Hey, Creditcardman!
How can you help me? My convenience store is going through debranding and I don't know what I am going to do about my credit card processing. I want to be able to take all kinds of credit cards, fuel fleet cards and checks. Help!
Thanks,
Tony in Texas
>>>>
Dear Tony,
You found the right guy. I have helped lots and lots of convenience store owners, like the Cool Zone owner in Ft. Worth, figure out how to save almost 50% on their credit card processing after they went through debranding. Pretty "cool", huh?
Send me an email at marty@creditcardman.com or give me a call at 1-800-803-3335 to learn how I can help you, too.
Sincerely,
The Creditcardman
Sunday, April 06, 2008
Thursday, November 02, 2006
Why Visa and MasterCard charge so much...
Tuesday, October 31, 2006
Mallory Duncan, chairman of the Merchants Payments Coalition (MPC) and senior vice president and general counsel at the National Retail Federation, issued the following statement Oct. 30 in response to MasterCard's release of interchange rates charged to merchants: "This is a small step in the right direction toward transparency but without full and unrestricted access to the operating rules that explain why Visa and MasterCard charge so much it's still only one piece of the puzzle. The excerpts provided on the MasterCard website and the background materials included in today's announcement don't begin to go far enough." "More light needs to be shed on the excessive interchange rates merchants and consumers are forced to pay on every credit and debit card transaction. Visa's interchange list included more than 70 combinations of rates for different types of merchants, cards and transactions. MasterCard's list includes nearly 150 combinations. The shear number of rates alone is testimony to the opacity of the interchange system and the need for true transparency." "Merely disclosing the rates is not sufficient. If MasterCard believes interchange is 'necessary and efficient' as they say in this announcement, we believe the rates charged should be competitively set at a 'necessary and efficient' level. The rates shown here go well beyond that point." The Merchants Payments Coalition is a group of about 20 trade associations representing retailers, restaurants, supermarkets, drug stores, convenience stores, gas stations, on-line merchants and other businesses that accept debit and credit cards. MPC said it is fighting for a more competitive, transparent card system for consumers and merchants, and fees based on transaction costs. The coalition said its member associations collectively represent about 2.7 million locations with approximately 50 million employees.
Mallory Duncan, chairman of the Merchants Payments Coalition (MPC) and senior vice president and general counsel at the National Retail Federation, issued the following statement Oct. 30 in response to MasterCard's release of interchange rates charged to merchants: "This is a small step in the right direction toward transparency but without full and unrestricted access to the operating rules that explain why Visa and MasterCard charge so much it's still only one piece of the puzzle. The excerpts provided on the MasterCard website and the background materials included in today's announcement don't begin to go far enough." "More light needs to be shed on the excessive interchange rates merchants and consumers are forced to pay on every credit and debit card transaction. Visa's interchange list included more than 70 combinations of rates for different types of merchants, cards and transactions. MasterCard's list includes nearly 150 combinations. The shear number of rates alone is testimony to the opacity of the interchange system and the need for true transparency." "Merely disclosing the rates is not sufficient. If MasterCard believes interchange is 'necessary and efficient' as they say in this announcement, we believe the rates charged should be competitively set at a 'necessary and efficient' level. The rates shown here go well beyond that point." The Merchants Payments Coalition is a group of about 20 trade associations representing retailers, restaurants, supermarkets, drug stores, convenience stores, gas stations, on-line merchants and other businesses that accept debit and credit cards. MPC said it is fighting for a more competitive, transparent card system for consumers and merchants, and fees based on transaction costs. The coalition said its member associations collectively represent about 2.7 million locations with approximately 50 million employees.
Wednesday, September 27, 2006
Credit firms crack down on fraud
BY ROBIN SIDEL THE WALL STREET JOURNAL
MasterCard Inc. and Visa USA Inc. are clamping down on merchants that flout rules aimed at protecting card transactions from fraud.
In recent weeks, MasterCard has imposed fines on merchants that haven’t met its requirements to keep transactions secure. Starting Saturday, Visa will take aim at the nation’s largest merchants with fines that start at $ 10, 000 a month and can rise to $ 100, 000 a month.
The fines are the latest effort by the credit- and debit-card industry to reduce financial exposure — and bad publicity — from a round of high-profile security breaches. Cardholders normally aren’t responsible for unauthorized purchases, but merchants and banks involved with fraudulent transactions — both at stores and online — can find themselves on the hook.
