MARKET traders in Bradford more used to selling goods for cash have adopted electronic payment methods to revolutionise the way they operate and help boost trade.

Several stallholders at Bradford Plaza at Thornbury are aiming to make shopping more convenient by installing chip and pin payment terminals from independent card processing provider Retail Merchant Services. The move enables shoppers to buy goods using debit and credit cards as well as cash.

The first market trader to adopt the portable GPRS chip and pin terminal, Junaid Ashraf, recommended six other traders who have since adopted the payment technology.

Ashraf, said: “Being able to accept card payments is new to me but it’s important as fewer customers tend to carry cash. More and more of my customers started to ask if I took card payments and it became apparent that I needed to accept them or risk losing customers.

“Retail Merchant Services approached me directly and after a conversation about its payment service and additional benefits designed for small businesses such as myself, it was an easy decision to make. I am really pleased with the terminal and service and have recommended it to other traders.”

Gareth Poppleton, Retail Merchant Services managing director, said, “As major market stalls have become permanent fixtures and more of a shop front in recent years, it’s important for owners to treat their business as a retail store. Each year fewer and fewer consumers carry cash and if market traders are to thrive they need to move with the times and offer a current and accessible payment option.

“We appreciate that it’s a tough market for small businesses and for that reason we not only offer transparent payment services but support our customers with additional business benefits such as free legal advice and tax and VAT investigation insurance.”

The Bradford market stall updating comes as the British Retail Consortium reports that acceptance of card payments contributes to an increase in average spend per customer.

A recent survey showed the UK is more reliant on card payments than ever before, with only £17.99 out of every £100 spent in the UK being spent in cash – £3.03 less than in 2013.

Retail Merchant Services is hiring new staff and will hold a recruitment day for its Morley call centre on Tuesday, July 1.

Candidates should send CV’s to jobs@retailmerchantservices.co.uk quoting LSOPENDAY