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September 24, 2019

On the web

September 5, 2019

On the web

Jack Dorsey: Mass Crypto Adoption Will Transform Square’s Business

CoinDesk

“Rather than focusing on money transmission or payments, as at present, the firm will likely begin to develop services “like hardware, analytics and payroll and lending,” Dorsey said. Square integrated bitcoin in 2018, when its Cash App began selling the cryptocurrency to users. This service generated over $190 million in revenue over the first two quarters of this year, yielding shy of $3 million in gross profit.”

August 29, 2019

On the web

Square Competition Concern Intensifies as Key Customer Bails

Bloomberg

“Faucette, who has an equalweight rating on Square, said recent commentary indicates Joe & the Juice moved to competitor Adyen to gain a single global processor across all of its international markets. That suggests Square is still in the early days of developing its brand power in global markets and is less likely to offer a competitive advantage internationally, the analyst said.”

August 21, 2019

On the web

Square Integrates With POS Software Goodtill

Cards International

“Co-founder and director of Goodtill, Oliver Rowbory said, “Goodtill software is helpful and easy for merchants and by partnering with Square we are now able to serve more merchants without compromising on their experience. Integrating our point-of-sale with Square payment tools means a broader set of small and large merchants can utilise the tools they need to start, run and grow.” “The Goodtill point of sale works for the business because it is iPad-based which gives me flexibility whether I’m at the restaurant or working an event,” added Matthew Omeye-Howell, co-founder of restaurant Jollof Box.”

August 16, 2019

On the web

Expanding Square’s Platform Beyond Payments

Square Corner Blog

“Over the past couple of years, we’ve released APIs and SDKs that focus on enabling developers to take payments in person , online , and in mobile apps . We’re now expanding our platform and shifting the focus from payments to orders. Orders are now a central component of our platform as they connect payments to items, price modifiers, customers, and more…This release is the first to open access for external developers to Square software products. Developers can send orders from their app to Square Order Manager, which turns Square points of sale and Square Dashboard into order fulfillment points that are already used daily by millions of merchants. “

August 2, 2019

On the web

Square Sells Food Delivery App to DoorDash as It Chases Profit

bloomberg

Square Inc. is selling its Caviar food-delivery app to DoorDash Inc. for $410 million, as the money-losing payments company searches for profits.    The sale was disclosed as part of Square’s quarterly financial report Thursday, which failed to impress investors. The stock fell as much as 9% in extended trading.   For Square, the sale frees up cash that can be spent on other areas. The company said it would shift investment to the cash register and online shopping business and to Cash App, a competitor of PayPal Holdings Inc. ’s Venmo. The payments app is on track to generate $500 million in revenue annually based on recent performance, Square said.”

July 24, 2019

On the web

Square Eyes Product Photos As Its Latest Service To Attract And Keep Merchants

Digital Transactions

“Square Inc. is getting into the photography business as yet another way to add auxiliary services beyond payments designed to attract and retain merchants. The new service, dubbed Square Photo Studio, enables merchants, or sellers in Square’s lingo, to ship products to a Square studio in Brooklyn, N.Y., where they are photographed by a robotic camera with human assistance, Bloomberg News reported. Sellers can provide instructions on camera angles, according to a Square online posting. Square says it then makes the resulting high-resolution images available to the seller for posting in online stores , on Web sites, online marketplaces, the Pinterest and Instagram social networks, and in emails.”

May 2, 2019

On the web

Square Reports Q1 Sales of $489M, up 59%, but Net Loss Widens to $38M

TechCrunch

“Square continued to grow business operations like Square Cash — its instant money transfer service — and its core payments business (subscription and services revenue). The latter was up 126% to $219 million, led by growth of the Square Cash app, Caviar, Square Capital and Instant Deposit for sellers. Square noted that in the first quarter of 2019, Square Capital facilitated approximately 70,000 loans worth $508 million, up 50% year over year.”

