As we ease into the holiday season, I wanted to take a moment to share why I’m thankful to work in the adult industry. Besides being exciting, vibrant and cutting-edge (there is never a dull moment), it has shaped Segpay and my own life in ways I could have never imagined. There hasn’t been a single day that I regret this career path. Since giving thanks this month is a global cultural tradition, I wanted to share my gratitude for this exceptional and innovative industry.
Before Segpay, I worked with billing companies that served the adult industry for a number of years, and that experience gave me the opportunity to join with a group of friends and start this company in 2005. I’ve been able to run our company the best way I see fit, to support an industry that has very specific needs and challenges. Doing so has given me many reasons to give thanks. It has allowed my colleagues and me to support our families, and has provided many more laughs than tears.
In the business world, there are not many industries where you become friends with your competitors, but in this industry it’s normal. I’m very thankful that the adult space attracts some of the most open-minded, uninhibited and innovative people.
The adult industry has been a second family. I have worked with many of the same teammates since the start and those long-time relationships go beyond our office walls. Many of our clients have been with us since day one and are very much like family as well. They’ve been there and continue to bring us new ideas that make us a better service provider. Some of the people I’ve met in the industry have become more than friends; I consider them mentors. In the business world, there are not many industries where you become friends with your competitors, but in this industry it’s normal. I’m very thankful that the adult space attracts some of the most open-minded, uninhibited and innovative people.
In this industry, you are always afforded new opportunities. There is a new open door to walk through every day. Staying on top of the constantly-changing rules and regulations provides a great learning opportunity. The complexity of Visa and Mastercard regulations alone have allowed us to develop an expertise that keep clients safe. We have established multiple banking relationships in the U.S. and in Europe. Many have become friends as well as trusted resources. We now have banks asking to work with us, ensuring that we always have a solution for our clients. We recently earned our Payment Institution license in Europe which will allow us to someday become our own Acquirer, and we are already a member of Mastercard.
Speaking of safety, I am thankful for organizations such as ASACP and the FSC that help regulate and advocate for our industry.
Adult companies continue to drive innovation that eventually finds its way into the “mainstream” world, keeping things exciting while ensuring we’re always on our toes and prepared for the next challenge. New technology partners are always emerging with services to improve security and the quality of products in our space. With all we’ve learned, we’ve grown stronger and developed solutions that go beyond the adult space, too.
Calling the adult industry creative is an understatement, but I’m thankful for how unique it is and how it allows our company to grow and be more creative. It’s afforded me the opportunity to travel around the world, to places such as Amsterdam, London, Berlin, Romania, Los Angeles, Phoenix and San Francisco, to name a few. As the weather turns colder and the days get shorter it’s important to take time to reflect on what we’re thankful for and what’s to come. All of us at Segpay are thankful for you. What are you thankful for? Post it at #SegpayThankful and let everyone know.
It took only three years for Cathy Beardsley to turn startup Segpay into a profitable company. As president and CEO, Beardsley oversees the day-to-day operations and long-term strategic planning for the company. Segpay is one of four companies approved by Visa to operate as a high-risk internet payment service provider in the U.S. Since 2005, Segpay has offered online merchants a state-of-the-art billing platform that provides realtime payment processing around the globe.
