Kevin Jones April 21, 2020 You often hear us in the payments and financial technology industries as we implore you to shop local, supporting your community’s small businesses that include restaurants, bars and breweries, salons, and boutique shops. Too often, this imperative is misunderstood as a feel-good marketing campaign.

But make no mistake, the shop local movement is about something very real. It’s how we build more vibrant, sustainable communities that meet our needs, economically, culturally, and by virtually any measure of quality of life, whether you’re in places the size of Los Angeles, Nashville, Greenville, South Carolina, or my tiny hometown of West Jefferson, North Carolina.

The numbers don’t lie. There are nearly 30 million small businesses in America, and they employ nearly two-thirds of the workforce. If you’re looking purely to make an economic impact directly in the lives of your friends, neighbors, and fellow church-goers, you really couldn’t have a better strategy than eating at that family-owned restaurant, having your car repaired with your hometown mechanic or dealership, or getting that spa treatment at the beauty shop around the corner. Your locally-spent dollars keep people employed and keep the economy progressing in normal times, and they are helping these folks survive in the unprecedented times since the outbreak of COVID-19.

As if that weren’t enough, shopping local, eating local, and drinking local goes way beyond helping your individual neighbors and friends. Out of every dollar you spend locally, 67 cents stay in your community. Furthermore, that same dollar is taxed at a local level up to four times, on average.  Think about everything your tax dollars pay for in your community:  schools; roads, parks and greenways; the arts; parades and community events; loans and grants for startups; programs to feed the hungry and shelter the homeless, and much, much more.

It’s been noted in study after study that promoting small businesses strengthens the middle class, reduces income inequality, creates local supply chains, achieves higher wages and benefits, bolsters civic and social well-being, and makes business simply fairer in pricing and terms. When I was forming my plan for Celero nearly two years ago, I decided to double down on my belief in the resilience and sustainability of American small business. I knew we’d face hard times again, but like many, I didn’t think it would happen so soon. 

But my belief is rooted in the knowledge that we are, in fact, all in this together—in good times and bad. For all of us who want our communities to survive now and thrive when good times are here again (and I’ll bet that survey would yield somewhere near 100 percent of us), we need to act like we do at church. Let’s have our behaviors exemplify our beliefs. Even in times of social distancing, we can support our beloved small, local businesses. Utilize curbside, takeout, and delivery services whenever you can, and buy virtual gift cards to invest in these businesses when you can’t.

Let’s get through this by focusing on the health of our families and friends and by extending a hand to those small businesses that mean so much to our way of life. Let’s work together to save our neighbors and save our communities.

While many across our country and world are suffering from the outbreak of COVID-19 last month, many of our loved ones, friends, and neighbors in the Nashville area are still suffering from the deadly tornadoes that ravaged central Tennessee in the early hours of March 3.

In the wake of the tornadoes and just prior to the coronavirus outbreak, Celero Commerce established its Celero Cares Fund on crowdfunding platform GoFundMe, in order to provide assistance to small business owners and their employees during times of need.

To date, the Celero Cares Fund has raised nearly $7,000, with the bulk of donations coming from Celero employees, their families, and friends of the company. On March 9, the fund made an initial donation to the Middle Tennessee Emergency Response Fund activated by the nonprofit Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee.  This emergency gift from the Celero family has brought much-needed relief to those left hungry and homeless from tornado damage.

The latest gift from the Celero Cares Fund goes to our friends at East Nashville’s Urban Cowboy. The eight-room boutique hotel, housed in a historic Victorian mansion, is a favorite landing spot for visitors to our hometown, and the hotel and surrounding area took a direct hit during the tornado storm of March 3.  In the same week the hotel looked to reopen, government officials put stay at home measures in place, effectively closing many lodging establishments like Urban Cowboy for the until further notice.

We are distributing a portion of the Celero Cares Fund to the staff of Urban Cowboy, so that they can continue to pay their bills during this uncertain time.

Our mission is to help small and medium businesses achieve and sustain success.  With so many small businesses affected by these storms and then COVID-19, our Celero Cares Fund aims to raise funds to support these business owners, as well as their employees, in their time of need.  From providing food for employees, supplies to help clean up, or operating needs to help them stay afloat as they recover, we want to help as many of the individuals and families in these Nashville-area businesses as we can.

