CrossCheck Blog

How important is a knowledgeable, friendly staff to your business? According to the findings of a recent survey by MSN Money and Zogby International, it's at the top of a list of important customer service features.

CrossCheck is a member of the Electronic Transaction Association (ETA), an international trade association representing companies who offer electronic transaction processing products and services. Each year the association holds their Annual Meeting & Expo, an event that attracts hundreds of exhibitors and thousands of attendees that come to display, present and discuss the latest and greatest in payment processing technology, services and equipment.

It's no secret that times have changed. Corporate consolidations, new technology, global markets, banking restrictions, security concerns and a tough economy all impact our business practices and can mean both positive and negative effects to the bottom line. Embracing, rather than ignoring, these changes can breathe new life into your business via new customers, cost-saving systems, and additional sources of inventory. Here are a few ideas that can help move your business along:

May is Direct Deposit Month. This may not cause a lot of excitement outside the payments industry and there won't be any parades or barbeques in its honor, but it does represent how ubiquitous electronic payments have become. Whether for business or personal use, or both, almost everyone has some experience with electronic payment processing. Direct payments are used by more than half of U.S. households to pay their mortgage, insurance premiums, or other monthly bills. Direct deposit is the way about 75 percent of us get our pay check and all kinds of businesses are now processing check payments through electronic conversion and remote deposit capture.

Business owners are capitalizing on growth opportunities, looking to hire and planning to make necessary capital investments according to the American Express OPEN Small Business Monitor, a semi-annual survey of business owners. Results of the Spring 2011 survey indicated a trend toward recovery for the first time since 2006. Finally, some good news!

Business has always been about connections. Connecting with your suppliers, your employees and your customers or clients is crucial to continued success. But what about connecting with peers, other business people in your industry that share your concerns, challenges and business needs? Is there value in that? Of course there is, and one way to do this is through industry and business associations.

Making your product or service stand out from those of your competitors is key to attracting and retaining customers. One way to do this is to provide customers with an opportunity to customize the product to meet their specific needs. As consumers, we appreciate being able to tailor a product or service so it is unique to our tastes, requirements, and budget, whether it's a new sofa, pair of sneakers, mountain bike or spa day. Businesses that can do this effectively differentiate themselves and gain customer loyalty, referrals and repeat business.

It’s not uncommon to call a pizzeria and request delivery. For many pizza restaurants, a majority of their business is shuttled off to customers’ homes and offices. Now a variety of restaurants, grocery stores, and gift shops have made delivery of items an important part of their marketing strategy and they've seen a boost in sales. In tough economic times, taking your products and services to the customer can be an easy way to increase margins and gain loyalty.

The National Retail Federation (NRF) expects holiday spending for 2010 to rise 2.3 percent to $447.1 billion dollars. After a rough couple of years, an increase in dollars spent on gifts and entertainment this year is welcome news to retailers, restaurants and staff. In addition to planning your inventory, hiring extra help, and jazzing up your store displays, here are a few tips to keep in mind so your holiday sales don't turn into holiday blues.