The lead article in our Feb. 25, 2019 issue, titled "Government shutdown imperils spending, growth," delved into the recent partial federal government shutdown and offered research, insights and examples of specific businesses and sectors affected. It also discussed the short-term and potential long-term effects of the disruption to our government services and overall economy.
This issue's front-page article continues the discussion by sharing perspectives from members of The Green Sheet Advisory Board. Their answers to a set of questions about the partial shutdown reveal that immediate impacts diverge in relation to types of merchants in a portfolio, and certain preventive measures, such as diversification and superior customer service, can apply to payment businesses across the board.
We appreciate the Advisory Board members who took time despite their busy schedules to respond to our questions. We also applaud the industry experts who contribute articles to this magazine issue after issue. Topics they have explored herein include why MLSs who have grown their businesses and revenue often hire in-house staff to address issues that take time away from sales efforts ‒ and why this is a sound practice; the central role middle market retailers will play in the continued success of ISOs and MLSs amid a rapidly changing industry; why the industry's feet on the street should guide merchants in using today's technology to transform the traditional POS to a vibrant point of interaction; and the coexistence of business owners who disagree on the role of cash: some turn their backs on cash-paying customers while others offer discounts to them.
We post news stories regularly under Breaking Industry News on our home page, www.greensheet.com. Several of those stories are highlighted within these pages. Topics include Elavon and Womply's launch of a technology suite designed for small and midsize businesses; the NRF's report that the 2018 holiday season enjoyed modest sales gains; the focus of the ATM industry on security during its 50th anniversary year; research revealing that U.S. consumers increased usage of electronic payment options last year; findings that digital-first banking is on the rise, particularly among millennials; and a report that automated clearing house payments climbed to nearly 1.5 billion in 2018.
As always, you'll also find herein company and product profiles and mentions of recent milestones in the professional lives of you, our readers, and your companies. We look forward to your news at press@greensheet.com and helpful feedback at greensheet@greensheet.com. 
The Green Sheet Inc. is now a proud affiliate of Bankcard Life, a premier community that provides industry-leading training and resources for payment professionals. Click here for more information.
Notice to readers: These are archived articles. Contact names or information may be out of date. We regret any inconvenience.
Prev Next
