The Green Sheet Online Edition
November 9, 2026 • 26:11:01
Street Smarts
It's not too late to make the holidays brighter for your merchants
The holiday shopping season is officially underway, and despite continued concerns about inflation, consumer confidence and tightening household budgets, retailers have plenty of reasons to be optimistic. Consumers are still ready to spend, but how, when and where they spend their hard-earned dollars continues to evolve.
According to the National Retail Federation (NRF), U.S. holiday retail sales are expected to increase 4.2 percent in 2026, reaching approximately $1.013 trillion during November and December. Meanwhile, Adobe Analytics forecasts online holiday spending will reach a record $275.1 billion, representing a 6.7 percent increase over last year.
Those are encouraging numbers, but there is more to the story. Today's shoppers are increasingly value-conscious, digitally connected and looking for convenient ways to stretch their holiday budgets.
For ISOs and merchant level salespeople (MLSs), that creates opportunities to help merchants make the most of the busy shopping weeks ahead. And here is the good news: even though the holiday season has already begun, it's not too late to implement solutions that can make a meaningful difference.
There's still plenty of shopping ahead
Remember when holiday shopping officially kicked off on Black Friday? Those days are long gone. Consumers are starting earlier, searching for deals and spreading their purchases across multiple shopping events.
But don't let the early start fool you. Some of the biggest shopping days are still ahead. Adobe forecasts that Cyber Week, the five-day period from Thanksgiving through Cyber Monday, will generate approximately $47.5 billion in online spending, accounting for 17.3 percent of the holiday season's projected online sales.
For merchants, that means there's still time to capture significant sales opportunities. For ISOs and MLSs, it is the perfect opportunity to check in with merchants and ask, What can we do to make your holiday season easier? The answer doesn't necessarily require a complete technology overhaul. Sometimes a quick equipment upgrade, an additional payment option or a more streamlined checkout process can make all the difference.
Make convenience a holiday priority
Today's shoppers expect flexibility, and they are increasingly comfortable moving between online and in-person shopping experiences. Adobe forecasts that mobile devices will account for 57.4 percent of online holiday spending in 2026. That's a compelling reason to make sure merchants are prepared to accommodate customers shopping from their smartphones.
For brick-and-mortar retailers, contactless terminals, digital wallets and mobile POS devices can help reduce checkout times and keep lines moving during busy shopping periods. For restaurants, pop-up shops, holiday markets and service businesses, portable payment solutions can create additional opportunities to accept payments wherever customers are ready to buy. Many of these solutions can be deployed quickly, making them practical options even this late in the season.
ISOs and MLSs should also encourage merchants to review their online checkout experience. Simple improvements, including guest checkout, digital wallet acceptance and fewer checkout steps, can help reduce friction and potentially recover abandoned sales.
Help shoppers stretch their holiday dollars
Consumers may be ready to spend, but they are also looking for value. According to NRF's 2026 holiday research, 56 percent of shoppers surveyed said the state of the economy will influence their holiday spending plans. That means merchants need to think beyond discounts and focus on providing convenient, flexible ways for customers to shop.
Gift cards, loyalty programs and alternative payment options can all play a role. Adobe reported that buy now, pay later (BNPL) purchases generated approximately $20 billion in online spending during the 2025 holiday season, a 9.8 percent year-over-year increase. For merchants selling higher-ticket items, offering BNPL may provide an additional purchasing option for budget-conscious customers.
ISOs and MLSs can also help merchants evaluate their processing expenses and identify opportunities to improve operational efficiency. Where appropriate, compliant cash discount or dual-pricing programs may be worth exploring, provided merchants understand applicable regulations and card-network requirements. The goal is not to sell another product. It's to recommend solutions that make doing business easier and more profitable.
Small technology improvements can deliver big benefits
The holiday season can be hectic, especially for small businesses juggling inventory, staffing, customer service and increased transaction volumes. Fortunately, technology does not have to be complicated to be effective.
Integrated payment and accounting solutions can simplify reconciliation, reduce manual data entry and provide merchants with a clearer picture of their daily sales. POS systems that connect with inventory management and accounting platforms, including QuickBooks, can help merchants track purchases and make more informed business decisions.
And don't overlook the value of simple reporting tools. Real-time transaction dashboards can help merchants identify their busiest sales periods, monitor payment activity and respond quickly to changing demand.
With limited time remaining before the busiest shopping days, focus on solutions that can be implemented with minimal disruption. A little extra efficiency now can go a long way toward reducing holiday headaches.
Make the season merry for your merchants
While the holiday season is already in full swing, there's still time to help merchants improve their operations, enhance customer experiences and capture additional sales. For ISOs and MLSs, this is an opportunity to reinforce your value as a trusted business partner.
Reach out to your merchants. Ask about their challenges. Recommend practical solutions they can implement now, whether that is upgrading a contactless terminal, adding mobile payment acceptance, improving online checkout or simplifying transaction reporting. And remember, the benefits don't end when the decorations come down. The solutions you introduce today can help merchants operate more efficiently throughout the coming year.
After all, the best holiday gift you can give your merchants isn't another piece of technology. It's the confidence that their business is ready for whatever the season brings. It's November, but it's not too late to make this holiday season a successful one for your merchants—and your business, too.
Jaki Kackert is a seasoned marketing professional with experience supporting organizations across the payments and financial services industries. Through expertise in content marketing, digital strategy, public relations, and communications, she helps ISOs and Resellers build marketing strategies that attract, retain, and grow merchant portfolios. For more information please visit www.kackertmarketing.com or reach out to Jaki at jbkackert@gmail.com.
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