Farmers Markets: Plastic Money Comes to Farmers Markets

Transcription

1 Great Lakes Fruit, Vegetable & Farm Market EXPO December 4-6, 2007 DeVo Place Convention Center, Grand Rapids, MI Farmers Markets: Plastic Money Comes to Farmers Markets Thursday afternoon 1:00 pm Where: Gallery Overlook (upper level) Room C Moderator: Susan Smalley, Sustainable Food & Farming Specialist, MSU Extension 1:00 Costs & Benefits of Accepting Credit/Debit Cards Suzanne Briggs, Collaboration, Portland OR 2:00 Working with a Third Party Processor Wally Dutkowski, ACS Government and Community Services, E. Lansing, MI 2:30 Michigan Farmers Markets and EBT: Lessons Diana Jancek, Market Manager, Sweetwater Local Foods Market, Muskegon, MI Randall Fogelman, Director of Special Projects, Eastern Market Corporation, Detroit, MI 3:15 Q & A About Credit, Debit, EBT Suzanne Briggs, Collaboration, Portland OR Wally Dutkowski, ACS Government and Community Services, E. Lansing, MI Diana Jancek, Market Manager, Sweetwater Local Foods Market, Muskegon, MI Randall Fogelman, Director of Special Projects, Eastern Market Corporation, Detroit, MI

2 How to Choose a Quality Third Party Provider (TPP) (aka Merchant Services Provider) Robb Lyons, Agent and Kim Lyons, Director of Business Development MerchantSource powered by Total Merchant Services Laurel Valley Road; Ft. Myers, FL Toll Free: (800) Fax: (239) Robb@merchantsource.com MerchantSource powered by Total Merchant Services has been in business since 1994 providing quality merchant services, equipment and supplies to various industries. Since 2005 our company has been heavily involved in working directly with farmers in providing Wireless EBT, credit and ATM/debit card processing for their business. Robb & Kim both come from farming backgrounds and understand the changing economy of the family farm. We support our farmers endeavors to grow their business thru innovative technology. The following is an outline of our basic presentation. A. How to pick a quality TPP (Third Party Provider) B. Sponsoring Banks: MSP, Agents C. Why the Confusion? A. I count 87 million reasons why B. TMI Internet Yellow Pages C. Fear of Wrong Decisions D. Back to the Quest A. Longevity in Industry B. They say 24/7 support But C. Do you need multilingual support D. What are the options as far as wireless E. What happens when you say EBT? E. Will the TPP process EBT cards only or add commercial cards. F. Are terminals supported in house or split support with manufacturer A. Class A Certification B. Class B Certification G. Centralized Accounting: ability to Chain merchant accounts for state viewing

3 H. Merchant Service Contract: A. 3 Year Standard B. What is buyout? C. Can your TPP Sales Agent office assist in lesser terms? I. Pricing: A. Service Fees: i. Application/Setup ii. Discount Fee iii. Transaction Fee iv. Monthly Minimum v. Service/Statement Fee vi. Monthly Wireless Fee vii. Wireless Transaction Fee J. Statistics of Iowa Farmers Market Program (only thru Aug) Total Sales $19,775 $210,614 $258,926 EBT Sales $1423 (7.2%) $18,524 (8.8%) $26,164 (10.1%) Total Transactions ,627 EBT Trans 158 (16.9%) 2143 (21.6%) 3095 (26.6%) K. In 2006, participating farmers reported an average increase in sales of 13.3% over L. 93.3% of customers surveyed reported that they plan to shop more at farmers markets if they can use EBT/debit/credit. (This survey was done at the end of 2006 season.) A. Information courtesy of Jan Walters, Project Manager at Iowa Dept. of Human Services (515) CONTACT US: Robert Lyons, Agent Toll Free: (800) Robb@merchantsource.com

4 For More Information call Robert Lyons, Agent Contact Us The Quest for a TPP Third Party Provider (aka: Merchant Service Provider) Office Phone: Direct Phone: Fax: robb@merchantsource.com Sponsoring Banks a. MSP s Merchant Service Provider b. Agents 2. Rough Count for Merchant Account on the Internet 1998 = 780,000 hits = 87,600,000 on Google Most are Agent Sites Why the Confusion? I count 87 million reasons why TMI Internet Yellow Pages Fear of Wrong Decisions 4. Back to the Quest Longevity in Industry They say 24/7 support. But Do you need multilingual support What are the options as far as Wireless What happens when you say EBT? Extremely Bad Taste 5 6 Information provided by MerchantSource powered by Total Merchant Services

5 For More Information call Will the TPP process EBT cards only Centralized accounting Ability to Chain merchant accounts for State viewing or add commercial cards. Are terminals supported in house or split support with manufacturer Class A Certification Class B Certification 7 Service contract a. 3 Year Standard b. What is buyout? c. Can your TPP Sales Agent office assist in lesser terms? 8 5. To the Basics. THE AGENT Longevity Knowledge THE Relationship Ask someone that s processing What do you like about.. What kind of problems 6. RELATIONSHIP RELATIONSHIP RELATIONSHIP 9 10 PRICING Service Fees Application / Setup Discount Fee Transaction Fee Monthly Minimum Service / Statement Fee Monthly Wireless Fee Wireless Transaction fee Hardware Terminals Peter Point O Sale 1. Landline 2. Wireless Batteries Supplies 3. Cell Phone 4. IP (terminals run through DSL internet line) Information provided by MerchantSource powered by Total Merchant Services

6 For More Information call Farmers Market Program Results using electronic processing Statistics of Iowa Farmers Market Program Total Sales 2005 $19, $210, (only thru Aug) $258,926 EBT Sales $1423 (7.2%) $18,524 (8.8%) $26,164 (10.1%) Total Transactions EBT Trans (16.9%) (21.6%) 11, (26.6%) 14 Information courtesy of Jan Walters, Project Manager at Iowa Dept. of Human Services (515) In 2006, participating farmers reported an average increase in sales of 13.3% over % of customers surveyed reported that they plan to shop more at farmers markets if they can use EBT/debit/credit. (This survey was done at the end of 2006 season.) Contact Us Robert Lyons, Agent Office Phone: Direct Phone: Fax: Information courtesy of Jan Walters, Project Manager at Iowa Dept. of Human Services (515) Information provided by MerchantSource powered by Total Merchant Services