TECHNOLOGY
PR Newswire | October 31, 2023
Extu announced GoTu Rewards, a fast to launch, flexible and affordable new incentive platform designed for companies of all sizes that want to initiate a basic loyalty program on a modest budget. GoTu Rewards is notable for its ease of use and exciting reward catalog featuring millions of options.
"Midmarket and SMB companies are frequently looking for programs to incentivize their sales teams, employees, resellers and consumers—yet many programs are too expensive and difficult to manage," said Extu's CEO Steve Prebble. "Recognizing this need, we've created the ideal solution with GoTu Rewards, a platform that takes the worry and work out of incentive programs."
With no monthly fees, GoTu Rewards' pay-as-you-go structure allows companies to purchase points or physical gift cards in bulk to deliver to their participants as needed. It reduces the administrative burden while offering a vast array of appealing rewards that keep participants engaged and earning. GoTu Rewards also provides companies with peace of mind by meeting Service Organization Control (SOC) 2 compliance requirements to ensure that sensitive corporate and participant data is safe.
William Lupo, Extu's Chief Revenue Officer, explained, "GoTu Rewards offers a back-to-basics program for companies or teams that want to be able to award people quickly and easily for a job well done. It's a high reward but low cost option with great perks for participants that are sure to spark motivation and drive revenue."
Prebble concluded, "Safety, speed and rewards that resonate are the hallmarks of GoTu Rewards—making it a perfect fit for companies that are looking to launch quickly and drive loyalty across their employee or sales networks."
About Extu
Extu, formerly known as Incentive Solutions and OneAffiniti, is on a mission to inspire growth. Extu provides through-channel marketing automation, an innovative online rewards platform, with millions of exciting online rewards, prepaid and gift card incentives, as well as group travel incentives. Our solutions are built to help manufacturers and dealers increase sales, capture mindshare, build customer loyalty and improve data collection throughout their channels. Founded in 1994, Extu incorporates powerful technology with real-time data, helping clients get a full view of reseller performance, and empowering channel marketers and driving growth.
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BUSINESS STRATEGY
Chase | November 06, 2023
• Chase to hire 1,000 business bankers by 2025
• Small business optimism remains high, with 2/3 expecting revenue growth
• JPMorgan Chase invests in small business support, including credit access and mentoring
Chase has recently announced that it wants to hire 1,000 new business bankers across local markets in the United States by 2025. This strategic move aims to provide crucial support to small business owners as they endeavor to expand and grow within their respective communities. This announcement builds upon the company's original target of employing 500 new bankers by the end of 2024.
According to the findings in Chase's 2023 Mid-Year Business Leaders Outlook, small business optimism remains notably high. More than two-thirds of small businesses are anticipating increased revenue and sales in the coming year. Furthermore, 45% of small business owners have expressed a strong intention to accelerate their growth.
This amplified commitment to hiring coincides with the firm's inaugural "Make Your Move Summit," a three-day event that attracts thousands of small business owners. The summit provides them with an opportunity to learn from industry experts, thought leaders, and even celebrities, imparting valuable insights on how to initiate, manage, and expand their businesses.
JPMorgan Chase has made several substantial investments to support the small business community. This is achieved by facilitating connections between business owners and entrepreneurs and a variety of valuable resources, including:
Capital
Expanded Access to Credit: The firm continues to invest in widening access to business credit for all customers, including those in historically underserved areas. They have developed products, programs, and coaching services to assist businesses at every stage of their growth.
Special Purpose Credit Program: Launched in 2022, this program, in compliance with federal requirements, is designed to enhance access to small business credit in predominantly Black, Hispanic, and Latino communities across all 48 lower states. This initiative has aided over 10,000 small businesses in responsibly accessing or obtaining credit on more favorable terms.
Supporting Community-Based Organizations: Since 2021, Chase has committed $253.7 million in philanthropic capital, which includes loans, grants, and equity, to organizations focused on community dedicated to serving small businesses. This commitment also includes $4.4 million in philanthropic capital to benefit the Texas small business community, including organizations such as Impact Ventures, a Dallas-based startup accelerator and integrated capital fund catering to Black, Hispanic, and Latino entrepreneurs.
