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Letter from the editor

s we head into the 2024 holiday season, all
signs point to a promising surge in consum-
er spending. The National Retail Federation
A anticipates an overall increase of up to 3.5
percent in holiday sales compared to last year, with
total spending projected to reach nearly $989 billion. A
key driver of growth will be online shopping, expected
Howdy
to see gains of up to 9 percent, largely fueled by the Howdy
increasing dominance of mobile devices. Shoppers are
already benefiting from early promotions, and with
Y’all!
omnichannel retail strategies, the convenience of buy- Y’all!
ing online or picking up in-store continues to trans-
form the holiday shopping experience. This issue's lead
article, explores all of these and more factors affecting
this year's year-end shopping season and spotlights the
top concerns for retailers and shoppers.

Holiday transactions would not exist without mer-
chant processing agreements, which define the rela-
tionship between payment service providers and mer-
chants, and one contributor to this issue explains why
PSPs must carefully balance their interests with those
of their merchants when crafting these agreements. I’m working hard to help you increase
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Other topics illuminated by contributors include how
your bottom line today!
alternative payment methods are transforming finan- y o ur b o t t o m line t o d a y!
cial access for underbanked populations in Africa and
the role gamers are playing in this; the shift toward
o B
N
ull
self-service, and why merchant service providers must No Bull
help businesses navigate app-based payments, kiosks
and other self-service tools; and why checkout is not
just a transaction, but is also a strategic opportunity Customized advertising campaigns
for businesses to increase revenue, offer personalized to fit any size company and budget.
recommendations, encourage loyalty through mem-
berships, and provide tailored payment methods. • Spotlight Innovators’ Pages
Our news briefs spotlight coverage of merchants' en- (frequently updated content)
dorsement of the U.S. Department of Justice's lawsuit
against Visa, which accuses the company of monopo- • Print (various size options)
lizing the debit card network market and blocking • Resource Guide listing
competitors from entering the space; two recent sur-
veys that highlight growing consumer distrust in digi- (print/online/front page options)
tal payments due to widespread fraud; The Office of • Email Blasts (to GS readership)
the Comptroller of the Currency's joining financial in-
stitutions in opposing Illinois' Interchange Fee Prohi- • Online (website/twice monthly magazine)
bition Act, a law that exempts sales tax and tips from
interchange fees; and Senator Richard Durbin's refuta- • Video
tion of claims that Illinois' Interchange Fee Prohibition • Bundle advertisng campaign discounts*
Act, which exempts sales tax and gratuities from inter-
change fees, conflicts with the Durbin Amendment to
the 2010 Dodd-Frank Act. Rick Aston
Also, be sure not to miss updates on industry mile- Senior Media Partnership Specialist
stones, profiles, datebook and other resources selected
707-284-1693
with you in mind. To relay your news, please send a 707-284-1693
press release to press@greensheet.com, and send your
feedback to greensheet@greensheet.com.
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