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vibratingskull · 1 year ago

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Home sweet home

Part1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

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ThrawnxF!reader

It’s your first leaves and Thrawn and Eli already cry for help. In the ebullient city of Coruscant you go searching for an apartment, but the empire doesn’t treat its citizen the same.

You adjust your sunglasses, it’s a sunny day despite the clouds of pollution on Coruscant, and you can feel the wind in your hair. Leaning against the wall of the community shuttle stop you can’t resist to take a holograph of the beautiful sun and freiters rings on your imager. You will post it later. You put it away, pull down your hat on your head and observe the different ships passing in front of you in their mish mash of lines that ribbon the sky. It is early in the morning but traffic is already high. School children walk among the salarymans and other office workers. Some hail a cab while others choose to walk. A group of youths are playing hard bass much to the regret of some walkers.

You approach the edge of the platform. That’s your shuttle. You enter, validate your ticket and take a seat. Head resting in your hand and forehead against the window’s glass you look outside as the ship took off, making your body vibrate.

It is your second leave since you took post in the marine, and you didn’t think you would have to pass it that way, but oh well. You start humming a new tone you’ve heard as the skyscrapers get blurry with the motion. This is gonna be a rough day for your muscles, it's gonna be tiring but it is to help a friend.

You hold that though.

Helping a friend. You bite your inner cheek. You're not gonna dwell on that again… Thrawn doesn't see you in any other way, accept it!

But it is hard. Your reason tells you to cope with it but your heart cries every time, aching you from the inside.

You shake your head. No! Enough with this defeated energy!

You are young!

With a promisng start to a great career!

You always had your chance in the dating market, it's not gonna end now and you won't let it! You're not gonna wait for Thrawn forever and waste your best years, you need to dive right in, drink, fuck, smoke some spice (occasionaly) and make the most of your youth! Fuck this guy! Who does he think he is to shake you up like that? Starting today you take back control of your love life and forget him like the fling it was!

You take out your comlink, searching your contacts. Who would you be down to spend time with? How about one of your new coworkers? There are a few of them you could bite into. No, it will get messy with work. Someone outside of that circle, then. Do you want a fuckbuddy or a grounded relationship? Anything that makes you forget him you decide. You scroll down the list, searching for your heart's desire. Suddenly a contact holds your attention. You consider it, your finger stopped mid-movement. Your pupil dilates considerably reading the name.

________________________

"Thrawn wants what ?" You question, incredulous.

"He doesn't want, he needs." Eli corrects.

You put away your comlink for he doesn't hear you sigh at the comment.

"That's a detail…"

"He needs an apartment on Coruscant but he doesn't know anything about how we proceed here."

You flick your tongue.

"Can't he just stay at the barracks?"

"No."

"... He has been thrown out?"

"Yes."

You pinch the bridge of your nose. Oh the headaches in perspective…

"And why should I come? You don't need me for that, I have other plans than this."

You can hear Thrawn in communication with someone else in the background. It's not going well apparently.

"(y/n) please…" He lowers his voice so as to not be heard "Please! I don't want to go alone with him."

Visibly Eli didn't forgive Thrawn yet. You consider the situation, your options and sigh again, defeated.

"Alright…"

"Thank you (y/n)!" Eli's evidently relieved.

"But you pay for the beers!"

He laughs

"If that's all it takes to buy you, consider it done!"

The next day you embark on the first community shuttle towards Eli’s apartment. The day is gonna be long so you should as well come early. You quickly arrive at the address you received and enter the building. The space allowed for the housing is rather modest but it is well placed and the neighborhood seems to be quiet. Eli chose well, you tell yourself.

In the stairs you cross paths with a Togruta, you feel yourself tensing up. She addresses you with a smile and you nod to her. You hope Eli won’t have any problem in the future. By reflex you tighten the collar of your coat and pick up the pace in the stairs. You finally arrive at Eli’s floor and knock on his door.

“One minute!” You hear.

You hear ruffling sounds and pressed steps then the door slides open and Eli appears, disheveled, in what appears to be pajamas and sleeps in his eyes. You smile at this sight. Behind him you see Thrawn crossing the room in uniform, the contrast couldn't be more striking.

Eli lets you enter and immediately proposes to take your coat and offers you some caff like the good host that he is. You gladly accept, taking the time to observe the decoration of the apartment. Not all the boxes have yet been open, stacking up in the corner of the room. You notice the foliage plants on the shelves and counter, the paint of the wall is impersonal but the pictures frames offer some warmth. You stop to look at them. You can see Eli in different settings : at the beach, at the canyon, when he was a child and older, with his parents or with what you suppose to be his friends on Myomar, broad smile and sparkling eyes with his comrades. You continue to advance until you remark some images you took yourself and send to him after. One of them is a selfie of you in a classroom with Eli sleeping on the table and Thrawn concentrates on his datapad in the background, another one his a pictures of you, Eli and Karyn in the roof garden of the Academy, pressed against one another to ensure you could all be seen on the pictures, and the last one is Eli, you in the middle and Thrawn in your Gala’s formal dress. Eli smiles lightly, annoyed by the flash of the imager, you're holding their shoulders with a large smile and eyes closed, Thrawn seems to be frowning at something behind the imager. It is a terrible picture, but that’s what makes it goofy and interesting in your opinion.

Eli arrives at your side with your caff mug and you follow him into his living room, which is a mishmash of a kitchenette and a living area giving to a small balcony. His apartment is really similar to yours, you realize. You sit down on a pouf and wait to be briefed, savoring your hot caff. You take a look at the petite table in front of you, covered with flyers and papers about housing and apartments complexes.

“Sorry to have called you on such short notice, (y/n). But we could really do with another pair of hands with this.” Eli apologies profusely.

“So what are we doing today exactly?” You take a sip.

“We need to find him an apartment, so prospect, calls, arrange visits… Everything. We need to find him a place to live other than… here.”

“You live here?” You ask, rising your eyebrow

“I am in a position where I must abuse Ensign Vanto’s amiability.” Thrawn explains.

“We really need to find him another place to live!” Eli doubles down.

You shook your head looking at them bickering.

And that is how you spent your day, rummaging through the flyers, comparing prices and surfaces, commodities, and a lot, a lot, of time on the comlink talking to real estate agents. You inherit this task because, according to Thrawn, “people will be more receptive to a woman”, whatever that’s supposed to mean because you did not book one appointment. Everything goes seemingly well until they learn about Thrawn being an alien.

“We don’t do business with aliens, I’m sorry.”

“But he’s a respectable lieutenant of the marine!”

“We are doing serious business here, do not bother us with jokes please.”

“You don’t understand, he-”

“It’s useless. Goodbye Ma’am!”

And they hang up.

Sometimes it’s you who cut off the conversation when the discussion descends into mockery on their part. Screams were exchanged at some point and you had to refrain from throwing your comlink against a wall. You sit back, fuming. A bunch of idiots!

Noon rings and your tummy growls in an unladylike manner. Those emotions really whet your appetite. You fumble around the kitchenette, wondering what you could cook.

“Breaktime!” Eli shouts, stretching his back. He stands up and comes to your side to discuss today’s menu. You decide to go for a timeless classic : pasta! Can’t do wrong with that.

While you cook, Eli’s exit the apartment to buy drinks and Thrawn stays slouched on the sofa, continuing to contact real estate companies via message. Eli comes back with beers as he promised yesterday and briquette of fruit juice for Thrawn. You don’t comment anything but there is a thing hilariously comic to Thrawn sipping those colorful briquettes with a straw like a child would. You bring the dish on the table in the middle with the cutlery.

“All the plates are dirty, so everyone picks up from the dish!” You announce.

You clink your drinks and start eating. You slurp the elongated green goodies while sipping your beer and searching for a steal online. When was the last time you passed a day like that? Slouching with friends, beers and dishes next to you without any authority figure in sight? At some point Eli puts on music and you start banging your head to the beat. You remember starting to dance with Eli when your head was close to explode with information and boredom. Waltzing like children in the living room, you laugh heartily together and almost get Thrawn to join. Almost.

Several beers after the evening was here and with it, its dark night despite the city’s lights. You’re laying down on the sofa next to Thrawn with a flier on your eyes, you completely lost track of time and a headache was rearing its head. You sigh.

“What have we got until now?”

“We have four visits tomorrow.” Thrawn announces, still contacting more companies.

“Four? Nice!” It’s a better result than what you hoped for.

You possibly had a solution to all that, but you’re not sure you want to use it. You try raising up but a dizziness seizes you.

“Ouch… What hour is it?” You pass your hand on your tired eyes.

“Nine.”

“Woaw, I need to go home but I can’t be arsed at the same time…” You have a furred tongue “Can I use your bathroom first?” You ask Eli.

“To your left.” He answers, doing the dishes.

You splash cold water to your face, scrubbing vigorously to wake you up. You look at yourself in the small mirror, tiredness visible on your traits.

“You should stay here tonight!” Eli proposes as you get out. “I have a spare mattress somewhere.”

You look at him disoriented.

“No it’s good, I can go home.” You answer.

“It’s dark and you’ve been drinking all afternoon, you should stay here.” He insists

What does he want?

“I’m not drunk.” You spit out annoyed, and lying a little “And I’m a grown girl, I can mind myself!”

He blocks you and puts his hands on your shoulder.

“I would be more at peace if I knew you were safe.” He pivots towards Thrawn. “She should stay here for the night, it is the most secure thing to do, right?”

“Perhaps.” Thrawn looks at you both, wondering why he was thrown into this.

“See, Thrawn agrees!”

“He did not.”

“(y/n)...”

He glances at you with a stare heavy of meaning.

Okay.

“I guess I can stay here tonight after all, I’m really tired.” You yawn.

Eli's shoulders relax, visibly relieved.

“I will prepare the mattress.”

He takes out and splays a futon on the living room, you lay down and flap your legs.

“Put down your datapad, Thrawn. We are done for the day!” You order.

Against all odds he listens and puts it down silently, crossing his legs he slouches down the sofa.

“What can I offer to you guys?” Eli investigates.

“Pizzas and movies!” You chant.

He looks at Thrawn for his opinion.

“That sounds good to me, Ensign.”

Eli leaves to buy pizzas and fizzy drinks, while you and Thrawn are tasked to select the movie for the night.

“What about this one ?” He proposes

“No, it’s too cheesy.”

“This one?”

“Too sad.”

“How about this one?”

“It’s a hassle”

He sighs

“This one, maybe?”

