This integrated solution will be deployed to all of the existing Harbortouch Hospitality POS systems and will be added to all new Hospitality POS deployments going forward. This partnership means that more than 135 million U.S. consumers with smartphones have an instant and secure way to pay bar and restaurant tabs at over 10,000 Harbortouch locations nationwide, a number that is rapidly increasing. It also means merchants who use the Harbortouch POS system will now have the most advanced mobile payment, customer engagement and marketing solution available today.

Tabbedout was built for merchants that want to generate revenue growth for their business and create a more secure and customer focused guest experience. With the Tabbedout/Harbortouch collaboration, merchants can spend more time serving food and drinks to their patrons instead of closing out checks, which means more revenue to their bottom line. This unique integrated solution provides a way for merchants to connect with their customers, increasing customer loyalty and driving more visits to their location through targeted offers and a streamlined, secure guest checkout. The app also drives traffic to the participating merchants through its local search feature. In addition to the merchant benefits, Tabbedout was also built for consumers who want more control of the guest experience, and prefer to use a more secure payment process when they are in restaurants and bars.

All Harbortouch Hospitality POS and Tabbedout merchants will have access to the recently released merchant marketing solution, Periscope, which gives merchants unrivaled visibility into who their customers are, how often they come in, and their purchase history. This marketing solution is seamlessly integrated into the merchant’s Harbortouch POS system and complements the advanced reporting functionality offered by the POS system itself. Moreover, Periscope gives merchants an ability to instantly respond to customers’ feedback in real-time, while they are still in venue. Lastly, Periscope enables Harbortouch merchants to create unparalleled marketing campaigns delivered to their customers’ mobile phones.

Harbortouch offers its touch-screen POS systems through an unprecedented “free” program, which allows qualifying retail and hospitality merchants to obtain the company’s full-featured, all-in-one Elite POS system, high speed printer and numerous other POS accessories with no up-front costs. The only requirements to the merchant are a payment processing agreement and low cost service agreement. Each package also comes with custom programmed software, professional installation and on-site training. Additionally, award winning customer service and technical support are available to all Harbortouch merchants 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

“Harbortouch has changed the landscape of the POS and payment processing industries and Tabbedout is revolutionizing mobile payments and rewards. It was only natural for these two innovative companies to come together in an attempt to redefine commerce for brick and mortar businesses,” says Harbortouch CEO Jared Isaacman. “This partnership creates a powerful synergy that will tremendously benefit our current and future customers.”

“Integrating with a POS leader like Harbortouch allows thousands of merchants to leverage their existing Harbortouch POS system to offer mobile payment and enables us to expand our solution to a wider network of restaurants, bars and hotels nationwide,” said Alex Broeker, CEO of Tabbedout. “Our goal is to make mobile payment an everyday simple and secure process for the consumer that generates additional revenue for Tabbedout merchants. This partnership brings together two innovative technologies, creating a merchant solution that we are confident has the power to truly revolutionize the POS and payment experience.”

Isaacman continues, “Through this unique initiative, we expect to add nearly 50,000 hospitality locations to the program over the next 18 months while collaborating on additional technology development.”

For additional information about the Harbortouch free POS program, visit www.harbortouch.com. For information about Tabbedout’s Mobile Payment and Merchant Marketing Solution, visit www.tabbedout.com.

Meanwhile, Harbortouch has been garnering attention for our own free solution. But the difference between our offering and the mobile payment apps is that Harbortouch provides a full-featured, touch-screen point of sale (POS) system – valued at $5,000 – compared to the cheap plastic “dongle” being supplied by Square and the other mobile payments companies.

Additionally, our award-winning free POS system comes complete with robust, full-featured software compared to the limited functionality offered by mobile payment apps. The Harbortouch software offers advanced reporting capabilities, inventory management, employee tracking with built-in time clock and countless industry-specific features to meet the unique needs of restaurants and night clubs, retail and service businesses, quick-service and delivery establishments and convenience stores.