Visa and MasterCard don’t fine the merchants directly. Instead, they levy fines against those that process the transactions on behalf of the merchants. Those entities commonly pass on the fines to their merchant customers. In addition to assessing penalties for failing to comply with the rules, Visa and MasterCard also issue separate fines if a noncompliant merchant has a security breach.
Neither Visa nor Master-Card would identify merchants that are violating the rules. But because Visa is homing in on the biggest merchants — those that ring up more than 6 million transactions a year — they likely include some household names. Visa counts 334 merchants in this category; as of Friday, 20 of them were in violation and could face fines if they don’t comply by the end of the month, according to the card association. These big merchants represent nearly 50 percent of Visa’s transactions each year.
Visa and MasterCard, which operate the massive card networks, have established comprehensive security rules for banks, merchants and other entities that store, process or transmit cardholder data. Among the rules: Merchants aren’t permitted to store data that is contained on a card’s magnetic strip, they must take precautions with people who have access to computer systems, and they must restrict access to cardholder information.
Visa has found it difficult to meet its own deadlines. The card association’s debit-card processing arm was supposed to validate its security plan at the end of last year, but got final approval from an outside auditor last week. Some 84 percent of other Visa processors have validated their plans.
“Visa holds itself to the same high security standards as we hold merchants and other processors,” said Rosetta Jones, a spokesman for Visa. She acknowledged that the processing unit had been behind schedule for validation, but stressed that it had been complying with the other security standards.
MasterCard declined to discuss the amount of fines that have been levied, but indicated that the decision to impose financial penalties is taken as a last resort. “We are not levying fines for noncompliance. We are levying them for non-cooperation,” said Chris Thom, chief risk officer for the card network.
Although MasterCard has been issuing fines for more than a year, several industry members said that the levies seem to have accelerated recently and a series have been handed down this month. They estimate that fines have ranged between $ 5, 000 and $ 15, 000. MasterCard declined to comment.
The security rules are particularly daunting for small merchants, who might not be sophisticated about security issues or don’t want to spend the money necessary for crucial upgrades to their computer systems. For now, Visa is concentrating its efforts on levying fines for noncompliance by the largest merchants. It expects to tackle the issue as it relates to some smaller merchants beginning next year.
Security has become a top issue in the card industry amid mounting concerns about identity theft. Earlier this year, Citigroup Inc., the nation’s largest bank as measured by market value and assets, reissued thousands of MasterCard-branded debit and credit cards after it flagged several hundred fraudulent cash withdrawals at automated teller machines in Britain, Russia, and Canada.
Last year some 40 million cards became vulnerable to possible fraud when CardSystems Solutions Inc., a small company that processed transactions for merchants, acknowledged that it had stored customer data in violation of card-industry rules. Retailers also have reported data breaches.
Even Visa isn’t impervious. A breach was reported at one of the company’s on-site cafeterias last year when someone hacked into the server of the vendor that managed the facility. It was determined that the vendor wasn’t complying with Visa rules.
BY ROBIN SIDEL THE WALL STREET JOURNAL
MasterCard Inc. and Visa USA Inc. are clamping down on merchants that flout rules aimed at protecting card transactions from fraud.
In recent weeks, MasterCard has imposed fines on merchants that haven’t met its requirements to keep transactions secure. Starting Saturday, Visa will take aim at the nation’s largest merchants with fines that start at $ 10, 000 a month and can rise to $ 100, 000 a month.
The fines are the latest effort by the credit- and debit-card industry to reduce financial exposure — and bad publicity — from a round of high-profile security breaches. Cardholders normally aren’t responsible for unauthorized purchases, but merchants and banks involved with fraudulent transactions — both at stores and online — can find themselves on the hook.
Visa and MasterCard don’t fine the merchants directly. Instead, they levy fines against those that process the transactions on behalf of the merchants. Those entities commonly pass on the fines to their merchant customers. In addition to assessing penalties for failing to comply with the rules, Visa and MasterCard also issue separate fines if a noncompliant merchant has a security breach.
Neither Visa nor Master-Card would identify merchants that are violating the rules. But because Visa is homing in on the biggest merchants — those that ring up more than 6 million transactions a year — they likely include some household names. Visa counts 334 merchants in this category; as of Friday, 20 of them were in violation and could face fines if they don’t comply by the end of the month, according to the card association. These big merchants represent nearly 50 percent of Visa’s transactions each year.
Visa and MasterCard, which operate the massive card networks, have established comprehensive security rules for banks, merchants and other entities that store, process or transmit cardholder data. Among the rules: Merchants aren’t permitted to store data that is contained on a card’s magnetic strip, they must take precautions with people who have access to computer systems, and they must restrict access to cardholder information.
