#pos system software for tobacco store

[marketing-13]

The Ultimate Guide to Smoke Shop Software - Features and Benefits

Running a smoke shop requires more than just stocking the shelves with popular products; it’s about managing day-to-day operations smoothly, keeping customers happy, and staying competitive in a rapidly growing industry. Enter Qape, an all-in-one smoke shop management software designed to simplify these tasks and help you grow your business online. In this ultimate guide, we’ll explore the features and benefits of smoke shop software like Qape and how it can streamline your operations, boost sales, and enhance your customer experience.

Why is Smoke Shop Software Essential in 2024?

As the smoke shop industry evolves, staying ahead requires more than just offering quality products. You need a system that can handle inventory management, customer service, sales tracking, marketing, and more—all in one place. That’s where smoke shop software like Qape comes in. It provides the tools you need to manage everything efficiently, saving you time and effort while boosting your bottom line.

Let’s dive into the key features and benefits that make smoke shop software a must-have for your business.

Key Features of Qape’s Smoke Shop Management Software

Inventory Management

Managing stock is crucial for any retail business, but it can be especially challenging in smoke shops where you have to keep track of a wide variety of products. Qape’s inventory management system allows you to monitor stock levels in real-time, set automatic reorder points, and ensure you never run out of popular items. This feature helps you avoid overstocking or understocking, leading to better inventory control and increased profitability.

Point of Sale (POS) System

The POS system is the heart of any smoke shop operation, and Qape offers a seamless, user-friendly system that makes transactions quick and error-free. Whether customers are purchasing in-store or online, Qape’s POS system handles payments efficiently, tracks sales data, and provides detailed reports on your shop’s performance. With everything integrated into one platform, you can keep an eye on trends and make informed business decisions.

Customer Relationship Management (CRM)

Building strong relationships with your customers is key to growing your smoke shop, and Qape’s CRM feature helps you do just that. It stores customer information, purchase history, and preferences, allowing you to personalize the shopping experience. You can also use the CRM to send targeted promotions, discounts, and loyalty rewards, turning one-time shoppers into repeat customers.

Online Ordering and E-Commerce Integration

In today’s digital age, having an online presence is essential. Qape’s software integrates with your e-commerce platform, allowing you to sell products online and manage orders seamlessly. The online ordering system lets customers browse your inventory, place orders, and pay online. This not only increases sales but also expands your reach to customers who prefer to shop from the comfort of their homes.

Marketing Tools

Marketing is crucial for attracting new customers and retaining existing ones. Qape offers built-in marketing tools to help you promote your smoke shop both online and offline. From email campaigns and SMS alerts to social media integration, the software lets you create personalized promotions and track their effectiveness. With data-driven insights, you can fine-tune your marketing strategies for better results.

Compliance Management

Smoke shops often have to deal with strict regulations and compliance requirements, especially when selling tobacco or cannabis-related products. Qape’s software helps you stay compliant by tracking sales data, managing age verification, and ensuring you meet all legal requirements. This reduces the risk of penalties and keeps your business running smoothly.

Benefits of Using Qape Smoke Shop Software

Streamlined Operations

With all your business functions—inventory, sales, customer management, and marketing—in one system, Qape helps streamline your operations. You no longer need to juggle multiple tools or software platforms. Everything you need is at your fingertips, making your day-to-day tasks simpler and more efficient.

Improved Customer Experience

Qape’s CRM and POS systems ensure that customers have a smooth and personalized shopping experience. Whether they’re shopping in-store or online, the seamless transaction process and tailored promotions make them feel valued. Happy customers are more likely to return, boosting your sales and building brand loyalty.

Increased Sales and Revenue

By optimizing your inventory, managing promotions, and offering online ordering, Qape helps you increase sales and grow your revenue. With better control over stock, you can avoid costly mistakes like overordering or running out of popular products. Plus, with online sales, you’re no longer limited to local customers—you can expand your business across regions.

Data-Driven Decision Making

Qape’s reporting features give you access to detailed analytics about your sales, customer behavior, and inventory performance. These insights allow you to make data-driven decisions, whether it’s adjusting your inventory levels, creating targeted marketing campaigns, or identifying top-selling products. This helps you run a smarter, more profitable business.

