Klarna, a Swedish payments and shopping platform, is introducing Google Pay for in-store purchases in the USA. Sephora, Journeys and Rue21 are among the first merchant partners to offer Google Pay, in addition to Apple Pay, for in-store purchases.
 
This provides more payment flexibility to consumers along with the safety and security that contactless payments provide.
 
“We’re focused on providing all of our users with a seamless, contactless shopping experience as stores reopen and the pandemic continues to affect communities across the nation,” said David Sykes, head of USA at Klarna. “At the same time, it’s critical we help our retail partners drive business growth, both online and offline, to give them a competitive advantage at a time when margins are tight. We’re excited to introduce this safe and secure option to consumers who use Android devices to ensure we provide them with a smooth and convenient shopping experience, end to end.”
 
Klarna is extending the contactless payment options it offers at a time when consumers’ use of touch-free payments is rising due to concerns about health and safety. Overall use of contactless payments in the USA has grown by 150% since March 2019.
 
Klarna initially launched in-store payments in the USA for iPhone users with Apple Pay in January this year. Since rolling out the capability, retailers that offer Klarna’s in-store option have reported increases in average order value as high as 310% compared with orders transacted through other means.
 
For retailers, contactless in-store payments provide value by boosting shoppers’ purchasing power with more flexible ways to buy and by connecting in-store and online touchpoints through the Klarna app. Klarna’s in-store products are compatible with modern PoS systems and Klarna handles all the complexity of compliance, translations and customer data.
 
More than 200,000 merchants, including H&M, Ikea, Expedia Group, Samsung, Asos, Peloton, Abercrombie & Fitch, Nike and AliExpress, use Klarna. Klarna was founded in 2005, has over 3000 employees and is active in 17 countries.