Visa has found it difficult to meet its own deadlines. The card association’s debit-card processing arm was supposed to validate its security plan at the end of last year, but got final approval from an outside auditor last week. Some 84 percent of other Visa processors have validated their plans.
“Visa holds itself to the same high security standards as we hold merchants and other processors,” said Rosetta Jones, a spokesman for Visa. She acknowledged that the processing unit had been behind schedule for validation, but stressed that it had been complying with the other security standards.
MasterCard declined to discuss the amount of fines that have been levied, but indicated that the decision to impose financial penalties is taken as a last resort. “We are not levying fines for noncompliance. We are levying them for non-cooperation,” said Chris Thom, chief risk officer for the card network.
Although MasterCard has been issuing fines for more than a year, several industry members said that the levies seem to have accelerated recently and a series have been handed down this month. They estimate that fines have ranged between $ 5, 000 and $ 15, 000. MasterCard declined to comment.
The security rules are particularly daunting for small merchants, who might not be sophisticated about security issues or don’t want to spend the money necessary for crucial upgrades to their computer systems. For now, Visa is concentrating its efforts on levying fines for noncompliance by the largest merchants. It expects to tackle the issue as it relates to some smaller merchants beginning next year.
Security has become a top issue in the card industry amid mounting concerns about identity theft. Earlier this year, Citigroup Inc., the nation’s largest bank as measured by market value and assets, reissued thousands of MasterCard-branded debit and credit cards after it flagged several hundred fraudulent cash withdrawals at automated teller machines in Britain, Russia, and Canada.
Last year some 40 million cards became vulnerable to possible fraud when CardSystems Solutions Inc., a small company that processed transactions for merchants, acknowledged that it had stored customer data in violation of card-industry rules. Retailers also have reported data breaches.
Even Visa isn’t impervious. A breach was reported at one of the company’s on-site cafeterias last year when someone hacked into the server of the vendor that managed the facility. It was determined that the vendor wasn’t complying with Visa rules.
Monday, August 14, 2006
Your Gift Helps Paws In The City® Save Even More Lives!
CHOOSING THE RIGHT DOG
Almost every dog in a shelter can provide you with unconditional love and companionship, and every dog deserves a lifelong, loving home. But some dogs are better for you and your lifestyle than others. That's why you should take the time to make a thoughtful choice. After all, you're choosing a friend who'll be with you for many years. Select the right dog, and you and your new companion will enjoy those years to the fullest.
Size and temperament .••
A dog's size, exercise requirements, friendliness, assertiveness, and compatibility with children should all figure into your decision. An active, energetic dog might catch your eye, but a quiet or reserved dog might be easier to live with and care for. Also a dog who 1ikes to be touched and is not sensitive to handling and noise will probably do well in a house full of kids.
Puppy or Dog?
Puppies usually require much more training and supervision than mature dogs. If you lack the time or patience to housetrain your pup or to correct problems like chewing and jumping, an adult dog may be a better choice.
Pure or Mixed Breeds?
Purebred dogs generally conform to a specific "breed standard.” Mixed breeds are simply combinations of different breeds. If you can recognize the ancestry of a particular mixed breed, you have a good chance of knowing how he'll turn out. Mixed breeds also are less likely to have genetic defects common to certain purebred dogs.
Keep in mind when visiting a shelter. •.
A shelter is a stressful place for any animal. If you walk past a dog that seems unfriendly or aloof, don't dismiss it. This particular dog may just be frightened or lonely. Ask the counselor to let you visit the animal in a quieter part of the shelter.
CHOOSING THE RIGHT CAT
Cats make wonderful pets. They tend to be less demanding than dogs and can easily adjust to a variety of lifestyles and living spaces. Even so, a cat's personality, age, and appearance, as well as the kinds of pets you already have at home, are a11 things you should keep in mind when making your selection. Remember, you're committing to love and care for your new pet for its lifetime - up to 20 years. So choose carefully and be a responsible pet guardian.
Choose a Personality •.•
Look for a cat that is playful, active, alert, and comfortable while being held and stroked. Remember, because they are in an unfamiliar environment, some cats who are usually quite social may be frightened or passive while at the shelter.
Kitten or Cat?
Kittens are curious, playful, and full of energy, while adult cats are more relaxed and less mischievous. Kittens need more time to train and feed. Young children usually don't have the maturity to handle kittens responsibly, so a cat that is at least four months old is probably the best choice for homes with kids under six years old.