“If I say no you will get angry?”

“No.”

“...I’ve already seen it.”

“Well I don’-”

“Hey! What about this one?” You cut him off, selecting the one you noticed. “It’s a thriller about a marine officer like us!”

He considers it, reading the summary. He nods slowly.

“It looks promising.”

“I’ve got the pizzas!” Eli comes back, arms full with cardboard boxes and cans of coke. He threw them down on the table and let himself fall on the sofa. “What did you choose?”

“This one.”

“Cool, I haven't seen it yet!”

Everyone takes a slice of pizza and plays the movies. You’re completely absorbed by it, barely eating, taken by the suspence. Or that’s what you would have said if Thrawn didn’t stop talking.

“This is a bad strategy. They can get to him easily.”

“Shhh.”

“Why the politician don’t mind it’s business? They are not supposed to interfere in military matters!”

“Shhhhhhhh.”

“I see at least five ways to get away from this situation.”

“SHHHHHHHHHHH.”

“Ridiculous, those types of weapons do not do those types of damage. Typically they-”

“Shhhh! Good grief!”

You open wide eyes at the revelation of the real bad guys, Let a “Oh” escape you at the climax , and recoil at the explosion scenes. Finally it ends. You turn towards your friends and see Eli sleeping soundly on Thrawn's shoulder.

“Aaaaaaaaw…” You whisper.

“He did not last until the end...” Thrawn says, looking at him with softness in the tone.

He slides on the side and lays him down cautiously on the sofa as you put the plaid on him.

“He must be exhausted.” You murmur.

“He works really hard on the Blood Crow.” He says softly.

“Really?”

“He is a good officer.” He nods

“Have you spoken since last time?”

His eyes dart on you but you don’t back down.

“No.” He admits.”We did not have the time to properly discuss our differences.” He takes a break. “But I am looking forward to it.”

“It’s good.” You agree, eyes going back to the sleeping form of Eli.

You both look at him sleeping peacefully, he looks like an angel like that, you thought.

“You should take the bed.” He whispers.

“You sure? I can take the futon, I don’t mind.” You counter.

“No, it would be impolite of me.” This is his sole argument.

“Alright, thanks. Goodnight Thrawn.”

“Goodnight, J.C.”

You enter the bedroom, take out your clothes and go to sleep. The night is calm and you sleep in a slumber without dreams.

The next day you're on your way to the visit in a shuttle, flipping through the necessary papers to present.

“Do we get the payslip?”

“Yep!”

“What will you do if they ask for a guarantor?” You ask.

“Will the Emperor be enough as a guarantor?” Thrawn answers bluntly.

You look at him dead in the eyes.

“Pray for them to have your humor…”

Good pick they never asked for a guarantor, wrong pick they had zero sense of humor. The first one slammed the door to your face when they saw Thrawn, the second one was mysteriously not disponible anymore, a family bought it they claimed and the third didn’t open, plain and simple. Despite that you thought you would have more chances with the fourth.

“All the rooms are well exposed and you're near amenities.” She tells with a professional smile.

You visit the apartment, passing from one room to the others. Nice, you think. A little away from the base but manageable. You sit on the bed, bouncing on it to test it.

“Which one of you is interested in this property?”

“It is me.” Thrawn announces.

It lasted less than a second but her eye twitched and you saw it. It surely didn’t escape to Thrawn either but he doesn’t formalize. She put back her professional mask quickly, searching on her datapad.

“So you have your identity papers, your payslips,... “ She lists, scrolling on the screen. “I think we are all good, we can discuss the price if you want.”

“Oh, we’ve seen the price on your website.” You add.

She looks at you with an enlarged smile, twitching a little.

“Well, the house reserves itself the right to change its prices.” She has a voice too joyous to your liking.

“What kind of prices are we talking about?” Thrawn asks politely.

You move closer with a bad feeling.

“Around those orders.” She turns her datapad to Thrawn and you read over his shoulder.

You choke.

“How much!?” You push him out of your way and seize the pad. “These are not the prices announced on the site!”

Eli comes into the room, alarmed by the ruckus.

“It's a regular procedure.” She’s searching for human complicity in you, but she finds only shock and anger.

“What?!” You shout. “This is stealing!”

She tries to take back the pad but you don’t let go.

“Well.” She smiles. ”He’s not human, so… We need more insurance and we have to adjust our prices.”

You will knock her off.

“You listen here, you preppy cow-”

“Alright that's enough for today!” Eli interjects, physically removing you from the apartment while you scream.

“It should be illegal! We will sue you!” You spit, dragged by them both in the street. “Thief!”

“So it concludes this for today.” Eli sighs, a bit discouraged

“Let us take a break.” Thrawn proposes, imperturbable, your total opposite.

“What!? How can you be so calm?!” You’re losing your breath shouting so much.

“It is useless ninety eight percent of the time, only a clear head can give you the result you aspire to.” He responds in a conversational tone.

“But she tried to scam you!”

“Then consider you went furious on my behalf, it is sufficient for me.” He’s completely unbothered. Your jaw drops, sometimes you just can’t follow him. “Let us find a bar and refocus.”

He doesn’t wait for any response and starts walking, you follow them shuffling along, shooting in garbage on your way.

They found a charming pub, and took a table outside under the blazing sun, but you're in no mood to appreciate the setting. You let yourself fall into the chair with a huff, they sit down with more manners and order for the group. You let out a big audible sigh and let your head rest on the table completely discouraged. Your solution comes back in your mind but you chase it away. The jazzy tune of the bar reaches your ear, and you start humming it.

“Well that was rather unsuccessful…” Eli let out, slouching in his seat.

“A temporary setback.” Thrawn temporizes, his hand holding his chin. “This situation will solve itself in one way or another, let us keep searching.”

“You’re right! There are still a lot of real estate companies on Coruscant. We will target those working with non-humans!” Eli cheers.

You sigh again. You don’t share their optimism, actually this unfortunate day completely

done you in. You only deign rising from the table when your drinks arrive. You drink your juice absent-mindedly. You should have taken something stronger. Thrawn and Eli are talking in the background of your mind, your solution imposed itself to you once again. Should you present it to them? You hesitate.

“Look Thrawn. There is a spot for street art up in the street.” Eli exclaims

“Indeed. Shall we get a look?” Thrawn proposes.

You slouch on your seat.

“You can go boys, I will keep the table while you're gone.” You incite them.

They rise to see the spot and you’re now alone with your thoughts. You inhale deeply and massage the back of your neck, thinking about this. You recently inherited an apartment from your great uncle, but you have memories inside this apartment. You’re not sure you want to get rid of it… Someone puts their hand on your shoulder.

You bolt away, turning toward the stranger and meeting with a charming smile. The blonde man looks at you with sparkling eyes, fanning himself with a fan. You recognize him instantly.

“I knew I’ve seen you somewhere.” He says, sitting down in front of you. “You were on this test at the Academy 4 months ago, right?”

“Governor Satlove…” You answer. “I mean, yes! Yes, I was at the exam. But what are you doing here, if I may?”

“I’m here undercover.”

You frown.

“I am here to escape from my duties.” He explains, putting one finger to his lips.

Indeed you notice he’s not into his green uniforme but a more casual white shirt he opened slightly, letting the sun warm up his pale skin.

“You can… Just do that?”

“Of course not!” He laughs “I had to escape from my different aids to come here. But I stay contactable just in case.” He shows you his comlink. “But tell me rather, what are you doing here?” He gestures towards you.

“Me? I hum… I’m with friends. They are looking at the street art a little further.” You don’t especially want to talk but you don’t want to sever some links with a governor that could be proven useful in the future.

“The little brunette and the blond one?” He investigates.

“No the dark blue… The blue guy. And the brunette. You have a really good memory, Governor.”

“Thank you, I take good care of it. And you can drop the Governor thing, we are almost the same age.”

“Then should I call you sir?”

“Call me by my name!” He extends his hands to you. “Pleased to meet you, I am Nather.”

You shake his hand with a grin.

“Pleased to meet you, I am (y/n).”

“(y/n)! What a charming name, it suits you very well.” He almost chants. You feel your face heated up with the compliment. “What are you doing lately? What were your orders after the exam?”

“I’m a Private First Class on the Zephyr Heavy Cruiser. We have been patrolling inside the inner rim and the colonies lately.”

“I think your ship was planned to patrol around my planet recently.” He says a hand to his chin.

“Which planet, if I may?”

“The charmant Tirahnn planet.” He displays a theatrical gesture, letting his braid fly from shoulder to shoulder.

It’s a planet right on a hyperspace lane if you recall correctly. You can’t say more.

“I’ve never seen it.” You confess. And barely heard of it you complete in your head.

“I will make you visit if you wish one day, or you will come yourself for a mission.” He starts folding one of the napkins around. “What are you doing in my region if I may ask in turn?”

You think rapidly, you should be able to tell that to a governor even if you don’t know any details, it should be okay.

“If i’m not mistaken, we are suspecting pirates to rob slaves of the empire.”

“Pirates near my planet?” He takes a choked expression. “That won’t do, I will need to pass some calls!” He finishes his folding in a crane and deposes it in front of you with a side smile.

You smile back but it fades quickly.

“What happens (y/n)? I see in your face, you seem to have some worries.” He asks genuinely concerned.

“Oh nothing important, just… rehashing some thoughts."

"Those looked like important thoughts." He mind-absently picks some salted nuts from the ball and throws them expertly into his mouth.

"I hesitate to help a friend, I…"

He darts his incisive gray eyes on you.

"You hesitate to help a friend? I do not need to tell you that it should be an easy answer."

"Yes, I mean no. I want to help my friend. It's just that I should renounce something I hold dear to my heart for the memory it holds. And I don’t know if I’m ready for it."

He frowns, contemplating the fact in front of him and searching for an option.

“Would it fulfill its goal?”

“Sorry?”

“The thing you’re not sure to let go, would cede it to your friend to fulfill its primary purpose?”

“Yes?”

“Then you should give it away. I suppose you don’t have a practical use for this thing or you would have advanced this argument, so you should as well cede it to your friend and permit it to fulfill its primary goal. Helping a friend is always the way to go.”

“But… I’ve got memories…”

“You will always have them! Those memories are in you, not in this thing. Don’t grow too attached to material objects, they are not built to last but our memories are in our heart and forever. “

You wrap your head around the argument, weighing the pros and cons.

“Maybe you're right…” You end up saying.

