Shoulda, Coulda, Wou … Will!

It’s been said that the two most dangerous words in the English language, when combined, are What and If

  • What if I married her?
  • What if I took that job?
  • What if I did this, instead of that?
  • What if…?

Looking Back

I was tempted to embed a YouTube video of Cher belting out “If I could turn back time…” as she pines over lost opportunities, but I’ll refrain.

Actually, I won’t.  For those who need a soundtrack to this post, here you go – Video

But really!  What if?  What if you actually did something years ago and could have the benefit today?  While Marty McFly would argue that’s a real option, there are too many of us reading this that know that the sands of time only flow in one direction.

And that’s the point of this article!  There is still an option for each of us.  In his recent Annual Letter to Shareholders, Warren Buffett shared a personal story of saving his money from age 6 to 11 and then investing the $114.75 into a commodity service stock.  His best estimates revealed it would be worth $606,811 today.

You’re thinking, if only I could put $1,000 into that stock then, I’d be a bazillionaire today, right?

Bright Future

Well, Buffett goes on to talk about optimism in investing in tools like the S&P 500 and avoiding other things that many might think are worthwhile investments, like Gold. He places his confidence in another two-word idea – American Tailwind.

He continues that, for decades to come, there is much more for investors to take hope and determination in. And what, specifically, is he referring to? The people of America that are industrious!  The drive you possess to improve and achieve more is this “American Tailwind” he speaks of.

Now, most who will read this were impacted in some way by the recession in 2008.  But look at us now!  Others will remember the insanely high interest rates of the 80s.  But look at us now!  Wars, natural disasters, terrorism, political tensions and polarities, and on and on and on.  Look at us now!

As merchants, business owners, employees, whatever your station in life is right now, there is a reason to look ahead with optimism.  But you have to have a plan and you have to be willing to be part of the American Tailwind, or it will leave you behind.

I wish I could turn back time, sure!  I’d have become a pro-snowboarder and bought stock in Microsoft in the 90s.  But that will never happen.  And, I’m okay with that, because I have the future!  A bright future with all the lessons of the past.

So, dig in and stake your claim on the future. Prosperity is yours if you’ll take a step forward and open your mind to new ideas.  Stop living in the lost opportunities of the past wishing you could turn back time.

You can do this because the future is as bright as you make it and, as Buffet wrote, “All engendered scary headlines; all are now history.”

Read a summary of the Annual Letter here.

Damon Luke, CEO
CashDiscount
Visit us at www.cashdiscount.com.

What Will A $100 Trillion Market Do To You?

Will it make you money or will it cost you?

PayPal CEO Dan Schulman recently shared his thoughts on digital payments and what we can expect in the future.

Venmo payments have “surged 80 percent year over year” and is expected to process more than $100 billion in transactions in 2019.  E-commerce and P2P payments have been around for quite some time already, but industry experts believe an explosion of activity is still ahead.

As a company, are you offering the right services?

Schulman said. “I think it’s going to be less and less about how does one company hyper-serve customers. I think the new way of the world going forward is how do companies take the best of their platforms [and] put them together to better serve companies.”

Take Zelle for example.  There has to be some validity to the claims around digital payments when large institutions are throwing their hats into the same ring together in order to consume as much market share as possible, then settle the scores later.

On the surface, the competitive nature of companies may look like a game of King of the Mountain.

But when we consider the market mentality, and financial giants have, we see that in fact it’s the team mentality that will win in the end.

That’s probably a lesson we can all benefit from in our own restaurants, mechanic shops, e-commerce stores, etc.  By leveraging technology to participate in various social sectors, we can cast a wider net.  And in the end, we might just see that the wider net is actually a wider net profit.

 

Read the full article here – https://www.cnbc.com/2019/02/19/digital-payments-could-grow-into-a-100-trillion-market-paypal-ceo.html

Cash Discount
[email protected]

Millennials and the Growing Need

Millennials are just getting started!

In 2017, they spent $600 billion in the United States.  What part of that number did you capture?

Their appetites are still diverse, but they are the product of technological advancements and major cultural shifts that have altered consumer mentality from the day they were born.

The Lexington Law Blog wrote:

“As Millennials will soon become the largest living generation in America there is a growing need for brands and companies to pivot their sales tactics … The full impact of Millennials purchasing power and brand preferences will come into full effect in 2020 when their purchasing power is projected to reach $1.4 trillion. With Millennials becoming a major part of the US economy it is important for brands to stay educated on the spending habits of this growing power house.”

How much of that figure WILL you capture?

The following are a few statistics from their research –

  • 48% of Millennials report that they are living from paycheck to paycheck. [Source: Wells Fargo]
  • 60% of Millennials remain loyal to brands they purchase. [Source: Forbes]
  • 74% of Millennials would switch to a different retailer or brand if they had a negative customer service experience. [Source: ICSC]

Read any financial product study out there and you’ll see that relationships and value added – not just in the product(s) purchased, but more importantly, in the experience created – are what provide a “retaining” experience with your customer.

“Although no generation behaves the same as the last, Millennials are attributed to changing much in America due to their sheer size … it is growing important to learn about their spending habits and purchasing preferences.”

Cash Discount Team
[email protected]

Cash Discount? Yes, please!

Whether a merchant or ISO, the question today is – Do you offer Cash Discount?

The answer is … Yes!

If your answer was anything other than yes, it’s time to reconsider your approach!  As an ISO, why wouldn’t you want to offer more products to merchants wondering if a processor is looking out for their best interest?  As a Merchant, why wouldn’t you want to add to your bottom line and go with a processor that really does have your best interests at heart?

We’ve been at this long enough now to know that merchants really are the winners in the Cash Discount program.  They can offer more options to an increasingly particular and educated demographic that not only likes, not only expects, but literally DEMANDS tailored options that fit their needs and philosophies of life.  And with margins always seeming to tighten up, suddenly the stove that needs replacing, the new fleet vehicle can be purchased to serve a larger area, or the desperately needed attraction can finally be acquired to grow your business, all with the savings from a cash discount program!

So, if you’re not offering it to your customers, who is?  If you don’t know where to start, we’re happy to help point you in the right direction.  Feel free to visit us at www.cashdiscount.com.

 

CashDiscount Team
[email protected]

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