April 19, 2019

On the wires

Invoice2go Partners With Square Capital to Deliver Mobile Access to Business Loans, Helping Small Business Owners Grow

prnewswire

“Invoice2go and Square Capital today announced a partnership that gives Invoice2go customers in the United States a fast, seamless way to access the funding they need to grow their business – from right inside their Invoice2go mobile app. This partnership is the first time Square Capital, the small business loan program created by financial and technology company Square, has had a partner incorporate embedded access to business loans through their mobile app, making the process of applying simple and easily accessible.”

March 1, 2019

On the web

Square sold more than $166M worth of bitcoin in 2018

The Block

“Last year, the firm enabled bitcoin buys and sells on its Cash App platform, a rival to PayPal’s Venmo. Still, despite Dorsey’s bullish stance on bitcoin — the billionaire has said bitcoin could be the future of money — Square does not hold that much bitcoin on its own balance sheet, but did however make approximately $1.7 million in net profit trading bitcoin during the year, according to company filings. “

February 28, 2019

On the web

Square Posts Strong Growth for Cash App, Its Entry in the Hot P2P Payments Market

Digital Transactions

“Square Inc. is rapidly growing into a heavyweight player in the hard-fought market for peer-to-peer payments. The San Francisco-based company had 15 million active users in December for its P2P product, Cash App, a number that doubled from December 2017, the San Francisco-based company disclosed on Wednesday. That’s still well behind the 100 million consumers using the bank-controlled Zelle service, but the growth in Cash App is particularly gratifying for Square as it plays into the company’s emphasis on financial services for both consumers and merchants, Square executives said during an earnings call to discuss fourth-quarter 2018 and full-year results.”

January 18, 2019

On the wires

Square Introduces Free Debit Card for Businesses, Giving Sellers Real-Time Access to Funds

businesswire

“quare, Inc. (NYSE: SQ) today announced the launch of Square Card, a free business debit Mastercard that helps businesses manage their cash flow by eliminating the time between making a sale and having the funds available to spend. Square Card also encourages commerce among the small business community by offering sellers a 2.75% instant discount on purchases made at other Square sellers.”

January 17, 2019

On the web

Square unveils new debit card for small-business customers

MarketWatch

“With the Square Card, which is free to obtain and use, business owners will be able to spend their Square balances immediately in stores and online. Previously, those who used Square for payment processing had to wait several days for their funds to transfer to their banks accounts, or else they could pay a small fee for instant access to their money.”

January 10, 2019

On the web

Square takes aim at Stripe, PayPal with new payments kit for mobile software developers

GeekWire

“The Square In-App Payments Kit will work with iOS and Android devices as well as the Flutter cross-platform mobile development system. Developers using the new services will be able allow customers to use Apple Pay or Google Pay as well as regular old credit cards within their own mobile apps, and connect that data to purchases made in their brick-and-mortar stores or on the web.”

January 4, 2019

Top Post

December 21, 2018

On the web

Square leases all of downtown Oakland’s Uptown Station offices

The Mercury News

“Square said Thursday it has leased the iconic Uptown Station complex in downtown Oakland, marking a major boost for the East Bay city and a deal that will bring hundreds of the tech company’s workers to the city. The maker of mobile payments technologies and systems, whose chief executive officer is the co-founder of Twitter, said it leased the entire office portion of Uptown Station at 1955 Broadway in Oakland.”

December 19, 2018

Top Post

Square Revives Request to Start a Bank

Wall Street Journal (paywall)

“Acquiring a banking license would allow Square to plug into the pipes of the financial system without having to go through banks and other intermediaries. It would also send a signal that regulators are open to giving Silicon Valley firms access to privileges previously unavailable to them, such as deposit insurance.”

November 16, 2018

On the wires

Square Payroll Introduces Benefits Offerings for Small Businesses and Their Employees

“Square, Inc. (NYSE: SQ) today launched employee benefit offerings within Square Payroll, providing small businesses who use Square Payroll access to quality, affordable benefits like health insurance and retirement savings. Benefits are flexible, easy-to-use, and seamlessly integrate with the rest of Square Payroll, removing the administrative complexity businesses typically face with offering benefits.”

