels for delivering supplies: pay the dealer to do it, hire a third party delivery service, or do it yourself. The meshed processes entail having an adequate vehicle to transport the supplies, a safe way to load and unload them, enough manpower, and of course, the means to make and accept payments. Read More

It’s easy to find trade events with the tag line, “the premier event of its kind in the XYZ industry,” but in the realm of home furnishings, the Las Vegas Market truly lives up to the hype. The upcoming 2019 Las Vegas Winter Market is slated for January 27 – 31 at the World Market Center with a massive offering of exhibits, products and services for anyone and everyone involved in the home furnishings industry.

The Las Vegas Market takes place twice each year (winter and summer) and attracts a cross-section of attendees from around the globe in the home furnishings trade such as retailers, buyers, interior designers, architects, specifiers, service providers and purchasing companies.

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