BluePay Blog

Valentine’s Day may not receive as much fanfare as other shopping holidays like Black Friday. Though according to the National Retail Federation, this annual celebration (on Feb. 14) brings in nearly $20 billion for retailers and restaurants across the country.

Topics: Fun Posts, PCI Compliance and Fraud Prevention, E-Commerce and Online Payments, Mobile Payments, Payment Trends

The concept of “consumer credit” dates from 3500 B.C. Mesopotamia. Yet, what most of us would recognize as a “credit card” didn’t come along until 1950 — courtesy of the Diners' Club.  This earliest form of plastic wasn’t even plastic. It was cardboard, and you could only use it at select restaurants.  However, the credit card has evolved substantially over the years. Politicians had to step in occasionally to help make the credit card industry fairer and more transparent.

Topics: Awareness, Payment Trends

Introducing a new product or service is one of the best strategic approaches to growing a small business. It’s a way to hold the interest of your existing customer base while reaching out to new audience segments that may now be interested in what you have to offer.  Although you may think the most challenging aspect to adding a product or service is to do something unique that stands out in the market, even more difficult is often setting the price for that introduction.

Topics: Small Business Tips, Due.com Partner Posts

A point-of-sale (POS) system is the mix of hardware and software that allows you to process payments for goods and services at the checkout counter. Historically, getting started was prohibitively expensive, which is why only the biggest retailers could afford a POS.  Though as with all technologies, POS systems became better, faster and more affordable — allowing smaller retailers to begin using them.

Topics: Consideration, Getting Started with Payments, Small Business Tips, Payment Technology

When Amazon launched in 1994, it faced an uphill battle. The online retailer was going up against established brick-and-mortar titans such as Borders and Barnes & Noble — both of which had vast networks of stores from coast to coast.  This real estate advantage soon became a liability as e-commerce continued to evolve. Amazon was able to avoid many of the costly staffing, rental and utility expenses that brick-and-mortar stores have to pay. 

Topics: Payment Trends, E-Commerce and Online Payments, B2B

Most retailers are reluctant about using the “honor system” when it comes to dealing with customers. Below are just some of the reasons why:  Nearly one in 10 Americans admit to shoplifting at some point in their lifetime.  Every year, shoplifters boost more than $13 billion worth of merchandise.  Only one in 48 shoplifters are ever caught. Less than half face criminal prosecution.

Topics: Payment Trends, Payment Technology

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and social good have often been viewed as strategies for global enterprises to undertake. Rarely is the concept attributed to small businesses, perhaps because of the perceived cost or the idea that it has to be a big effort or it won’t actually change the world.  However, what is working is when more businesses of any size take small steps and implement even the most minor changes to how they work or how they view their overall goals.

Topics: Small Business Tips, Nonprofits, Due.com Partner Posts

The global impact of fraud is enormous, with merchants and banks losing over $21 billion annually.  That’s just from debit and credit card abuse.  You also have to factor in malware, data breaches and identity theft — all of which take a huge financial toll on society:  In 2017, the U.S. reported 16.7 million victims of identity theft (resulting in $17 billion in losses).  According to the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) and McAfee, cybercrime is a $445 billion industry worldwide. 

Topics: Small Business Tips, PCI Compliance and Fraud Prevention, EMV

With the Tax Reform Act set to kick in, there are many things small business owners need to consider in 2019 that may impact their financial position and tax basis. As you get ready to file 2018 taxes, let’s look at the changes coming up next year that could influence the decisions you make for your small business. 

Topics: Small Business Tips, Due.com Partner Posts

Every organization that captures, processes, stores, transmits, or affects credit card data is expected to comply with the security guidelines established by the Payment Card Industry (PCI).  These data security rules apply to multinationals, small shops and nonprofits alike. Failure to become PCI-compliant can lead to hefty fines for that organization.  Equally important, these guidelines continue to evolve over time as criminals develop newer and smarter data breaching techniques.

Topics: PCI Compliance and Fraud Prevention, E-Commerce and Online Payments, EMV, Software and Payment Integration