Getting ready for the holiday rush? Don't forget your payments.
With the autumn break in sight, many business owners have already started preparing for the holidays. What's going on the Christmas menu? Is there enough wrapping paper? When do the decorations come out? And perhaps just as important: will customers be able to pay quickly and easily during the annual December rush?
That last question is often overlooked. Yet a smooth payment process can make a big difference during this period. Shorter queues, less hassle for your staff and more convenience for your customers. And more sales, of course, means more revenue.
With these five tips and a checklist, you can get your payment setup ready for the festive season in good time.
1. Make sure you have enough payment terminals in store
A queue at the till because there's only one payment terminal available is something you want to avoid over the holidays. So check well in advance whether your payment equipment is ready for the busiest time of the year. Are all your terminals still working properly? If a device constantly needs recharging or its keys keep sticking, it may be worth looking into a new payment terminal. You can easily solve that last problem by switching to a touchscreen model.
Expecting more customers for a while? Then you can also rent extra payment terminals or use Tap to Pay. This Android app lets you use a compatible smartphone or tablet to accept contactless payments. It's a relatively simple way to add extra payment capacity when you need it.
2. Offer multiple payment options
More payment options can make it easier for customers to complete a purchase. So take a critical look at your target audience: how do your customers want to pay?
In physical shops, for example, it can be worth accepting credit cards alongside debit cards. American Express, for instance, isn't always enabled by default. Commercially, that can be a smart move if you expect a lot of international customers around the holidays.
The same goes for payments in your online shop. There, too, you can accept credit card payments. Around the holidays this can appeal to consumers, since a gift may still end up being returned.
3. Make gift cards a fully-fledged payment option
A gift card is an obvious present for anyone who isn't sure what to give. For businesses, having your own gift card also lets you bring revenue forward: the card is paid for before the actual product is bought.
So consider offering gift cards both in store and in your online shop. In addition to your own gift card, you can look into accepting multi-brand gift cards, such as the VVV Cadeaukaart. Buckaroo can help you accept gift cards in your online shop.
