[ January 1, 2010 11:00 AM Eastern Time ]

Happy New Year From National Merchant Center

A message from the CEO

     As we close 2009, many of us will reflect upon what happened to us this past year, our trials and our victories.  With the fresh start of 2010, we will also start our plans for exciting projects and adventures we want to embark upon.

     I want to take a moment to thank each and every one of you for your contribution to National Merchant Center’s success in 2009.  We had an eventful year filled with our own challenges and victories as well.

      We look forward to continuing our success as well as growing into new directions in 2010 as we have some great things planned for NMC.  As we prepare to take on the new year running, we look forward to continuing our relationship with you and moving forward into great things this next year.

     I wish all of you a fantastic new year.

With My Best Wishes,

Roman Balanko

CEO

Make Your New Year A Safe One

     It’s the last thing we all want to worry about, but if we don’t keep an eye out for it, it’s the one thing that can make any business a nightmare.  Last year, the National Retail Federation estimated that theft cost the nation’s stores some $40 billion annually.  Even though this amount only represents 2% of industry sales—money lost from theft goes straight to the business’ bottom line.  As the recession deepens, some people are becoming more desperate.  As your credit card processor, National Merchant Center has a few tips for you to help assure that your new year is bright.

Beware of shoplifters

     Shoplifters come in all shapes and sizes, ages and sexes, and vary in ethic background, education, and economic status.  Shoplifters cost billions of dollars a year.  Independent retail studies have averaged that retail inventory loss ranges from 0.7%-2.2% of gross sales a year.  NMC researched a few sources and put together the following BEST tips for business owners to help prevent shoplifting.

     Employees need to watch for customers who:

·         Appear nervous

·         Avoid eye contact

·         Wander the store without buying

·         Leave the store and return repeatedly

·         Linger in a location that employees have a hard time monitoring

·         Constantly keep an eye on store employees or other customers

·         Other general shoplifting-prevention techniques include training your employees to:

·         Stay alert at all times

·         Greet all customers

·         Ask lingering customers if they need help

·         Know where shoplifting is most likely to occur in the location.

·         Use a log to share suspicions about shoplifters among other employees

·         Display signs that state “Shoplifters will be prosecuted”

When shoplifting is suspected, it’s fundamental for your employees to know how to handle incidents.  The Los Angeles Police Department recommends that retail employees:

·         Never directly accuse anyone of stealing (call security or the police instead)

·         Give the person a chance to pay for the item they “forgot” to pay for by asking “Are you ready to pay for that?” or “Can I ring you up?”

·         Never try to physically stop a shoplifter.  Call security

·         Cooperate fully with center security and the prosecutor if/when the time comes

Beware of employee theft

     As a business owner, the last thing you want to have happen is have someone you trust to be an employee, steal from you.   There is the employee who steals paper, pens, postage stamps, and other office supplies. And there are the employees who make off with thousands of your hard earned dollars.  It’s not uncommon for the former to turn in to the later if measures are not taken quickly. Here are some strategies to reduce employee theft.

·         Make periodic (yet randomly timed) unannounced visits to each and every retail location.

·         Spot-check your inventory and cash drawer. During your unannounced visits announce “I’m just double checking inventory numbers and doing a register check.” Pick a few products and check physical inventory against the inventory/POS figures.  This lets employees know that management is keeping its eye on the ball.

·         Have an inventory tracking system that can track automatically—use paper-based inventory tracking sheets to send a signal to employees that inventory is indeed being monitored.

·         Train your employees on theft-prevention, both shoplifting and employee theft.  Have a fraud avoidance and assessment plan and set rules for consequences if an employee is caught embezzling money or product from the company.  Discuss ways the company is prepared to detect either.

·         Encourage anonymous tips.  If employees are aware their co-workers are watching and could report them, they will be less inclined to get sticky fingers.

·         Check deposits. Don’t just check if the deposit numbers match sales figures, but also check that deposits are being made routinely and when expected.

·         Check your cash-to-credit purchase ratios. If the typical purchase ratio is 30 percent cash to 70 percent credit, and then it suddenly drops from 10 to 90, it’s time to ask a few questions.

·         Watch the “no-sales” numbers.  If a typical days no-sale tally is four, but every time a particular employee works the tally is 10, there may be a problem.

·         Become familiar with the common ways employees steal by researching larceny, skimming, and fraudulent disbursements.

·         Perform background checks on applicants before hiring them.

Beware of business identity fraud

     Outside of your store, you should always be on the alert to business fraud.  This includes vendors and other businesses that you have partnered with or provide services to you—sharing your information.  Rest assured, NMC has taken measures to ensure the safety of your personal and confidential information by further securing access to sensitive information to qualified and authorized personnel only.  If you suspect fraud in any situation, you can use the following information to check on your business. 

Social Security Number

     If you feel your Social Security number has been compromised, we recommend that you place a fraud alert on your credit files. A fraud alert requires potential creditors to use what the law refers to as “reasonable policies and procedures” to verify your identity before assuming credit in your name. A fraud alert lasts for 90 days. Just call one of the three credit reporting agencies at a number below to place an alert with all of the agencies. You will receive letters from all three, confirming the fraud alert and letting you know how to get a free copy of your credit report from each.  Experian 1-888-397-3742 Equifax 1-800-525-6285 TransUnion 1-800-680-7289

     When you receive your credit reports, look them over carefully. Look for accounts you did not open. Look for inquiries from creditors that you did not initiate. And look for personal information, such as home address and Social Security number, that is not accurate. If you see anything you do not understand, call the credit reporting agency at the telephone number on the report.