“Maybe I am indeed, what would you actually lose? You would hand those precious memories to a friend, there are more unfair deals in life don’t you think.”

You slowly nod coming to terms with your decision. He’s right. You hold your glass with two hands, taking a big sip at the straw.

“I think I’m gonna follow your advice and help my friend. I think I just needed a third party opinion to push me.”

“Wonderful!” He takes Thrawn’s glass and clink it with yours. “I’m glad I could help.” And takes a great sip of it. You choke on yours.

“Huh, sir…?”

“You know what, we’ll surely hear again about those pirates. We should stay in contact.” He hands you his comlink and gestures to you to give him yours. You exchange them and enter your respective number.

“Sir, this is my drink you're drinking!” Thrawn appears behind him with Eli on his heels.

Surprised, his sight goes between Thrawn and the glass. He laughs heartily.

“I am sorry dear friend! I will return it to you.” He hands him back his glass, raising from the chair. He gives you back your comlink with a charming smile. “Here you go. To our next meeting!”

You all three look at him walking away, making some calls.

“What was that?” Asks Eli, a bit lost.

“I am… not sure.” You respond.

They both sit back and Thrawn considers his well diminished drink with a raised brow.

It dawns on you that he doesn't need a Private First Class to discuss the subject of pirates and that you just gave him what he wanted. Damn, the guy is good! You think. You berate yourself a little.

“So, back on the apartment subject…” Eli starts.

“I… May have a solution to propose to you, guys.”

____________________________________________________________

The sound of an incoming message brings you back to the present time. You lower your gaze to your comm.

“I am delighted to hear from you again. How about tomorrow, 14h?”

You smile, and answer back, the heart light.

You soon arrive at your stop, you get out, and start walking on the trails of your childhood. You traverse a park full of kiddos and their parents and grin at their laugh and their shoutings. You arrive in front of the apartment complex, entering, you cross paths with the old building caretaker.

“Oh, if it isn’t the young (y/n)! How are you doing?” She asks with her shivering voice.

“Hi, Ms Lynduty! I’m good and you?”

“Oh you know, my old bones make me suffer, but that’s the weight of the years. The young man you brought with you…”

An alarm sets off in your head, and on the other hand you're amused to hear Thrawn being qualified as a “young man”, maybe everyone looks young at this age…

“Is there a problem? He has done something?”

“No, he’s a really calm resident, It changes me from your uncle who kept bringing new women everyday! But he looks like he has some problem with all his mail.”

“I’m glad to hear that, Ms Lynduty, I’m actually here to help him. Have a nice day!” And you start working your way up the stairs.

You reach the floor soon enough and Thrawn opens his door the second you set foot on the landing.

“Thank you J.C., I am in need of assistance.”

He welcomes you and takes your coat, you enter the apartment, immediately graced by the cardboard boxes everywhere. You’re not surprised, the furniture inside the apartment was not… what you would find inside the flat of a respectable lieutenant of the marine, or any respectable person per say. A complete change of furniture was in order. You note with amusement he already has displayed holograms of art everywhere in the flat despite not having furniture.

You traverse the room as well as you can, slaloming between the boxes, the tins of paint and the tarps and sitting down on one of them.

“So, what’s the problem?”

He gestures to the pile of mail on the table. A big pile. Oh gods.

“I do not possess the vocabulary to treat those yet.” He simply notes.

You nod with a pout, well that’s gonna be fun.

“Eli couldn't help you?”

“Ensign Vanto is with his family for this leave.” He explains.

So while Thrawn is busy assembling furniture for his flat, you’re answering and filing up those mails while giving him a vocabulary lesson. Insurance, bills, tax… Everything the bureaucracy could produce, you saw it! You arrange them on the floor,stepping over it with a highlighter in hand and a pen in your mouth to complete them. It took you several hours and as much beer, generously provided by Thrawn, nonetheless to rummage through all this. You were well fed up at the end of it, with your head ready to explode.

But you couldn’t rest once you’re done, you still have to help Thrawn with his furniture and remove this unsavory fur off the walls. You had to screw, to glue, to turn, to plug, you didn’t have the time to be bored. The hours flew bye and you were far from finished. Damn those instruction manuals, they’re never in the right language. And there is always a set of screws that wasn’t used at the end and that’s not normal, so you have to reread all the instructions and bicker on what step you screw up based on the illustrations.

“I told you the board B5 goes there.”

“But that is not possible, the C7 plank can not fit in this configuration.”

You only put up four pieces of furniture together and the rest of the boxes are staring down at you. You left out a sigh of fatigue. You’ll never see the end of it…

You massage your temples, this time you really have a headache. You put down your beer and walk in a not very straight way to sit on a cardboard box to observe your work. Thrawn finishes building up the shelf and takes some steps back to get a good look. Something hits you as you embrace the room with your sight.

“Shouldn’t we have started with the paint ?”

“It would be for another day.” He states with a soft voice.

You lazily nod. You already have all the other furniture to put up, another thing added to the list. Great. Thrawn turns his head to the window. It’s night.

“We shall stop for today.”

“Good, cause I'm not good at anything for now.” You rise up and stumble your way to open the window and get some fresh air, you fan yourself with your hand. You drinked a bit too much, you realize.

Thrawn removes his jacket to reveal his black tank top and you take advantage of the opportunity to take a good look at his biceps without too much discretion, he heads towards the kitchen.

“We should at least eat one meal. Are you hungry?”

That’s right, you didn’t even eat at noon you recall, at the moment this thought crosses your mind your stomach grumbles.

“It looks like so!”

“What could please you?”

You straighten up with a broad smile.

“Pizza?”

He shots you a glare.

“I had a more healthy meal in mind.”

You pout, it was worth the shot.

You finish your beer admiring him cooking, watching his hands fly expertly from one pan to the other, mincing and mixing the ingredients. You hold back a burp, hiding your mouth with your hand, you may be a bit drunk but you didn’t renounce your dignity yet. And you didn’t want to appear unladylike in front of him… Mostly that. You start thinking if you should care about that since you decided to renounce him, but it just worsens your headache.

“It is ready!” He announces, wiping his hands. “But I’m not yet familiar with your products, so I can’t promise you the taste.”

“I’m sure it will be delicious!” You cheer.

You reel back to your former place and sit down. He watches you from head to toes but doesn’t say a thing. You seize your fork and take a big bite of the dish. You wrinkle your nose. Indeed cooking is not part of his skills, the savors are unbalanced and the spice is overshadowing everything. You gulp it down, trying to keep your face as neutral as possible and shoot him a smile. You decide that you’re too drunk to care and take others bites one after the other, letting them burn the inside of your mouth with pleasure.

“I think it would be wiser if you sleep here tonight.” He says, stirring his food.

You blink mid-bite, stopped in your movement.

“No offense but you are not walking straight. I can offer you a bed for the night if you wish.”

You consider the offer, taking a sip of water. You clearly didn’t learn your lesson from the last time and you actually feel pretty wasted right now, you hardly see yourself going home in one piece tonight. You slouch back and pretend to think about it for a second. You raise your hand.

“I will gladly accept in this case!” You slide your tongue on your teeth.”I will help you place the mattress!”

“I do not have one.”

Your eyes slide to the sofa’s box still not put up and goes back to him with questions.

“Then where…?”

“I thought we could share the bed for the night.” He spills, concentrates on his plate.

Your bite takes the wrong way in your throat and you try to cough it out. Hold on, you didn’t sign up for that!

“Wait, you’re sure?” You ask, instantly sobered up.

He shruggs.

“I do not see how this could be a problem.”

“I don’t have any pajamas.” You try.

“I will lend you something, do not worry.” He appears unfazed, completely blind to your trouble.

Oh you worry, yes, but not about that.

“Cool…” You let escape in one breath “Thanks…”

________________________________________________

How did you end up in this situation?

You promise yourself to forget him and you end up in his bed. Fate has a twisted sense of humor.

You release your breath. Calm down. Your headache doesn’t help anything.

You open your eyes in the dark room and listen to the quiet and steady breath next to you, at least one of you two is getting some sleep. But not you. You’re too tense to sleep. You hunch, trying not to touch the man sleeping next to you, pulling the covers to your chin.

At least he had changed bed and got rid of this horrid shell bed for a standard double bed and all the weird appliances are not here anymore. Now the bedroom looks like it came from a show home. Without personality, only practical. Cold…

But the bed is far from cold, without grazing him you can feel the warmth of Trawn’s body from where you are and you feel like you could sweat, but this may be because of your burning body. You were afraid he would sleep topless when you got to the bed, but thanks for your sanity he put on a shirt, or you would really have lost your mind. It doesn’t take much to ignite your desire lately and being in the same bed as him, so close and so far away, alarm all of your senses to the brink of overstimulation. You breathe deeply, getting back control. His scent fills the room, making you feel dizzy. You bury yourself under the cover but you smell him on it and on the pajama he lended you, you float in this shirt too large for you, you feel goosebumps point at every breath. Anywhere you go he envelopes you.

You turn your head, observing the profile that detaches itself from the wall lighted up by the moon through the blinds. You follow the line of his forehead with your eyes, the shadow of a disheveled hair strand, the curve of his eyelids that let red light pierce through, the arc of his turned-up nose, the plumpness of his lips… You gulp, your throat suddenly dry like the desert.

You keep your gaze fixated on him, telling yourself that heaven was closer than you know, that you would just have to expend your arm to reach it… You hold your breath, brushing his cheek with the back of your fingers, feeling the softness and the warmth of his skin, tender. You touch his lash with the tip of your finger, smiling at him squinting at the touch. Then your hand sneaks its way along his neck, brushing softly his apple then traveling south to his chest. You feel the fabric on the palm of your hand, you search for a second, opening your hand wide when you find his heart, feeling the steady and calm heartbeat, you savor the delicious vibrations through your skin, wanting to put your head on his chest to hear it yourself. It soothes you and you close back your eyes, ready to let the slumber take you.

Suddenly his heartbeat accelerates and his breath gets caught up in his throat. You rise on your elbow, wary of what's happening. He opens his eyes in a flash and you pull back your hand instantly. His eyes blinks, fixated on the ceiling and you hear him out of breath. He inhales and exhales several times, you look at him with googly eyes wondering what might have happened. He frowns.

“You are not sleeping.” This was not a question.

He turns his head towards you and your gazes meet. You smile lightly.

“Indeed. Nothing escapes you.”

