8 . Glasgow Business November/December 2013
‘You don’t have to go with your bank’
I
»Get help with payment acceptance services In addition to off ering discounted rates to
f you’re looking to fi nd out more about credit or debit card acceptance or take advantage of preferential rates, Cherie Guthrie is the dedicated account manager at First Data
Merchant Solutions. Businesses oſt en don’t realise they have a
choice in who they choose for their payment acceptance services. “Many think they have to go to their bank, but this isn’t true – banks can usually provide a service but it’s not their speciality,” said Cherie. “At First Data, electronic payments are all we do. We have deep insight into how payments can help businesses grow and off er tools that can help our customers increase their profi tability and reduce costs.”
members, First Data is keen to help members understand more about related issues and upcoming trends in credit and debit payment acceptance. “Contactless payments are gaining traction among consumers and we’ll see that trend continue but, as a global business, we are looking further beyond that into mobile commerce and how payment types will evolve into a new ecosystem centred around the consumer.” If you’d like to discuss your card acceptance
services, hear about our discounted rates or have any questions about electronic payments, please call Cherie on 07703 608027 or email: cguthrie@fi
rstdatacorp.co.uk
Shops open later
The City Centre Retail Association, which includes Chamber Chief Executive Stuart
Patrick (front) has launched an initiative for shops to open until 7pm
More than 200 Glasgow city centre retailers have extended their opening hours to 7pm on week nights. The Live After Five initiative, led
by the City Centre Retail Association and the Glasgow City Marketing Bureau means stores opening for an extra hour on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays. This later opening adds to the now traditional late night Thursday trading when many shops are open until 8pm. Retailers and shopping centres, including Buchanan Galleries, St Enoch Centre, Princes Square, John Lewis and Hamleys are taking part. They join House of Fraser and Debenhams that already open to 7pm.
The MOBO Awards, Glasgow Film
Festival, Glasgow International Jazz Festival, the Glasgow International Comedy Festival and the RSNO celebrated the launch of the later trading with a series of events in stores and shopping centres. Stuart Patrick, Chief Executive,
Glasgow Chamber of Commerce, said: “We are keen to support the late opening by achieving a relaxation of parking charges in the city centre after 5pm. “Glasgow Chamber is working with all parties on this issue to help make it happen. Incentives such as this are crucial in terms of boosting customer footfall in the city centre.”
NOTICE OF MEETING
Notice is hereby given that the 2014 Annual General Meeting (AGM) of members of Glasgow Chamber of Commerce and Manufactures will be held in Glasgow Chamber of Commerce, 30 George Square, Glasgow on Monday 27 January 2014 at 5.15pm.
The agenda for the AGM is as follows:
1. Minutes of Annual Meeting held on 28 January 2013
2. Report and Financial Statements for the year ending 31 October 2013 3. Council Membership.
Nomination forms for election as Directors are available from: The Business Services Manager, Glasgow Chamber of Commerce, 30 George Square, Glasgow G2 1EQ, and should be returned no later than Wednesday 18 December 2013.
ADVERTORIAL MENTOR SUPPORT
Husband and wife team Morag and William Kenneth had their business put forward for the Scot ish Chambers of Commerce’s Business Mentoring scheme by their bank manager. T ey were matched with Graham Cox, a businessman, recently volunteering with the scheme. Kenneth Installations was
struggling with its cash fl ow. Graham studied its accounts and together they reviewed their pricing structure and that of their suppliers. T ey had a tendency of not
charging additional costs when they encountered a problem on site, eff ectively helping the tradesmen they employed to fi x it and becoming the risk takers themselves. T ey then brought their pricing in line with the market aſt er looking at competitors’ pricing. Graham encouraged them to look at their marketing
strategy and to complete their half-fi nished showroom so they could hold open days and showcase their off ering. Morag said: “We have gone
from reaching our overdraſt limit to having money in the bank, thanks to our mentor. T is has been our busiest year ever and we have doubled our turnover. T e mentoring programme is fantastic.” Graham Cox said: “I’m
impressed with the Scot ish Chambers of Commerce’s matching criteria and I was glad to help Kenneth Installations move forward by highlighting the stumbling blocks many businesses encounter.”
FIND OUT MORE...
Visit: www.business mentoring
scotland.co.uk or call 0845 609 6622 or email: admin@business
mentoringscotland.org
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