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MSS news

Welcome to the Main Street Software blog!

April 20, 2009   in   MSS news

At Main Street Software, Inc. our number-one priority is customer service. We care about your Mary Kay business because we are Mary Kay Beauty Consultants. In that spirit, we offer you this blog as a place to get the latest tips, news, and updates from Main Street Software, Inc.  Stop by often, or, better yet, subscribe to get all blog posts via email or RSS feed. And if you like what you see, use the buttons at the bottom of each post to spread the word. Thank you for making Boulevard the number-one choice for Mary Kay business management! Find out more about Boulevard and Main Street Software, Inc. by visiting our website.

Please contact Main Street Software directly for customer service or technical support questions or issues.

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Getting Organized for Year End!

November 23, 2010   in   MSS news,Special offers

The end of the year always comes more quickly than we expect, so now is the time to get organized! Whether you are a long time customer or new to Boulevard, we can help with your choice of Inventory Setup, a Database Makeover, or even our Virtual Assistant services!

The Inventory Setup Service includes entering Section 1 on hand amounts, entering Section 1 Ideal amounts, and clean up of the Closeout Items product category. Valued at $75, you can purchase this service for just $30, and be up and running in minutes! Call us today to inquire or purchase.

A Database Makeover is the perfect way to clean up and organize your data. Our Database Makeovers are available starting at just $25. The best part? Each makeover level builds upon the previous and increases the amount of help we can provide to getting your systems in place and you back on track. Call our office today to discuss how a Makeover can help! Perhaps the problem is bigger than a makeover warrants… perhaps you’re behind on the data entry itself. We have a solution for that, too!

All of us have lives outside of our Mary Kay® businesses, right? Being a Mary Kay Consultant is a grand adventure, but there are times when other things happen and they take priority, so your business may take a back seat for a while. Life happening doesn’t keep customers from needing to reorder their skin care and cosmetics and doesn’t stop you from needing to order inventory to replenish what you are selling. It also doesn’t stop those ever present and inevitable business expenses from accruing. Sometimes it can keep you from being able to sit down at your computer to enter it though.

Is all of this sounding a little familiar? Do you find yourself in this position now? Maybe a paperwork pile three or four months (or more!) deep is threatening to spill onto the floor as you read this message. Does the thought of prepping for taxes – let alone filing on time – give you cold sweats and chills? We have the answer for you: Historical Virtual Assistant – and the professional, reliable competence of our Customer Service Representatives – to the rescue!

We have offered a Virtual Assistant Service for several years now and those using it swear by its positive effects on their business. Offloading your data entry to someone else frees up your time and energy to concentrate on actually building your business. Plus you can continue to take care of your family, enjoy your friends, and not get behind. Our historical Virtual Assistant service is perfect for helping you to fill in, catch up, and just get back to where you need to be.

We can help you to determine what needs to be entered by assessing your unique situation. Based on the number of months of entry and the amount of paperwork from each month to be entered, we will provide you a customized quote for this service. Not only will your data entry be completed by trained Boulevard professionals, it will be done neatly and to your specifications.

While you’re in the clean up and organization mode, do you have a plan for all those foundations you have in stock but are being discontinued by Mary Kay? You guessed it! We have a solution for that, too! Check out our awesome Product of the Month postcards. We suggest using these lovely cards to showcase specific products that you’re overstocked in or are being discontinued. You can purchase these cards in a set then prep and mail them yourself or, sign up for our Postcard Service and let us do the work for you! For just $0.70 a name including postage, you won’t find a better deal. Better yet, we provide a report you can use to follow-up and even remind you to follow-up after the cards are sent.

We believe in working this business full-circle – just like you have been taught in Mary Kay. We don’t like to leave anything to chance and are always looking for ways to simplify, streamline, and improve the odds of our customers’ success. Our Customer Service Representatives are waiting to assist you. Contact us, and let’s get started today!

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Keeping You & Your Customers Protected – Part 4

July 30, 2010   in   MSS news

Keeping You & Your Customers Protected

Last time we sent you an update, we were expecting ProPay® to launch their new service to the Mary Kay® community in the month of July. Here is the latest….

ProPay did release their Virtual Terminal ProtectPay system the first week of Seminar. This service allows you to enter and save credit card information through ProPay. Since ProPay meets the standards required by the credit card companies, you are assured your customer credit card information is safe and protected.