He sighs, passing a hand over his face and ruffling his hair.

“Is everything good?” He politely asks.

You raise an eyebrow.

“It’s I who should ask that? What just happened?”

“Nothing.” He breathes

Sometimes he really takes you for an idiot, you think.

“So, “nothing” can put you in this state?” You inquire.

He sighs once again, fatigued. You feel like he’s gathering his thoughts, a hand in his hair.

“I was dreaming about… My sister. The day they took her…”

You nod pensively, it was indeed not the most peaceful memory he must have. You put your head back on the pillow, sight still on him.

“How does this make you feel?” You whisper like a secret.

“Powerless, like a child. I promised myself I would fight to never feel this again.”

There are a lot of promises getting thrown everywhere those days you thought. You put yourself closer, as if your presence would comfort him. His eyes on the ceiling you see the muscles of his throat tightens slightly.

“And… alone. I was the sole person in the cold universe.”

Did his voice crack at the end? You can’t say for sure. Your hand travels under the cover to find his, you seize it, the warmth spreading through your palm. You know how it feels and you sympathize with his pain. You would have liked to have someone when it happened to you.

“We are here.” You murmur. “I am here.” You affirm with a reassuring voice.

He squeezes your hand.

“I know.” He closes his eyes. “And I am grateful for it.”

Your heart flutters at those words and a smile grazes your lips. You don’t have the relationship you are hoping for, but you could satisfy yourself in being the friend of this out of the ordinary being. For now.

Maybe.

“Me too...”

You’re met with silence. You listen and hear a steady breathing. He’s asleep. You hold his hand, putting your head against his shoulder and let a single tear rolling down your cheek.

You squeeze his hand, intertwining your fingers.

You will never be satisfied by it. Never. You will need to cut ties with him and keep your distance or your heart will bleed everyday.

You kiss him on the cheek, taking your resolution, tearing your heart apart.

@bluechiss, @al-astakbar

#thrawn x reader #thrawn x y/n #thrawn x f!reader #thrawn x you #thrawn #grand admiral thrawn #mitth’raw’nuruodo

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vrankup · 1 year ago

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Demystifying PPC: A Beginner’s Guide to Pay-Per-Click Advertising

Hey there It’s your digital marketing agency in dwarka, Vrankup! let’s dive into the world of PPC, or Pay-Per-Click, advertising. It’s like this magic trick in the digital marketing world that can seriously boost your business.

Alright, so here is this thing, imagine you’re playing the game and instead earning points doing task, you could just by them. That’s kind of how ppc works. you get paid every time someone clicks on your ad.

Now, The first thing you have to do is picking the right keyword. These are like the secret codes that lead folks to your ad. Let’s say you’re running a yoga studio. You’d want keywords like “yoga classes near me” or “beginner yoga sessions.” You catch my drift?

Next up, there’s this epic showdown called the ad auction. It’s where all the magic happens. When someone punches in a search on Google, for instance, it triggers a race. Advertisers throw their hats into the ring, but only a few will come out victorious. It’s like a digital gladiator match, but instead of swords, it’s all about keywords, bids, and ad quality.

Once the dust settles, the winners get their ads on the coveted spots of the search engine results page. It’s like claiming a prime spot in a busy marketplace. where you will decide what are their worth

Now, let’s talk About ad There are different styles you can rock. Text ads are like the OGs – clean, simple, and straight to the point. They’ve got a headline, a snappy description, and a link to your website. It’s like a mini billboard for the digital age.

Then, you’ve got display ads. These are the flashy ones with images or even videos. They pop up on websites or social media feeds. It’s like having your own personal paparazzi, but for your brand.

Video ads are where you can really show off. They play before, during, or after videos on platforms like YouTube. It’s like having your own TV commercial, but without the super expensive airtime.

And let’s not forget shopping ads. These are a blessing for online stores. They showcase your products with prices and images, making it easy for shoppers to click and buy.

How much does this party cost? Well, that’s where Cost Per Click (CPC) comes in. It’s like the cover charge for each click. The amount depends on a bunch of things – how competitive your keywords are, how good your ad is, and how much you’re willing to bid.

But here’s the secret sauce: ad quality and relevance. The better your ad copy, the less you’ll pay per click. Plus, it means your ad will get primo placement.

So why should you jump on the PPC bandwagon? First off, it’s like a sniper shot for targeting. You can aim your ads at specific keywords, locations, and even user behavior. No more throwing spaghetti at the wall and hoping something sticks.

Plus, the results are like a report card on steroids. You can track clicks, conversions, and a bunch of other nifty metrics.

And you know the best part?

It’s like instant gratification. Unlike waiting for organic search results to kick in, PPC gets your ad out there pronto. As soon as your campaign come into action, you’re in the game.

ohh, did You decide how much you wanna spend? Set a daily or monthly limit, and you won’t break the bank. It’s like having your own financial guardian angel.

In a nutshell, PPC is like having a magic wand for your online presence So, if you’re not already on the PPC train, it might be time to hop on board!

Catch you later,

Digital marketing agency in Dwarka | Digital marketing company in Dwarka, vrankup

#seo company #seo #website designing company in gurgaon #digital marketing #website designing company in dwarka #digital marketing agency in dwarka #noida #website designing services in gurgaon #vrankup #digital marketing company in dwarka

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agapi-kalyptei · 1 year ago

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Also. Who wants to develop videogames with me? Where do I find people to develop games with. I don't want to go to Garage48 to meet some young people (ew) all excited to work 12 hours a day (ew) on their pet project that will surely make them rich (ew).

Gosh I miss being a preteen and having a notebook with dozens of videogame ideas coming to me every week and now it's like. I actually discriminate the bad ideas and have to think hard about what would be both fun, technically achievable, and hypothetically profitable (or short enough to make as a freebie learning experience).

Rant about possible projects below the cut, because I can.

I don't want to make platformers unless I have a hilarious idea that would make them worth it. Or unless they're just so joyful to make, like some sort of N but with scrolling background.

I don't want to make visual novels unless I have someone to write a good story, and someone to make lovely art. I can't do either myself. I like the idea of dynamic (or at least branched) stories though, which itself would be a fun way to break the visual novel format and tropes.

As much we love to hate idle / incremental games, it would be feasible, since it's possibly THE easiest genre to make. Very easy to make garbage that's still monetized all the way to hell and (not) back. Which I don't want to do, of course, but I gotta pay rent sooner or later.

I had an idea for a puzzle game with different rooms filled with gasses (or lack thereof), having to push/pull walls, open/close doors and windows to get the right pressure and right mix of gasses. Something to think through, the idea is still rough.

Elongated Muskrat game - one thing I'd like to make is a resource management strategy game where you try to colonize Mars, but you constantly fail because it's technically impossible, and incredibly resource intensive. So you would basically be doomed to fail no matter how good you are, and with each few failures you'd get cheat points, that you'd use those to break the laws of physics, make spaceships indestructible, make crew resistant to psychological damage, make Mars weather always good, etc. The point is that Musk should go to prison for lying.

I don't even like racing games too much, but I love the idea of more chill non-competitive racing. There's not enough of that. Always some yappy obnoxious moderator telling you how you're the best thing ever and how you should beat everyone in races. Such nonsense. Just give me a moderately fast car on an empty road being a completionist about trying to drive on every road in the whole country, like you could in Test Drive Unlimited 1 and 2.

More adventure / resource management game ideas: Thinking about 1 or 2 games about water scarcity and climate change. Some sort of dystopian stuff about having to ration water, having water credits allocated by the government that get its own black market; how buying plastic things like electronics also had water credit cost, since packaging, recycling, mining, etc all have tremendous water costs. (Production of one pair of jeans uses about 4400 liters of water.) The question here is how to add a meaningful story to them, and how to make them interesting and educational and not just gloomy doomy "DID YOU KNOW" experience.

Gardening game - I was really hyped about this in like 2020 when I wanted to learn more about plonts but idk. My love for nature didn't fizzle out, but my vision for the game did? I can imagine it as edutainment (the most doomed of all genres), but I can't figure out how to make it fun without turning it into mindless grind.

Trackmania but I made it - we all loved Stunts and somehow the hyper-unrealistic physics of Trackmania continue to attract crowds year after year so. Maybe some silly little racing game would be fun.

#gamedev #game ideas

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dpreacherman · 1 year ago

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wassahall · 2 years ago

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The 3 Easiest And Essential Ways For Anyone To Start In Affiliate Marketing

The Internet’s fast-growing popularity in the recent years is surely an opportunity for anyone who wants to build a successful long-term online business or just make some extra money.

A lot of people think that only businessmen or businesswomen can make money out of the Internet, it’s completely wrong. Today anyone can earn big bucks through the Internet even if you don’t have products to sell and high-profile established company.

• How?

That is possible through affiliate marketing. You might have come already across these words over the net. Affiliate marketing is a revenue sharing between a merchant and an affiliate, you (as the affiliate) promote someone else’s products and get commissions for every conversion you make. It is one of the most popular ways to make money online nowadays because it is proven to be an effective and quantifiable method of achieving significant profit for the merchant and the affiliate.

You can start doing affiliate marketing with a very small investment and still make a significant income but it is fair to say that your income will depend on the time and effort you are willing to put into the work.

If you want to be an affiliate marketer and make fortunes out of the Internet, you may follow these three basic and easy steps:

• First Step: is to identify your Niche, which means a particular topic you are interested in or passionate about, so you won’t be bored and forced to develop your affiliate website later on. Focusing on a specific area you know very well will help you bring out your best without much risks and effort. You can add a personal touch to your site or channel and give your visitors who are possible buyers an impression that you are an expert in your field. In this way, you gain their trust and eventually encourage them to buy the products you endorse.

• Second Step: is to look for good paying products or services related to your interest and create now a website or a channel. Usually you can search the merchants you want to work with and see if they have an affiliate program, otherwise you can choose to register to a marketplace that allows to join multiple affiliate programs in the same platform.

Some Examples of these marketplaces are :

* ClickBank

* CJ Affiliate

* ShareASale

* Amazon Associates

* Impact

* AWIN

• Third Step: is to start promoting your affiliate links and get traffic to your website or channel, this can be done through two main ways, free organic traffic or paid advertising. If you are a beginner and you don’t have money to invest in advertising then free organic traffic is the best choice. You can get free traffic from social media platforms, search engines or by writing blogs on your website. If you choose the last method i want to give you a big secret, which is to use an AI content generator that helps you to write blogs 10 times faster with lots of features and ideas. The one i personally use is Jasper.ai , you can register now and start using your 10,000 free words to generate high quality content.

