The Benefits of Self-Service Kiosks: 4 Ways Self-Service Kiosks Help Small Businesses Succeed

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This is the first part of “The Benefits of Self-Service Kiosks,” a three-part blog series about the many ways self-service kiosk technology is improving businesses, communities, the customer experience, and more.

Operating a small business can be tough. In a world where online and big box retailers permeate the market, small businesses need to work even harder to differentiate themselves, stay profitable, and create a customer experience that has shoppers coming back for more.

Designated holidays like National Small Business Week and Small Business Saturday certainly help small businesses stand out, but how can business owners make a lasting impression on a daily basis? The answer lies at the customer’s fingertips: self-service kiosks!

Self-service kiosks are attractive, highly visible, and user-friendly. But on top of that, they can help small businesses boost profits, optimize efficiency, and more. Let’s take a dive into the many ways self-service kiosks help small businesses not just survive, but thrive.

1. Kiosks Make Money

Let’s be real: when it comes to staying afloat in the world of small business, money is key. Implementing a self-service kiosk (or two, or three) can cause small businesses to reap big rewards: when ordering through kiosks, consumers spend 30% more!  One big reason for this is that it’s easier for customers to customize their orders using a kiosk, and it’s also an intuitive, private way for them to browse other products. Long story short, kiosks are proven to drive increased revenue per transaction which can make or break a small business.

2. Kiosks Boost Efficiency

Shoppers expect businesses to run like a well-oiled machine, and if they don’t, they are likely to choose a different place to spend their money next time. Kiosks can help you avoid this pitfall by boosting the efficiency of every order. By providing a flexible way to maximize throughput, kiosks shift the bottleneck from the front-of the house (i.e. how fast to get orders into the system) to the back of the house (i.e. how much food can be made). Hello, line-busting!

3. Kiosks Enhance Loyalty Program Onboarding

Simply put, customers love loyalty programs – and small businesses should, too. In fact, it’s estimated that loyalty program members spend 12-18% more per year than non-loyalty members. Small businesses can have their self-service kiosk ask customers at the time of purchase to sign up for a loyalty program, and may feel more comfortable providing personal information on a kiosk versus out loud to another person. Additionally, if the loyalty program lives in a mobile wallet application, customers may be able to seamlessly provide sign-up information by transferring it from their smart device to the kiosk.

And why not promote that loyalty program on the receipt that prints out of the kiosk? With Star Micronics PromoPRNT, small businesses can create custom promotions from templates that are delivered in the most valuable place: on the receipt, in the customer’s hand.

4. Kiosks Optimize Operations

On top of making money, kiosks also help you save it by positively impacting operational costs. It’s expensive to run a small business: in the restaurant world alone, labor costs can reach 30-40%. Self-service kiosks can help soften this expense by providing an easy way for business owners to efficiently manage headcount costs and reduce unnecessary operational costs.

In a Nutshell: Kiosks Increase Return on Investment

At the end of the day, return on investment (ROI) is the most important factor when it comes to self-service kiosks. Due to upside from increased revenue, throughput, and reduced costs, ROI on self-service kiosk implementation is unmatched. And the proof is in the numbers: when shopping for a kiosk solution, many providers are able to deliver examples from businesses similar to yours that show the dramatic ROI impact kiosks can make.

How to Adopt Self-Service Kiosk Technology

Any way you slice it, self-service kiosks are huge: food and beverage revenue generated from kiosks alone is expected to top $310 million by 2021. But, of course, to be adopted by a small business, price and ease-of-implementation is critical.

Fortunately, inexpensive, easy-to-use kiosk solutions exist on the market. Take, for example, Star Micronics’ partner, Flash Order. Flash Order provides all of the benefits associated with kiosks, while being very affordable and easy for small businesses to implement. With a reasonably priced, easy-to-use kiosk implementation, it’s never been easier for small businesses to positively impact their ROI – and prosper.

Are you a kiosk manufacturer looking to find the right kiosk printer to fit your solution? In this FREE eBook, discover 8 Features Kiosk Manufacturers Should Look for When Choosing Kiosk Printing Mechanisms!

3 Father’s Day Promotions to Boost Sales

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Summer is almost here – and so is Father’s Day. Is your store prepared? Get ready with our Father’s Day promotions!

