Simplifying applications, streamlining decisioning and enabling more seamless digital-to-store experiences encourages customers to buy with confidence while helping smaller retailers convert more shoppers, support larger-ticket purchases, and strengthen loyalty. This empowers associates to stay focused on what they do best: closing the sale and building the relationship. And for small and independent retailers—often operating with lean teams—every minute matters. When the financing process is slow or confusing, it can pull associates away from the floor and put the sale at risk.

So, how does a retailer choose the right financing parter? Innovative tools streamline the process, but when a customer is standing at the counter, it’s the people and support behind the financing solution that make or break the moment. Small retailers can’t afford to be stuck waiting for answers. They need a partner that helps them move quickly during peak traffic, promotional events, and those make-or-break weekend rushes.

The best partners prioritize accountability, training and trust. They show up consistently, with faster answers, smoother implementations and support that doesn’t drop after the contract is signed. That kind of reliability doesn’t happen by accident. It emerges from collaboration and strong cross-functional execution, and it’s what allows innovation to actually reach the showroom floor rather than stall somewhere in between. It also includes practical guidance that helps retailers present offers clearly and early—so customers know what’s available before they hit a budget ceiling at checkout.

Synchrony partners with small and independent home furnishing retailers to do exactly that. Its recognition as #1 on Fortune’s 100 Best Companies to Work For reflects a culture that invests in training, empowerment and accountability, so teams can support retailers with a higher-quality experience for the customer. This isn’t just an achievement for Synchrony, it benefits retailers and customers at the point of sale.

For these retailers, a superior credit experience is not a small detail, it’s a conversion tool. The right financing partner doesn’t replace the high-touch service that sets local furniture stores apart. It protects this important relationship. It helps ensure the financing experience feels like a natural extension of the retailer’s brand—supporting bigger baskets, repeat visits, and long-term customer loyalty while preserving the trust that local retailers have earned in their communities.