There are many different ways to start making money online but i think affiliate marketing is the best one. This online business is obviously not a get rich quick scheme but as said before with time and good effort you will be very satisfied with the results. I hope this information has helped anyone interested in this topic.

For any more questions or concerns please don’t hesitate to ask.

#affiliate marketing #blogging #make money online #artificial intelligence #foryоu

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latestmarketresearchnews · 4 days ago

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Buy Now Pay Later Market Geographic Segmentation, Research by Regions and Analysis to 2030

The global buy now pay later market size is projected to reach USD 38.57 billion by 2030, registering a CAGR of 26.1% from 2023 to 2030, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. The market growth can be attributed to the high purchasing power offered by the Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) platforms, coupled with benefits such as interest-free and convenient payments. On the other hand, an increase in the demand for delayed payments for online shopping and a surge in spending on high-cost products are expected to offer lucrative opportunities for the market over the forecast period.

Several BNPL solution providers are striking partnerships with other fintech companies to offer BNPL services efficiently. For instance, in July 2023, At Home, a prominent home furnishing store chain in the U.S., introduced a new financing option, Synchrony Pay Later, to offer customers a BNPL solution. Through this program, consumers can apply for interest-free loans to make convenient equal payments over three months for single purchases ranging from USD 75 to USD 400 without negatively impacting their credit scores. This initiative complements At Home's existing At Home Insider Perks credit card, which provides six-month special financing options for qualifying purchases at the store. By integrating Synchrony Pay Later, At Home aims to provide customers with flexible and accessible payment alternatives for a seamless shopping experience.

The COVID-19 pandemic had a positive impact on the BNPL market. A myriad of unexpected issues stemming from lockdowns, restrictions on people and goods movement, social distancing measures, and the growing awareness of BNPL solutions prompted various companies to adopt BNPL solutions to provide a better customer experience. As a result, BNPL solution providers witnessed exponential growth in their customer base and transaction volumes. For instance, overall BNPL transactions on ZestMoney jumped 300% in 2021 compared to 2020.

Gather more insights about the market drivers, restrains and growth of the Global Buy Now Pay Later Market

Buy Now Pay Later Market Report Highlights

In terms of channel, the POS segment is anticipated to register a significant CAGR over the forecast period. The availability of BNPL services at the POS provides a competitive advantage for retailers, as it can boost sales and increase customer loyalty. By offering BNPL as a payment option, retailers can attract more customers, particularly those who may have hesitated to purchase due to budget constraints or upfront payment requirements

Based on enterprise size, the small & medium enterprises (SMEs) segment is anticipated to register the fastest CAGR of 27.4% over the forecast period. SMEs are widely adopting the BNPL services to maximize their tax deductions. These services help enterprises manage their expenses with flexible repayment options and transparent fees

In terms of end-use, the retail segment dominated the market in 2022 with a revenue share of more than 73% as a result of rising awareness among millennials who are rapidly adopting BNPL services for paying for clothing, electronics, and others

In terms of region, with the presence of a large number of BNPL service providers, the North America region dominated the market in 2022 with a revenue share of more than 29%, and is expected to create growth opportunities for the regional market growth over the forecast period

Browse through Grand View Research's Next Generation Technologies Industry Research Reports.

Cloud Logistics Market: The global cloud logistics market size was estimated at USD 21.55 billion in 2024 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 13.9% from 2025 to 2030.

Predictive Dialer Software Market: The global predictive dialer software market size was valued at USD 3.20 billion in 2024 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 42.3% from 2025 to 2030.

Buy Now Pay Later Market Segmentation

Grand View Research has segmented the global buy now pay later market based on channel, enterprise size, end-use, and region:

Buy Now Pay Later Channel Outlook (Revenue, USD Billion, 2017 - 2030)

Online

POS

Buy Now Pay Later Enterprise Size Outlook (Revenue, USD Billion, 2017 - 2030)

Large Enterprises

Small & Medium Enterprises

Buy Now Pay Later End-use Outlook (Revenue, USD Billion, 2017 - 2030)

Retail

Consumer Electronics

Fashion & Garment

Others

Healthcare

Leisure & Entertainment

Automotive

Others

Buy Now Pay Later Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Billion, 2017 - 2030)

North America

Canada

Europe

Germany

Sweden

Asia Pacific

China

India

Japan

South Korea

Australia

Latin America

Brazil

Mexico

Middle East & Africa

UAE

Kingdom Saudi Arabia (KSA)

South Africa

Order a free sample PDF of the Buy Now Pay Later Market Intelligence Study, published by Grand View Research.

#Buy Now Pay Later Market Research #Buy Now Pay Later Market Forecast

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researchreportinsight · 4 days ago

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Buy Now Pay Later Market 2030: Industry Analysis and Forecast by Type, Application and Region

Gather more insights about the market drivers, restrains and growth of the Global Buy Now Pay Later Market

Buy Now Pay Later Market Report Highlights

Browse through Grand View Research's Next Generation Technologies Industry Research Reports.

Cloud Logistics Market: The global cloud logistics market size was estimated at USD 21.55 billion in 2024 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 13.9% from 2025 to 2030.

Predictive Dialer Software Market: The global predictive dialer software market size was valued at USD 3.20 billion in 2024 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 42.3% from 2025 to 2030.

Buy Now Pay Later Market Segmentation

Grand View Research has segmented the global buy now pay later market based on channel, enterprise size, end-use, and region:

Buy Now Pay Later Channel Outlook (Revenue, USD Billion, 2017 - 2030)

Online

POS

Buy Now Pay Later Enterprise Size Outlook (Revenue, USD Billion, 2017 - 2030)

Large Enterprises

Small & Medium Enterprises

Buy Now Pay Later End-use Outlook (Revenue, USD Billion, 2017 - 2030)

Retail

Consumer Electronics

Fashion & Garment

Others

Healthcare

Leisure & Entertainment

Automotive

Others

Buy Now Pay Later Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Billion, 2017 - 2030)

North America

Canada

Europe

Germany

Sweden

Asia Pacific

China

India

Japan

South Korea

Australia

Latin America

Brazil

Mexico

Middle East & Africa

UAE

Kingdom Saudi Arabia (KSA)

South Africa

Order a free sample PDF of the Buy Now Pay Later Market Intelligence Study, published by Grand View Research.

#Buy Now Pay Later Market Research #Buy Now Pay Later Market Forecast

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marketresearchreportinsight · 4 days ago

Text

Buy Now Pay Later Market Business Analysis, Share, Revenue & Sales Till 2030

#Buy Now Pay Later Market Forecast #Buy Now Pay Later Market Research

0 notes

bitcot-technologies · 8 days ago

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Essential Features for a Custom eCommerce Website in 2024

As the eCommerce industry continues to evolve, customer expectations for online shopping experiences are at an all-time high. In 2024, a custom eCommerce website must go beyond basic functionality to stand out in a crowded market. By incorporating essential features, businesses can enhance user experience, streamline operations, and boost sales.

User-Friendly Navigation An intuitive navigation system is the cornerstone of a successful eCommerce website. Customers should be able to find products or information quickly, whether through a well-structured menu, a dynamic search bar, or advanced filtering options. Clear categories, subcategories, and breadcrumbs ensure visitors don’t get lost, reducing bounce rates and improving conversions.

Mobile Responsiveness With mobile commerce dominating online shopping, having a mobile-responsive design is non-negotiable. A custom eCommerce website must provide a seamless experience across devices, ensuring fast load times, easy navigation, and mobile-friendly checkouts. This not only improves customer satisfaction but also boosts search engine rankings.

Secure Payment Gateways Security is a top priority for online shoppers, and providing trusted, secure payment options is essential. In 2024, features like multi-currency support, digital wallets, and encrypted transactions can enhance customer trust. Integrating advanced payment technologies such as buy-now-pay-later (BNPL) options can also appeal to a wider audience.

Personalized User Experiences Today’s customers expect tailored shopping experiences. Leveraging data analytics, AI, and machine learning can help create personalized product recommendations, targeted promotions, and customized content. A custom eCommerce website designed to offer these features ensures higher engagement and loyalty.

Integration of Advanced Search and AI Chatbots Advanced search tools powered by AI help customers find what they’re looking for with minimal effort. Features like predictive search, voice search, and auto-suggestions enhance usability. Similarly, AI-driven chatbots provide instant support, answer customer queries, and assist with purchasing decisions, improving overall customer satisfaction.

Scalability and Customization Unlike off-the-shelf platforms, Custom eCommerce Development allows businesses to build scalable and flexible solutions. This ensures that your website can grow with your business, whether by adding new features, expanding to new markets, or accommodating higher traffic volumes. Tailored solutions also allow you to design workflows and interfaces that meet your unique business needs.

Social Media Integration Social commerce continues to grow in 2024, making social media integration a must for custom eCommerce websites. Features like shoppable posts, social login options, and shareable product links can drive traffic and conversions while creating a cohesive brand presence across platforms.

Robust Analytics and Reporting Tools Understanding customer behavior is key to optimizing your eCommerce strategy. Advanced analytics tools integrated into your website can provide insights into sales trends, customer preferences, and marketing performance. These insights empower you to make data-driven decisions and continuously improve your operations.

Efficient Inventory and Order Management A custom eCommerce website should include tools for real-time inventory tracking, automated stock alerts, and streamlined order processing. These features ensure smooth operations, reduce errors, and enhance the customer experience by providing accurate stock information.

Sustainability Features Sustainability is becoming increasingly important to consumers. Highlighting eco-friendly practices, such as carbon-neutral shipping or recyclable packaging, can make your brand more appealing. A custom website can include features like sustainability calculators or product badges to showcase your efforts.

Conclusion In 2024, an effective custom eCommerce website is more than just an online store—it’s a platform that delivers exceptional user experiences, integrates advanced technologies, and aligns with modern consumer expectations. By incorporating these essential features, businesses can differentiate themselves, build customer loyalty, and stay ahead in a competitive market.

#ecommerce website development #ecommerce development #custom ecommerce development

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payomatix · 9 days ago

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What Are Omni-Channel Payment Solutions and Why Your Business Needs Them

In today’s fast-paced, digital-first world, customer expectations are higher than ever. They demand convenience, flexibility, and a seamless experience, no matter where or how they interact with your business. Enter omni-channel payment solutions, a game-changer for businesses aiming to provide a frictionless and unified payment experience across all touchpoints.

