The Green Sheet Online Edition
September 28, 2026 • 26:09:02
Get ready before the rush
Autumn arrived Sept. 22, and with it came that unmistakable sense that the year has shifted gears. For payments professionals, the change of season is more than a turn of the calendar. It's a reminder that merchants are approaching one of the busiest stretches of the year. Halloween is barely a month away. Thanksgiving follows soon after. Then, seemingly overnight, the year-end holiday rush is upon us.
Now is a good time to check in with merchants
Ask what's changed since last holiday season. Have they added locations, sales channels or employees? Are they expecting more online orders? Do they have the equipment they need? Are their payment terminals and software up to date? Could faster checkout, mobile acceptance, contactless payments or additional payment options help when business picks up?
The answers may uncover opportunities, but the conversation doesn't have to begin with a sales pitch. Sometimes the most valuable thing an ISO, merchant level salespeople or other merchant service provider can offer is the question a busy merchant hasn't had time to ask: What could become a problem when we're busy?
A terminal that occasionally misbehaves in September could become a major headache when customers are lined up in December. An inefficient checkout process that seems tolerable today may not feel so tolerable during a holiday rush. Staff members who aren't completely comfortable with the payment system may benefit from a refresher before seasonal employees arrive.
It's also a good time to check your own business
Look at your own operation. Follow up on conversations that have gone quiet. Review your portfolio. Reconnect with merchants you haven't spoken with lately. Learn more about a product you've been meaning to investigate. Make sure you know whom to call when something goes wrong on a particularly busy Saturday.
Autumn reminds us that change is inevitable. Leaves turn, daylight diminishes and suddenly we're pulling jackets from closets again. Business has seasons, too. The advantage is that we can see some of them coming.
So use these early days of fall well. Say hello. Ask questions. Fix the little things. Help merchants prepare. The holiday rush will arrive soon, but there's still time to prepare for it. 
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