Connections
Mentorship and Advice: The firm emphasizes connecting businesses with expert guidance and mentoring to help them overcome challenges. Their free one-on-one coaching program, staffed by 51 trained senior business consultants in 21 U.S. cities, is dedicated to mentoring and advising business owners, with a particular focus on Hispanic, Latino, and Black communities. Since its launch in 2020, this mentorship program has assisted over 4,600 business owners at various stages of development.
Customers
Promoting Access to New Customers and Networks: JPMorgan Chase aims to facilitate access for its 6 million small business clients to new customer bases and networks that can foster growth. This includes assisting in the establishment and utilization of its supplier network. It means developing closer relationships with local businesses in key cities, such as Dallas, enabling these small enterprises to tap into the firm's regional network and resources.
The inaugural Make Your Move Summit is currently taking place in the thriving small business landscape of the Dallas, Texas, area, with 17,500 Chase employees in the Dallas metropolitan region serving 234,000 small businesses in North Texas as well as 674,000 all over the state.
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BUSINESS STRATEGY
Synchrony | November 08, 2023
Synchrony introduces the Small Business Learning Center, aiding small businesses with credit and financing knowledge.
The Learning Center offers flexible courses, expert content, and user-friendly features for effective learning.
Synchrony is committed to helping small businesses and has already benefited hundreds of thousands of businesses.
Synchrony, a prominent consumer financing company, has recently introduced the Synchrony Small Business Learning Center—a new digital learning platform designed to empower Synchrony's small business partners in optimizing their operations and fostering more efficient and effective growth. This platform will assist Synchrony's small merchants, dealers, and wellness providers in comprehending the intricacies of credit and financing, integrating these concepts into their business models, harnessing their potential to elevate customer experiences, and ultimately driving increased sales.
The Small Business Learning Center features an array of offerings:
A diverse range of industry-specific courses encompassing videos, games, interactive experiences, and various contemporary learning modalities, facilitating small business owners and their teams to acquire knowledge at their preferred pace and in their preferred style.
Topics encompassing sales techniques, compliance, employee motivation, cash flow management, vendor management, and customer service.
The content is thoughtfully crafted by Synchrony's learning experts, drawing upon the insights of Synchrony's professionals and leaders. The platform consistently introduces fresh content, courses, and tools to keep the learning experience engaging and captivating. Synchrony regularly collaborates with leading learning technology companies to ensure that Synchrony's small businesses have access to the latest learning resources.
The user-friendly dashboard highlights essential content and provides curated content recommendations.
A new countdown clock feature has been integrated, designed specifically for merchants and dealers, to serve as a visual reminder of impending deadlines for priority or mandatory courses.
Simple links to a comprehensive content library, enabling learners to explore all available courses and select their preferred topics and pace for completion.
Furthermore, small merchants and dealers can conveniently access the Learning Center through Business Center, Synchrony's robust online business platform. By consolidating all Synchrony partner financing activities, from application processing to sales transactions, into a single location, this enhancement streamlines operations and saves merchants valuable time. Synchrony's health and wellness partners will continue to access the Learning Center via the Provider Center.
Synchrony's Learning Center represents an expansion of the company's extensive portfolio of innovative, turnkey business tools, which have already empowered hundreds of thousands of small businesses in managing, marketing, and expanding their operations, including:
Synchrony Business Solutions
Synchrony's Pillars Project
Synchrony Connect
Business Schooled
Roadmap to Diversity Toolkit
Financing programs
Digital tools
Advertising Center
Across the United States, small businesses are already experiencing the benefits of Synchrony's offerings. For instance, Day's Jewelers, an employee-owned company with locations in Maine and New Hampshire, has successfully leveraged the Learning Center.
Synchrony has been a trusted provider of financing options to retailers for over 90 years. With a network of more than 460,000 merchant and provider locations and 70 million active accounts, Synchrony's innovative shopping and payment solutions enable businesses to boost sales, foster customer loyalty and offer secure, convenient, and personalized shopping experiences.
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