What is it? The Pet Industry Federation, an umbrella trade group that represents five separate industry sectors—dog groomers, kennel clubs, pet suppliers and manufacturers, pet retailers, and pet services—has forged an agreement with the firm Chip & PIN Solutions to offer discounts on credit-card processing. To sweeten the deal, the company is also offering discounts on PIF membership in the next dues cycle. Chip & PIN has worked with a number of other U.K. trade groups over the years to offer similar benefits.

Why it works: The strategy helps companies in the pet-supplies space—many of them small businesses—solve a lingering problem. “Finding a suitable card-processing solution is becoming increasingly important for businesses and we are delighted to have partnered with Chip & PIN Solutions to provide PIF members with excellent advice on accepting card payments and fantastic rates to keep costs as low as possible,” PIF CEO Nigel Baker said in a news release.

Other benefits: Beyond card discounts, PIF also offers insurance, pension support, access to a legal helpline, and discounts on events, among other benefits. “We are confident that PIF membership really does help pet businesses run more efficiently,” Baker added.

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