Gravity Blog

News about Gravity, the industry, and resources to help community businesses succeed.

Careers at SmilePOS: Helping Thai Restaurants Flourish

Seattle-based SmilePOS has been changing the way Thai restaurants across the country are operating. With a point-of-sale system operating and supported completely in Thai, businesses find it easy to not only operate their POS but get the support they need 24/7 in their native language. During the COVID-19 pandemic, SmilePOS worked to develop new ways … Continued

6 Sales and Marketing Channels for Online Businesses

When customers arrive at your online store and make a purchase, they’re usually brought there via a sales channel. In other words, sales channels both attract and bring customers to your e-commerce storefront. When sales channels are developed properly, they funnel great leads to your online store and can be a fantastic source of revenue.  … Continued

How to leverage debt to modernize your operations.

Industry-specific technology and SaaS products are designed to automate everyday busywork and increase efficiency for small businesses (such as our very own Poppy Bridal Software which is designed to help bridal stores operate their business in a central and efficient way).  However, just like every other major business initiative, implementing a new digital infrastructure can … Continued

Visa and Mastercard: Unpacking the Rates Changes

Know the story already, but want the advice? Click here to scroll down to fee mitigation strategies for small businesses.  Businesses across America are experiencing a significant interchange rate increase from the nation’s two biggest card networks: Visa and Mastercard, with an estimated impact of $475 million in annual increases between the two companies.  For … Continued

Think Like a Brand Marketer to Grow Your Small Business

Growing a business is tough, (when your business depends on you “sticking out” in a crowded marketplace (think fashion and retail, consumer technology) finding the key to the success of more-established peers can seem indefinable. They have great products, you have great products (maybe even better), but most will find that defining your business’ personality … Continued

How To Use Gift Cards to Grow Your Small Business

Do you need to reinvigorate your online marketing or maximize brand growth in a few months? It might sound counterintuitive, but offering gift cards to current and potential customers could help you grow your business. Why Use Gift Cards? Whether you only have a digital e-commerce store or your business is both online and retail, … Continued

6 Ways to Build an Online Community for your Small Business

E-commerce brands are constantly competing with one another, and it can be tough to come up with new strategies to make sure your brand acquires and retains customers over the long term. Rather than ramping up your traditional marketing, you should build an e-commerce community for your current customers to rally around. Let’s break down … Continued

Small Businesses Strike: It’s Getting More Expensive for Sellers on Etsy.

Transaction fees are increasing 30% at Etsy this month.

For Etsy’s bottom line, 2021 was a good year, and 2022 sees additional changes to redouble the e-commerce giant’s success – but it’s not good news for its 2+ million sellers. Etsy announced in February it would be making changes to its fees and payments policy with far-reaching implications for its sellers. Etsy’s transaction fee … Continued

5 things every business owner should know before taking out a loan or funding

Here are some tips to help you make an education decision on your next... 

An often overlooked aspect of running a business is cost optimization. Cost optimization is a business-focused, continuous discipline to drive spending and cost reduction, while maximizing business value. This includes: Obtaining the best pricing and terms for all business purchases Standardizing, simplifying and rationalizing platforms, applications, processes and services Automating and digitizing IT and business … Continued