As reported in the Banking Business Review,

The sensitive cardholder data never resides [on the user’s computer]. The merchant receives a unique identifier that can be used for reporting purposes or repeat transactions, claims ProPay.

Of course the next most important piece of information you want to know is when will this work with Boulevard. In talking with a Vice President at ProPay, they were unable to provide to us an estimated date when Virtual Terminal ProtectPay will be ready for integration with other software programs. Rest assured – we will remain in contact and plan on working with them at such a time as their systems are ready.

 As a reminder, the safest storage method for credit card data until you sign up for Virtual Terminal ProtectPay is on paper in a locking drawer or cabinet. The chances of your home being broken into as opposed to your computer compromised are much lower. When the credit card was stored in the credit card field in Boulevard, the card number was encrypted within the data file. Even encrypted we were told the data was no longer considered safe enough.

If you enter the full card number into any area of the program, it will not be encrypted. If you’re syncing with a handheld device, you may now be carrying complete credit card numbers with you. In order to minimize your liability, we strongly suggest heeding the recommendations of the credit card industry and ProPay.

If you have not yet loaded your copy of Boulevard 2011, here are a few tips for retrieving the credit card information you have stored. 

    1. Only write down and save credit card numbers with current expiration dates.
    2. Begin with your first customer in Boulevard. Click on the Add’l Info tab. Write down the card number and name for each customer with current information.
    3. Store all credit card numbers (even handwritten pink tickets) in a locking drawer or cabinet. You could also take the time to register for Virtual Terminal ProtectPay and record the information there.
    4. Take a backup of your Boulevard information then load 2011.

As promised, we are keeping you updated every step of the way and will continue to do so. As a company and as consultants, we are grateful to the credit card industry and ProPay for doing what it takes to protect us. Please know that Main Street Software staff is available to answer questions and assist you in whatever way we can. As we correspond with ProPay and obtain any updated information, we will continue to keep you informed.

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Keeping You & Your Customers Protected – Part 3

June 24, 2010   in   MSS news

Credit Card SecurityIn talking with ProPay®, we have learned they have a service available called ProtectPay™. ProtectPay allows users to store credit cards within ProPay’s system, for a fee, and then submit charges when applicable. Because the information is not being stored on the merchant’s computer, the merchant does not have to be PCI or PA-DSS compliant. Instead, ProPay is and their systems ensure the security required by the credit card industry. However, ProtectPay as it is available now is not what ProPay recommends for the Mary Kay community.

ProPay tells us that phase 1 of their Virtual Terminal ProtectPay is expected to be released mid-July. The Virtual Terminal ProtectPay service is designed for micro merchants – AKA Mary Kay Consultants and Directors. Phase 1 will allow users to save the cards in ProPay’s system, creating a unique identifier for each card, and charge them for subsequent orders similarly to the regular ProtectPay. During a later phase, Virtual Terminal will allow for the user’s Boulevard to integrate and process against stored card identifiers.

Main Street Software empathizes with each of you in this transition period. We, too, have had to make changes in our own Mary Kay businesses to store card information for customers who have requested this. Our company has a history of making sure we do what it takes to do the right thing, to not step on any toes, and, above all, not break any rules just for convenience sake. Main Street Software will continue to communicate with you regarding every development.

Thank you for your understanding and stay tuned for updates as they occur.

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Keeping You & Your Customers Protected – Part 2

May 14, 2010   in   MSS news

When we become accustomed to performing a task in a certain way that is both convenient and timesaving, it can be difficult to give it up. Main Street Software, Inc. knows you would prefer to continue to process credit card charges from your Boulevard software. We know how convenient it is for you and your customer to keep their payment information on file. However, each of us also knows how often information is stolen and how insecure the Internet can be. Security is of utmost importance and we are confident you want us to look after your best interests.

Therefore, come July 1, 2010, no matter what version of Boulevard software you are using, you will no longer be able to submit credit card transactions directly to ProPay.

ProPay is being required to change the way it allows any company to submit transactions to them directly. Propay is seeking to find another way to have interaction between Boulevard and them that will meet the industry requirements.

As new information becomes available, we will be sure to post the information here on our blog, via email, or as a NewsFlash message. When you upgrade to Boulevard 2011, all credit card information previously in the program will no longer be stored. Prior to installation, we recommend one of the following to keep track of preferred payment methods for your customers.