Small businesses need smart tools to help them grow without breaking the bank. But most mobile payment apps and small-scale POS systems, like those offered by Square and Groupon, don’t provide the scalability or sophisticated features real businesses need. Many people choose these apps because of the name recognition, but they don’t realize that these options don’t offer the features they are going to need to run their business. These apps utilize cheap plastic gizmos to accept payments and rely on stripped down software. They may work for babysitters and flea market sales, but they simply aren’t intended for restaurants, retail stores or other small to mid-sized businesses.

With free state-of-the-art hardware, software, installation and training included, Harbortouch is a much better value than small-scale mobile systems, and it’s much easier to expand and grow the system as your business grows. And, with Harbortouch, you’re never on your own—your system is backed by our lifetime repair/replacement warranty, plus access to our 24/7 customer service and technical support center.

Don’t be fooled by the mobile hype. We have created a video that highlights the advantages of Harbortouch over the mobile “dongles” that you can view here.

“The ability to efficiently operate an advanced POS system is a critical skill for any successful bartender,” said Jordan Goldman with New York Bartenders, Inc. “Having the Harbortouch Elite as part of our Boot Camp program not only gives us a state-of-the-art tool to train participants on the latest technology, but also gives our certified graduates a clear advantage in a fiercely competitive job market.”

The Elite system is part of Harbortouch’s exclusive free POS system that helps hospitality and retail merchants manage their entire business with a single, reliable, easy-to-use, efficient and highly affordable solution.

The Harbortouch Elite comes complete with a sleek touch-screen interface; integrated cash/check/credit/debit payment processing; extensive inventory, employee and menu management features; and comprehensive reporting functions that help business owners and managers stay on top of daily operations. The hardware, setup and training are available free of charge to merchants, who pay only a monthly service fee plus standard merchant processing fees on credit and debit card transactions.

“The Bartender Boot Camp is a nationally recognized program that is well-known for turning out some of the best-trained, most successful bartenders in the New York area and beyond,” said Brian Jones, Executive Vice President of Sales & Marketing for Harbortouch. “This partnership gives us a valuable opportunity to contribute toward the ongoing education and training that is a vital part of maintaining current skills and a professional certification.”

Graduates of the 12-hour Bartender Boot Camp earn a national certification, benefit from free, unlimited future training and can take advantage of job search and placement assistance available through New York Bartenders, Inc. The hands-on courses are available both weekdays and weekends and take place within a real bar setting in New York City. Attendees learn basic drink recipes, alcohol awareness, opening and closing procedures, fruit handling, POS operation, state liquor laws and ID checking requirements.

The Harbortouch POS Elite system is available with a wide range of software modules to meet the specific needs of retail, hospitality, convenience and liquor stores and quick-service/food delivery restaurants. Additional features for restaurants include a free, integrated Reservations system and the Lighthouse, a cloud-based POS management and reporting dashboard for secure, remote back-end access 24/7 from anywhere with an Internet connection.

For more about the New York Bartenders Boot Camp, visit www.newyorkbartendersinc.com.

Best in Biz Awards selected Harbortouch’s full-featured POS systems in the award category dedicated to top products for small and medium-size businesses. The overall competition attracted more than 400 entries from public and private companies in the U.S. and Canada. Winners were announced Wednesday, November 14, after being selected by an independent panel of 32 judges from prestigious business and technology publications, broadcast outlets and analyst firms, including ABC, Businessweek, Computerworld, Entrepreneur, eWeek, Examiner, Financial Times, Forbes, IDG Ventures, IEEE Institute, Inc. and USA Today.

Harbortouch POS provides an integrated platform for sales, inventory and personnel management customized for five specific business categories: Retail, Hospitality, Convenience, Quick Service/Delivery, and Spirits. The module-based software and hardware produce a robust system for managing orders and sales, overseeing personnel, tracking inventory, and generating financial performance reports that can help businesses improve efficiencies.

