Gratuu - the Service Industries Mobile Platform for Fair Tipping

UK, October 23, 2015 (Newswire.com) - ​​Manchester based start-up Gratuu is determined to offer a mobile payment solution to the restaurant trade regarding fair tipping. Gratuu, the brainchild of digital entrepreneur Renate Kalnina, allows customers and waiters to send and receive tips directly to a bank account. Having worked as waitress before entering the digital world Renate is no stranger to the dilemma customers face when wanting to reward the hard work of service staff. Renate says “ultimately we stand for fair and transparent tipping, with customers able to see exactly where their money is going”. ​

Gratuu (previously known as Tipit) has gone from strength to strength in the last few months, after a crowd funding campaign, some international media coverage and endless meetings and beta testing the product is almost ready to launch. Most recently Gratuu has been accepted for participation at the prestigious Web Summit Alpha 2015 class in Dublin where 10% of all companies are chosen to showcase their products and services. 
Kalnina says of the quick growth of the company "we've experienced our teething problems like any new start-up. Firstly we had to change the original name of Tipit as it sounded similar to Nokia's internal brand 'Tippit', which brought up some trademark issues. I consulted with my team to come up with a new name so we picked a few then ran an independent Google insights survey....and Gratuu was born. There's a certain irony of almost coming up against a large corporate during the companies infancy when our core business model is based on redirecting more hard earned cash back to everyday service employee"! 

"we've experienced our teething problems like any new start-up. Firstly we had to change the orginial name of Tipit as it sounded similar to Nokia's internal brand 'Tippit', which brought up some trademark issues. I consulted with my team to come up with a new name so we picked a few then ran an independent Google insights survey....and Gratuu was born. There's a certain irony of almost coming up against a large corporate during the companies infancy when our core business model is based on redirecting more hard earned cash back to everday service employee"!

Renate Kalnina, Founder, Gratuu

Given the recent media attention the restaurant industry have faced regarding tipping this innovative product aims to offer an affordable alternative. Charging a modest 3.5% fixed rate per transaction customers are able to ensure their money goes to staff on the frontline and not to shareholders of big chain restaurants. Since August the mainstream media has been reporting on the deductions large restaurant chains take on credit card tips. The Guardian offered a breakdown of the percentage of money lost to waiting staff for each one. Many restaurants claimed to distribute tips and discretionary service charges amongst all staff (known as a 'tronc' system) but in reality this often kept money concentrated at the top of the chain and made little difference to the take home pay of front line service staff. 

Business Secretary Sajiv Javid launched a review when this practice was exposed at Cote and Bills. As we move towards a cashless society (only 1 in 5 Brits regularly carry cash with them) Gratuu aims to offer both a practical and ethical solution to an ongoing social dilemma. Gratuu ensures your gratuities go direct to the people that made your dining experience what it was. Customers will be able to access waiter profiles directly by scanning a QR code or typing in a unique ID code. Gratuu also offers a digital tip-jar solution where the total value of the tip is split and distributed amongst all staff that are assigned to that jar. However customers will be able to how the money is split, ensuring transparency! 

For more information and to arrange an interview please contact Renate Kalnina: [email protected] or Tel:  +447990661779 ​