How to Use the Suggestion Box

Federico Reggiardo is not an app developer—he sells acoustic guitars and gives music lessons. But the owner of Brookside Guitars has helped influence Square’s lineup of tech solutions for small businesses.

Reggiardo is part of an early-tester group that receives a first look at new Square products and delivers feedback to the company. His shop, located at 6217 Oak St. in Kansas City, Mo., uses Square to receive payments, and Reggiardo is going to be shifting Brookside Guitars’ e-commerce onto Square’s platform.

He was invited to join a special Facebook page where business owners can comment on Square’s products. He and the other members get early access to new features, and sometimes there are other extras—for example, the company just sent him a free EMV-compliant card reader to use in his store.

How Did He Get Involved with Square?

Last year, Reggiardo was trying out a new feature on Square’s platform and emailed some suggestions to the company. Square thought he would be a good addition to the early-test group.

Members point out glitches and share ideas for features that would make the service more useful for their businesses. Sometimes, the developers aren’t able to incorporate the changes, but when they do, it can be pretty useful. Square adjusted its appointment-scheduling service so that users can require their customers to pay at the time they schedule—another way to prevent no-shows from skipping out without paying.

“I can’t stress how much they innovate,” Reggiardo said. Most merchant processors aren’t like that. “They don’t really innovate until they have to.”

What’s the Takeaway for My Business?

If you’re a business owner, you probably know the value of getting valuable client feedback about your products and services. Your vendors are no different. By giving them useful suggestions, you’ll earn their gratitude and ultimately help them help you better.

(photo courtesy of Brookside Guitars)