Enhanced Compliance and Security

By automating compliance tasks and maintaining secure transaction records, Qape ensures that your business stays within legal guidelines. This reduces your risk of fines and keeps sensitive customer and business data secure.

Final Thoughts: Is Smoke Shop Software Right for You?

If you’re looking to take your smoke shop to the next level, investing in smoke shop management software like Qape is a smart choice. From streamlining operations to improving customer experiences, the benefits are clear. With features like real-time inventory management, online ordering, and built-in marketing tools, you’ll have everything you need to grow your business and stay ahead in a competitive market.

Qape is the ultimate solution to help you manage your smoke shop more efficiently and profitably. Embrace the power of modern technology and see how it can transform your business for the better. Ready to streamline your smoke shop operations? Schedule A Demo with Qape today and watch your business grow!

[affordabletobaccoaustralia]

How a Point-of-Sale System With ID Scanning Can Help Your Tobacco Shop Comply with Laws

Selling tobacco and related products online is a great way to reach new customers. However, it’s important to follow state and federal laws regarding the sale of these products. A point-of-sale system with ID scanning can help you make sure that your tobacco shop is complying with all laws and regulations.

Legality

If you’ve dreamed of opening a cigar store or pipe shop, be aware of the complex web of laws and regulations governing your business. You must have a valid tobacco license, obey state and federal sales and age restrictions, and stay updated on new requirements.

FDA investigators often visit retailers to check compliance with the law. Those who fail to follow the rules can receive warning letters, fines, and even closure.

State and federal laws prevent the sale of cigarettes and other tobacco store online products to minors, ban the promotion of these products, require cigarette and smokeless tobacco manufacturers to affix tax stamps, and require internet sellers to pay federal, state, local and tribal taxes. Tobacco retailers must comply with these laws or face fines and closure. A point of sale (POS) system with features like electronic age verification can help you avoid legal trouble. It also gives you more control over your sales and inventory.

Convenience

Buying tobacco online offers many benefits, including a wide selection of products and competitive prices. However, you should always choose a reliable seller to ensure your safety. Look for sellers that prioritize customer security by using secure payment gateways. They should also provide a high level of customer service and offer refunds or replacements.

Among adults who reported purchasing tobacco or e- cigarette online, cigarettes were the most purchased product. Overall, adults who bought cigarettes online were twice as likely to do so compared with those who only used smokeless tobacco. Nevertheless, only a small number of adults reported usually purchasing these products online.

We analyzed the reasons why people purchase tobacco or e-cigarettes online and found that they were motivated by price (cheaper online, discounts, bulk purchases, avoiding taxes), buying experience (convenience, time, discretion seeing the product), and consumption. The 14 themes identified are described in detail below. We also gathered information on how convenience stores manage the advertising and display of tobacco products in their point-of-sale (POS) systems and on their contractual arrangements with tobacco companies.

Availability

A growing number of people are turning to online tobacco stores for convenience and cost-effectiveness. However, it is important to be aware of the risks associated with online tobacco shopping, such as lower quality products, fraudulent sellers, and privacy concerns. It is also important to follow all applicable laws when selling tobacco and vape products.

Many retailers offer a wider variety of cigar brands, flavors, and sizes than local stores. In addition to offering a more diverse selection, reputable online tobacco merchants prioritize authenticity and quality. They provide detailed descriptions of their products, including ingredients and manufacturing methods.

A robust tobacco software system can help you maximize customer retention and boost revenue. Integrated loyalty rewards programs reward loyal customers with exclusive perks and drive new traffic to your store. Enhanced inventory management features enable you to track sales and product inventory levels by vendor, while reducing shrinkage with serialized inventory tracking. Streamline transactions with integrated merchant processing and ensure age-appropriate purchases with automatic ID verification prompts that automatically appear on your register screens.

Safety

While it is technically possible to sell tobacco online, the industry faces a number of challenges. For example, it is important to comply with the U.S Food & Drug Administration and state tobacco laws. In addition, it is important to develop effective security measures and implement strict record keeping.

Lastly, it is essential to monitor customers’ activities on your website and ensure that they are of legal age to buy tobacco online. This can be done by using point of sale systems that include age verification scanners, biometric ID checks, and sales alerts.

These systems will also prevent people from buying tobacco products for minors.