Option 1 – Pop Up Message:


For all customers who choose to pay by credit card,

  1. Open the customer profile.
  2. Click on the Notes tab.
  3. Type a note. (E.g. Prefers to pay by Credit Card or Credit Card)
  4. Highlight your note using your mouse.
  5. Click F8 on your keyboard.
  6. Click OK to save the note.

You can use the same steps for customers who prefer to pay by check, cash, or who you allow to carry a balance and make payments. This option is flexible to meet your needs.

Option 2 – User Codes:


If you would like to be able to pull reports based upon payment preferences,

  1. Open the customer profile.
  2. Click on the Recruiting tab.
  3. Select one of the available User Code fields. You will use the same field for each whom you are designating a preferred payment method.
  4. Type your note. (E.g. Credit Card or Cash)
  5. Click OK to save.

Now you’ll be able to retrieve a report based upon the information you have entered into the field.

The next time you talk to your customer, just let him or her know their financial security is important to you and you can no longer store their credit card number on your computer. For sample words to use when informing your customers, please visit Keeping You & Your Customers Protected – Part 1.

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Keeping You & Your Customers Protected – Part 1

April 27, 2010   in   MSS news

Security is an increasing concern with regard to identity and financial information. As a small business owner, you should be aware of some changes that will affect how you run your business. Effective July 1, 2010, changes will be in place that will affect how you process credit card transactions for your customers and the information you are allowed to store.

For detailed information, please visit the Cardholder Information Security Program section on Visa’s website.

For your convenience, please refer to the following chart to ensure you comply with VISA’s Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) requirements if you choose to continue to store credit card data for your customers.

As a software vendor, Main Street Software, Inc. was required to make modifications to comply with these new regulations, too. At this time, we are approaching the new security regulations in two steps. The first step was to ensure the latest version of the software, Boulevard 2011, met the standards and expectations for maintaining cardholder security.

With the installation of Boulevard 2011, existing users must agree to the terms of the End User License Agreement (EULA) which specify that cardholder data previously stored in the provided credit card field(s) in Boulevard will be wiped out as this feature is no longer offered.

  • New users installing Boulevard 2011 will not have the credit card fields previously included in the software.
  • Users will no longer be able to submit credit card transactions from Boulevard to ProPay™ (US & Canada feature only).
  • Credit card numbers can no longer be entered as a payment method in Avenue and any credit card information entered into payment method in the Palm® application will be lost during synchronization.

These steps were taken for our users’ protection as well as ours. Boulevard users who choose not to upgrade to Boulevard 2011, who choose to store credit card data on their systems, or who choose to store that credit card data in other areas of Boulevard are solely responsible for any breach in security they may face. Main Street Software, Inc. is not liable for any fraud or security breach on its users’ systems.

Here is a sample of what some of our employees are telling their customers:

Dear Susie,

I want to let you know about some changes I have to make with regard to your account security. As you know, thousands of people every day deal with identity theft and credit card fraud. There are some new regulations that affect me as your consultant.

From this point forward, I am no longer able to keep your credit/debit card on file. I’m sure you can understand I want to comply with these laws and ensure your information is secure. I’ll note your account as preferring to pay by card and that way I can get the information each time you place an order.

Thanks for understanding!

Subsequent to the changes made to the Boulevard software for the 2011 version, Main Street Software, Inc. will continue to work with ProPay to find an appropriate future solution, if possible, to integrate payment submission. We want you to know that we are committed to a high-quality product that simplifies processes within your business. However, we are also committed to maintaining the integrity of Boulevard and complying with laws and regulations surrounding small business owners including security and fraud prevention.

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Avenue™ for BlackBerry is here!

January 8, 2010   in   MK business tools,MSS news

Avenue for BlackBerry smartphonesYou asked and we are delivering. Main Street Software, Inc. is excited to launch its new handheld application, Avenue! Avenue represents a direct approach; direct from your computer to your handheld. That’s right. Our applications don’t need an Internet connection to load.

Avenue is a stand-alone application for the handheld installations we offer. The latest in our line of handheld applications is Avenue for the BlackBerry. You’ll enjoy all the features we have offered previously for the Palm and Windows Mobile, plus you can dial direct from any phone number field.

Visit our website for more information and to order your copy!

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