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.
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!
Every year we attend industry educational events to keep Skurla’s current with technology trends and payments, but also to be able share that information on to our customers. This year, we were able to attend major events, and one of the biggest topics was NCA (Non-Cash Adjustment). For those that may not be familiar with this, it’s a program where merchants save up to 99% of their credit card processing expenses by passing along a small fee (3.99%) to their customers who pay with credit cards. It also rewards their customers who pay in cash as they don’t have to pay this fee.
Why has this been such a big deal? The pandemic hasn’t been kind to many businesses to say the least. Labor and inventory shortages, price increases, and cost of doing business have all been major factors that have forced business to look at their bottom line and some are barely getting by. NCA is a solution that can have a serious positive impact. The savings calculation is simple - look at the fees on your credit card statement and that’s money that you’ll likely save. For a small merchant who pays $2,000 a month in fees, that’s a savings $24,000 a year!
