Debit Payment: Much More Than a Simple Swipe Intercard Evolves Alongside the Market with New Focus on Global Marketing by Dan McGrath It’s understandable that Intercard’s CEO Scott Sherrod often considers the question of exactly what business his company is in now. Anyone working in the tech world sees firsthand the rapid pace of change that is that industry’s lifeblood; it is a constant stream of new software and hardware evolving to meet the dynamic and constantly developing needs of the marketplace. Debit payment technology is no exception to that endless transformation. That question keeps Intercard thriving in a…
Author: RePlay Editor
A Sad, But Timely, Wake Up Call Jersey Jack Reflects on What We Can All Do to Make It a Better World by Jack Guarnieri, Jersey Jack Pinball & PinballSales.com The world is a crazy place! I don’t know who said it first, but it’s certainly taken on a different meaning than when I was a kid growing up in Brooklyn. We’re in the “Amusement” business — some would argue the “Entertainment” business. As such, it’s our happy task to make the world laugh and have some fun, to forget the crazy world for a bit of time, an escape at…
Party Cards! That’s What We Called Them in the Early Days of Debit Card Systems By Beth Standlee, CEO, TrainerTainment I don’t know if people remember or even know that my entry into the family entertainment world has deep roots in debit card systems. I worked onsite with an early adaptor location in the mid to late ’90s. It was a time where you had to explain why you needed to use a card to play games rather than a token. Children were easy. They got it instantly and it was great fun to have your own “card”! I remember thinking…
My Experience With the Indies How These Game Developers Work in a Real-World Arcade Setting by Adam Pratt, Game Grid Arcade & ArcadeHeroes.com With all the talk of “indies” (independent game developers) in the arcade space as of late, I wanted to share my real-world arcade experience with these developers and their games in my arcade business. Thanks to digital distribution platforms like Steam, the Apple Store or Google Play, indie games have become quite the force among home gaming. Just about anyone can get their game out onto the market, to the point that it is very easy for…
Editorial The family entertainment center (FEC) sector has been the “shining star” in the coin-op games business for years now. The public clearly enjoys spending time in these places, giving a great PR lift to our industry’s “brand.” It also means more manufacturers selling more games, more prize suppliers funneling their goods through the ticket and auto-prize machines, and more center operators making more money to reinvest in our economic cycle. One of the reasons for this success is the savvy those operators have brought to the FEC table, like knowing who their customers are and how to keep them…
Building on Greatness Toy Factory Reflects on Its Successful Journey in the Plush World The average American probably wouldn’t consider there to be many similarities between the world of plush toys and Hollywood, but the folks at Toy Factory would be happy to correct that misinterpretation. After 17 years in the amusement industry, the company has forged relationships with some of the most well-known names in showbiz, as well as some of the biggest names in the amusement industry. These relationships are integral to their business and their customer’s satisfaction, and stem from years of dedication to their product. From…
Summer is Sizzling With Merchandise Putting Consumer Preferences to Work in Your Entertainment Centers by Howard McAuliffe, Partner, Pinnacle Entertainment Group As summer is getting into swing and kids are filling redemption centers, it’s a good time to take a deeper look at products. By understanding overarching consumer trends, we can better understand guest preferences and decide what items to include in facilities. I’ve included trends for different demographic groups, which is very important for creating an experience that generates repeat business. Keep these in mind when selecting products for redemption, cranes, and merchandisers: 1) STEM: Science, Technology, Engineering and…
Charitable Efforts Giving Back Is So Much More Than a Tax Deduction by Jack Guarnieri, Jersey Jack Pinball & PinballSales.com Charitable donations should be part of your business budget. In recent years charitable causes have been hit hard by the economy and the budget cutting of many financial planners in businesses, as well as private donors. Overall, the trend is up, but we can all do a little better. If it’s buying a box of Girl Scout Cookies or donating to a worthy cause, we can all do something to help a make this world a better place. Winston Churchill…
Create Special Moments And Increase Excitement and Sales at the Same Time By Beth Standlee, CEO, TrainerTainment I personally celebrated a wonderful “Birthday Cruise” this year; and the service team at Norwegian Cruise Lines delivered an experience I’ll never forget! We had gone ashore at the first stop, which fell on my actual birthday. When we returned to the ship that day we found our cabin decorated with birthday streamers, a happy birthday banner, and a towel animal holding a balloon and a cupcake. Giddy, excited, appreciated, these are all words that come to mind when I think of it now.…
Redemption: Is It Art or Science? The Balance that Creates Success Starts with the Fundamentals By George McAuliffe, Chief FEC Strategist, Redemption Plus As this issue delivers RePlay’s focus on redemption, it’s a good time to revisit the basics. People ask: Is redemption art or science? The answer is that it’s both! The “Art” is in having a good feel for what customers want, creating the experience, picking the right pieces, and presenting them attractively. The “Science” starts with the numbers: What do our games truly pay out in value? Do I balance my cost of sales percentage against my…