[bepoz-pos-software-blog]

Tobacco stores are much more than simply a place to pick up a pack of smokes. Shops may offer pre-rolled cigars and cigarettes, sure, but they may also offer pre-packed loose tobacco, loose tobacco sold by the ounce as well as custom tobacco blends. Throw in the lighters, rolling machines, tubes, papers and other accessories and you can have one heck of a time keeping track of your sales. Let a Bepoz Tobacco Store POS System do it for you so your profits don’t go up in smoke.

[ftxglobal]

[acutepos]

Faster transaction process, Employee Level Security, Easy & Efficient Inventory Management process makes your business operation smoother and smarter.

[qepos]

Qepos Cash & Carry Software, the perfect

solution For You!

Q-Cash & Carry is scalable for the multi-lane, multi-site operations down to a single lane operation, fully compatible with touch screens or keyboard based pos systems and is one of the most comprehensive in-store solutions with extensive functionality.

Our software helps to provide a dynamic and efficient checkout service, reducing queues and improving visibility for busy Cash & Carry and trade counter operations.

Highlights:

· Increase bottom line through better in store management of stocks and premium domains.

· Boost sales and customer service through better management of customer requirements, seasons and promotional activities.

· Improve staff efficiencies and measure productivity.

· Accept data on demand through real-time connections between branches and Head Office.

· Recognize the potential of high revenues through multi-channel retailing.

· Increase compliance and decrease wastage.

· A one unique system to manage an entire estate.

Boost checkout efficiency

Decrease queues by improving speed and efficiency at the tills, with touch screen capability and instant access to customer and stock information. Also our technology can be used as mobile points of sale in the warehouse.

Complete customer account details at the till

Review customer credit limits, contract details, sales verifications of specific items such as tobacco or alcohol and promote personalised offers to increase sales.

Completely integrated system

Our Cash & Carry till software offers real-time reporting to other operations including alerts to credit control, enabling informed decision-making at all levels.

Improve performance analysis

Actualtime reporting on individual tills to assess efficiency and performance.

Resilient till order processing

PC tills can be configured to operate in resilient stand-alone mode. Every night the system updates each till with latest customer, product and price details, ready for trade the next day. In the event of a system failure, you can continue to trade and each resilient till will continue to process all transactions back to the main system.

Quick and easy order processing

Improving the speed and efficiency of till operations ensures a better experience for the customer – and a greater chance of repeat business. Our Cash & Carry till software means orders can be processed easily by scanning a product barcode, keying the product code or entering the product description.

For More Details Please visit: http://www.qepos.co.uk/

#CashNCarry #retailindustry #EPOS #softwaredevelopment #software #POSSolution #POSterminals #cashmanagement

[acid-pos]

Get a tobacco Point of Sale system for your shop

A retail business is a challenging form of business, especially when you run a tobacco store. As an owner, you know how tough it can turn out managing everything – from the store, inventory, employees, competition, etc. It is a complicated portrait!

In the old days, shop owners used tacky and basic cash registers and even shoeboxes to store the cash behind the counter. But we have come a long way. Now, we have found safer ways to transacts and keep cash and even manage the inventory.

There are hi-tech software and hardware like coffee shop POS systems that enable retail owners to manage their stores better. These POS systems not only allow transactions with the customers but also help with other day-to-day workings of the store. It offers a wide array of capabilities like time clock function, reporting, inventory, stock management, customer relationship & experience, etc.

With every passing day, the competition between retail stores, and with eCommerce websites, one must find steps to stay ahead in the game. Stores like a tobacco shop can gain highly with the use of a tobacco point of sale.

Tobacco Point of Sale system

A tobacco point of sale system is just like any other retail POS system but specializing in tobacco sales. A ‘point of sale’ is where the customer pays for the items they have bought through cash or card or online payment. It is a combination of hardware and software to help retailers manage sales operations.

Types of POS system

The purpose of the POS system is to make managing a store easy and streamlined. They are designed according to the need of a company. Based on the requirements, there are three types of POS systems:

-Mobile POS

-Terminal POS

-Cloud POS

Mobile POS – A mobile POS system or mPOS uses an electronic device like a tablet, smartphone, or similar mobile device as a terminal. The terminal can then be attached to a credit card reader. The device makes it portable and offers retail owners great flexibility. You can even connect other peripheral devices like a barcode scanner and receipt printer.