According to the National Retail Federation, last year 77% of Americans celebrated Father’s Day and spent a whopping $133 per person (the second highest amount in 15 years). Best of all, two-thirds of that spending happened in physical stores, and the trend is expected to continue this year, with a forecasted holiday spend of $15.3 billion.

It’s time to tell your shoppers about those special deals you have for Dad – using your Star receipt printer! With PromoPRNT, you can print custom promotions (for free*) right on your receipts.

Learn more in our quick how-to video:

To get you started, we’ve created three Father’s Day promotions in the PromoPRNT Promotion Builder – check them out:

Father’s Day Meal

Father’s Day Gift Sale

Father’s Day Golfing (or Other Activity)

Even More Ideas for Dad

You can also take your Father’s Day celebration beyond receipts. One way to do so is to create dad-focused merchandise displays in a high foot traffic area of your store. You can also incorporate your promotions into your website and social media design, create a Father’s Day gift guide, and more! Find even more tips here, on our retail POS software partner, Vend’s blog.

Ready to get started helping your customers celebrate Father’s Day? Click here to learn more about/register for PromoPRNT!

*Windows PC users can use their existing thermal printer, others may need to update printer model. Call 1 (800) 782-7636 extension 2 for details or visit www.promoprnt.com for more details.

This Summer’s Hottest Restaurant Trends

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People love dining out… and people love summer! But most of all, people love dining out in summer: almost half of all U.S. diners report they eat out the most during the sunny, warm season. Are you curious about this summer’s (and year’s) hottest restaurant trends? We have the know-how!

With more than 1 million restaurant locations in the country, and annual sales of $799 billion, the restaurant industry is booming – and constantly changing. We read the “What’s Hot” forecast from the National Restaurant Association, which surveys American Culinary Federation (ACF) chefs, and will save you some time by sharing some of the top trends – check them out below.

Even mainstream breweries, like Lagunitas, are incorporating cannabis into their beverages.

1. Cannabis-Infused Food & Beverages

A whopping 76% and 77% of chefs ranked cannabis-infused food and drinks as the first and second most popular trends this year, respectively. Why? They say the infused goods have the potential to create unique cuisine opportunities and new markets for experiential dining experiences.

This number-one trend comes as the cannabis industry overall is growing rapidly – it’s predicted that the global legal cannabis market will be worth $63.5 billion by 2024. (If you’re looking to cash in on the cannabis industry, be sure to download our free guide).

2. Zero-Waste Meals

Waste not, want not: 70% of surveyed chefs reported zero-waste meals as the third biggest trend this year. In general, eco-friendly products are thriving, and this carries over into the culinary world, as well.

So, what exactly is zero-waste? It’s food that’s focused on using food scraps, damaged produce, and leftovers to create delicious dishes. These foods, like coffee grind-flavored ice cream and cabbage butt stir fries, take what chefs used to throw away and make them into crave-worthy, guilt-free crowd-pleasers. Plant-based menu items are also a current hot trend (veggie “meat” products, we’re looking at you).

International menu items are having a moment right now, like “gazoz,” or Israeli soda. Source: www.fromthegrapevine.com

3. Globally Inspired Dishes for the Whole Family

It probably comes as no surprise that global foods are popular right now – but what might surprise you is which cultures’ cuisines are having a moment, and who the meals are for.

According to the report, the most popular cuisines right now are from North, West, and East Africa, as well as foods such as Israeli soda (gazoz), Thai-rolled ice cream, and shakshuka. And if you think American kids only like chicken nuggets and macaroni and cheese, think again: the number-one trend for kids’ meals this year is global flavors!

4. Hyper-Local Items

Next up on the list of hot restaurant trends is hyper-locally sourced items, or items that are essentially cultivated by the restaurant itself. You may notice this is similar to #2 in that it seems today’s consumers care more about where their foods come from, and how they are sourced. Hyper-local items that are popular now include locally-sourced produce, meat, seafood, and spirits/wine/beer. In particular, on-site barrel-aged drinks are the second most popular trend in the Alcoholic Beverages category.

Which Trends are Fading?

According to surveyed chefs, overnight oats, anise-flavored cocktails, novel cuts of meat, and desserts that feature pretzels are all not-so-hip anymore.

Download the full report now to learn about top restaurant trends by category (produce, dishes, condiments, kids’ meals, snacks/sweets, and more).

One thing that won’t fade out like other restaurant trends is the receipt. Discover when (and why) receipts are critical, as well as the value in both printed and digital receipts, now!

