Summer Series Part 3: Finance and Retail Finance Training
Posted on in Business News , Cycles News
The ACT is its membership and if you are one of the 4000 businesses that
subscribe to the ACT then rest assured that you are now part of a
100,000+ community of Independent Retailers working together for the
future of specialist retailers the IRC, the leading advocate of Indie Retail in the UK.
Cycling
has benefited over the past 18 months, but UK retail is increasingly
challenged to adapt to a changing high street and consumer purchasing
habits. The ACT's no.1 focus remains consumer engagement and sales.
Through continual innovation and partnership we provide business support
and skills to help develop the UK's cycling community. We all have an
exciting 6 months ahead.
To view the complete 5-part ACT Summer Series click here.
Part 3: Finance and Retail Finance Training
Part 3 of the ACT Summer Series highlights the many benefits of offering retail finance to your customers and our two brand new services being offered to enhance retail finance - Appointed Representative and Retail Finance Training.
If you're not already offering finance here's a couple of reasons why you might be missing out!
In June 2021, returning customers using the ACT's Ride it away scheme accounted for 13%, meaning that 87% consisted of new customers finding finance as an alternative payment method.
Also, since January 2019, the yearly average loan amount has risen by 54%. Based on this and the noticeable non-availability of low ticket item bikes, it's obvious customers want alternative methods to pay for higher value purchases.
The ACT's retail finance schemes are currently influencing hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of UK bicycle purchases every day.
Retail Finance Training is now available
Retail Finance Training, brought to you by Indie Retail
Training, is an online learning course delivering an informed insight into Retail finance that can be completed anywhere, in your own time.
This course is designed for all owners and employees in a business that either currently, or plans to, offer retail finance as a payment method.
The course will teach you how to legally promote and use retail finance in-store, online and in all other forms of media.
As well as covering the legal details this course also aims to make sure you maximise each sale using retail finance.
The cost to access the course is £150 including VAT. ACT members receive preferential pricing with up to 50% off.
For Appointed Representatives of C 2 Zero the course is free.
Appointed Representative: The new Platinum level service
All the benefits of offering regulated finance with no FCA involvement.
The Appointed Representative service allows ACT members using retail finance to save time and money on a yearly basis by removing the need for FCA involvement.
Appointed Representative is the name given to a business that isn't directly authorised by the FCA but instead uses the authorisation of another business, the Principle, to offer regulated finance products
Key benefits include:
- Offer regulated finance to your customers
- No initial Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) application fee - save £100
- No FCA yearly renewal fees (except any incurred prior to being appointed) - save a minimum of £150 per year
- No FCA paperwork - save time and effort
- Liaise directly with the ACT* not the FCA
- Offer finance with no subsidies**
*The Retail Finance Appointed Representative service is provided using C 2 Zero Ltd's FCA authorisation FRN: 657829.
**Means a retailer can offer loans at 15.9% APR over 24-48 months which are ‘free' to the retailer i.e. V12 don't charge a subsidy for these loans but you must be appointed or authorised to offer these types of loans.
The ACT recommends that all businesses using Retail Finance as a service undergo Retail Finance Training to maximise sales and ensure FCA compliancy. Retail Finance Training is free for Appointed Representatives.
The ACT now offers three membership packages, find out more about each package here.
Silver Membership
Our most popular package. Includes full ACT membership, Cytech accreditation, legal support and more.
£60 p.a.
Gold Membership
All the benefits of Silver + access to Retail Finance, discounts on Cytech technical training, discounts on business insurance and more.
£240 p.a.
Platinum Membership
Our best value for money & most prestige package. All the benefits of Silver and Gold + access to the brand new Appointed Representative service.
£300 p.a.
Not an ACT member? Subscribe for free to access basic services, become part of the community and influence the activities of the whole membership.