With a New Year under way and Lynn passing the baton (read her article here), we're posting an update on the "State of the Skurla's" and where the business is going with some perspectives by the new owners - the folks you already know: Jesse Dison and Thomas Greenman:
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It’s an interesting time we live in right now. On the surface, things don’t seem like they’ve changed too much but dig a little deeper and you’ll see changes everywhere. I think that’s part of the problem businesses in Alaska are having – identifying change. As they say, the first step in fixing a problem is identifying the problem, and oh boy do we have problems. First and foremost: labor.
One of the highest compliments we can receive as a business is when one our customers refer us to another business. Laile Fairbairn from Locally Grown Restaurants (Snow City Cafe, Spenard Roadhouse, South Restaurant + Coffehouse, and Crush Bistro) is another one of our vocal customers who referred a new customer who signed up for our new NCA Referral program, and she scored $500 in cash!
If you're one of our amazing customers and refer another local business to sign up with our new EdgeServ POS with NCA (Non-Cash Adjustment) credit card processing, you’ll be doing two amazing things:
For Alaskans, being connected on the internet with each other and the lower 48, is a way of life. But life could be getting better for those with slow speeds as Starlink's new satellite-based internet service is now available for Alaskans. The service is expected to provide around the same speeds and cost to all of rural Alaska as you could expect in have in Anchorage. Starlink isn’t the only big change coming in the way of high-speed internet for Alaskans. Thanks to efforts from the federal government to fund more broadband to Alaska via an infrastructure act, Alaskans can expect to have multiple options for faster, more cost-effective internet access.
“Short Staffed Is Our New Pandemic” was the sign I saw on a door at a busy restaurant in Florida last month while I was on vacation. I thought to myself, wow what a great way to explain a bad situation to hungry patrons. The sign went on to say, “We’re grateful for the staff members that did show up and hope you are too. So please show it by being patient and understanding with all staff members. Thank you, Management.”
From Alaska to Florida, being short staffed is something everyone is dealing with, and not just in the hospitality industry but all manner of industries. One of my recent flights back to Alaska was delayed because they were waiting on a replacement cabin crew member. On another, travelers couldn’t check their bags because no staff were manning the counter (they did show up a little later and used mobile phones to line bust and check folks faster – thank you Alaska Airlines). So where have all the workers gone?
Some industries are hiring more than ever, like the health care industry, with little doubt because as all parts of the country are dealing with increased demand on their services. Not surprisingly, larger companies are also snapping up workers as well, with most being able to offer more pay and benefits to employees looking to make more or for a career change. The result being that small businesses are struggling to keep up, let alone compete with these large companies. Couple that with those same companies still offering remote work, you start to see that it looks more like a migration than a temporary change.
In addition, aging workers are retiring, with some retiring earlier than expected. We are also seeing less people moving to the state, and fewer foreign workers coming in for seasonal jobs. So, while many see the pandemic as being mostly over, for some the effects are still an everyday struggle.
Read more about the labor shortage in Alaska but across the nation:
At Skurla’s, we firmly believe that the right technology and payment solutions can enable Alaskans to go beyond just surviving but grow. Our game changing credit card processing programs can save you up to 99% of your credit card fees – can you see the value in reaching out to us? Visit us at www.skurlas.com or call 907-243-2683.
When I’m talking with people from the lower 48, I often use a bear analogy to describe how Alaskan businesses depend on the summer. In spring, we gear up for a big summer, where we try to do as much business as we can; because in the winter times will be much leaner. It seems very similar to the bears we share the state with. At Skurla’s, we see this same cycle every year, and this year we’ve been busier than ever. Our new EdgeServ POS is doing amazingly well for us and our customers. More Alaskans have chosen us as their POS and payment processor provider this year than before the pandemic. Our solutions have enabled Alaskans to make it through the past two years, some customers have even told us they had their best years ever! So far, this year is shaping up to be bigger than others. But success doesn’t come without its challenges.
One of my favorite traditions at Skurla's POS Solutions has been Lynn Skurla Perkins and/or her mother Phyllis bringing everyone in the office a shamrock shake from McDonald's for St. Patrick's Day! The #nextgen of Skurla's is keeping with this tradition by bringing Phyllis her shamrock shake and visiting her at the retirement community where she lives.
Hello Fellow Alaskans!
It’s still early in the year, but restaurants and retail operations are already in full swing towards making their summer season an amazing one. We are of the same mind - we want this to be a better summer than last year, and we’ve got some helpful tips on how to help accomplish that goal. Let’s jump into four ways to get ready for summer!
At Skurla’s, we are always looking at the latest, greatest technology that could help build our customers' businesses. This year, we’ll be keeping you in the loop frequently with new technology we have available now, and what will be available in the future. For this article, I’m super excited to have read the story about Apple possibly developing integrated payment technology into their devices, starting with the iPhone: Apple (AAPL) to Let iPhones Accept Credit Cards in Threat to Square - Bloomberg.