     If you do find suspicious activity on your credit reports, call your local police or sheriff’s office and file a police report of identity theft. Get a copy of the police report. You may need to give copies of the police report to creditors to clear up your records.

     Even if you do not find any signs of fraud on your reports, we recommend that you check your credit reports periodically. You can keep the fraud alert in place by calling again after 90 days. For more information on identity theft, we suggest that you visit the web site of the California Office of Privacy Protection at www.privacy.ca.gov.

California Driver’s License or Identification Card Number

     If you feel your driver’s license or ID card have been compromised, contact your local state DMV.  You can report suspicions to the California DMV Fraud Hotline at 1-866-658-5758.

Financial Account Number

     If you feel your bank account number has been compromised, we recommend that you immediately contact your financial account issuer and close your account. Tell them that your account may have been compromised, and ask that they report it as “closed at customer request.”

     For more information on identity theft, we suggest that you visit the web site of the California Office of Privacy Protection at www.privacy.ca.gov.

     There is no easy way to completely protect yourself against theft, but experts say that the most critical step in shrinking fraud is by making your customers and employees aware that you are keeping a close eye on your business.

Product Feature:

Cash Advance

     With the downfalls of the economy coming at us at all angles, it’s important to have a backup plan in place.  National Merchant Center’s Cash Advance program is here to help to give you the peace of mind during these slow times. 

     With our easy application process your business can receive the capital it needs within days of submitting an application. The best part of our cash advance program is that we are funded by private entities, which give you the freedom of using your cash advance where ever you need to apply it to. There are no restrictions on how the capital is used.

     Some more reasons to choose us for your cash advance are:

·         No collateral required

·         No financial statements or tax returns

·         No fixed payments

·         No cumbersome and costly paperwork for an application

·         No application fee or closing costs. 

The possibilities of cash advance are endless, but here are some ideas of what you could use your advance for:

·         Inventory & new equipment

·         Taxes

·         Advertising

·         Expansion

·         Renovations & remodeling

·         Emergencies

Contact us today for more information about our Cash Advance program.  We are here for you, so please keep us as your plan for your businesses peace of mind.

Product Feature:

Gift Cards

     Gift cards are a MUST for any business big or small and with the National Merchant Center gift card program, your personalized program will be set up with ease. 

    Why gift cards?  Not only do gift cards increase revenues, advertise your business and build customer loyalty they also increase your sales.   With gift cards you receive your cash up front and the unused balance on the card sits in your bank account.  You can also turn your refunds into revenues by offering gift cards instead of cash refunds. And to top it off, you build brand awareness about your company! 

   At National Merchant Center, we make setting up gift cards easy.  You can integrate this product into your business with almost no effort!  If you don’t have a design already created, our design experts are available free of charge to help you create your business card design. With 24/7 online access to comprehensive reporting, you can check balances, sales, etc.  

     Contact us today for more information on how your business can start offering gift cards today!

[ January 29, 2008 11:00 AM Eastern Time ]

National Merchant Center (NMC) is now an official member of The Illinois Optometric Association (IOA), Michigan Association of Chiropractics (MAC), and the California Chiropractic Association (CCA).

IRVINE, California — National Merchant Center (NMC) is now an official member of The Illinois Optometric Association (IOA), Michigan Association of Chiropractics (MAC), and the California Chiropractic Association (CCA).

“National Merchant Center is looking forward to providing our services to members and friends of these associations,” said Michael Weiner, Vice President of Sales at National Merchant Center. “We are excited to be members and look forward to building the relationship we have ahead of us.”

The IOA is the “Voice of Optometry” in Illinois. For over a century the IOA, a non-profit voluntary association of Illinois optometrists, is dedicated to making optometry a stronger profession, doing what it takes for optometry in Illinois. For more information about the IOA, please visit www.ioaweb.org.

The MAC protects and enhances the Michigan chiropractic profession through organized leadership, education, and the promotion of chiropractic discipline and practice. For more information about the MAC, please visit www.chiromi.com.

The CCA was established in 1928 and provides its members boundless services and programs designed to positively impact patient treatment and the bottom line, and enhance the public’s knowledge of the benefits of chiropractic treatment. They promote high standards of professionalism and patient care through education, advocacy and accountability. For more information about CCA, please visit www.calchiro.org.

About National Merchant Center
National Merchant Center is a leading provider of end-to-end payment processing solutions for small businesses, corporations and financial institutions. Established in 1997, National Merchant Center caters to their customers by offering custom solutions, state of the art technology and competitive pricing. National Merchant Center has also been selected as the Official Processor for Business Matchmaking; the nation’s leading small business procurement and training initiative. National Merchant Center’s expertise combines knowing the customers core issues and customizing solutions for their company’s specific requirements. For more information, visit nationalmerchant.com or call 800-662-8448.