This blog will dive into what omni-channel payment solutions are, how they work, and why adopting them is crucial for your business’s success.

What Are Omni-Channel Payment Solutions?

Omni-channel payment solutions are systems that allow businesses to accept payments through multiple channels—both online and offline—while ensuring a unified, integrated experience for customers.

These solutions enable businesses to accept payments via:

In-store point-of-sale (POS) systems

E-commerce websites

Mobile apps

Social media platforms

Contactless methods, such as NFC (e.g., Apple Pay, Google Pay)

Phone orders

What sets omni-channel payment systems apart is their ability to synchronize transactions across these channels. For example, a customer can browse a product online, purchase it in-store, and return it via mail—all while the business tracks the entire process seamlessly.

Key Features of Omni-Channel Payment Solutions

Unified Customer Experience Omni-channel systems create a cohesive shopping journey by connecting online and offline interactions. Customers can move between channels without disruptions.

Multiple Payment Methods These systems support diverse payment methods, including credit cards, mobile wallets, digital currencies, and Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) options, ensuring convenience for all customers.

Centralized Data Management All transaction data from different channels is stored in one system, providing businesses with real-time insights and enabling efficient inventory, sales, and customer management.

Advanced Security Measures With features like tokenization, encryption, and PCI DSS compliance, omni-channel payment solutions ensure secure transactions across platforms.

Scalability These systems grow with your business, making them ideal for small businesses as well as large enterprises.

Why Your Business Needs Omni-Channel Payment Solutions

1. Enhanced Customer Satisfaction

Customers want convenience, and nothing beats the flexibility of being able to choose their preferred payment method and channel. Omni-channel systems simplify the shopping and checkout experience, boosting customer loyalty.

For instance, a customer can start shopping on your website, add items to their cart, and complete the purchase in-store without having to start over. This level of convenience can significantly improve satisfaction and encourage repeat business.

2. Improved Operational Efficiency

By integrating payment data across all channels, businesses can streamline operations. omni channel payment solutions reduce the need for manual reconciliation, making it easier to track transactions, manage inventory, and process refunds or returns.

3. Data-Driven Insights

With all payment data centralized, businesses gain actionable insights into customer behavior. These insights can help tailor marketing strategies, identify top-selling products, and optimize channel performance.

For example, you can analyze which payment methods customers prefer and use that data to improve your offerings, ensuring your business stays competitive.

4. Increased Revenue

Offering a seamless payment processing can reduce cart abandonment rates and improve conversion rates. According to studies, businesses that adopt omni-channel strategies can see up to a 15-20% increase in revenue compared to those relying on single-channel approaches.

5. Future-Proofing Your Business

As digital payments continue to evolve, businesses that fail to adapt risk falling behind. Omni-channel payment solutions keep your business relevant by accommodating the latest payment trends, such as contactless payments and mobile wallets.

Real-World Applications of Omni-Channel Payments

Retail A customer buys a pair of shoes online, picks them up in-store, and later exchanges them through a mobile app. Omni-channel payment systems ensure a smooth transition across all touchpoints.

Hospitality Guests can book a hotel room online, pay for meals through a mobile app, and settle their final bill at the front desk—all integrated into one system.

Healthcare Patients can pay for consultations online, in the clinic, or via telehealth platforms, with all payment records synced in real-time.

Choosing the Right Omni-Channel Payment Solution

When selecting an omni-channel payment provider, consider:

Compatibility: Does it integrate with your existing systems?

Scalability: Can it grow with your business?

Security: Does it meet the latest compliance and security standards?

Support: Does the provider offer robust customer support and training?

Top providers like Stripe, Square, and PayPal offer omni-channel solutions, but the best choice depends on your business’s unique needs.

Conclusion

Omni-channel payment solutions aren’t just a trend—they’re a necessity for businesses looking to thrive in today’s competitive landscape. By offering a seamless, secure, and integrated payment experience across all channels, you can enhance customer satisfaction, streamline operations, and boost your bottom line.

Investing in an omni-channel payment system is more than just a tech upgrade; it’s a strategic move to future-proof your business and meet the growing demands of modern consumers.

If you’re ready to elevate your payment processes, now is the time to explore omni-channel payment solutions tailored to your business needs.

#paymentprocessing #omni channel payment solutions

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philomathresearch · 10 days ago

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How Consumer Data Shapes Thanksgiving Shopping Insight

Thanksgiving marks the beginning of the holiday shopping season in the United States, and businesses gear up to meet the surge in consumer demand. With the evolution of technology and the increasing availability of consumer data, companies are now better equipped to design targeted and effective seasonal marketing strategies. This blog will explore how Thanksgiving shopping insights are gathered, analyzed, and leveraged to shape marketing plans that resonate with consumers.

The Significance of Thanksgiving Shopping Season

Thanksgiving shopping has evolved into more than just a single day of discounts. It encompasses events like Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday, making it a week-long retail extravaganza. According to the National Retail Federation (NRF), over 190 million Americans participated in Thanksgiving weekend shopping in 2023, with spending exceeding $35 billion.

For businesses, the season represents a critical period to maximize revenue. However, the competition is fierce, and standing out requires understanding consumer behavior in-depth. This is where consumer data comes into play.

How Consumer Data is Gathered During Thanksgiving

Consumer data collection is foundational to any successful marketing strategy. During Thanksgiving, businesses employ several methods to gather insights into shopper preferences, behaviors, and trends.

1. Online Surveys and Feedback Forms

Companies conduct pre- and post-shopping surveys to understand what customers are looking for, their budget preferences, and their satisfaction with shopping experiences.

2. Website Analytics

E-commerce platforms track metrics like:

Traffic volume

Time spent on product pages

Add-to-cart and purchase rates

Abandoned carts These insights help identify popular products and potential barriers to purchase.

3. Social Media Listening

Social media platforms serve as gold mines for understanding consumer sentiment. Monitoring hashtags like #ThanksgivingDeals and #BlackFridaySale allows brands to identify trending products and customer pain points.

4. Loyalty Programs and CRM Data

Businesses with loyalty programs leverage purchase histories and preferences of their existing customers to predict future behavior and craft personalized offers.

5. Mobile App Interactions

Retailers with apps analyze user activity, including searches, wishlist updates, and location-based behaviors, to enhance localized promotions.

Thanksgiving Shopping Insights: What the Data Tells Us

The consumer data collected during Thanksgiving reveals critical trends that shape marketing strategies. Here are some insights businesses have gleaned over the years:

1. Early Shoppers Dominate the Season

Many consumers begin shopping weeks before Thanksgiving. Data suggests that nearly 43% of holiday shoppers make purchases by mid-November to avoid last-minute rushes and stockouts. Marketing Strategy:

Launch early-bird sales in the first week of November.

Promote “Buy Now, Pay Later” options to encourage purchases.

2. Mobile Shopping Is on the Rise

In 2023, 73% of Black Friday sales came from mobile devices. Convenience and seamless browsing experiences drive this trend. Marketing Strategy:

Optimize websites and apps for mobile responsiveness.

Use geo-targeted ads to attract local foot traffic.

3. Price Sensitivity Remains High

Thanksgiving shoppers are price-conscious, actively comparing deals across platforms. According to surveys, 80% of shoppers abandon carts when they find better prices elsewhere. Marketing Strategy:

Implement dynamic pricing to stay competitive.

Highlight discounts prominently in ads and on product pages.

4. Sustainability Matters

A growing number of consumers prioritize eco-friendly products and packaging. Data shows that 62% of millennials are willing to pay more for sustainable goods. Marketing Strategy:

Highlight green initiatives in campaigns.

Use messaging like “Shop Sustainable This Thanksgiving.”

5. Omnichannel Experience is Key

Shoppers expect a seamless transition between online and offline channels. Over 65% of consumers research products online before purchasing in-store. Marketing Strategy:

Offer services like “Buy Online, Pick Up In-Store” (BOPIS).

Synchronize inventory and promotions across all channels.

How Consumer Data Shapes Seasonal Marketing Strategies

Once consumer data is collected and analyzed, it becomes the backbone of effective Thanksgiving marketing strategies. Here’s how companies leverage these insights:

1. Personalization at Scale

Personalized marketing is no longer optional. Using CRM and analytics tools, businesses craft targeted campaigns that resonate with individual customer segments.

Example: Sending tailored emails with product recommendations based on previous purchases.

Results: Increased open rates and conversion rates.

2. Dynamic Ad Campaigns

Data-driven ad strategies enable businesses to adjust campaigns in real time. For instance:

Monitoring click-through rates to identify underperforming ads.

Utilizing A/B testing to refine messaging.

3. Inventory Management

Analyzing sales trends from previous years helps businesses stock up on high-demand items while avoiding excess inventory.

Example: Predicting demand spikes for electronics and ensuring sufficient supply.

4. Enhancing Customer Experience

Insights into pain points, such as long checkout times or unclear return policies, enable businesses to improve the shopping experience.

Example: Offering express checkout lanes for in-store shoppers.

5. Geo-Targeted Promotions

Using location data, businesses can promote specific deals to shoppers near their stores.

Example: Sending push notifications for in-store discounts to app users within a 10-mile radius.

Case Studies: Success Stories from Thanksgiving Marketing

1. Target’s Mobile-First Strategy

Target revamped its mobile app for Thanksgiving 2022, focusing on personalized offers and app-exclusive deals. The result? A 40% increase in app downloads and record-breaking mobile sales.

2. Amazon’s Early Access Sale

By launching an early access sale for Prime members, Amazon captured early holiday shoppers, driving a 20% increase in Thanksgiving week sales.

3. Local Businesses Leveraging Social Media

Small retailers utilized Instagram and TikTok ads to promote local Thanksgiving deals, resulting in higher foot traffic and a 25% increase in sales.

Future Trends in Thanksgiving Marketing

Looking ahead, businesses will continue to refine their Thanksgiving strategies, with a focus on emerging technologies and evolving consumer preferences.

1. AI-Powered Insights

AI tools like predictive analytics will help forecast shopping behavior more accurately, allowing brands to make data-driven decisions.

2. AR/VR Shopping Experiences

Virtual reality (VR) showrooms and augmented reality (AR) features will offer immersive shopping experiences, helping customers visualize products before purchase.

3. Voice Commerce

With the rise of smart speakers, voice-activated shopping will become a significant channel, especially for reorders and quick purchases.