Please join us in donating to help these people in their time of need.  All funds raised will be provided to those businesses affected by the storm. Go to https://www.gofundme.com/f/celero-cares to learn more and donate!

Inspired by a shared value of servant leadership and role models, the Celero Commerce executive team created a special award to recognize elite performers who exemplify the company’s values. Now, we are pleased to announce the second quarterly recipient of the Michael P. Duffy Leadership Award, Abigail Lucier.

Just celebrating her one-year anniversary with the company, Abigail currently serves Celero Commerce as Senior Project Manager, reporting to Chief Executive Officer Kevin Jones.  During her tenure, Abigail has led foundational projects like the design and move into the company’s new Brentwood headquarters and operations center. She currently leads the company’s Pandemic Response team, formed at the onset of the COVID-19 outbreak.

Celero’s leadership team created the Michael P. Duffy Leadership Award in honor of fintech industry legend Michael Duffy, who mentored many of Celero’s leaders earlier in their careers as they served in various positions at payments industry leader Chase Paymentech. The Duffy Award is driven by peer nominations, as colleagues recognize each other not only for performance, but also leadership, especially in exhibiting attributes that abide by company values like selflessness and teamwork.

Abigail received multiple nominations for Duffy Award recognition for her exemplary performance and leadership in the first quarter of 2020. Here are some of the notable nomination excerpts, straight from her peers:

“Abigail has quickly become a great resource for met to turn to with questions or almost anything in the office.”

“Abigail’s focus on company culture has motivated me to be a better team player and to be a culture carrier myself.”

Whether it is something related to her job or not, she is always willing to provide answers and guidance. . . a true team player!!!

“We all know how much work Abigail put in to create an office space that we have now transitioned into. Her leadership during this transition was so important for a smooth move with little disruption to our day to day jobs.”

“Abigail has now worked hard to help develop our Disaster Recovery Plan during this pandemic situation. I know that she has been a valuable asset to our company’s leadership during these times and will continue to do amazing things moving forward!”

“Abigail has quickly become a great resource for me to turn to with questions on almost anything in the office. Whether it is something related to her job or not, she is always willing to provide answers and guidance... a true team player!!!”

Abigail is quickly establishing herself as an emerging thought leader on the subject of company culture, with regular appearances on the company’s Celero Insights blog and Celero’s video channels on YouTube and Vimeo. 

As a Duffy Award recipient, Abigail will be invited to attend Celero’s first Leadership Summit, to be held in the spring of 2021 at the company’s headquarters in Nashville.  This annual event will convene leaders across our organization to celebrate their successes and mold future leaders of our organization by discussing strategy, new fintech trends, and Celero’s market position. The summit will include the four quarterly Duffy award recipients, as well as the company’s top 10 percent of performers in other departments. C-suite will lead the session and have some great Nashville entertainment planned for the group as well.

In addition, Abigail Lucier’s name will now grace a commemorative Duffy Award plaque at Celero’s corporate offices.

“Abigail truly sets a standard of commitment at Celero, as in commitment to our team, our customers, and our partners, “said Jones. “And she’s the kind of person you want on your side—smart, tough, and talented. Our leadership has learned to trust Abigail with virtually any critical project, since she’s one of those people built to rise to any challenge. Her combination of focus and determination are unmatched in this company.”

Other nominees for the quarterly Duffy Award were Ethan Hoffman, Karo Torosyan, and Kathryn Rodriguez.  “I’d also like to salute the other nominees,” said Jones. “Ethan, Karo, and Kathryn are true leaders in this company. When you’re dedicated to your work and the people around you, others take notice. I am thrilled to have teammates like Ethan, Karo, Kathryn, and Abigail on this journey to build the premier payments and software platform for small business.”

The next Duffy Award winner will be named in late July.

At Celero Commerce, it's our goal to provide our customers with trust and dependability in our products and services that can equip them with the capability to better themselves and their business. Our company is dedicated to providing quality and reassurance that we offer the best solutions to make sure business owners are comfortable and educated to make business decisions confidently and with support. Explore below the ways that we can help your business grow!

