How A Greedy Payment Processor Sparked A Movement for Good in Business

The Chain of Good: Turning a Crisis into a Movement

In an unexpected turn of events, an Ohio-based outdoor retailer, Roads Rivers and Trails (RRT), found itself at a crossroads when its payment processor imposed sudden rate hikes. The owners, Bryan Wolf and Emily White, faced the daunting task of reassessing their business partnerships amidst rising operational costs. This situation, fraught with frustration, became the catalyst for a broader movement in the business community aimed at giving back to local causes.

A Surprising Challenge

The surprise increase in processing fees served as a wake-up call for RRT. As they navigated through potential new processors, the owners experienced the common frustrations of small business owners - opaque contracts, subpar customer service, and an industry that often prioritizes profits over relationships. It was during this search that they stumbled upon an alternative: Giv Local, a payment processor that operates with a unique mission.

Discovering Giv Local

Giv Local is a Certified B Corporation that donates 20% of its processing revenue to the nonprofit organizations chosen by its merchants. Unlike typical industry practices where fees are steep and void of transparency, Giv Local portrays its commitment through action. Before RRT had completed its first transaction with Giv Local, a co-founder personally visited Ohio to participate in a tree planting event organized by RRT, emphasizing their dedication to community involvement. This approach was a stark contrast to the impersonal interactions RRT had endured with other processors.

Bryan Wolf remarked, “The last thing I ever expected to put my name behind was a credit card processor... No more faceless overlord—real people trying to make a difference.” This sentiment highlights the critical nature of building relationships over transactions in any business.

A New Kind of Giving

What sets Giv Local apart is its model of charitable giving. Unlike traditional donation systems that might ask customers to contribute or round up costs, Giv Local ensures that its donations come from the company's own revenue stream. This ensures that merchants like RRT can observe the impact of their decisions without adding financial strain on their operations. They can track the accumulated giving clearly through transparent reporting, making the donations an integral part of their operational costs rather than just a one-off gesture.