Page 5 - GS131201

Letter from the

editors

ith the holiday season now in full swing
we, at The Green Sheet, know you and
your merchant customers have a lot rid-
W ing on decisions consumers make in the
next few weeks about holiday spending. We hope plenty
of folks will pull out their credit, debit and prepaid cards,
checks, smartphones, and yes, good old-fashioned cash,
too, at brick-and-mortar POSs throughout the land. And
we hope shoppers who don't want to brave the crowds
vying for merchandise will click and tap away to make
purchases on computers and mobile devices, and make
this one of the best year-end holiday seasons on record.
Whatever occurs, though, we know most of you are in it
for the long haul, weathering all of the ups and downs,
adjusting business strategies and practices as needed.
And when we think about how well the industry came
through the worst years of the recent economic crisis,
and how many payment professionals are now bursting
with new ideas and initiatives, we are most impressed.

With this issue, as always, we offer resources to help
educate and inform so that you can get the most out of
the time you invest in this industry. The lead article takes
a look at some of the most vital trade associations – and
the people behind them. The positive difference these
largely volunteer organizations continue to make to the
lives of professionals at all levels is vast.

Contributed articles cover a range of compelling topics,
including the effects of the Durbin Amendment on
consumers, the role of the expert witness when payment
companies have legal disputes, how merchant level
salespeople can remain buoyant and productive in the
face of inevitable rejections, the legal context for virtual
currencies, the need for merchants to have mobile-
friendly websites, and the significance of PayPal Inc.'s
acquisition of Braintree.

Other features delve into how to improve efficiency by
planning for a 12-week instead of a 12-month year, an
examination of whether general purpose reloadable
prepaid cards are less expensive than basic consumer
checking accounts. Our usual departments also provide
news, announcements, details on new products and
inspiration to give you a boost in your workday.

We are always happy to receive feedback. If you have
any questions, comments or suggestions, you can reach
us via email at greensheet@greensheet.com or by phone at
800-757-4441. To post a press release, send your news to
press@greensheet.com.

5