As of May 25th, the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) went into effect in order to grant EU citizens a level of control over the collection of their personal data, and to improve transparency between businesses and consumers. This overhaul has tremendous ramifications for merchants who service European customers (including e-commerce merchants), since it affects how businesses collect and manage data of EU citizens.

With summer on its way, you’re probably dreaming of a day at the beach or planning your next vacation. But, don’t forget about a very important deadline coming up: starting on June 30th, merchants will need to be fully migrated to Transport Layer Security (TLS) version 1.1 or higher, in accordance with the Payment Card Industry’s (PCI) standards. Here’s what you need to know.

The vast majority of merchants are familiar with the Payment Card Industry’s Data Security Standards (PCI DSS), and they even understand why it’s so important to be PCI compliant. But when it comes to actually becoming and maintaining PCI compliance, many merchants find themselves feeling overwhelmed and confused. The path to PCI compliance can be complicated, requiring the merchant to familiarize themselves with the various requirements, and then implementing practical solutions to meet these requirements. To help you get oriented with this process, here’s a quick 5-step guide to PCI compliance:

Now that you have a better understanding of the importance of building an email list, it’s time to to take a look at some of the best ways to go about it. Whether you’re starting from scratch or trying to amp up your existing efforts, these tips will be sure to put you on the right track.

In our last blog post, we explained frictionless technology and how it has been making waves recently. Now, we are going to discuss some practical ways that smaller businesses can implement friction-reducing techniques to keep up with the changing face of retail.

The shopping experience, whether it be in-store or online, centers on providing the customer with value- both in terms of the actual product or service, as well as the interaction as a whole. More than ever, retailers are realizing that in order to create this positive experience, they need to eliminate any unnecessary steps in the checkout process. This approach is known as frictionless shopping, and it is disrupting the retail environment more than ever because of recent technological advances. Keep reading to learn more about frictionless shopping- and see why it matters so much.

As online shopping continues to grow in popularity, and especially among mobile phone users, it’s more important than ever for merchants to focus on streamlining the order process and forging a positive connection with the customer. From branding on packaging to flexible shipping options, there are many tactics that retailers can use to turn an otherwise dull transaction process into one that generates positive feelings. Whether you currently offer shipping or you are thinking about starting, here are 7 ways you can create an exciting experience for your customers.

On December 22nd of 2017, President Trump signed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act into law after winning approval from the Senate. The tax reform has since received mixed reviews: while the White House forecasts that its tax cuts for corporations will increase the average household income and grow the economy, many disagree with this premise. Regardless of who’s right, though, the tax reform is sure to have a big effect on businesses. Here’s a quick overview of how it will most likely affect merchants, and specifically, for whom the changes will be most advantageous.

Online retail giant Amazon.com had a record-breaking 2017, spurred on by both new initiatives and long-standing practices that have been effective in targeting consumer interests. Amazon’s acquisition of Whole Foods slashed prices on groceries to the delight of health conscious customers everywhere. The company tapped into increasing interest in voice recognition technology by rolling out Amazon Echo devices, which became a top seller during the holiday season. And, Amazon Prime membership rates reached new levels this past year, revealing how much shoppers value quick and cheap online shipping options.

In the face of Amazon’s tremendous growth, it’s easy for retailers to despair. However, while it’s true that Amazon has advantages over other merchants -and especially e-commerce merchants- it also has its drawbacks. Here are several ways you can maintain a competitive edge over Amazon:

No business is immune from negative reviews. It’s just not possible to make everybody happy, no matter how great your customer service is. This means that in addition to prioritizing customer service, you need to have a good plan of action in place for when you do encounter a negative review or frustrated customer. Here are five ways you can respond effectively to customer dissatisfaction:

Between the flashy store window displays and barrage of email promos, retailers everywhere are putting forth their best efforts to raise brand awareness during holiday season. The good news is, these tactics tend to pay off with an increase in sales volumes and traffic. However, getting customers to your store- whether it’s online or in-person- is only half the battle. The next step is to create a positive shopping experience that will stick with people, and not disappear when the decorations come down. Here are 4 helpful ways to make a good impression so your customers will come back year-round.