American Express Co.’s focus on providing products and services to the small-business segment through its new AcceptPay product is “a savvy move”, according to Ed Kountz, senior analyst, e-business and channel strategy, at Javelin Strategy & Research. AmEx recently launched the online invoicing product and a corresponding advertising campaign to promote it (
“AmEx has invested significant resources in the small-business market and has an important base to protect there,” Kountz says. “They also know, from their observation of and position of the market, that small businesses are being inordinately impacted by the credit crunch. What this means is that they are having more trouble getting paid and more trouble getting credit.”
AmEx sees this as an opportunity to bolster and expand its competitive position, Kountz contends. “They're looking to strengthen their base and using messaging that resonates with the average small-business owner,” he says.