November 13, 2018

On the wires

Square and The National Christmas Tree Association Reveal Why Millennials Might Be Saving the Christmas Tree Industry

“For those headed to the farm, local charity lot, or retailer, Square data shows the Christmas tree buying season kicks into high gear on Black Friday with average price of $77, and prices spike on Cyber Monday, reaching $81. For those looking for a deal, holding out until the week before Christmas could save you about 22%. Prices for procrastinators hit an all time low on Christmas Eve at $47.”

November 8, 2018

On the web

Square earnings beat on top and bottom line but miss on guidance

CNBC

“Adjusted revenue grew 68 percent year over year. The company reported its first quarterly profit of $20 million, compared with a net loss of $16 million in the third quarter of last year. Square’s chief financial officer, Sarah Friar, said a “big driver” of the profitability was the investment in EventBrite, which went public in October.”

October 18, 2018

On the web

Square launches Terminal, an all-in-one device for card and mobile payments

The Verge

“Square’s goal with Terminal is to get businesses to replace their legacy payment terminals with Square Payments point-of-sale software. Business owners can charge customers by manually inputting a payment amount, or by selecting from the inventory displayed on the screen. Sellers can add items and track sales through Square software, which they can set up on their phones or desktops. “

October 9, 2018

On the web

Square falls 9% on concerns of ‘overlooked credit risk’

Business Insider

“”The market appears to be overlooking any risks to the company’s business model, and credit risk in particular,” Palmer said in a note to clients Monday. “Our bearish thesis on Square (SQ) is predicated in part on our view that the company’s increasing dependence on the extension of credit to its customers to spur its growth has made its business model increasingly vulnerable to volatility in the credit markets.””

October 4, 2018

Top Post

Square expands its bank-like offerings, letting sellers charge customers in installments

CNBC

“The San Francisco-based tech company announced Thursday it will let businesses using Square’s payment network give customers the option to break big payments into smaller, fixed monthly ones. “It’s a seamless and transparent way to offer installment payments to customers who might otherwise walk away, or might not be able to buy something in that particular moment,” Square Capital chief Jacqueline Reses told CNBC in a phone interview.”

September 20, 2018

On the wires

Square Announces Solutions Partner Program

“Square, Inc. (NYSE: SQ) today announced the Square Solutions Partner Program to better connect sellers of all sizes with best in class partners that can build solutions specific to a business’s needs. Square small business owners who are just getting started, as well as large scale sellers with complex needs, will be able to easily identify Square approved agencies, resellers, or systems integrators. Starting today, these agencies can apply to become a part of the Square Solutions Partner Program.”

September 19, 2018

On the web

Square CFO: ‘We think we can go to the biggest businesses in the world’

Market Watch

“Square Inc., the company once known for its small payment dongles, revealed big objectives at Recode’s Code Commerce event in New York on Tuesday. “We think we can go to the biggest businesses in the world,” Chief Financial Officer Sarah Friar said at the event. She explained that the company “doesn’t see a cap anymore” when it comes to merchant size and that Square SQ, +0.12%  is currently working with well-known merchants in various capacities.”

August 30, 2018

On the web

August 16, 2018

On the web

August 15, 2018

On the web

August 2, 2018

Top Post

Square Now Lets Developers Use Its Reader To Build Custom Checkout Experiences

TechCrunch

Square, the company you know from your favorite coffee shop’s checkout counter, is opening up its Reader hardwareto developers. Using the new Square Reader SDK, developer swill be able to build their own custom checkout and point of sale experiences, no matter wether that’s a self-ordering kiosk, a mobile app for waiters or any other similar service.”

On the web

Square Sees Profits From Bitcoin Sales Double In Q2

CoinDesk

“Mobile payments firm Square said it made $37 million in revenue from bitcoin sales in the second quarter of 2018. The company released an unaudited quarterly financial report on Wednesday, which indicated it made an overall net revenue of $814 million, 6 percent of which came from the cryptocurrency buying service added to its Cash App late last year. However, with the cost of facilitating bitcoin purchases mounting to over $36.5 million in the same period, Square again chalked up a small margin of $420,000.”

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