Shorthaired or Long?
You'll see more shorthaired cats at the shelter since they're the most popular and common cats. Longhaired cats make equally wonderful pets, but they do require more frequent grooming.
Adding a cat to a household with pets .. •
Cats can get along with other cats and - despite the common stereotype - most dogs can get along with cats. However, introducing a new cat to a home with other pets will require patience. Isolate your new pet in a room of its own for a while. After several days, supervise interactions between the animals for increasing periods of time. Soon all of your pets will become best of friends.
Whether you choose a dog or a cat· Be Responsible!
Have your pet spayed or neutered to ensure that it never adds to the millions of animals born each year who never find a good home. It will also help your precious friend live a longer, healthier life.
Keep your new pet indoors. Cats or dogs allowed to roam outdoors are at far greater risk of disease or injury.
SAVE A LIFE. ADOPT A PET FROM YOUR LOCAL ANIMAL SHELTER!
CHOOSING THE RIGHT DOG
Almost every dog in a shelter can provide you with unconditional love and companionship, and every dog deserves a lifelong, loving home. But some dogs are better for you and your lifestyle than others. That's why you should take the time to make a thoughtful choice. After all, you're choosing a friend who'll be with you for many years. Select the right dog, and you and your new companion will enjoy those years to the fullest.
Size and temperament .••
A dog's size, exercise requirements, friendliness, assertiveness, and compatibility with children should all figure into your decision. An active, energetic dog might catch your eye, but a quiet or reserved dog might be easier to live with and care for. Also a dog who 1ikes to be touched and is not sensitive to handling and noise will probably do well in a house full of kids.
Puppy or Dog?
Puppies usually require much more training and supervision than mature dogs. If you lack the time or patience to housetrain your pup or to correct problems like chewing and jumping, an adult dog may be a better choice.
Pure or Mixed Breeds?
Purebred dogs generally conform to a specific "breed standard.” Mixed breeds are simply combinations of different breeds. If you can recognize the ancestry of a particular mixed breed, you have a good chance of knowing how he'll turn out. Mixed breeds also are less likely to have genetic defects common to certain purebred dogs.
Keep in mind when visiting a shelter. •.
A shelter is a stressful place for any animal. If you walk past a dog that seems unfriendly or aloof, don't dismiss it. This particular dog may just be frightened or lonely. Ask the counselor to let you visit the animal in a quieter part of the shelter.
CHOOSING THE RIGHT CAT
Cats make wonderful pets. They tend to be less demanding than dogs and can easily adjust to a variety of lifestyles and living spaces. Even so, a cat's personality, age, and appearance, as well as the kinds of pets you already have at home, are a11 things you should keep in mind when making your selection. Remember, you're committing to love and care for your new pet for its lifetime - up to 20 years. So choose carefully and be a responsible pet guardian.
Choose a Personality •.•
Look for a cat that is playful, active, alert, and comfortable while being held and stroked. Remember, because they are in an unfamiliar environment, some cats who are usually quite social may be frightened or passive while at the shelter.
Kitten or Cat?
Kittens are curious, playful, and full of energy, while adult cats are more relaxed and less mischievous. Kittens need more time to train and feed. Young children usually don't have the maturity to handle kittens responsibly, so a cat that is at least four months old is probably the best choice for homes with kids under six years old.
Shorthaired or Long?
You'll see more shorthaired cats at the shelter since they're the most popular and common cats. Longhaired cats make equally wonderful pets, but they do require more frequent grooming.
Adding a cat to a household with pets .. •
Cats can get along with other cats and - despite the common stereotype - most dogs can get along with cats. However, introducing a new cat to a home with other pets will require patience. Isolate your new pet in a room of its own for a while. After several days, supervise interactions between the animals for increasing periods of time. Soon all of your pets will become best of friends.
Whether you choose a dog or a cat· Be Responsible!
Have your pet spayed or neutered to ensure that it never adds to the millions of animals born each year who never find a good home. It will also help your precious friend live a longer, healthier life.
Keep your new pet indoors. Cats or dogs allowed to roam outdoors are at far greater risk of disease or injury.
SAVE A LIFE. ADOPT A PET FROM YOUR LOCAL ANIMAL SHELTER!
Help yourself and PAWS!
Molly was one of the many animals rescued by Paws In The City. She was plucked from the wretched flood waters of Katrina and now is enjoying a wonderful life in Dallas with us!