1. Simple and Affordable Payment Processing

Honest & Transparent Pricing

Working with small businesses is our specialty and we make it a priority to gain trust with our customers by providing payment processing to save our merchants time and money. We use the interchange plus pricing model where merchants simply pay the interchange cost plus a small margin (basis points & a transaction fee) – no buckets, no hidden fees and the margin stays the same even as your volume increases. 

Accept Payments Anywhere

We strive to make sure our merchants and future customers are equipped with all the necessary tools in order to be successful and conduct business conveniently. Every business has its own set of unique needs and it's important to find the right fit when it comes to payment processing. We offer a variety of credit card terminals and solutions to get you where you need to go. Let's take a look at the options available to you:

Point-of-Sales Systems

Depending on the needs of your business, Celero can find you the fight software for your business.

Point-of-Sale Terminals

A common essential for most businesses and one of the most traditional payment processing methods used today.

Virtual Terminal

Here's your opportunity to make your payment processing effortless for mail order and telephone order sales along with off-site sales events.

Mobile Payments

A great way to accept mobile EMV credit card payments quickly and securely from any smartphone or tablet.

2. Effortless & Convenient Mobile Payments

Effectively growing your business means adapting to your customers wants and needs. Mobile payment processing is on the rise as the requirement is becoming greater and merchants are finding it more convenient and useful to implement within their business. Luckily, Celero’s mobile credit card processing app is easy to use and allows you to accept payments from any smartphone or tablet with a variety of benefits explained below:

Real-Time Reporting Tools

This is where you're able to view business insights on-the go and manage past transactions. You'll have the capability to easily execute voids or refunds and even re-send receipts to your customers if needed. What's great about this feature is it grants you the convenience needed for running your business.

Inventory Tracking

Another added perk is the inventory tracking abilities that prove to be useful. You're able to real-time, specific updates on inventory wherever you are. This gives you the opportunity to manage your inventory accordingly, such as editing item details or adding new items all within our mobile payment app. What's especially useful is how all your devices are interconnected, allowing your updates to be made on one device and it's carried through the rest and back to your dashboard.

Customized Settings

Customized settings is where you have features such as texting or emailing receipts to your customers are always beneficial as it makes it easier for you and your customers, plus you have the advantage of being a little green! You're also able to enable a tip option to present the customer with before processing their payment. The customer can select from three default tip amounts set, or enter a custom tip dollar amount. Lastly, you have an offline mode option which permits you to capture swiped or keyed payments without an internet connection. You should know that offline mode is not compatible with EMV or NFC Mobile Payments (tap payments). Learn more about the app in the Mobile App User Guide. 

3. Dependable & Stress-Free Full Service Payroll

As your business grows, it's important to you to save time, money and stress whenever and wherever you can. Celero offers a solution that can reduce stress for all three of those things! Our Full Service Payroll offers an affordable, dependable and user-friendly service that will assist you with the proper development required to run a successful business. Here are some of our key features:

Unlimited Payrolls

There's no such thing as per-payroll fees with us. All that we require is for you to simply pay a monthly rate, choose your pay schedule you need and run as many payrolls as you like online. Your workers are paid with direct deposit, paychecks or cash. It's really that easy.

Automatic Tax Filing

No more tax filing headaches or mistakes! You're protected from IRS fines with our secure tax filing service and are guaranteed accuracy and if there's an error, we'll take care of it.

Free Expert Support

Payroll as easy as ours can sometimes involve questions you don't have the answers to, which is why we offer free (US-based) support via phone, email or chat to help you with every step of the process. We're available Monday-Friday between 8 a.m.-8 p.m. EST, simply call 877.968.7147 and we'll help!

Free Payroll Setup

What sets us apart from others? Free account setup! If you're strapped for time, it's not a problem. We'll enter your tax, payroll and employee information into your payroll portal for you, for free!

Each business has different needs and while these are the basics of our Full Service Payroll, we have useful add on options to make payroll a more unique and effective experience for your business.

