Firefly Texting
TouchSuite Firefly Salon POS now enables users to simply program appointment reminders to send to clients at a preselected time frame prior to their scheduled appointment for 10 cents per text.
Amazon DRS
Amazon launched its Dash Button service enabling consumers to buy products they frequently purchase with the push of a physical button at the point-of-need (PON). Amazon then quickly delivers the household favorites. The new service is available to Prime clients by using the Amazon app on a smartphone to connect Dash Button to the home Wi-Fi.
Firefly & Frederick
TouchSuite has teamed with Frederick, to offer the company’s automated marketing platform as an integrated solution within its Firefly Salon point of sale system.
V-Day Spending
Valentine’s Day-related purchasing rose sharply in 2015. Out of the three days, the day before Valentine’s Day (Friday, Feb. 13) saw the most credit transactions – 9.3 percent more than Feb. 12 and 5.7 percent more than Feb. 14.
MLINK ATMs & Holiday
The UK’s LINK ATM network announced Christmas 2014 was a record time for cash machine withdrawals. A total of £662 million was dispensed by ATMs on 24 December 2014, with an average withdrawal of £82. This was a 22% increase on the £544 million dispensed on the same day in 2013 while £11,899 million was withdrawn throughout December 2014, an increase of 4% on December 2013, which totaled £11,468mn. There was also an increase on New Year’s Day, with 14% more cash withdrawn this year than last (£164 million on 1 January 2015, compared with £144 million on 1 January 2014).
Fiserv Inks Latest CUnify Client
Fiserv announced today that United Credit Union has selected the CUnify account processing platform from Fiserv. United will add CheckFree RXP from Fiserv and the Popmoney person-to-person (P2P) payment service. United chose CUnify for its reliability and state-of-the-art relational database foundation to streamline workflows, improve overall performance and provide seamless payments integration. The changing payment preferences of the members at United indicated the need for electronic personal payments capabilities. New to members, United will offer the ability to make person-to-person payments via Popmoney, which was selected for its security and ease of use. Following implementation, members will have the ability to securely send, receive and request money to/from individuals for purposes such as making a last-minute rent payment, sending money to a family member in an emergency, or paying a small business or service provider upon completion of a project.
Holiday Retail Sales Increase for 2013
Severe winter weather did not dampen December retail sales as shoppers took advantage of heavy promotions and last-minute deals. According to the National Retail Federation, December retail sales, which excludes automobiles, gas stations and restaurants, increased 0.4 percent seasonally adjusted month-to-month, and 4.6 percent unadjusted year-over-year. Total holiday retail sales, which includes November and December sales, increased 3.8 percent to $601.8 billion, which was in line with NRF’s projected forecast of 3.9 percent and $602.1 billion. In addition, non-store holiday sales, which is an indicator of online and e-commerce sales, grew 9.3 percent to $95.7 billion. December retail sales, released today by the U.S. Census Bureau, which include categories such as automobiles, gasoline stations, and restaurants, increased 0.2 percent seasonally adjusted month-to-month, and 4.1 percent adjusted year-over-year.
First Data Announces Latest SpendTrend Analysis
First Data released its “SpendTrend” analysis for Dec. 3, 2013, through Dec. 30, 2013, compared to Dec. 4, 2012, through Dec. 31, 2012, tracking same-store POS data by credit, signature debit, PIN debit, EBT, closed-loop prepaid cards and checks from nearly four million client U.S. merchants. Dollar volume growth of 6.1% marked a significant spike…
Fiserv Popmoney Launches Instant Payment Solution
Fiserv financial services technology solutions launched its “Popmoney Instant Payments.” Available now to eligible financial institutions that offer “Popmoney,” “Instant Payments” lets users send money credited to the recipient’s account within seconds. This feature extends the functionality of the Popmoney social person-to-person payments service, making it indispensable when an immediate exchange of money is required. Uses could include making a last-minute rent payment, sending money to a family member in an emergency or paying a small business or service provider upon completion of a project. The “Popmoney Instant Payments” leverages extensive portfolio of payment capabilities from Fiserv to enable fast and secure money movement. The “Popmoney” platform intends to expand its connectivity options through other networks and connection points.
Regal Entertainment Group eGift Cards Now Available
Regal Entertainment Group announced a special offer for making holiday budgets go further and just in the nick of time for last-minute purchases. Shoppers can logon now to REGmovies.com to instantly send eGift Cards to friends and family. For every $50 in eGift Cards purchased through January 6, the sender gets another $5 eGift Card for free. Regal’s eGift Cards arrive in minutes via email or on a specified delivery date. There are no shipping charges, service fees or expiration dates and electronic gift cards come in a variety of themed design options.
Visa Projects Last-Minute Holiday Spending Surge
Visa is predicting a surge of $278 million in extra Christmas shopping spending in the final few days leading up to Christmas. Visa found shoppers that panic that they haven’t got a gift in time for Christmas often overspend on a gift, meaning that consumer spending will surge in the final few days of the…
Macy’s Partners Earthworks, Recycles Gift Cards
Earthworks System recycled PVC sheets for the plastic card industry and plastic card recycling programs partnered Macy to provide a recyclable gift card program. Macy’s will be the first major department store to offer a recyclable gift card program, which partnered Earthworks System to keep millions of gift cards out of landfills. The Earthworks System Recyclable identifier will be imprinted on Macy’s gift cards to indicate it is made of Earthworks System approved recyclable material. Macy’s department store locations will collect spent gift cards for their return to Earthworks System where they will be reprocessed into printable sheet and re-sold to printers to make new cards.