5 “Must-Haves” for Stadium Point of Sale

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When visiting a large sports stadium or entertainment arena, you often find long lines for food and merchandise during half-time or intermissions. The people attending these professional sports games or concerts paid good money to see their team play or favorite artist perform, and they don’t want to miss a thing. This puts a huge amount of pressure on the employees working the concession stands or merchandise shops to complete the customer’s order as quickly as possible. A lot of this workflow plays into the stadium point of sale (POS) system being used. Here are 5 “must-haves” when looking for a POS system for sports and entertainment venues.

1. Intuitive Software

First and foremost, you will need an easy-to-use and intuitive stadium POS software. Depending on how often a team plays in the stadium or how many performances take place per year, stadium employees tend to work more sporadically compared to your standard restaurant or retail employee. This means that stadiums need a POS system that concession and merchandise shop employees can pick up quickly with little to no training.

2. Back-of-House Support

While people rarely see what goes on behind the scenes at stadium concession stands, it’s important to make sure that your POS manages the back-of-house just as well as it manages your transactions. From inventory management, to menu management, to fan data, back-end analytics can help you to make sure you never run out of stock during a big event. By having access to analytics that can be reported day-to-day, you can make sure that your concession menu appeals to your audience for a particular game or event.

3. Varied Payment Support

When you have a packed stadium with a mile-long line of customers, you simply do not have time to fuss over payment methods. In a high-pressure, high-volume environment such as sport and entertainment stadiums, you need to get your customers through the line as quickly as possible.

One of the best ways to ensure a quick and seamless transaction is to make sure your POS system supports a multitude of payment methods. Now, with more people adopting mobile wallets, you will see more and more retailers and concession stands accepting NFC payments at major sports arenas. Make sure that when your customer is set with their order and ready to pay, that whatever form of payment they choose will be accepted at your point of sale.

4. Mobile Ordering

One ordering method that’s rapidly gaining popularity in sports entertainment properties is mobile ordering. During major sports games and concerts, people don’t want to leave their seat and risk missing a big play or their favorite song. Many stadiums are adopting a mobile ordering method where fans can order food or drinks on their mobile device and either have it delivered to their seat, or go grab it when it is ready. Fans don’t have to miss a thing and concession employees don’t have to deal with a line of angry customers. It’s a win for everyone!

5. Reliable Hardware

In fast-paced environments such as stadium concession stands and merchandise shops, employees don’t have time to deal with flaky hardware. They need their receipt printers to print and their cash drawers to open every time a transaction is completed, and they need hardware that will withstand the high volume of transactions. Appetize and Star Micronics have teamed up to create a complete POS solution for stadiums that combines intuitive software and reliable hardware peripherals.

The Appetize-Star solution includes the Star Micronics TSP654IIBi, a reliable, high-performance Bluetooth-connected desktop receipt printer, as well as the Star Micronics SM-S230i, a lightweight portable receipt printer that’s Apple MFi-certified. You can find the Appetize and Star Micronics bundled POS solutions in major sports and live entertainment locations including the Golden 1 Center (home of the Sacramento Kings), U.S. Bank Stadium (home of the Minnesota Vikings), over 40 Live Nation properties, and many more.

Featured Star Stadium Solutions

Contact Star Micronics today to learn more about how we create streamlined point of sale solutions for stadiums and beyond!

How Food Robots are Making Waves in the Restaurant Industry

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Food robots might sound futuristic, but believe it or not, they’re already showing up in restaurants across the world. Offering both front- and back-of-house services, food robots work in a variety of roles, from cooking and cleaning up to bartending and bussing tables. Let’s take a look at some of the most popular food robots on the market today, and how restaurants can get their very own robot.

Cooking

    • Flippy: Meet Flippy, a robot that works at Caliburger in Pasadena, California. Flippy is capable of (impressively) frying 80 baskets of food per hour and serving 300 burgers a day. And Flippy can do more than just cook – it can even monitor food and clean up. Flippy helps the burger joint minimize headcount costs, as many short-order cooks were leaving the kitchen due to high temperatures (it’s worth noting that not one Caliburger employee has lost their job due to Flippy; in fact, Flippy requires humans to operate).

