Big changes coming for consumers and retailers…
I swear Jack Dorsey doesn’t need the additional press, but I just love where he and the team at Square are headed. It’s going to revolutionize the transactions between retailers and consumers.
Over a year ago, I blogged about how you can easily and without any upfront costs accept credit cards via SquareUp. Read this post to refresh. I further expanded on that with crucial business tips for you at this post. I then updated you with SquareUp’s changes allowing you to accept more than $500/month. (This was my sticking point.)
So now comes an industry changer. Square is coming to replace registers nationwide. (Click on image to get to full article.)
This will change customer's expectations, and therefore, behaviors.
Why does this matter to you? Because:
1. The majority of merchants in the US will buy and use a tablet or a mobile Point of Service device. This means you, the consumer will start to see this in stores like bookstores, coffee shops, boutiques, bridal salons, nail salons and the like. You, the consumer will become acquainted and trust this new way of paying for your goods and services. The old register will be seen as antiquated because of the ease and flexibility of a mobile point of service device. It’s like that kitchen phone that hung on the wall with the spiral cord that always got twisted and you had to untwist it (that was kinda fun, though). It was the central location to make your calls but you were tethered to it. Even house phones of today are cordless. We wouldn’t even think of buying a phone with a cord. Not sure if they sell them anymore…. If you have been to an Apple(R) store lately, you will see that they use a mobile POS. It’s really amazing how easy and consumer-friendly it is. You no longer feel like cattle at the trough.
2. Because you, the consumer, don’t have to carry that amount of cash (who wants a Constanza wallet? 🙂 ) you can buy more knowing that merchant at the crafts fair will accept your credit card. The average transaction is $75!!! Research has shown that transactions are larger (ie people buy more) when they use a credit card vs. cash. So a mobile POS device can also increase your dollars collected.
So because of Square coming into shops in this year to replace the register, you can expect that the adoption of the SquareUp device will ramp up quickly. If you are showing your clutches at an Arts Fair or Craft Show, I highly recommend getting a SquareUp device. It’s free, it’s easy and you start accepting credit cards with your mobile phone. You will have an advantage over other sellers if you accept credit cards and they don’t. What’s more? You don’t have to shell thousands of dollars for the upkeep of those machines, buy ink, buy paper, etc… You don’t have to spend anything to start accepting credit cards.
Good luck and if you’ve tried it, convo me and let me know how it has worked for you. If you haven’t, then why not?
~Winn
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I am the #1 US seller of purse frames and I’ve been incorporated since 2001. This blog is mainly aimed at my audience of clutch handbag makers. I have a very small niche that is comprised of 99.9% women. I am loyal and promote handbag makers who are loyal to me by using my fine purse frames. When they are successful, then I am successful.
The two businesses that I own are:
*purse supplies, Gutermann glue, and DIY clutch kits at whilebabynaps.etsy.com, whilebabynaps.com
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To find clutches made using my fine metal purse frames, LOOK to see “Trademarks of WhileBabyNaps.com and H&D LLC” and you’ll know the clutches are made using the finest metal purse frames that are tested for lead and that have a protective coating to lengthen the life of the clutch. You can go to any of the sellers on the Sellers page.
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Warmly,
Thy Khuong
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We sell books at events and I made the mistake of going to PayPal’s card reader first. Even tho we are a well-established LLC business, they never stopped asking for documentation to confirm this, that, or the other. The last time, they wanted a copy of my utility bill to prove my address! I never know what’s going to restrict my sales next, so I was relieved to see this blog and the opinions expressed from real people who have actually used the Square. . I’m switching to SquareUp. It was here first. Thanks for the info, gals.
Hey Lucy, let me know how you find SquareUp to be. I haven’t had anyone use PayPal’s Doritos card reader yet, and I don’t think I will either. I don’t like to my put all my eggs in one basket.
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I use Square, and I love it! Very easy to use, and the fees are quite reasonable. It’s perfect for folks like us with small businesses who only get a few credit card transactions from time to time. And having it at craft fairs has opened up sales for me. More than once I’ve had people purchase from me who would not have been able to if I only took cash or checks. I’m also branching out to do home parties, and I know that being able to take credit cards will be very important in that venture.
As for how my customers feel about a mobile POS transaction, none of them so far have been deterred. They especially like that they can get a receipt e-mailed or texted to them immediately.
I am so happy to hear that using SquareUp has actually opened up sales for you. I know that I, myself, by habit do not carry much cash around (or my checkbook, for that matter) so whenever I’m at a booth that only takes cash, I cannot buy. And I can’t catch that seller at another venue or shop so I will never buy what I saw and liked at the arts fair. Most of the time, you see that person that day and never again. It would be interesting to see how many of your customers at home parties pay via credit card of cash. Thanks for taking time to comment! 🙂
I love square up. I have been using it for about a year now on my iphone and ipad. I could not run my business without it since I do business in a non-traditional way.
That’s great to hear! Have you found that having SquareUp benefited you in either getting a sale because the customer did not/not have enough cash for the purchase? Has having SquareUp allow you to increase your sales via $ per transaction ie. your average transaction prior to SquareUp compared to after? How have your customers responded to the mobile POS transaction? (I was apprehensive at first, myself.)