Conclusion: 

We're invested in the growth of our customers and value your experiences with us. Growing your business doesn't have to be difficult or stressful when you have the right tools and support in your corner to help you along the way. The more we can help, the happier we will be!

Acquisition of rapidly growing payments provider strengthens Celero Commerce’s commitment to merchants nationwide

Nashville, TN and Boca Raton, FL – April 7, 2020 – Celero Commerce (“Celero”), a vertically-focused commerce solutions provider, today announced the acquisition of FlashBanc, a leading provider of electronic payments technology and loyalty  solutions.

The acquisition builds upon Celero’s existing strategy of providing industry-leading payment processing, business management software, data insights, and customer support to SMB customers.  Following the addition of Flashbanc, Celero will serve approximately 28,000 merchants and process approximately $10 billion in annual payment volume, with more than 100 employees in seven offices across the U.S.

“We are excited to join the Celero Commerce family,” said Michael Gross, CEO and Founder of FlashBanc. “Our team is attracted to Celero’s culture and vision as a leader in payments and we are thrilled to have access to their suite of technology solutions to continue to deliver market leading service and support for our customer base. With Celero, our team members will be empowered to help our customers grow by simplifying the acceptance of electronic transactions, providing vertically focused product and technology bundles, and enabling powerful loyalty and social marketing tools.”

“Partnering with Michael and the FlashBanc team presents a great opportunity. FlashBanc has a history of providing solutions focused on helping customers grow. In this unprecedented environment, the acquisition of FlashBanc underscores Celero’s commitment to SMB merchants across the U.S.” said Kevin Jones, CEO of Celero.  As part of this transaction, Celero will maintain operations out of both FlashBanc’s Boca Raton, FL, headquarters and its San Francisco area office.

About Celero Commerce

Based in Nashville, Celero Commerce is a full-service, integrated electronic commerce solutions provider powered by leading edge technology, strategic partnerships, and business intelligence, all moving at the speed of modern business.  Celero offers payment processing services, business management software, and data intelligence to small and medium-sized businesses, empowering them to drive growth and profitability.

Media Contact:

Celero Commerce

Scott Farace, Chief Marketing Officer

scottf@celerocommerce.com

972-533-5655

Adapt, improvise, and overcome.

As a child, Mary Alice Latta, hairstylist at Glam Salon in tiny Hillsborough, NC, heard these words constantly from her father.

“Since the day I was born, my dad always told me, ‘Life is going to throw you curveballs,’” says Mary Alice, “‘and it’s up to you to adapt, improvise, and overcome.’”

Mary Alice’s upbringing instilled in her the virtues of grit, innovation, and entrepreneurship, which have helped her throughout her career and especially today amid the COVID-19 crisis.

Jessica Batts, owner of Glam Salon, and Mary Alice are longtime friends who both started their stylist careers in 2008 during one of the worst recessions in American history.

“We both know what it takes to survive even in times of economic hardship,” says Mary Alice. “We both know the hard work and determination that it takes to get here.”

Jessica and Mary Alice opened the salon together nearly seven years ago. Since then, they have built a loyal client base throughout Hillsborough and surrounding areas. There aren’t many salons that can boast a perfect 5.0 rating on Facebook with over 50 reviews … but Glam Salon is one of them.

“We have a really incredible community,” Mary Alice says.

She’s had to tap into her natural flair for entrepreneurship recently, as North Carolina has mandated that salons close for at least 30 days in an effort to stop the spread of COVID-19.

“We knew we needed something,” says Mary Alice. “Clients were reaching out saying, ‘Oh my gosh, what are we going to do?’ Many of them are used to coming in every three or four weeks.”

She came up with an ingenious solution that would keep clients happy while also keeping the salon afloat: She and her fellow stylists began putting together DIY touch-up kits that include everything you need to fix hair color right at home. They come in airtight containers and include developer, color dye, gloves, a cap, a brush, a bowl, and an instructions sheet.

“We sold 55 kits in the first week,” says Mary Alice. “It’s been a great way to keep our clients away from box dye, and to drive sales that keep us going as a small business.”