Paws In The City® is a charitable animal rescue group based in Dallas TX. Their mission since 1988 has been to find homes for the animals that end up at the Dallas Animal Shelter (city pound). As an example of their work; during the crisis following the hurricane Katrina, hundreds of animals were rescued, treated, fostered, and adopted through the efforts of these fine people.
Here is their offer:
Please make a tax deductible contribution of $50.00 (or more) to them at their website, www.pawsinthecity.org and then you can recieve our credit card processing services at 1.62% plus 20¢ for retail swiped transactions or 2.14% plus 20¢ for keyed and/or internet accounts.
Compare that to what you are paying now and see if that won’t help you both now and everyday into the future. You will have a tax deduction this year and you will continue to receive their thanks in the form of savings everyday for you.
In addition to that offering, we will also offer you a Gift card program with 100 free gift cards to help get you started. Have you been wondering if gift cards will help your business? Would they be a way to get rid of the paper gift certificates?
We are very pleased to offer this and to help this charitable group in any way we can, so this also means that a portion of our profits on your processing will also be donated to this group.
Won’t you please consider this offer? Even if this will not help you save with your processing costs, please visit their site and make a donation to ensure that they can continue to do the right thing with the animals instead of a far worse fate. Will you do that please?
Thank you and please contact them with any questions or suggestions at www.pawsinthecity.org .
Friday, August 04, 2006
Contactless payment cards?
Hey, Mr. Creditcardman!
Chase "blink" cards continue to drive the U.S. contactless payment card market as nearly seven million cards have been issued to-date. Chase was the first issuer to broadly offer contactless credit cards in the U.S., introducing "blink" last May. Cardholders in Connecticut, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Texas now have "blink"-enabled Chase cards. Chase also offers "blink" rewards cards with partners such as the Los Angeles Dodgers, Regal Entertainment Group, Sheetz, Texas Rangers, Wawa, Southwest Airlines, United Airlines and Universal. Chase says its research shows the one-year old contactless card increases the average ticket sale for some merchants by 40% more than cash purchases, and reduces consumers' average transaction time by 10% to 40%.
Jun 05: 0.5 million
Jul 05: 1.0 million
Aug 05: 1.5 million
Oct 05: 5.0 million
Jan 06: 6.0 million
Jul 06: 7.0 million
Source: CardFlash Library
Thursday, August 03, 2006
What to do when your PC goes bad
Hey, Mr. Creditcardman!
It may not cough, run a fever or ask you for a tissue, but your PC will likely exhibit symptoms if infected with a virus. Depending on the type and severity, the symptoms can vary from being mildly irritating to downright destructive. Here are some common things to look out for:
Frequent system crashes –The PC could unexpectedly freeze or reboot.
Memory problems – You may receive an error message warning of low memory or disk space when trying to save files or run certain programs.
Unusual file behavior – Files might be modified, or randomly appear or disappear on your drive.
Slow system performance – The computer might take longer to boot up, or applications or web pages could load unusually slowly.
Random PC activity – Pop-up ads, error messages, or changes to system time and date might occur.
While these symptoms might not always be caused by a virus, they can be telltale signs. If you detect unusual system behavior, it’s important you act quickly.
1. Immediately disconnect from the networkThis will prevent a potential virus from attacking other PCs or sending confidential data outside or within the network. To disconnect, either disable your network connection or physically disconnect relevant cables.
2. Run your antivirus programIt is crucial that your antivirus software is up-to-date with the latest virus definitions. Only this way can you effectively scan your drive(s) and, if applicable, email and internet servers. Once fully up-to-date, your antivirus software should identify the vast majority of viruses and Trojans.
3. Activate a firewallAfter cleaning your system, make sure you activate a firewall before going back online. Firewalls are crucial for guarding your PC and network against incoming and outbound traffic that could compromise your security.
4. Download and install the latest updatesOne simple way to protect your PC is to be sure you have the latest updates. One of the most important for Windows XP is Service Pack 2 (SP2), which is packed with advanced security features such as a built-in software firewall you can enable in just a few simple steps.
If necessary, take additional measures to ensure your PC is clean
If using antivirus software doesn’t adequately clean your PC and eliminate performance issues, one option is to reinstall your operating system. While this might seem like a drastic measure, it will ensure your system files are clean.
Before conducting the reinstall, be sure to back up all your files and note all your programs and settings. Once you’ve reinstalled your system, activate your antivirus program and firewall before going online. Once online, download the latest updates (see step 4).
What else can I do to protect my PC?