    • Vincenzo: Vincenzo is a pizza-making robot at Zume Pizza in Mountain View, California. Capable of creating 370 pizzas an hour, Vincenzo can press dough, dispense and spread sauce, and lift pizzas in and out of the oven, reducing delivery times to 5-20 minutes. Interestingly, there is no storefront for Zume Pizza; all pizzas are delivered via mobile kitchen food trucks.

    • Café X Barista Bot: Café X, a San Francisco coffeeshop, utilizes a one-armed assembly line-style robot that can create two drinks in under a minute. The café’s robot helps ensure complicated orders come out correctly, and apparently the drinks even taste good, too; according to Wired, “This robot barista makes a dang good latte.”

Bartending

    • Cyberdog Bartender Bot: When you step inside Prague’s Cyberdog, a two-level futuristic wine bar, you’ll soon realize it’s home to a robotic bartender that serves up drinks ordered via a smartphone app. The red robotic arm can pour up to four drinks simultaneously before they are placed on a tray and delivered via a mechanical system housed in the ceiling. Humorously, the robot can put on a show, too; if business is slow and the robot doesn’t have any orders to make, it gets “bored” and performs dances.

Serving

    • Penny: Created by Bear Robotics, Penny is a robot created to help complete tedious restaurant tasks. Penny serves food to diners tables in a fun and futuristic way, and can even bus the tables. Bear Robotics CEO Jon Ha said that waitstaff appreciate not having to lift heavy trays, and have experience higher tips because they now have more time and energy to dedicate to customer service.

    • Delivery Robots: In addition to serving customers in restaurants, fleets of delivery robots are hitting the streets to also deliver food (and other items) to consumers’ homes and offices. In 2018, the delivery robot market was worth $11.9 billion, and it’s predicted to be worth a whopping $34 billion by 2024. It makes sense, when you realize that more than 60% of a merchant’s customers live within three miles of one of their stores!

How Do Restaurants Get Their Hands on Food Robots?

Not surprisingly, robots can come with a hefty price tag. However, renting one (versus buying one) makes them surprisingly affordable. According to one robotics company, a robot can be leased, and that lease is reported to offer immediate return. The estimated price range for a lease is $15K-$50K (USD) per year, depending on the complexity of the duties wished to be performed. It still might feel futuristic, but quick-service restaurants where customers order and pay on kiosks, and eat food that is cooked and delivered by robots, is entirely possible.

Even if you’re unsure about employing a robot just yet, Star Micronics can help you automate other restaurant processes with self-service kiosks. Download our Kiosk Printing Solutions brochure to learn more about the durability, versatility, and industry-specific features Star offers.

3 Memorial Day Marketing Ideas for Small Businesses

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Time is flying and Memorial Day is almost here! Memorial Day is a great time for your business to honor the Armed Forces, as well as celebrate the unofficial start of summer. Last year, it was estimated that consumers spent $500 (each!) over the holiday weekend, which means stores like yours should be prepared.

Print Memorial Day Promotions with Your Receipt Printer

There’s no need to shell out your hard-earned cash to market your Memorial Day specials. With Star Micronics PromoPRNT, you can print custom Memorial Day marketing promotions for veterans-only sales, summer kickoff specials, barbeques, and much more – all using the receipt printer you already have. And even better yet, the promotions are printed directly on the bottom of the receipt – a place nearly every customer looks! Click here to learn more or sign up for PromoPRNT today.

Let’s explore 3 easy in-store promotions you can print using PromoPRNT (these templates are currently available for use in the PromoPRNT dashboard):

1. Highlight a Sale for Veterans

2. Promote a BBQ

3. Have a Summer Kickoff Sale

Remember, all of these promotion templates are currently available on the PromoPRNT dashboard, in the Promotion Builder.

Looking for other ways to spruce up your small business? Explore more Small Business Tips now.

How to Create the Perfect POS Solution for Your Fitness Center

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A fitness center is a challenging environment for point of sale (POS) systems. There are staff schedules, members to track, classes to register for, and different areas of the facility that may need retail POS functionalities but don’t have the counter space to spare.

Owners and managers who want to create the perfect POS solution for their fitness center can build it with the right components and applications. There are a wide range of technologies and POS hardware solutions that can help you elevate your fitness center to the next level.

Scheduling and Membership Management

Downloadable applications for scheduling and member management are popular because they require little upfront investment, update frequently, and typically utilize the hardware you already own. This affordable alternative to traditional, on-premises POS systems keep information secure and make it easy to create schedules and maintain client records, even when you’re not on site.