Glam Salon is offering the kits on a weekly basis, via pickup or delivery, to maintain freshness and ensure that the hair color doesn’t expire by the time it reaches clients. In addition to these innovative, salon-quality color kits, they’re also selling gift cards and retail products as usual. They’re shipping products, like shampoo and styling cream, directly to clients. 

“We have amazing clients who understand the hardships of small businesses right now, and want to support us,” Mary Alice says.

Mary Alice, Jessica, and all of the talented stylists at Glam Salon prove that entrepreneurship isn’t reserved for the tech sector or big business – it’s seen all the time in small businesses across the nation, which make up the very lifeblood of our economy. We’re proud to share a country with entrepreneurs like Mary Alice, whose uncanny ability to adapt, improvise, and overcome is an inspiration to us all.

Celero Commerce was formed to equip small businesses with products, services, and software tools that help them grow quickly and sustainably. With the outbreak of COVID-19 over the last several weeks, our mission has changed to reflect the gravity of the situation, not only from and individual and public health perspectives, but also with regard to the survival of American small business.

Week by week, we are putting together a variety of resources, both internal and external, to help our merchants weather the storm and survive for the better times that lie ahead. 

Internal Resources:  the Celero COVID-19 Survival Kit 

At the COVID-19 link in our site’s main navigation, you’ll find our Celero COVID-19 Survival Kit, featuring educational materials for merchants on tools like gift cards, e-commerce, virtual payment terminals, and other solutions for staying in business while adhering to social distancing guidance and regulations. 

You’ll also see a variety of Celero News and Insights articles with headlines containing the hashtag, #InThisTogether. Each of these articles offers advice to merchants or shows how restaurateurs and other entrepreneurs are innovating to survive, supporting their communities, and adopting new tools for changing their business models to meet the challenges of the new COVID-19 reality.

External Resources: Government and Industry Rescue/Stimulus Programs

With stimulus and rescue efforts ongoing and from multiple sources, we know our merchants need the latest information on available programs to complement our solutions for the journey back to prosperity. We have compiled a Government and Industry Resource page that features links and information to available programs for small businesses, ranging from forgivable SBA loans for retaining employees (part of the recently-passed CARES Act) to microloans and bridge loans available at state and local levels.

In addition, we are listing industry resources from trade groups (the Electronic Transaction Association, National Restaurant Association, National Retail Federation), nonprofits (James Beard Foundation, and private companies (UberEats, GrubHub) that support small business.

Please stay tuned to our website and social media channels (Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter), as we continue to add and update resources for merchants across America.

You can’t beat Jones meats. Since 1980, Jones Country Meats of Climax, Georgia has provided southwest Georgia and surrounding areas with the freshest, tastiest beef and pork around. Unlike many small businesses, they’ve actually seen an uptick in business since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, as locals flood in to stock up on quality meats. With help from Tandem, they’ve been able to develop several ways for customers to buy and receive products while minimizing social contact.

“Our local bank approached us about using Tandem, and it was easy access for us,” says GeGe Baggett, who owns Jones Country Meats with her husband, Jerry. “Through Tandem, we were able to set up a portable credit card machine on our porch, so people can pay and pick up their order right from our freezer outside.”

They’re also encouraging customers to call in orders ahead of time and giving them the option to either pay over the phone or in-store, where they’re careful to get people in and out quickly. Customers who pay over the phone can simply grab their orders curbside, and have an employee load the meat into their cars. Between curbside and takeout options, they’ve seen an increase in business. They’re even running two phone lines to cover the increase in call-in orders.

“Whenever we need something material-wise, we can always get it through Tandem,” says GeGe. “Even as we’ve stepped up our sales, our systems haven’t slowed down or failed at all.”

GeGe also enjoys the easy access to help when they need it.

“We can always contact Jake Michaelis, our Tandem partner at First Port City Bank, when we need something, and he always gets back to us quickly,” she says. “I’ve called on a Friday night, on a Sunday, and they always respond quickly to me. I always get the help I need, when I need it.”