Practicing “safe surfing” and e-mailing can also help you stay secure. When browsing the web, read any pop-up messaging, advertisements, and End User License Agreements (EULA) carefully.
Don’t give out personal information unless it is required to obtain service or a product from legitimate companies, and avoid clicking on any links if you’re not sure where they will take you. Finally, only be sure to run executable files (a file with an extension like EXE, COM or VBS) from trusted sources.
It may not cough, run a fever or ask you for a tissue, but your PC will likely exhibit symptoms if infected with a virus. Depending on the type and severity, the symptoms can vary from being mildly irritating to downright destructive. Here are some common things to look out for:
Frequent system crashes –The PC could unexpectedly freeze or reboot.
Memory problems – You may receive an error message warning of low memory or disk space when trying to save files or run certain programs.
Unusual file behavior – Files might be modified, or randomly appear or disappear on your drive.
Slow system performance – The computer might take longer to boot up, or applications or web pages could load unusually slowly.
Random PC activity – Pop-up ads, error messages, or changes to system time and date might occur.
While these symptoms might not always be caused by a virus, they can be telltale signs. If you detect unusual system behavior, it’s important you act quickly.
1. Immediately disconnect from the networkThis will prevent a potential virus from attacking other PCs or sending confidential data outside or within the network. To disconnect, either disable your network connection or physically disconnect relevant cables.
2. Run your antivirus programIt is crucial that your antivirus software is up-to-date with the latest virus definitions. Only this way can you effectively scan your drive(s) and, if applicable, email and internet servers. Once fully up-to-date, your antivirus software should identify the vast majority of viruses and Trojans.
3. Activate a firewallAfter cleaning your system, make sure you activate a firewall before going back online. Firewalls are crucial for guarding your PC and network against incoming and outbound traffic that could compromise your security.
4. Download and install the latest updatesOne simple way to protect your PC is to be sure you have the latest updates. One of the most important for Windows XP is Service Pack 2 (SP2), which is packed with advanced security features such as a built-in software firewall you can enable in just a few simple steps.
If necessary, take additional measures to ensure your PC is clean
If using antivirus software doesn’t adequately clean your PC and eliminate performance issues, one option is to reinstall your operating system. While this might seem like a drastic measure, it will ensure your system files are clean.
Before conducting the reinstall, be sure to back up all your files and note all your programs and settings. Once you’ve reinstalled your system, activate your antivirus program and firewall before going online. Once online, download the latest updates (see step 4).
What else can I do to protect my PC?
Practicing “safe surfing” and e-mailing can also help you stay secure. When browsing the web, read any pop-up messaging, advertisements, and End User License Agreements (EULA) carefully.
Don’t give out personal information unless it is required to obtain service or a product from legitimate companies, and avoid clicking on any links if you’re not sure where they will take you. Finally, only be sure to run executable files (a file with an extension like EXE, COM or VBS) from trusted sources.
Best 1st impressions?
Hey, Mr. Creditcardman!
Let’s face it: we make judgments about people based on first impressions all the time.
You’d probably pass up an interview with a job candidate, for example, if the resume were written on a stained, wrinkled bar napkin. In fact, chances are that no matter how qualified or sincere the applicant may be, you’ll probably choose to interview applicants with professional looking resumes instead. The jobseeker may also wonder why he has trouble finding a job when he interviews well, has plenty of experience and more than his share of skills.
The same principles apply to the first impression your business gives to potential customers, suppliers and business partners. They will make quick judgments about whether or not to do business with you based partly on how professional you appear to them initially. Just as a business owner would pass on the bar napkin applicant, so will customers move on and do business with someone else if they don’t trust you initially, no matter how qualified you actually are.
Designing your logo
There are two standard types of logos: a name, or a name and a symbol. It is important that you have a distinct, unique logo so your brand or service is easily recognized. Due to this, current logos usually feature a name and a symbol to make them more distinguishable. More attention is focused on giving the company name a unique style than creating a universally recognizable icon, but iconic logos can be extremely useful when advertising in foreign countries with other alphabet systems.You want a logo that captures the essence of your company or organization. If you're a lawyer, steer clear of silly designs. If you're a professional clown, avoid a macabre tone. A good logo is:
Simple -- without too many images, colors, or fonts
Unique -- so it is easily recognized
Flexible -- so it can be printed in varying colors and sizes on a range of surfaces
Color is possibly the most important element of your logo. An enormous percentage of the world's logos use either one or two colors in their design. Some designs use three colors, but anything more than that is widely known to make your logo look like a confusing hodgepodge. Your choice of colors is important, and you should carefully select them based upon the services your company offers. If you're designing a logo for a pool company, try to focus on cool, happy colors. If the logo is for a funeral home, stick to grays and blacks. Colors invoke a series of emotions and you never want the wrong emotion to be associated with your company.