Terminal POS – A terminal POS is a combination of software and hardware systems. It comes factory-fitted with peripherals like a credit card reader, barcode scanner, cash drawers, and receipt printer. Terminal POS system offers extensive services like inventory management, reporting, and analytics, customer relationship management, and customer loyalty programs, etc.

Cloud POS – A cloud POS is an online or web-based POS that an owner can use through a computer, smartphone, or tablet. They offer all the capabilities of a terminal POS but with the flexibility of a mobile POS. They are widely used by restaurants to replace traditional coffee shop POS.

Bottomline

The market is full of POS systems, and if you look hard, you will find cost-effective and highly capable POS systems like ACID-POS. It offers excellent service and is armed with significant features that a tobacco shop owner will need. From helping you manage your store to improving your customer relationship, ACID-POS can do it all.

[dotnettec]

Point of Sale System in VB.Net with Source Code

The following Point of Sale System Software which is developed using VB.Net. This POS System integrated with features that retailers and restaurants look for. Serve your customers better by knowing what’s in stock. Easily create labels on the spot to track inventory.   This POS System Software is best suitable for a small business such as retail stores, restaurants, nursery, salons, pizzeria, clothing, bars, cafes, liquor stores, Chinese, Market, the tobacco business, etc. Read the full article

[kindlecomparedinfo]

Juul introduces new POS standards to restrict sales to minors

Juul Labs, the e-cigarette behemoth partially owned by Altria, has today announced a new POS age-verification system that it will require all Juul retailers to comply with by May 2021.

The Retail Access Control Standards program, or RACS for short, raises the standard for age-restricted POS systems, automatically locking the POS each time a Juul product is scanned until a valid, adult ID is scanned. The system also looks for bulk purchases (four four-count packs of Juul Pods is the legal limit for a single transaction) and locks when the fifth Juul Pod pack is scanned, automatically removing the fifth pack from the customer’s cart.

Thus far, more than 50 retail chains, which represents 40,000 outlets, have committed to switching over to RACS, with 7,000 stores in the process of switching now and 15,000 to have implemented the technology by 2019’s end. The deadline for switching over to the RACS system is May 2021, at which point Juul will only sell its products to RACS-compliant retailers.

The company recognizes that overhauling a POS can be costly and difficult, and is offering $100 million+ in incentives to retailers who switch over. For retailers with newer POS systems, the switch might only require a software update, while others may need to update their hardware, as well.

Now, the system isn’t foolproof. After an ID is scanned, all personal information is automatically deleted from the system, which means that bad actors/unauthorized resellers could amass a bulk amount of Juul products by visiting various stores or returning to the same store multiple times.

However, this is likely just the beginning for the RACS program, which for the first time gives Juul much more control around how their products move through the market, ultimately limiting the opportunity for Juul products to end up in the hands of minors.

Alongside the introduction of RACS, Juul is also expanding the Track & Trace program it piloted in April in the Houston area.

Track and Trace allows teachers, parents, law enforcement and otherwise responsible adults to log the serial number of confiscated Juul devices, giving Juul the information it needs to track that device through the supply chain and identify the store where it was sold.

Using Juul’s secret shopper program, the company can then specifically target those stores and shut down the illegal sale of Juul devices to minors.

Today, Track and Trace is expanding nationwide in the U.S.

While these are major steps in combating underage use of Juul products, the company itself admits that it believes youth vaping numbers will continue to rise.

From the release:

It is our expectation that this year’s survey, unfortunately, will likely show continued growth in youth use of vapor products in the U.S. If this turns out to be the case, it will be due in part to the fact that:

When this year’s NYTS data was collected, T21 laws were being passed in a dozen states but had not been implemented

Little to no category-wide actions have been taken as FDA is finalizing its guidance that, once implemented, should impose additional restrictions on the sale and marketing of certain flavored vapor products — actions that we voluntarily imposed on ourselves last November

In November 2018, Juul announced its Youth Prevention Plan ahead of the FDA’s crackdown on e-cig products. It included the ban of flavored Juul pod sales in convenience stores and other Juul-approved retailers, limiting the sale of non-tobacco and non-menthol flavored pods to its online storefront. Juul says this represented 50 percent of its revenue at the time. The company also took down its Facebook and Instagram pages, and revamped its Twitter to ditch any promotional or marketing content from the platform.