Merchants pay a low monthly subscription fee for the POS service with no outlay for the hardware, software, installation or set-up. Harbortouch provides custom programming, professional installation, onsite training, and 24/7 customer service and technical support by phone, email and a live chat feature on the POS system. The service fee also covers lifetime hardware replacements if the equipment ever breaks or malfunctions.

“We are honored to be acknowledged by this independent panel. It validates the value and quality of our POS system and the program we are offering to our customers,” states Harbortouch CEO Jared Isaacman.

In October, Harbortouch was named a Gold Winner by the 2012 Golden Bridge Business Awards for its POS systems.  In September, the company received a Bronze Award from the American Business Awards. One of the nation’s largest payment processors, Harbortouch handles merchant accounts for more than 120,000 business locations and processes in excess of $10 billion annually.

For more information about the Harbortouch POS system, please visit www.harbortouch.com.

For a full list of gold, silver and bronze winners in Best in Biz Awards 2012, please visit: www.bestinbizawards.com/2012-winners.

The Golden Bridge Awards single out the world’s most exemplary companies for organizational performance, innovations, products and services, and leadership teams, and encompasses companies of all sizes from every major industry. Winners were selected by more than 40 business peers from around the world who evaluated detailed entries. A dinner and awards presentation took place October 2 in San Francisco. Other companies that received awards in various categories include Apple, Samsung, Google, Microsoft, IBM and AT&T.

Harbortouch’s POS system provides merchants with a complete, integrated platform for sales, inventory and personnel management that accommodates five specific business types: Retail, Hospitality, Convenience, Quick Service/Delivery, and Spirits. The module-based software and hardware produce a robust system for managing orders and sales, overseeing personnel, tracking inventory, and generating financial performance reports that can help businesses improve efficiencies.

“Our feature-rich POS gives small businesses the same advanced functionality their larger counterparts use to be successful at an affordable price,” said Jared Isaacman, Harbortouch CEO and Founder. “Winning the coveted Golden Bridge Award reinforces our commitment to developing POS systems that help small businesses overcome critical hurdles and prosper.  We appreciate recognition of our unique business model from our industry peers.”

Merchants pay a low monthly subscription fee for the POS service with no outlay for installation and set-up. Harbortouch provides custom programming, professional installation, onsite training, and around-the-clock customer service and technical support by phone, email and a live chat feature on the POS system.

One of the nation’s largest payment processors, Harbortouch handles merchant accounts for more than 120,000 business locations and processes in excess of $10 billion annually.

For more information about the Harbortouch POS system, visit www.harbortouch.com.

About the Golden Bridge Awards

Golden Bridge Business and Innovation Awards are an annual industry and peers recognition program honoring best companies in every major industry from large to small and new start-ups in North America, Europe, Middle-East, Africa, Asia-Pacific, and Latin-America, Best New Products and Services, Best Innovations, Management and Teams, Women in Business and the Professions, Case Studies, Customer Satisfaction, and PR and Marketing Campaigns from all over the world. Learn more about The Golden Bridge Awards at www.goldenbridgeawards.com.

“Winning a prestigious Stevie Award further validates the benefits of our unique business model that features free POS systems for merchants,” said Harbortouch CEO Jared Isaacman. “Our sophisticated POS system manages multiple operations for the business including the acceptance of various payment methods, placement of orders, inventory tracking and employee management. Our robust reporting allows owners to review several financial metrics including sales history so they can get a high-level view of their business and also reduce their accounting and bookkeeping expenses.”

The American Business Awards are considered one of the country’s premier business awards programs. All individuals and organizations nationwide are eligible to submit nominations – public and private, for-profit and non-profit, large and small. The 2012 ABAs received hundreds of entries.

“Entries to the ABAs grew substantially this year,” said Michael Gallagher, president and founder of the Stevie Awards. “Despite slow economic conditions, the quality of nominations was outstanding, demonstrating that there are many companies that are innovating and growing regardless.”