Another important aspect to consider is your font choice. A serif is a line that finishes off the strokes of the letter, which can sometimes make text difficult to read. Sans serif fonts, such as Verdana, Tahoma, and Arial, are the easiest to read and are used in the majority of logos. They convey a tone of simple elegance and are easily legible across a variety of media. The alternative choice is serif fonts, such as Times New Roman, Garamond, and Courier, which maintain a more classic appearance.
When designing a logo, be sure to avoid using gradients and drop shadows. These unneeded design techniques will probably make your design look less professional than if you were to just leave it out. Many amateur designers use these tricks to improve a design that wasn’t sound to begin with. Also, don’t include taglines and other unnecessary information. Taglines are nearly impossible to read when the design is shrunk down to business card size, and, as clever as it may be, most customers won’t make a purchasing decision based on your tagline.
LogoWorks
Designing a recognizable, yet artistic logo can be difficult even for the most creative person. To help you with this task, HP has sourced a third-party partner, LogoWorks, who offers professional logo design services. LogoWorks can give your logo a new, exciting look, just like they did for the Endangered Species Chocolate Company. The results speak for themselves:
Customers referred by HP to LogoWorks receive a $50 discount off any logo package. Start your logo project by visiting www.LogoWorks.com/hp or by calling 800-416-6988.
Let’s face it: we make judgments about people based on first impressions all the time.
You’d probably pass up an interview with a job candidate, for example, if the resume were written on a stained, wrinkled bar napkin. In fact, chances are that no matter how qualified or sincere the applicant may be, you’ll probably choose to interview applicants with professional looking resumes instead. The jobseeker may also wonder why he has trouble finding a job when he interviews well, has plenty of experience and more than his share of skills.
The same principles apply to the first impression your business gives to potential customers, suppliers and business partners. They will make quick judgments about whether or not to do business with you based partly on how professional you appear to them initially. Just as a business owner would pass on the bar napkin applicant, so will customers move on and do business with someone else if they don’t trust you initially, no matter how qualified you actually are.
Designing your logo
There are two standard types of logos: a name, or a name and a symbol. It is important that you have a distinct, unique logo so your brand or service is easily recognized. Due to this, current logos usually feature a name and a symbol to make them more distinguishable. More attention is focused on giving the company name a unique style than creating a universally recognizable icon, but iconic logos can be extremely useful when advertising in foreign countries with other alphabet systems.You want a logo that captures the essence of your company or organization. If you're a lawyer, steer clear of silly designs. If you're a professional clown, avoid a macabre tone. A good logo is:
Simple -- without too many images, colors, or fonts
Unique -- so it is easily recognized
Flexible -- so it can be printed in varying colors and sizes on a range of surfaces
Color is possibly the most important element of your logo. An enormous percentage of the world's logos use either one or two colors in their design. Some designs use three colors, but anything more than that is widely known to make your logo look like a confusing hodgepodge. Your choice of colors is important, and you should carefully select them based upon the services your company offers. If you're designing a logo for a pool company, try to focus on cool, happy colors. If the logo is for a funeral home, stick to grays and blacks. Colors invoke a series of emotions and you never want the wrong emotion to be associated with your company.
Another important aspect to consider is your font choice. A serif is a line that finishes off the strokes of the letter, which can sometimes make text difficult to read. Sans serif fonts, such as Verdana, Tahoma, and Arial, are the easiest to read and are used in the majority of logos. They convey a tone of simple elegance and are easily legible across a variety of media. The alternative choice is serif fonts, such as Times New Roman, Garamond, and Courier, which maintain a more classic appearance.
When designing a logo, be sure to avoid using gradients and drop shadows. These unneeded design techniques will probably make your design look less professional than if you were to just leave it out. Many amateur designers use these tricks to improve a design that wasn’t sound to begin with. Also, don’t include taglines and other unnecessary information. Taglines are nearly impossible to read when the design is shrunk down to business card size, and, as clever as it may be, most customers won’t make a purchasing decision based on your tagline.