However, many web-based applications have printer connectivity issues.  A platform-agnostic print data relaying application is a popular technology solution used to remedy this problem. You’ll want to find a low-cost, versatile solution to cloud/web-based printing that allows you to generate high-quality printing for your fitness center with professional, crisp graphics.

Solutions for Off-Site or Outdoor Fitness Classes

Fitness center owners who host off-site events or outdoor fitness classes need to have receipt-printing capability for customers paying for retail products, classes or services. For this reason, you’ll want to find a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE)-enabled printer. These portable receipt printers can range from compact models to more robust options, and at price points that suit any budget.  Choose a portable receipt printer that is small, light, and can easily be carried outdoors and used to print invoices, labels, receipts, and other documentation.

Space-Saving, Cost-Effective Solutions

Fitness centers aren’t cash-heavy operations, so many gym owners don’t feel the need to shell out big bucks for a full POS setup. But for a select few areas that handle cash — for example, a juice bar, babysitting, or when paying for guests or special services — an ergonomic solution for tablet POS that combines a cash drawer and printer peripheral is the ideal solution. Select a unit with a fully integrated design that works with the tablet or mobile device of your choice, so you can have a mobile solution without compromising space, quality, or functionality.

The Star Micronics mPOP is the perfect modern, compact point of sale solution.

Quick and Easy Connections

Fitness center owners who choose popular iPad and iPhone POS solutions have demanded increasingly mobile and connected receipt printer solutions. Since gyms tend to be heavily soundproofed with electronic equipment or other signal blocking materials, you may struggle with connectivity.

The first AirPrint-certified receipt printer, the TSP654II.

Choose a printing solution from a line of printers that was created to take care of connectivity problems. For example, consider the TSP654II. This printer was the first-ever AirPrint® certified receipt printer on the market, meaning it prints via iOS devices easily and without driver installation. On top of its compatibility, the TSP654II also is capable of printing 60 receipts per minute and features swappable interfaces.

The Star Micronics mC-Printers are another great option for a connected gym. The sleek, cube-shaped printers are available in 2″ and 3″ models, and boast Bluetooth, USB, Lightning, LAN, and CloudPRNT connectivity options.

Gym owners looking for printing solutions for fitness centers should explore Star Micronics’ lineup of hardware and technology applications. Whether you are looking to add printer connectivity, mobile POS, or off-site functionality, Star has a variety of options that will help you add the capabilities you need at an affordable price.

Built-In Marketing Tools

Printing receipts is great, but why not kill two birds with one stone and market to your fitness center members at the same time? Star Micronics PromoPRNT, a value-added, cloud-based marketing tool, lets you do just that. PromoPRNT uses existing Star receipt printers to print custom promotions directly on the bottom of receipts., You can easily log on to the cloud dashboard and design promotions from templates, boosting customer engagement and retention. Promotions can advertise sales, special events, loyalty programs, and much more. Learn more or sign up today!

Need more guidance building out your ideal fitness center point of sale system? Contact us today!

cannabis legalization header

Cannabis Legalization Check-In: What’s New

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It’s hard to believe that 2019 is almost halfway complete. Time is flying, and if one thing is true, it’s this: the cannabis industry is budding.

It seems like there’s a major cannabis legalization update with each week that passes. With that legalization (and cultural acceptance) comes dollar signs: it’s predicted that the global legal cannabis market will be worth $63.5 billion by 2024. Whether or not you’ve dipped your toes into the cannabis market, it’s important to stay informed, which is why we’ve compiled a mid-year cannabis legalization check-in. Discover what’s new in cannabis legalization in the U.S. and beyond below.

Cannabis Legalization: Where the U.S. Stands

At the time this blog post was written, the medical use of cannabis is legal in 33 states, four out of five permanently inhabited U.S. territories, and the District of Columbia. Meanwhile, the recreational usage of cannabis is legal in 10 states (Alaska, California, Colorado, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, Oregon, Vermont, and Washington). And interestingly, a 2018 Gallup poll found that two-thirds of Americans feel marijuana should be made legal.