Still, even with the many steps the company has taken to limit youth use of the product, one of Juul’s biggest obstacles is the sale of counterfeit and infringing products, which may include dangerous and/or unknown chemicals. The company hired former Apple employee Adrian Punderson to help lead the fight against counterfeits in February.

As of December 2018, Juul was reportedly valued at $38 billion, estimated to own more than 70 percent of the e-cig market.

from RSSMix.com Mix ID 8176395 https://techcrunch.com/2019/08/29/juul-introduces-a-new-pos-system-to-restrict-sales-to-minors/ via http://www.kindlecompared.com/kindle-comparison/

[un-enfant-immature]

Juul introduces new POS standards to restrict sales to minors

Juul Labs, the e-cigarette behemoth partially owned by Altria, has today announced a new POS age-verification system that it will require all Juul retailers to comply with by May 2021.

The Retail Access Control Standards program, or RACS for short, raises the standard for age-restricted POS systems, automatically locking the POS each time a Juul product is scanned until a valid, adult ID is scanned. The system also looks for bulk purchases (four four-count packs of Juul Pods is the legal limit for a single transaction) and locks when the fifth Juul Pod pack is scanned, automatically removing the fifth pack from the customer’s cart.

Thus far, more than 50 retail chains, which represents 40,000 outlets, have committed to switching over to RACS, with 7,000 stores in the process of switching now and 15,000 to have implemented the technology by 2019’s end. The deadline for switching over to the RACS system is May 2021, at which point Juul will only sell its products to RACS-compliant retailers.

The company recognizes that overhauling a POS can be costly and difficult, and is offering $100 million+ in incentives to retailers who switch over. For retailers with newer POS systems, the switch might only require a software update, while others may need to update their hardware, as well.

Now, the system isn’t foolproof. After an ID is scanned, all personal information is automatically deleted from the system, which means that bad actors/unauthorized resellers could amass a bulk amount of Juul products by visiting various stores or returning to the same store multiple times.

However, this is likely just the beginning for the RACS program, which for the first time gives Juul much more control around how their products move through the market, ultimately limiting the opportunity for Juul products to end up in the hands of minors.

Alongside the introduction of RACS, Juul is also expanding the Track & Trace program it piloted in April in the Houston area.

Track and Trace allows teachers, parents, law enforcement and otherwise responsible adults to log the serial number of confiscated Juul devices, giving Juul the information it needs to track that device through the supply chain and identify the store where it was sold.

Using Juul’s 2,000 shopper-strong secret shopper program, the company can then specifically target those stores and shut down the illegal sale of Juul devices to minors.

Today, Track and Trace is expanding nationwide in the U.S.

While these are major steps in combating underage use of Juul products, the company itself admits that it believes youth vaping numbers will continue to rise.

From the release:

It is our expectation that this year’s survey, unfortunately, will likely show continued growth in youth use of vapor products in the U.S. If this turns out to be the case, it will be due in part to the fact that:

When this year’s NYTS data was collected, T21 laws were being passed in a dozen states but had not been implemented

Little to no category-wide actions have been taken as FDA is finalizing its guidance that, once implemented, should impose additional restrictions on the sale and marketing of certain flavored vapor products — actions that we voluntarily imposed on ourselves last November

In November 2018, Juul announced its Youth Prevention Plan ahead of the FDA’s crackdown on e-cig products. It included the ban of flavored Juul pod sales in convenience stores and other Juul-approved retailers, limiting the sale of non-tobacco and non-menthol flavored pods to its online storefront. Juul says this represented 50 percent of its revenue at the time. The company also took down its Facebook and Instagram pages, and revamped its Twitter to ditch any promotional or marketing content from the platform.

Still, even with the many steps the company has taken to limit youth use of the product, one of Juul’s biggest obstacles is the sale of counterfeit and infringing products, which may include dangerous and/or unknown chemicals. The company hired former Apple employee Adrian Punderson to help lead the fight against counterfeits in February.

As of December 2018, Juul was reportedly valued at $38 billion, estimated to own more than 70 percent of the e-cig market.