LogoWorks
Designing a recognizable, yet artistic logo can be difficult even for the most creative person. To help you with this task, HP has sourced a third-party partner, LogoWorks, who offers professional logo design services. LogoWorks can give your logo a new, exciting look, just like they did for the Endangered Species Chocolate Company. The results speak for themselves:
Customers referred by HP to LogoWorks receive a $50 discount off any logo package. Start your logo project by visiting www.LogoWorks.com/hp or by calling 800-416-6988.
Wednesday, August 02, 2006
A POS solution can help your business
A POS solution can have an immediate impact on your business. You'll quickly realize the following benefits:
• Increased savings - you'll see reduced shrinkage because it allows you to keep detailed tracking of inventory, resulting in reduced theft, waste, and misuse. Also, prices won't be entered incorrectly because they are automatically calculated by the system.
• Better workflow - checkout is faster, meaning fewer employees handle more customers.
• Streamlined management tasks - automated reporting and tracking allows management to focus their attention on building the business. The inventory management and reporting tools allow managers to speed up inventory reviews, spot sales trends, and get a better idea of when to reorder products or supplies.
• Increased revenue - reduced paperwork and less time spent managing inventory means more is accomplished with less work. The solution can also help manage trends, track customers, and focus your sales efforts on higher-margin items.
Why choose the HP Point of Sale rp5000 system?
The HP rp5000 brings you the reliability, ease-of-use, and cost-effectiveness that your business needs. Even more, it allows you to design the perfect system for your business by adding on integrated peripherals to the rp5000 base system. The HP POS system offers:
• A total package solution that you can customize, starting with the base system and adding HP-branded peripherals
• A retail hardened product for solid durability
• 5-year lifecycle
• Award-winning support
• Affordable solution with solid ROI
• Broad range of operating system choices
HP-branded and tested retail peripherals are easy to set up, and integrate fully with the rp5000 base system. They run on an open-standards hardware and software platform. Retail peripherals include:
• Receipt printer • Magnetic stripe reader
• Scanner • Keyboard
• Cash drawer • Touch screen display
HP rp5000 vs. desktop PC or proprietary POS
The chart below compares how the rp5000 stacks up against other POS options.
Feature Proprietary POS Desktop PS POS HP rp5000
Hardened for tough retail environments
Supports long installations and deployments with a 5-year purchase lifecycle
Compatible with current and future powered retail peripherals
Embedded POS operating system to lock-down POS device
3-year Standard Warranty
Low purchase price
Can be used to run productivity applications and as a managers workstation
Easy integration with back-office systems
Power to drive rich multimedia applications
Reduced long-term support and maintenance costs
Designed for new browser-based applications
• Increased savings - you'll see reduced shrinkage because it allows you to keep detailed tracking of inventory, resulting in reduced theft, waste, and misuse. Also, prices won't be entered incorrectly because they are automatically calculated by the system.
• Better workflow - checkout is faster, meaning fewer employees handle more customers.
• Streamlined management tasks - automated reporting and tracking allows management to focus their attention on building the business. The inventory management and reporting tools allow managers to speed up inventory reviews, spot sales trends, and get a better idea of when to reorder products or supplies.
• Increased revenue - reduced paperwork and less time spent managing inventory means more is accomplished with less work. The solution can also help manage trends, track customers, and focus your sales efforts on higher-margin items.
Why choose the HP Point of Sale rp5000 system?
The HP rp5000 brings you the reliability, ease-of-use, and cost-effectiveness that your business needs. Even more, it allows you to design the perfect system for your business by adding on integrated peripherals to the rp5000 base system. The HP POS system offers:
• A total package solution that you can customize, starting with the base system and adding HP-branded peripherals
• A retail hardened product for solid durability
• 5-year lifecycle
• Award-winning support
• Affordable solution with solid ROI
• Broad range of operating system choices
HP-branded and tested retail peripherals are easy to set up, and integrate fully with the rp5000 base system. They run on an open-standards hardware and software platform. Retail peripherals include:
• Receipt printer • Magnetic stripe reader
• Scanner • Keyboard
• Cash drawer • Touch screen display
HP rp5000 vs. desktop PC or proprietary POS
The chart below compares how the rp5000 stacks up against other POS options.
Feature Proprietary POS Desktop PS POS HP rp5000
Hardened for tough retail environments
Supports long installations and deployments with a 5-year purchase lifecycle
Compatible with current and future powered retail peripherals
Embedded POS operating system to lock-down POS device
3-year Standard Warranty
Low purchase price
Can be used to run productivity applications and as a managers workstation
Easy integration with back-office systems
Power to drive rich multimedia applications
Reduced long-term support and maintenance costs
Designed for new browser-based applications
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