In such a devastating time for so many local businesses, we’re happy to see Jones Country Meats thriving. They’ve found innovative ways to drive business, thanks in part to payment processing solutions from Tandem – and, in large part, thanks to their delicious range of humanely sourced beef and pork, as well as jellies, preserves, syrups, sauces, and seasonings. If you find yourself in Southwest Georgia, be sure to stop by Jones Country Meats. Call ahead and you can pick up their premium cuts without even getting out of your car.

A Dallas institution since 1993, Chamberlain’s Steak and Chophouse has set standards not only for its award-winning food, but also for its service, ambiance, and ability to host private parties for up to 100 guests. Anyone that knows the Chamberlain’s experience would forgive their team for feeling sorry for themselves during the outbreak of COVID-19 and its attendant regulations that have shuttered dining rooms nationwide, but that’s not how these Texans operate.

Richard Chamberlain and his staff, like many other small business owners and their teams around the country, are embracing a new normal with resilience and spirit. Now, the restaurant crew is fully-focused on helping its clientele take the Chamberlain’s experience home safely. The upscale restaurant has launched curbside pickup, as well as specials like “Standing Together” days, featuring multi-option, prix fixe menus for patrons to enjoy.  

In addition, Chamberlain’s is running half-price wine days with new selections each week. The restaurant also sells gift cards for those who want to help the restaurant now and enjoy fine food and drink at a later date. For a restaurant focused primarily on the in-person dining experience, with amenities like a cigar bar, Chamberlain’s is adapting to the times with real spirit.

“Chamberlain’s Steak and Chop House, one of my family’s favorites from our years in Dallas, continues to set great examples for how restaurants can survive COVID-19 and continue to thrive thereafter,” said Celero Commerce Chief Marketing Officer Scott Farace. “For years, they have set an incredible standard for restaurant operations in the DFW area, and now they’re doing it again. You can see a playbook in action here, with online ordering, curbside pickup, special packaging, pricing specials and menu features, along with appeals to its loyal patrons to stand together and be safe. They could complain about social distancing regulations, and instead they offer gratitude to both their Dallas clientele and to America itself. It’s inspiring and practical stuff.”

For more information, check out the Chamberlain’s Steakhouse website at www.chamberlainsteakhouse.com.

We’ve been sharing stories with our readers about small business leaders who are innovating to save their companies in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak. Many of these small business owners are also turning to the community to help those who have been laid off or children who would otherwise get their meals at school.

Our financial institution partners at Celero, no strangers to philanthropy and volunteerism in good times, are also rising to the occasion. One such partner is First Financial Northwest Bank, a community bank with more than a dozen locations in the greater Seattle-Tacoma area in western Washington. FFNWB has begun a pair of initiatives that are both fun and heartwarming, as its employees support area charities and restaurants. 

The first campaign, 30 Nonprofits in 30 Days, will see bank employees dip into their own wallets to support charities across its footprint of King, Snohomish, and Pierce Counties, including multiple food banks and agencies addressing homelessness and affordable housing, emergency financial assistance, crime victim support and advocacy, and suicide prevention.  Employees will pick a charity and donate in exchange for dressing down at work, a practice normally reserved for Fridays. From March 23-May 1, employees will be able to dress down for each day they donate. 

Restaurants around the country have been among the hardest-hit businesses due to dining room shutdowns for social distancing, and FFNWB is supporting these western Washington businesses as well. In a campaign known as Thankful Tuesdays, the bank will provide lunch to employees from locally-owned restaurants and feature these establishments on their Facebook page to rally community support. Nominations for Thankful Tuesday nominees will come from the public via email to the bank’s marketing team at marketing@ffnwb.com.

According to Kristia Poppe, Vice President of Bank Relationships at Celero Commerce, the community leadership on display at FFNWB is no surprise. “One of the reasons I love my job so much is getting to work with amazing people like the team at FFNWB,” she said. “They are a fun group, and they are always community-minded. We love that they are finding ways to give back. We know that we’re all in this together to support our communities and our local nonprofits and businesses during the COVID-19 outbreak, but it’s really inspiring to see partners who live that out each day.”

To follow First Financial Northwest Bank’s charitable efforts, follow them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ffnwb or on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/first-financial-northwest-bank/.