4. Sustainability-Focused Branding

Brands will continue to integrate eco-friendly initiatives into their Thanksgiving campaigns, appealing to environmentally conscious consumers.

Conclusion

Thanksgiving shopping is a high-stakes season for businesses, requiring meticulous planning and execution. By leveraging consumer data, companies can craft targeted, impactful marketing strategies that meet customer expectations while maximizing revenue.

At Philomath Research, we specialize in gathering and analyzing consumer insights to help businesses thrive during critical seasons like Thanksgiving. Contact us today to unlock the power of data-driven decision-making for your brand.

FAQs

1. What is primary market research?

Primary market research involves collecting original data directly from consumers through methods like surveys, interviews, focus groups, and observations. It helps businesses gather specific, real-time insights tailored to their unique needs.

2. How does primary market research help in building better brands?

Primary market research helps brands understand customer preferences, identify unmet needs, and gauge perceptions about their products or services. These insights enable businesses to create targeted marketing strategies, improve products, and strengthen brand loyalty.

3. What are some common methods used in primary market research?

Surveys: Collect quantitative data on customer behavior and preferences.

Focus Groups: Gather qualitative insights from small groups discussing your brand or product.

Interviews: In-depth one-on-one discussions to explore consumer opinions.

Observational Studies: Monitor customer behavior in natural settings for unbiased insights.

4. Why should brands invest in primary market research?

Investing in primary market research enables brands to:

Make data-driven decisions.

Reduce risks in launching new products or entering new markets.

Understand their audience better, leading to improved customer experiences.

5. How does primary market research differ from secondary research?

Primary market research gathers fresh, customized data directly from consumers, while secondary research involves analyzing existing data, such as industry reports or government statistics. Primary research is more tailored and specific, making it ideal for targeted brand strategies.

6. What challenges can primary market research address for businesses?

It helps businesses:

Identify gaps in customer satisfaction.

Evaluate brand health and market position.

Test new products or services before launch.

Understand changing consumer trends and preferences.

7. How can primary market research improve marketing strategies?

By understanding customer behavior, preferences, and pain points, primary market research allows businesses to:

Create personalized marketing campaigns.

Refine messaging to resonate with their target audience.

Identify the best channels for reaching their customers.

8. How does Philomath Research specialize in primary market research?

Philomath Research offers comprehensive primary market research solutions, including custom surveys, focus groups, and consumer behavior analysis. Our services provide actionable insights to help brands grow and maintain their competitive edge.

9. How often should a company conduct primary market research?

The frequency depends on business needs and market dynamics. Companies should consider conducting research:

Before launching new products.

When customer preferences shift.

Annually, to track brand health and customer satisfaction.

10. What industries benefit most from primary market research?

All industries can benefit, but it’s particularly valuable for:

Consumer goods.

Retail and e-commerce.

Healthcare.

Technology.

Hospitality and travel.

#thanksgiving #blackfriday #thanksgivinginsight #consumerinsight #consumerbehavior

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pluugin · 10 days ago

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How Gen Z's Shopping Habits Are Shaping Ecommerce This Season

The emergence of Gen Z, those born between 1997 and 2012, has significantly transformed eCommerce. As true digital natives, their shopping behaviors are not just adapting to technology—they are driving a fundamental shift in how brands connect with consumers online. With the holiday season fast approaching, businesses must understand Gen Z’s shopping preferences, values, and favored platforms in order to tailor their strategies effectively.

In this blog, we'll explore how Gen Z's shopping habits are influencing eCommerce this season and how brands can leverage these changes to boost sales, engagement, and brand loyalty.

Mobile-First Shopping Experience

Gen Z is the most mobile-centric generation, using smartphones as their primary device for browsing, shopping, and socializing. Over 70% of Gen Z shoppers prefer using mobile devices, accessing social media apps and direct-to-consumer mobile apps for a more seamless shopping experience.

What this means for brands: To meet Gen Z’s mobile-first expectations, businesses must optimize their websites for mobile users. Ensuring fast-loading pages, easy navigation, and mobile-friendly checkout processes is essential to prevent cart abandonment. A smooth and engaging mobile app experience can also foster customer retention.

Social Commerce and Influencer Marketing

Gen Z spends a significant amount of time on platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. Social commerce—where consumers shop directly through social media—is rapidly growing, with 54% of Gen Z shoppers making purchases via these platforms.

Influencer marketing is key here, as Gen Z trusts influencers—particularly micro and nano-influencers—more than traditional ads. They prefer authentic, relatable recommendations from influencers who align with their values.

What this means for brands: Brands need to embrace a social-first eCommerce strategy by integrating shopping features directly into social media platforms. Features like TikTok’s “Shop Now” and Instagram’s product tagging are great examples. Collaborating with influencers who have a strong Gen Z following can help brands reach a highly engaged audience and drive conversions.

Personalization and Customization

Gen Z expects brands to deliver personalized shopping experiences. They value tailored recommendations and custom products that reflect their unique preferences, from personalized email campaigns to bespoke items.

What this means for brands: Brands should implement advanced AI and machine learning tools to track user behavior and offer personalized suggestions. Personalized emails and exclusive, limited-edition items can make Gen Z consumers feel special and understood.

Sustainability and Ethical Shopping

Gen Z places a high value on sustainability, ethical sourcing, and brands’ commitment to social causes. Research shows that 73% of Gen Z shoppers prefer brands that align with their values, particularly those focused on eco-friendly practices and social justice.

What this means for brands: Brands should be transparent about their environmental impact and ethical practices. Highlighting sustainability initiatives, such as eco-friendly packaging or carbon-offset programs, can attract Gen Z consumers. However, it’s essential that these values are communicated authentically, not as a marketing ploy.

Experiential and Interactive Shopping

Gen Z craves experiences, not just products. They enjoy immersive shopping experiences, from interactive and gamified journeys to augmented reality (AR) features. Brands that offer these innovative experiences will stand out in a crowded market.

What this means for brands: Incorporating AR into the shopping experience—like virtual try-ons or 3D product views—can captivate Gen Z. For example, beauty brands offering virtual makeup try-ons or furniture retailers enabling customers to see items in their space are strategies that resonate with this generation.

Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) Services

Gen Z is price-conscious and often prefers spreading payments over time. Services like Afterpay, Klarna, and Affirm have grown in popularity, enabling Gen Z to split payments into interest-free installments.

What this means for brands: Offering BNPL options can capture Gen Z’s attention, particularly during seasonal sales or when buying higher-priced items. Clear communication about payment plans, combined with promotions, can increase conversion rates and average order value.

Instant Gratification and Fast Delivery

Gen Z is accustomed to quick and seamless experiences, from instant streaming to rapid food delivery. They expect eCommerce to provide similar levels of convenience, with fast delivery options becoming a key differentiator.

What this means for brands: Brands should invest in logistics to offer faster shipping times. Free or discounted shipping on larger orders can incentivize Gen Z to complete their purchases. Clear delivery timelines, tracking information, and easy returns will help meet Gen Z’s expectations for instant gratification.

User-Generated Content (UGC)

Gen Z values authenticity, especially when it comes to the content they consume. User-generated content—such as reviews, unboxing videos, and product photos—drives trust for this generation.

What this means for brands: Encouraging customers to share their experiences through social media or product pages can create a sense of community around the brand. UGC acts as social proof, influencing others to make purchases.

Seamless Omnichannel Shopping

Gen Z expects a seamless transition between different shopping channels. Whether it’s shopping online and picking up in-store, browsing via a mobile app, or ordering through voice search, they are used to frictionless omnichannel experiences.

What this means for brands: To meet Gen Z’s expectations, brands must integrate their online stores, physical locations, and social media channels. Features like “click and collect,” live chat support, and easy in-store returns for online purchases are key to creating a unified customer experience.

Adapting to Gen Z’s Expectations

As Gen Z’s purchasing power continues to grow, brands must quickly adapt to their preferences and behaviors. Whether during the busy holiday season or year-round, understanding how Gen Z shops is essential for staying competitive and relevant.

To thrive in this evolving landscape, eCommerce brands need to focus on mobile optimization, social commerce, personalized experiences, sustainability, and seamless shopping options. By doing so, they can build long-term loyalty with this influential consumer group and stay ahead of the curve in the digital marketplace.

The future of eCommerce is being shaped by Gen Z—are you ready to meet them where they shop? Partner with Pluugin to maximize your brand’s potential this season and beyond.

#global plugin #pluugin #ecommerce accelerator #pluugin ecommerce #global ecommerce

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industrynewsupdates · 12 days ago

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Buy Now Pay Later Market: Key Trends and Growth Opportunities

The global Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) market was valued at USD 6.13 billion in 2022 and is projected to grow at an impressive compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 26.1% from 2023 to 2030. This rapid expansion is driven by several factors, including the growing demand for flexible payment solutions and the increasing adoption of e-commerce.

In 2022, the total volume of BNPL transactions was estimated to exceed USD 200 billion, signaling a shift in consumer behavior toward more manageable and accessible payment methods. One of the key drivers behind the rise of BNPL is the growing consumer preference for flexible payment options. BNPL services allow customers to make purchases without the immediate financial burden of paying upfront. Instead, they can spread the cost of their purchases over a period, often in interest-free installments. This flexibility reduces the pressure of large, one-time payments and helps consumers manage their budgets more effectively, making BNPL an attractive option for many.

The explosion of e-commerce is another major factor fueling the growth of the BNPL market. As online shopping becomes more prevalent, consumers are increasingly looking for seamless, efficient, and secure payment methods. BNPL services integrate smoothly into the online checkout process, providing a hassle-free payment experience that encourages more spending. With BNPL options, shoppers can complete their transactions quickly without having to pay the full amount upfront, which has become an appealing feature for online shoppers.

Additionally, the adoption of digital wallets and the growth of online retail platforms have further accelerated the BNPL trend. As digital payment solutions become more integrated into the daily shopping experience, both consumers and merchants are seeing the benefits of BNPL services. For consumers, it offers convenience and financial flexibility, while for merchants, it helps drive higher sales volumes and repeat business by attracting customers who might otherwise be deterred by the upfront cost of large purchases.

