Looking for Effortless Card Payments for Campsites?

As the UK starts to get hotter and the kids begin their summer holidays, camping sites are bustling. From caravanning to glamping, camping experiences are on the rise.

Whether you run a campsite or have a small business nearby, accepting card payments has never been more important. Here at UTP, we supply small and medium businesses with powerful and easy-to-use card machines. Each comes with a full range of connectivity options, long-life batteries, and the ability to accept all major credit and debit cards, including contactless.

More than ever

For many of us in the UK, the cost-of-living crisis has affected how we prioritize our money. A lot of families can no longer afford to travel abroad for their holidays. Instead, we look for cheaper alternatives that are just as fun. Within the last three years, 47% of us have gone on a caravanning or camping holiday, according to Mintel. This number has drastically increased since the pandemic. 4.5 million people went camping for the first time during COVID, and it seems like for a lot of them, it has turned into an annual holiday. For campsites and businesses nearby, this means an influx of people who are likely going to want to pay by card.

We tend to spend 10% more when we use mobile contactless payment methods.

This year, This Is Money reported that 93.4% of all shop transactions are contactless. This includes payments from our physical contactless cards and digital wallets, like Apple Pay and Google Pay. The rise of contactless payments is due to the ease, speed, and convenience they provide. With two clicks of a button, we can now pay with our smartphones or even our smartwatches. We carry these devices around every day, and they are our most used tool to make impulse purchases. We tend to spend 10% more when we use mobile contactless payment methods. Of course, for business owners, this is ideal. Campers will likely need to visit a store for food, camping equipment, and other supplies. Because using a card doesn't restrict us like carrying cash, many families will also buy unplanned items.

Stay connected

When it comes to what card machine best suits your business, there are a few things to consider. Firstly, you'll need to consider where your business takes payment. We supply payment solutions for small and medium businesses. We provide countertop, portable, mobile and virtual card machines. Our mobile and portable devices, such as UTP Pro Lite, and UTP Max, have a large range of connectivity options. These devices connect with 4G, WiFi, and GPRS. The UTP Max also has 3G and Bluetooth connection to further ensure you never miss a sale. Having a wide range of connectivity options is ideal for camping sites, which are often in remote locations. These devices will automatically connect to the strongest signal so your business can operate smoothly.

Open to all

Camping holidays and weekends away are popular among all age groups, and so are card payments. Did you know that 80% of 85-95-year-olds now pay with contactless? This shows that contactless payment isn’t only limited to the younger generations.  Our card machines accept all major credit and debit cards, including American Express. They accept chip and PIN, contactless, and digital wallet payments. On the UTP Max and the UTP Pro, you can also accept QR-code payments. Many people travel far and wide to go camping. It's important your business accepts a wide range of payments so all your customers can pay in their preferred way.

The UTP Max has a large six-inch ergonomic touchscreen. You can customize your home screen to share promotions that your business is offering. This can include loyalty schemes, discounts, and promotion for upcoming events. Having a customized home screen on your card machine increases last-minute sales at the point of checkout. It can also help with brand recognition and maintaining loyal customers.

Start saving

Many small businesses are hesitant to start accepting card payments because they worry about the cost. We save our customers an average of 33% on their transaction rates and tailor the rates to your business. Another fear businesses have is low cash flow. When taking card payments with us, this isn't a worry. Faster Processing is our free service which sees you get paid quickly. You can get paid after each transaction, hourly, or at the end of your working day, giving you immediate cash flow. Contact us for a free quote today and start boosting sales for your business.

Own a restaurant near a campsite and want to know what card machine is best? We have the answers for you, check out our previous blog.