Oil and Convenience Verticals
One of the fastest growing segments of the electronic payments industry is the oil/convenience niche. This unique sector presents significant challenges due to its complex structure, specialized technology and specific rules. Because of that, the rewards this expanding market can offer might be beyond your reach without an effective business plan and the right guidance to implement that plan. The Strawhecker Group is the quintessential guide to this niche market.
What sets us apart from other consulting firms when it comes to oil and convenience verticals? Our differentiators are our experience, our expertise and our focus. The Strawhecker Group offers our clients the exclusive services of an extremely skilled and experienced group of professional associates. The TSG Oil and Convenience Division is led by Rich Eyberg, a 30-year veteran of some of the leading oil/convenience processing companies including First Data Corporation and Alliance Data Systems where he served as Senior Vice President of Prepaid Services, Senior Vice President of Sales and Business Development and Vice President of Payments.
Mr. Eyberg is joined by Lori Breitzke, former Vice President of RBS Lynk. Ms. Breitzke has over 15 years experience in electronic payment systems with POS terminal manufacturers and payment processors including VeriFone, ENVOY/First Data, Ingenico and MicroBilt. Another integral member of our outstanding team is Cliff Gray, an expert in electronic payment systems, specializing in front-end and vendor integration. Throughout his 16-year career, Mr. Gray has spearheaded the evolution of third-party integration methods, particularly the introduction of internet transport (TCP/IP) into the electronic payment space. He has long been a proponent of modernizing integration, through the use of technologies such as xml and https, and most recently is focused on payment data security.
“Convenience stores and gas stations led the electronification of the industry and were among the first businesses to talk about customer self-payment through payment at the pump,” says Eyberg. “This market has long been an innovator as far as accepting and processing payments, and The Strawhecker Group is excited to offer specific consulting expertise in this lucrative market.”
The Strawhecker Group offers its oil/convenience consulting service to all types of businesses, from small to very large organizations. Our clients range from ISOs and acquiring entities to retail merchants—all of whom are either poised to enter this arena or who are already involved in oil and convenience. We provide point-of-sale technology and processing expertise as well as financial modeling, conversion project management, vendor selection and vendor management. Most importantly, The Strawhecker Group offers effective navigation through the rules and regulations that govern this vertical.
“Visa and MasterCard regulations can differ by verticals, and this particular vertical has a lot of special rules and regulations,” says Eyberg. “TSG can help you understand the different payment types that are unique to this space. No other firm can offer such an extensive knowledge base and expertise to its clients.”
When you engage The Strawhecker Group to guide you through the challenges of the oil/convenience marketplace, you receive a comprehensive suite of services that include:
- Understanding of the POS environment with pay at the pump that includes complex integrations with in-store POS systems and multiple devices providing different payment and product support.
- Advice on the role of prepaid, loyalty and promotional needs.
- Focus on the cost of interchange and how to positively impact it through alternative and new payment types.
- Assistance in processor selection, negotiation, conversion and ongoing management.
- Assistance in site acquisition from a conversion and migration impact.
- Advice on new developments in connectivity between stores, headquarters and processors.
Take advantage of our unparalleled associate expertise to help you drive decisions around processors, partners, costs and revenue enhancement ideas for the oil and convenience store sector. The result—a marked increase in revenue and functionality with a significant reduction in total costs of payment acceptance. Let The Strawhecker Group enhance your sales success within this lucrative vertical.