TNS RESEARCH REVEALS SIMPLICITY IS KEY FOR RETAIL Transaction Network Services (TNS), a global leader in providing full-stack, modern and secure payment and network solutions, has announced new research from its Keeping Payments Simple: Exploring Consumer Demand for Seamless Payment Methods white paper, highlighting how consumers in Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States view payment technologies across key sectors. While habits vary by country and demographic, the findings are clear: whether paying for parking, fuel, retail or other services, consumers want one thing above all else: simplicity. “Consumers worldwide are telling us the same story: make payments simple,” said John Tait, TNS’ Global Managing Director for its Payments Market business. “The opportunity for retailers and across every sector is to embrace digital innovation while maintaining the reliability people trust. That balance is what builds confidence and loyalty.” Retail payment habits show strong generational divides. Self-service and unattended checkouts are appreciated for their speed and shorter queues, especially among younger consumers who see them as convenient. However, frustration grows when systems fail or slow down, and more than one in five over-55s say they dislike or avoid selfservice altogether. While physical cards remain the dominant payment method, digital wallets are steadily rising, particularly among younger consumers who value the speed and biometric security they offer. This generational divide means retailers must balance familiar, physical card-first experiences with reliable digital-first alternatives. The key challenge for retailers is balancing speed with flexibility while ensuring payment systems don’t add friction. Global findings The Keeping Payments Simple: Exploring Consumer Demand for Seamless Payment Methods white paper, based on a survey of more than 3,000 consumers across Australia, the US and the UK, highlighting generational divides, regional differences and shifting expectations. While payment technologies continue to advance, the research shows consumers value reliability and straightforward processes above all else, a conclusion borne out by findings such as: • Australia is the “in-person nation,” with a strong preference for staffed checkouts. • The UK is a “hybrid market,” where physical cards dominate but digital wallets are rising fast among younger consumers. • The US is the “fragmented market,” with sharp generational and regional divides from heavy digital wallet use in cities like Austin and Las Vegas, to card-first preferences in the Midwest. • Across all markets, younger consumers demand fast, reliable, digitalfirst experiences, while older demographics value stability and trust in cards and staffed checkouts. For more information, visit: tnsi.com NAJ LAUNCHES FREE JEWELLERY JOB SEEKER DIRECTORY The National Association of Jewellers (NAJ), the UK’s leading trade association for the professional jewellery sector, has launched a free Jewellery Job Seeker Directory, inviting jewellery professionals who are seeking work to submit their details and be visible to potential employers across the industry. With redundancies on the rise due to ongoing economic pressures, talent retention in the jewellery trade has never been more critical. To strengthen career opportunities and support both emerging and experienced professionals, the NAJ is offering this no-cost, open directory to help match skilled individuals with employers looking to recruit in every facet of the jewellery industry. The directory is currently in beta phase and will be made accessible to employers once a sufficient number of eligible job seekers have registered. The NAJ will continue investing in this project to better support its members, their people, and the wider trade as the initiative develops. Jewellery professionals with the right to work in the UK, whether affected by redundancy, seeking a fresh challenge, or keen to explore new opportunities, are encouraged to complete the short online form to be included in the directory. Once open to employers, this resource will serve as a centralised talent pool for businesses searching for candidates with jewellery-specific skills. Ben Massey, Chief Executive of the National Association of Jewellers, said, “At a time when our industry faces workforce challenges, it is vital that we support talent staying within the trade. This directory is a practical step to help jewellery professionals remain visible to employers and connect employers with the skilled people they need. We call on trade organisations across the UK jewellery sector to share this initiative through their networks. Together we can retain and nurture the talent that underpins our industry.” The NAJ encourages all eligible job seekers to sign up now and help build a sustainable pool of talent for the UK jewellery community. UK-based jewellery professionals wishing to share their details can do so here. https://naj.co.uk/Job-Seekers 6
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