The following states have bills to legalize (and for the most part, regulate) adult marijuana use:

  • Alabama
    • Bill(s): SB 98; would legalize less than two ounces of cannabis, but does not include a regulated system
  • Connecticut
    • Bill(s): HB 7371, SB 1085, HB 5595, HB 6863, SB 496, SB 690 SB 744; on March 25, HB 7371 passed out of the General Law Committee
  • Florida
    • Bill(s): S. 1298; proposes a constitutional amendment that would go to voters for adults to grow, possess, and use cannabis
  • Hawaii
    • Bill(s): HB 1515, HB 1581, HB 708, SB 606, SB 686, SB 702; these bills did not advance out of committee before a deadline
  • Illinois
    • Bill(s): SB 7, HB 902, HB 2477
  • Indiana
    • Bill(s): SB 213; did not advance out of committee before a deadline
  • Iowa
    • Bill(s): SF 469; did not advance before a legislative deadline
  • Kentucky
    • Bill(s): SB 80; the legislature adjourned without voting on the bill
  • Louisiana
    • Bill(s): HB 509, HB 564, HB 462; HB 462 would create a constitutional amendment to allow cities to call elections to legalize and regulate adult use of cannabis
  • Maryland
    • Bill(s): SB 771 and SB 656; HB 632 proposes a constitutional amendment that would go to voters in 2020
  • Minnesota
    • Bill(s): SF 619 and HF 420; HF 265 and HF 465 propose a constitutional amendment that would go to voters in 2020; the Senate bills were voted down in committee in a 6-3 vote
  • Mississippi
    • Bill(s): SB 2349 died in committee
  • Missouri
    • Bill(s): HB 157, HB 551
  • Montana
    • Bill(s): HB 770
  • New Hampshire
    • Bill(s): HB 481, which the House voted 200-163 to pass on April 4, 2019, sending the bill to the Senate
  • New Jersey
    • Bill(s): S 830, A 1348, A 3819; the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee and the Assembly Appropriations Committee voted on November 26, 2018 to advance S2703 and A4497; both bills carried over to 2019; the Senate Judiciary Committee reported a revised bill out on March 18, 2019
  • New Mexico
    • Bill(s): HR 356, SB 577; the House approved HR 356 in a 36-34 vote, then the bill died in the Senate Finance committee; the legislature has adjourned
  • New York
    • Bill(s): A. 1617, S. 1527, and S. 1509 and A. 2009, which are budget bills that include taxing and regulating cannabis for adult use
  • North Carolina
    • Bill(s): SB 58
  • Pennsylvania
    • Bill(s): HB 50
  • Rhode Island
    • Bill(s): H 5828 and H 5151; H 5151 is a budget bill that includes taxing and regulating cannabis for adult use
  • Texas
    • Bill(s): SB 460, SJR, 8, proposes a constitutional amendment that would go to voters in 2020
  • Virginia
    • Bill(s): HB 2371, HB 2373, both of which died in committee
  • West Virginia
    • Bill(s): SB 143, HB 2331, HB 2376, HB 3108; these bills did not advance before the legislature adjourned

Adult-use legalization bills are predicted in Delaware and Wisconsin, as well.

Where Other Countries Stand

Here is where some other countries stand in terms of legalization:

  • Argentina: CBD legalized/partially medically legalized/decriminalized
  • Australia: Medically legalized/partially decriminalized
  • Canada: Full federal legalization
  • Chile: Medically legalized
  • Colombia: Medically legalized/decriminalized
  • Croatia: Medically legalized
  • Czech Republic: Medically legalized
  • Germany: Medically legalized/decriminalized
  • India: Federally illegal, but legal in some states
  • Israel: Medically legalized
  • Italy: Medically legalized
  • Jamaica: Partially medically legalized/decriminalized
  • Macedonia: Medically legalized
  • Mexico: Medically legalized/decriminalized
  • Philippines: Medical cannabis legislation in progress
  • Poland: Partially medically legalized
  • Puerto Rico: Medically legalized
  • Turkey: Medically legalized
  • Uruguay: Legalized

Looking to Grow in the Cannabis Market?

 

Star Micronics has what it takes to compete in the cannabis industry. Our cannabis point of sale offering includes everything from NTEP-certified scales and high-volume cash drawers to pre-printed cannabis labels and in-store marketing tools.

Are you a reseller looking to cash in on cannabis point of sale? Discover what makes the cannabis industry different from other retail industries, what POS systems are required to legally sell cannabis, and more!

