This past week the Electronic Transaction Association (ETA) trade show was held for three days. This is the largest trade show in the US for the electronic payments industry. It offers a chance for the credit card processing industry to come together to learn about new products, services and technologies.
Of course the Merchant Cash Advance industry was well represented with four major funders sporting exhibit booths. It was great to see the MCA industry was alive and growing based on the displays.
Overall the show was well attended as compared to last year. The largest difference was the attitude and upbeat tone in 2010. Both exhibitors and attendees alike were talking about and planning on how to grow their businesses and invest in new technologies, products, etc to prepare for future growth. Gone was the talk of re-trenching, evaluating risk and pairing down to core products/services as in 2009. Many, including AFS, were inking new deals and or partnerships right on the trade show floor.
All were in agreement that the worst seems to behind us, but its still going to be a bumpy road for the immediate future and those of us that have survived are well poised for the long-term future.