[topicprinter]

Hey all,I recently worked my way into a management position of a local "head shop", but more professionally, a "Tobacco and Vape Shop".Upon the first week of working, I realized how unorganized all the chains are. There is no inventory books, no accounting, and no reliability for pricing or maintaining our products. They price items in their head by spitballing a good number, and it causes some customers to be charged the correct amount of $9.99 for a product, while another employee of the same store would charge a different customer $14.99 for the same product. Some stores would lose money due to incorrect pricing of our products. Their sole method for finding the resale price is calling the owner via FaceTime and asking, "Hey, how much is a 16oz bag of Gambler Menthol Pipe Tobacco?", and the owner says, "Oh! $14.99 is a good price. Do $14.99". It's a huge issue.I brought this to the attention of our GM and offered a solution. I offered to create organic photos for all inventory, sort and organize all products with an item number/SKIU/Barcode, and manage all digital aspects of the company including web design, branding, and marketing/advertising. I created a neat "Explainer" video and showed him what I wanted to do for him.He was so impressed with what I offered, that he returned the offer with a position to manage an entire wholesale warehouse for their chains. This being said, I need some guidance for the right tools and software to begin this process.I'm a 21 year old who only came into this position to help manage one physical location full-time for $2,000/month. I see the detrimental damage that the company goes through due to lack of organization and reliability and I realized that I will need to invest a large budget to set up the website, create professional and organic photos of our 10,000+ products, and oversee all online activity and sales... all while managing a packing/shipping wholesale warehouse that will sell to online to retail clients AND wholesale orders for businesses.Keep in mind that it's just me overseeing this. No one who manages the stores can create a spreadsheet, let alone revolutionize the system of management for a business.My questions for you are...What's the best inventory management system you've found?I'm looking for a modern and clean tool that is compatible on all device, including mobile. The endgoal is to create QR Code stickers for our products that can be slapped on a shelf to represent a products with x variables. The point of the QR Code stickers would be so the employees at the 14 different chains could open an app, scan a QR code, and send a request for said item with a specific set quantity. If this software/app could show the variables of each product, (buying price, resale price, picture of item, item description, etc.), it would immediately solve the problems I see with the chain stores.Is there a way to integrate the online retail/wholesale shop (Shopify) with this inventory management software?What POS systems do you recommend?The cash registers are completely outdated and unreliable for keeping track of products we sell. I was looking at Square's Register, and it seems like an amazing piece of hardware that could keep track of everything. Any input on that?Again, I'm a 21 year old who is now going to creating the company's brand, website, organic product photos and descriptions, and I am going to oversee all online sales while managing all social media/content curation and SEO/PPC marketing... while managing a physical location. And, this process is going to be ready-to-go in 4-6 weeks once I find the right inventory management tool.I have a fair knowledge of digital marketing. I ran a dropshiping "glass water pipe" shop for three weeks, (before closing down due to long shipping times for customers from overseas), so these new responsibilities of running a tobacco/vape/head shop is a dream come true for me.It's a lot of work, and that leads me to my last question:How much should I get paid?After a budget is set aside for this entire project, I'm curious to know what I should ask to be paid. My GM was hesitant on paying me $2,000/month for managing a physical store full-time, and now that I'm going to be working literally day and night (while moving out of my parent's and relocating for the warehouse) and, I'd love some input on a fair request for future salary. The location of the warehouse is TBA, so I'll calculate the cost of living soon. As for the amount of work I'm doing (constant work on the computer that totals 80-100 hours a week), what do you personally think is fair? This is my first job that pays by salary and not hourly.Current Systems of ManagementOnline Shop (Retail/Wholesale) - ShopifyShopify Tool - ConversioWebsite Design - PageFlyPOS Systems (Physical Stores) - Square RegisterEmail - GSuite by GoogleSocial Media Bot - FollowLikerSocial Media Advertising - AdspressoFuture Warehouse Management - ZohoPossible Inventory Management Software 1 - XeroPossible Inventory Management Software 2 - DelivrdPossible Inventory Management Software 3 - SkuIQI checked out SnipeIT, but ultimately did not use it after running into an issue with VirturalBox and Ubuntu.I use Google Spreadsheets and Microsoft Excel at the moment to get the fundamental categories and variations of our products, but something that is clean, simple, modern, and can be used on a mobile app by employees at the chain stores would be amazing.I have many more links for the tools I utilize, but I feel you'll get the picture.Thanks for reading.I appreciate all input on my situation.

