Q&a: Interview With Evgeniy Chuikov From EasyTip

1. Tell us more about EasyTip, how did the idea come about?
   

Giving a gratuity has been a long-standing tradition in the hospitality and services industries in the UK. Customers want to reward service workers for great experiences and historically much of the tipping was conducted in cash. Yet with declining cash transactions and more payments being processed via POS terminals, collecting and distributing tips amongst employees has become a complicated and burdensome task. The business is required to pay additional processing fees, spend more accounting hours and follow complex tax regulations. It’s no wonder that in recent years, there have been numerous stories across the UK media uncovering opaque and unfair tipping processes in many businesses.

This is why we’ve developed a fast and transparent way to tip via an app-free cashless platform that can be used instantly to tip service workers directly. Customers scan a QR code, land on an individual’s or team tipping page and leave a tip using Apple Pay, Google Pay or any card. Tips go directly to recipients meaning they get them faster and gain more control over their income. It’s a win: win for both businesses reducing admin and improving team motivation, and staff who want to boost their income.

1. How has EasyTip grown in the past year? What are some milestones?

It has been a remarkable year of growth since our launch last Summer. Over 100,000 customers have left a tip at least once on our platform and it is being used by thousands of workers in established businesses such as Gielly Green, Dodo Pubs, Urban Retreat and many others – spanning industries such as restaurants, beauty, travel, delivery, and entertainment.

We are also humbled when we witness the real impact of our platform, particularly in sectors such as the hospitality industry which is still recovering from the impacts of the pandemic. We’ve helped workers significantly increase tips, in some cases by as much as 30%, and helped them receive them much faster. Single-location businesses are reporting cost savings of hundreds of pounds per year, while chains and bigger brands are saving thousands of pounds.

While the platform was originally launched in the UK, we now work across other parts of Europe and also have expanded into the MENA area as we see that collecting tips is a pain point across many regions.

1. What is your vision for EasyTip?

Our mission is to make the world of gratuities fairer, simpler, and quicker. The act of collecting and distributing tips should get easier with the advancement of technology. Service staff should be rewarded for their diligence and have full control over the tips they receive, while businesses should be able to facilitate in a fuss-free, low-cost manner. And it doesn’t stop there.

We’ve been adding a few new useful features on our platform aimed at helping businesses reduce their time spent on admin, motivate workers, and offer customers frictionless experiences. These include the opportunity to leave a review and post it on Instagram or Google, and tronc scheme tools which help with collecting service charges and various payment options.

We are excited for the future ahead. We estimate the global tipping market to have a $100 billion annual turnover and our aim is to capture as much of this opportunity as we can by scaling and expanding our business to more countries.

1. What would be your advice to aspiring entrepreneurs?

Managing your own business or project can be very exciting and rewarding but it’s also incredibly demanding. It’s also not a sprint but a grinding marathon so be prepared for the long run. Have patience and determination to succeed even if you face challenges.