Gather more insights about the market drivers, restrains and growth of the Buy Now Pay Later Market

Regional Insights

North America

North America dominated the global Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) market in 2022, accounting for over 29.0% of the revenue share. The growth of the BNPL market in this region can be attributed to the presence of numerous major players in the sector, alongside a strong ecosystem of fintech companies. These companies are actively innovating and expanding their service offerings. One notable trend is the increasing number of partnerships between fintech firms and entertainment companies to offer BNPL services for booking travel and entertainment experiences. For example, in September 2021, Uplift, Inc., a prominent BNPL solution provider, partnered with SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, Inc., an American theme park and entertainment company. Through this collaboration, Uplift enabled SeaWorld customers to use BNPL payment options for booking hotels at its theme parks in San Antonio, Orlando, and San Diego. This partnership highlights how BNPL is becoming integrated into various consumer industries beyond traditional retail, providing more opportunities for growth in the region.

Asia Pacific

Asia Pacific is anticipated to witness the fastest growth in the BNPL market, with a projected CAGR of 28.4% over the forecast period. The region's rapid population growth, coupled with a rising number of tech-savvy consumers, is driving the adoption of digital payment solutions and e-commerce platforms. In countries like China, India, and several Southeast Asian nations, the increasing availability of smartphones and internet connectivity has made BNPL services an appealing option for consumers engaging in online shopping. This adoption is supported by a diverse retail landscape, where established e-commerce giants and innovative startups are collaborating with BNPL providers to offer flexible payment methods to consumers. These partnerships are helping to expand the customer base of both BNPL providers and retailers, resulting in higher sales volumes and enhanced consumer satisfaction. As online shopping continues to thrive in the region, BNPL is expected to become an even more integral payment method, driving the market's expansion in Asia Pacific.

Browse through Grand View Research's Next Generation Technologies Industry Research Reports.

• The global digital transaction management market size was estimated at USD 15.26 billion in 2024 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 26.3% from 2025 to 2030.

• The global intelligent document processing market size was estimated at USD 2.30 billion in 2024 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 33.1% from 2025 to 2030.

Key Companies & Market Share Insights

The BNPL market is moderately fragmented, with a range of companies offering various solutions to meet the diverse needs of consumers and merchants. As BNPL services become more widely adopted, they are gaining traction not just for online shopping but also for in-store purchases, expanding their footprint across multiple retail channels.

One of the most notable developments in the BNPL space came in March 2023, when Apple launched its new feature called Apple Pay Later, which adds BNPL capabilities to the Apple Pay digital wallet. This feature allows users to pay for online purchases in four equal installments over six weeks, with the first payment due at the time of purchase. Additionally, Apple Pay Later offers users the ability to apply for interest-free loans ranging from USD 50 to USD 1000, directly through the wallet app. This feature allows customers to shop both online and in-app without incurring fees, enhancing the user experience and providing greater financial flexibility. Apple’s move underscores the growing trend of big tech companies entering the BNPL market, offering more flexible payment options to consumers and reinforcing the growing shift toward digital wallets and seamless payment solutions.

The increasing popularity of the BNPL payment method is not limited to online shopping. It is also becoming an attractive option for customers making in-store purchases, as it allows them to spread the cost of purchases over time without paying interest. This is driving a shift in how both traditional retailers and e-commerce platforms approach payment options for customers. As a result, many merchants are now adopting BNPL solutions to provide customers with more purchasing flexibility, thereby enhancing customer satisfaction and fostering brand loyalty.

The adoption of BNPL by various e-commerce platforms is expected to continue to grow, contributing to the market's overall expansion. As more retailers offer BNPL as a payment option, it is anticipated that the global BNPL market will continue to experience robust growth, creating new opportunities for both BNPL providers and retailers.

Some prominent players in the global buy now pay later market include:

• Affirm, Inc.

• Klarna Inc.

• Splitit Payments, Ltd.

• Sezzle

• Perpay Inc.

• Zip Co, Ltd

• PayPal Holdings, Inc.

• AfterPay Limited

• Openpay

• LatitudePay Financial Services

• HSBC Group

Order a free sample PDF of the Buy Now Pay Later Market Intelligence Study, published by Grand View Research.

#Buy Now Pay Later Market #Buy Now Pay Later Market Analysis #Buy Now Pay Later Market Report #Buy Now Pay Later Market Regional Insights

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marketingaid · 24 days ago

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The Best POS for Retail in 2024: Top Point of Sale Systems to Transform Your Business

Choosing the best POS for retail is one of the most critical decisions for any business owner. A reliable Point of Sale system doesn’t just handle transactions — it’s at the core of your operations, helping you manage sales, inventory, customers, and even employees. In 2024, the right POS system can improve operational efficiency, increase profitability, and enhance the customer experience.

With so many options available, it’s crucial to understand the features, pricing, and scalability that suit your specific needs. In this guide, we’ll explore the best POS for retail systems in 2025, highlighting their top features and what makes them stand out.

Why a Good POS System is Crucial for Retail Success

A Point of Sale (POS) system is more than just a cash register. It’s a complete solution that facilitates sales transactions, tracks inventory in real-time, collects customer data, and integrates with accounting software to streamline financial management. Today’s retail POS systems are cloud-based, offering real-time reporting, multi-location management, and seamless integration with e-commerce platforms, making them an invaluable tool for businesses of all sizes.

Here are a few reasons why investing in the best POS for retail is essential:

Efficient Sales Management: Quickly process sales and payments, improving transaction speed and customer satisfaction.

Inventory Control: Real-time stock tracking prevents overstocking or understocking, ensuring products are always available.

Customer Insights: Collect customer data to personalize marketing, loyalty programs, and promotions.

Detailed Reporting: Generate detailed reports on sales, performance, and trends to make informed business decisions.

Seamless Integration: Integrate with your website, accounting, and marketing platforms for smoother operations.

Key Features to Look for in the Best Retail POS System

When selecting the best POS for retail, you should focus on systems that offer a blend of essential features for growth, efficiency, and scalability. Here are some top features to prioritize:

Ease of Use: A user-friendly interface is key, especially if you have staff with varying levels of tech experience.

Inventory Management: The best POS systems provide automated inventory tracking, stock alerts, and reports to ensure you never run out of popular items.

Payment Processing: Look for a POS that supports multiple payment methods, including credit cards, mobile payments (e.g., Apple Pay), and even Buy Now, Pay Later options.

Customer Relationship Management (CRM): Integrate tools to track customer preferences, purchase history, and loyalty programs, which can help with repeat business.

Reporting and Analytics: Access detailed, customizable reports to analyze sales trends, identify top-performing products, and monitor employee performance.

Cloud-Based Solution: A cloud-based POS system provides real-time data access from anywhere and eliminates the need for expensive on-site hardware.

Top 5 POS Systems for Retail in 2025

Let’s dive into the best POS for retail options that can help take your business to the next level in 2025:

1. Square POS

Square has become synonymous with simplicity, reliability, and affordability. It’s an excellent choice for small to mid-sized businesses that need a straightforward, intuitive system. Square POS offers everything a retailer needs, from payment processing to inventory management, all within a free plan. Its paid plans come with additional features, such as advanced reporting and the ability to manage multiple locations.

Why Square POS?

Free plan with essential POS features (transaction fees apply)

User-friendly interface, making it ideal for businesses with minimal tech expertise

Cloud-based with remote access

Integrated payment processing (with competitive fees)

Multi-location support and robust inventory management

Simple hardware integration (tablets, receipt printers, etc.)

Best for: Small businesses and retailers with a focus on simplicity and affordability.

2. Lightspeed Retail

Lightspeed Retail is a comprehensive POS system designed for businesses looking for more advanced features, especially around inventory management. It’s a great fit for retailers with complex inventories, multiple product categories, or large teams. Lightspeed is known for its detailed reporting tools and powerful stock management capabilities, making it one of the best retail POS systems for growth-oriented businesses.

Why Lightspeed Retail?

Powerful inventory management features, including automatic stock tracking, purchase orders, and vendor management

Customizable reporting to track sales, inventory, and customer data

Cloud-based with the ability to access data remotely

Integrates with multiple e-commerce platforms (Shopify, BigCommerce)

Great for multi-location businesses with scalable options

Best for: Medium to large retail businesses with complex inventory needs and a focus on scalability.

3. Shopify POS

For businesses already using Shopify as their e-commerce platform, Shopify POS is an excellent option to unify your in-store and online sales. This system seamlessly integrates with your Shopify store, allowing you to manage both physical and online transactions from one platform. Shopify POS comes with customizable features, a mobile app for on-the-go sales, and strong customer management tools.

Why Shopify POS?

Seamless integration with Shopify’s e-commerce platform

Easy-to-use interface for both in-store and online retail management

Built-in customer relationship management (CRM) tools

Excellent mobile app for managing sales on the go

Supports multiple payment options, including credit cards and digital wallets

Best for: Businesses that already use Shopify for e-commerce or have a hybrid model (physical and online store).

4. Vend POS

Vend is a cloud-based POS solution that offers powerful features with an emphasis on ease of use. Vend provides excellent inventory management, detailed reporting, and customer tracking. It's an ideal choice for businesses that want a flexible, scalable POS system, particularly those with multiple store locations. Vend integrates seamlessly with accounting software like Xero and QuickBooks, as well as e-commerce platforms like Shopify.

Why Vend POS?

Robust inventory management with real-time tracking

Detailed reporting and analytics tools

Multi-location support for businesses with several retail outlets

Integrates with accounting software and e-commerce platforms

Cloud-based with real-time access to data

Best for: Growing businesses with multiple locations or a strong emphasis on inventory management.

5. Clover POS

Clover POS stands out for its flexibility and customization options. With a wide variety of hardware options and the ability to add different apps from the Clover App Market, this POS system can be tailored to meet the specific needs of your retail business. Clover supports a range of industries, from cafes and restaurants to retail stores, making it an adaptable solution.

Why Clover POS?

Wide range of customizable hardware options (countertop, mobile, self-service)

Extensive app marketplace to add specialized features

Powerful inventory management and reporting tools

Integration with payment processors, accounting software, and more

24/7 customer support and training resources

Best for: Retail businesses looking for a highly customizable POS system with strong hardware options.

Conclusion

Selecting the best POS for retail is about finding a solution that matches your business needs. Whether you’re a small business seeking an easy-to-use, affordable system like Square, or a large retailer needing powerful inventory and reporting features like Lightspeed, there’s a POS solution that can help streamline your operations.

As you evaluate your options, consider your business size, growth trajectory, and specific operational needs. A POS system that simplifies transactions, integrates with your e-commerce platform, provides detailed reporting, and offers robust inventory control will give you a significant advantage in the competitive retail landscape.

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