Visa Awards 50 Small Businesses $10,000 as Winners of the Visa Cashless Challenge

3/29/2018


Restaurant segment continues to embrace the move toward a cash-free future, including cashless recommendation in new Fix Your Business book.

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Mar. 29, 2018-- Visa (NYSE:V) today announced the 50 winners of the Visa Cashless Challenge. The contest asked small businesses in the food-service category to explain how the cashless movement could benefit their business for a chance to win a monetary prize. Each winning business received $10,000 they can use to assist in their plans for digital commerce enhancements, point-of-sale upgrades, marketing efforts and other business improvements. Small business owners said some of the top reasons their businesses prefer cash-free payments include efficiency at the point-of-sale, increased security for employees and reduced overall costs.

“Going cashless was a major key to helping our local dessert business activate at a large multi-day event in Philadelphia. We were able to observe our inventory and keep top selling flavors in stock, cut down wait time for customers to processing every 32 seconds and reconcile our books easier at the end of the event,” said Andre Andrews of Dre’s Water Ice and Ice Cream in Philadelphia, PA. “We are excited to win the Visa Cashless Challenge and use the prize money to implement the same digital technologies used at the event into our store and better serve our customers.”

Visa received entries from across the United States and across a variety of food-service businesses, including coffee shops, food trucks, full-service and quick-service restaurants and juice bars. Winners were chosen based on video submissions that showed positive impact to employees, their businesses, as well as originality, creativity and passion.

“When we launched the Visa Cashless Challenge, we wanted to inspire and inform merchants on the benefits and effectiveness of going cashless,” said Jack Forestell, head of global product and solutions, Visa Inc. “Since announcing the challenge, we have continued to see businesses across the country go cash-free, and Visa is committed to tapping into our innovation and technology for merchants to remain competitively connected to their consumers.”

Momentum Continues Toward Cash-Free Future

Embracing digital payments can improve businesses’ bottom line and improve customer experiences, according to small business expert and author Melinda Emerson. In her new book, Fix Your Business, Emerson highlights the benefits of going cashless.

Small business owners across the country see true benefits in moving towards a world more reliant on digital payments,” said Emerson. “Whether it be reduced insurance costs, time saved not having to rectify drawers, or increased efficiency at the point-of-sale, going cash-free is a great way for small business owners to make their lives easier—something everybody needs.”

“We spend a lot of time counting and recounting cash. If time is money, cash is expensive,” said Phil Van Overeem of Doomie’s NextMex in Los Angeles.

Since the launch of the Visa Cashless Challenge in 2017, the restaurant segment has continued to embrace the move toward a cash-free future. Restaurants such as Dos Toros and Delaney Chicken have since transitioned to cashless environments.

To help small businesses become more digitally enabled, Visa will release research later this spring, which will look at digital transformation barriers and opportunities through understanding the ways U.S. consumers and small businesses conduct commerce, make/receive payments and the costs and benefits associated with these transactions.

“While we see a cash-free future on the horizon, we also realize the challenges that exist in making sure unbanked consumers have access to cashless payment methods and making sure the system is as inclusive as possible,” continues Forestell. “Visa is continuing to work with its partners on solutions that will help consumers and businesses prepare for the move towards a cashless future.”

For a full list of the Visa Cashless Challenge winners and how Visa is enabling the cashless movement, please visit www.visa.com/cashless.

 
Cashless Challenge Winners
         

Aburaya

 

El Sur

 

Peli Peli Kitchen

Oakland, California   San Francisco, California   Houston, Texas
         

Alamar Kitchen

 

Estudillo Produce and Deli

 

Polar Paw Shaved Ice

Oakland, California   San Leandro, California   Bakersfield, California
         

Alli Mexican Cuisine

 

Fundamental LA

 

Postrique

Austin, Texas   Los Angeles, California   San Francisco, California
         

Bergerac

 

Greenburgh’s BBQ

 

Project Pasta

San Francisco, California   Claymont, Delaware   San Jose, California
         

Bini’s Kitchen

 

Gyro Stop

 

Protein Station Smoothies and Health Food

San Francisco, California   San Francisco, California   Seattle, Washington
         

Bombzie’s BBQ

 

Island Shack

 

Really Reel Ginger

San Francisco, California   Philadelphia, Pennsylvania   Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
         

Bright Yellow Creamery

 

Jeepney Guy

 

Senor Sisig

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania   San Francisco, California   San Francisco, California
         

Burt’s BBQ Shak

 

Korean Bobcha

 

Shosho’s Kitchen

Turlock, California   San Francisco, California   Cheltenham, Pennsylvania
         

Capelo’s Hill Country BBQ

 

Little Bee Baking

 

Simo Pizza

San Francisco, California   San Francisco, California   New York, New York
         

Caribbean Café

 

Little Green Cyclo

 

Sol Cacao

Chico, California   San Francisco, California   New York, New York
         

Carniceria Y Taqueria Karlita

 

Mamacellas Pizza Station

 

Tai Chi Jianbing

Clovis, California   Lima, Ohio   San Francisco, California
         

Chickie’s Wings

 

Masala Dosa

 

The Hive Organic Café & Superfood Bar

Greenville, Alabama   San Francisco, California   Santa Monica, California
         

Cielito Lindo

 

Mavens Creamery

 

The Land of Kush

San Francisco, California   San Jose, California   Baltimore, Maryland
         

Crisp

 

Doomie’s NextMex

 

The New Spot on Polk

Portland, Oregon   Los Angeles, California   San Francisco, California
         

Dorian

 

Novy

 

The Shake and Smoothie Company

San Francisco, California   San Francisco, California   Portsmouth, Virginia
         

Dre’s Water Ice and Ice Cream

 

Olde Time Pastries

 

Waffle Roost

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania   Turlock, California   San Francisco, California
         

Dum Truck

 

Palm House

   
San Francisco, California   San Francisco, California    
         

About Visa

Visa Inc. (NYSE: V) is the world’s leader in digital payments. Our mission is to connect the world through the most innovative, reliable and secure payment network - enabling individuals, businesses and economies to thrive. Our advanced global processing network, VisaNet, provides secure and reliable payments around the world, and is capable of handling more than 65,000 transaction messages a second. The company’s relentless focus on innovation is a catalyst for the rapid growth of connected commerce on any device, and a driving force behind the dream of a cashless future for everyone, everywhere. As the world moves from analog to digital, Visa is applying our brand, products, people, network and scale to reshape the future of commerce. For more information, visit usa.visa.com/aboutvisavisacorporate.tumblr.com and @VisaNews.

Source: Visa Inc.

Visa Inc.
Andy Gerlt
agerlt@visa.com