Harbortouch supplies a full-featured POS system to restaurants and retail businesses with no up-front costs. In addition to the hardware and software, each order includes custom programming, professional installation and onsite training. Complete customer service and technical support are available 24/7 by phone and email, and live chat is accessible directly through the POS system. The Harbortouch POS Elite hardware is backed by a lifetime repair/replacement warranty for as long as the merchant maintains a merchant account. An approved merchant account and monthly service agreement are required to participate in the free POS program.

For more information about the Harbortouch free POS system, visit www.harbortouch.com.

Details about The American Business Awards and the lists of Stevie Award winners are available at www.StevieAwards.com/ABA.

About the Stevie Awards
Stevie Awards are conferred in four programs: The International Business Awards, The American Business Awards, the Stevie Awards for Women in Business, and the Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service. Honoring organizations of all types and sizes and the people behind them, the Stevies recognize outstanding performances in the workplace worldwide. Learn more about The Stevie Awards at www.StevieAwards.com.

Since we give our POS solution away for free, people sometimes assume that our equipment must be sub-par. This couldn’t be further from the truth. In fact, exactly the opposite is true. Since we give away the equipment, our primary source of revenue is from credit card processing. This means that if your system is down, we’re not making money. Simply put, we have skin in the game. Our business relies on your continued success.

Despite our free price tag, we use the highest quality equipment to avoid any possible downtime or issues. Each piece of equipment that makes up every Harbortouch POS system has been specifically developed to perform in the most demanding restaurant and retail environments, resulting in a complete package that is unmatched in durability and reliability. And if a system does experience an issue, we offer award-winning support, entirely in-house 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Additionally, our remote support capabilities allow us to log into your system in order to repair any software issues immediately. And in the rare instance that we aren’t able to resolve the issue over the phone or with our remote support, our lifetime guarantee on equipment means that we will ship you out a brand new system at no cost so you are back up and running in no time. Additionally, since we cannot afford to continually give away replacements, this offers another incentive for us to deploy the most reliable equipment in the first place.

Because of our unique business model, we have more riding on your success than any other POS company in the country.

In January 2011, I announced the free POS initiative. Since that time, we have deployed tens of thousands of free POS systems. Those merchants, prior to this initiative, presumably would have paid tens of thousands of dollars to the traditional POS resellers and vendors. The reason those deals came to Harbortouch is because we are substantially less expensive. We give the hardware, software, support, onsite installation, onsite training free of charge. Yes, there is a service agreement of $69/month. It is really no different than the free cell phone you get when you sign a Verizon or AT&T service agreement. The difference is, you would have had to pay for service with any traditional POS reseller in ADDITION to the very expensive cost for the hardware and software. There is no denying the dramatic economic savings a business owner will realize when they sign up for our program compared to the more traditional options. That is the driver behind our growth.

When you consider how many lost opportunities this growth means for our traditional competitors, it is not surprising that many of them are upset about this loss of business. Especially considering the enormous commissions that are associated with the traditional lease/ purchase method of selling POS systems. It is not surprising that many of them would go online to write these anonymous and frankly false representations of our service. It is important to note that most of the complaints do not have any real contact information associated with them.

Harbortouch is not a new phenomenon. I am the founder and CEO of the company and we have been in business for 13 years. We handle the credit card processing services for over 140, 000 merchants nationwide and processing in excess of 10 billion dollars a year annually. We have been named to the Inc. 500 list of fastest growing companies in America for five consecutive years. We have over 300 employees, 24×7 technical support and nationwide onsite service. Since we launched our free POS initiative in the beginning of 2011, we have deployed over 11, 000 touch-screen POS systems. We have numerous business, media and professional accolades. We are not a start-up that just threw together this crazy idea of free POS systems and then failed to stand behind it. The program is a tremendous success and it appears our competition is not very happy about that.

I am constantly working and always available to field e-mails personally from interested merchants. Similarly, any merchant that is not fully satisfied with our service is welcome to contact our 24×7 technical support department or e-mail me directly.

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Jared Isaacman

jared@harbortouch.com