3 In-Store Mother’s Day Marketing Ideas Using PromoPRNT

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Ah, moms. They are there for us since day one, and they remind us to take care of ourselves when we are adults. Clearly many people appreciate their mothers, and feel that there’s no better way to thank mom than to treat her on Mother’s Day. In fact, according to the National Retail Federation, in 2018, 86% of American consumers celebrated the holiday, and they spent $179.77 each (with the biggest spenders shelling out nearly $225)!

It’s simply a no brainer that businesses large and small should cash in on the loving holiday. Implementing an in-store Mother’s Day marketing campaign in particular is great idea. Why? Because collectively, 64% of consumers will shop at department stores and specialty stores (like florists and jewelers), versus just 31% of shoppers who plan to shop online. Additionally, nearly 30% of moms claim they would love to receive the gift of an experience, like a spa day or entertainment tickets.

PromoPRNT: The Perfect Solution for Mother’s Day Marketing

Lucky for retailers and restaurants, with Star Micronics PromoPRNT, there’s never been an easier way to take advantage of in-store marketing. PromoPRNT works with your existing Star receipt printer (at no additional cost) and enables you to print customized promotions – directly on the receipts that go into your customer’s hand! Benefits of PromoPRNT include:

  • Increase customer retention
  • Make each customer visit unique
  • Manage promotions from anywhere
  • Make custom promotions from templates
  • And more!

Click here to learn more about PromoPRNT, or check out our short intro video below:

To help you out, Star has created three customizable Mother’s Day promotion templates, which are available now in the Promotion Builder. Check them out now:

Promo 1: Invite Customers to Take Mom Out

Promo 2: Promote Your Mother’s Day Sales

Promo 3: Host a Giveaway

 

Remember, all of these templates are now available to use in Promo Builder!

Ready to learn more or register for PromoPRNT? Click here to learn more and register your Star printer.

The Faster Payments Council: What You Need to Know

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The payments industry is changing – fast. According to Statista, digital payments (including any payment made over the internet and payments made via mobile device at the point of sale) are expected to grow 12.7% year over year, and will account for over $6.5 trillion worldwide by 2023.

With the rapid growth of faster payments – or “payments in which the transmission of the payment message and the availability of final funds to the payee occur in real time or near-real time, and on as near to a 24-hour and 7-day basis as possible” – comes a variety of concerns, from accessibility to security. Not surprisingly, the industry’s leaders want a say in the path that’s being paved.

That’s where the U.S. Faster Payments Council (FPC) comes in. Lead by some of the payment industry’s key players, the FPC aims to enable all Americans to “safely and securely pay anyone, anywhere, at any time, and with near-immediate funds availability.” Let’s take a deeper dive into the FPC and its goals.

When Was the FPC Formed?

The FPC was created in November 2018 by the Faster Payments Task Force, a group of hundreds of stakeholders that came together – with Federal Reserve support – to form the Governance Framework Formation Team (GFFT). The GFFT was tasked with developing and implementing a governance framework that was inclusive of all of its stakeholders and facilitated faster payments in America, which is the FPC.

Who is a Part of the FPC?

The FPC is open to all stakeholders in the U.S. payment system, and it welcomes everyone from corporations to small businesses to individuals. Founding sponsors of the FPC include:

  • Bankers’ Bank
  • Ceridian
  • Corporate One
  • Early Warning
  • ICBA Bancard
  • Mastercard
  • NEACH
  • North American Banking Company
  • Open Payment Network
  • SHAZAM
  • Target
  • TD Bank
  • The Bankers’ Bank
  • The Clearing House
  • Visa Inc.
  • The Bank of New York Mellon
  • First Data
  • Goldman Sachs Bank USA
  • JPMorgan Chase Bank & Co.
  • Walmart

What is the FPC’s Mission?

Simply put, the FPC’s mission is to enable ubiquitous faster payments in the U.S. According to its website, the FPC has three pillars of guiding principles: inclusiveness and fairness; flexibility and responsibility; and transparency. More specifically, some goals the FPC has are:

  • Addressing issues that inhibit the adoption of faster payments
  • Enhancing the safety and security for service providers and users of faster payments
  • Developing guidelines to address opportunities and issues
  • Creating an education and awareness program to foster a better understanding of faster payments

Click here to view the FPC’s full framework.

What Comes Next

The FPC is planning to hold its first in-person meeting at the end of May 2019, so we expect to hear an update on its next steps shortly after. The council is also currently searching for its permanent Executive Director. During a time when payments are changing faster than ever, we’re interested to see how the FPC will affect the industry!