[alliance-bundles-blog]

Start-Ups: Headstart Equipment

Start-Ups Requirement for a Strong Business Foundation

  So, you have taken a giant leap and completed the most difficult part of a start-ups business plan, and that is, starting up the business! New owners have so many plans for their rise to success, their new source of revenue and the thought of living out their dream, that rarely do they pay attention to the requirements of a strong foundation to rest their business upon. Sometimes, these owners jump ahead to planning what kind of targets they are pursuing, which vendors they need to gain relationships with and even what kind of employees they want working in their company. However, missing one important piece of equipment can bring all these plans and dreams to a quick halt if it is not implemented into the foundation of the business, and yet, including this tool, can also be the only hope of salvation for the success of start-ups. What is this all-mighty tool? What one piece of equipment can be so important to a new business that it can make or break it? That magic tool, my friends, is a point of sale system. A POS system implemented into a new business at an early stage, will give the company a great head start towards success and give an immediate advantage over competition not using a system. The amount of organization, accuracy and efficiency of an installed point of sale system will automate many features that humans would take days to complete. So, moving on to the marketing phase of your business can happen quicker and more accurately. Let's stop here for a minute, however, and assume some reading this post, don't know what a POS system is. Let's take a little time to summarize, what is a point of sale system?

“A point of sale system is a combination of software and hardware that allows merchants to take transactions and simplify key day-to-day business operations.”

Yamarie Grullon, manager of content strategy at ShopKeep

That definition is more than a little vague and doesn't highlight even a portion of a POS's features, however, when new businesses are looking for a point of sale system to implement into their business, this definition is typically what they are looking for. What the definition here leaves out is that, POS systems can be available on different platforms nowadays, not just the usual computer tower and monitor, but also iPads, smartphones and even tv screens. Also, newer point of sale systems not only scan and charge for merchandise, they also help maintain inventory, create discounts, learn customer trends and accept payments in ways never available before! And that's not all! They can even keep track of employee hours, theft and bonus information. A POS machine is normally used as the "central hub" for most successful businesses and it is nearly impossible to find any well-run organization functioning without one. Which leads to another topic...who benefits from implementing a POS system in their business? It would seem easier to try to list businesses that "would not" benefit from using a point of sale system as displaying a list of industries currently using POS systems or those that would gain success by using one, would take up more white-space than this post has available. However, here is a short list of example industries that probably could not function without a POS system.

Amusement Park

Antique Store

Appliance Store

Auto Parts

Bakery

Bar

Bike Shop

Bookstore

Boutique Store

Bowling Alley

Bridal Store

Buffet

Cafeteria

Candy Store

Car Wash Casino

Catering

Chinese Restaurant

Church & Nonprofit

Clothing and Apparel

Coffee Shop

College

Computer Store

Consignment

Concession Stand

Convenience Store

Deli

Delivery & Take Out

Dollar Store

Donut Shop

Drive Thru

Fabric Store

Fast Food

Fine Dining

Fireworks

Flower Shop

Furniture Store

Gift Shop

Golf Course

Grocery

Gun Store

Gym

Hookah Bar

Hotel

Hospital

Ice Cream

Indian Restaurant

Japanese Restaurant

Jewelry Store

Korean Restaurant

Liquor Store and Winery

Medical Spa

Mexican Restaurant

Movie Theater

Museum

Nightclub

Paint Store

Pet Store

Pizza

Pub

Quick Service

Recycling/Redemption Center

Retirement Community

RV Park and Campground

Sporting Goods

Stadium and Arena

Sushi Restaurant

Thrift Store

Tobacco Store

University

Toy Store

Wholesale Store

Zoo

It is actually an easy task to add to this list as almost any business imaginable will benefit from a point of sale system and most business will never reach success without a POS system. The need for the system is obvious, however, the means to obtain one may not be so easy. Business who sell to other businesses know the importance of a POS system in a new company and they will market to a prospect with the attitude that only they can provide what the business needs to progress in this hostile market. What is usually not taken into consideration is that a new business is trying to keep start-up costs extremely low. Most new businesses fail within 2 years because of bad planning and spending capital early on is definitely a part of a bad business outline. Yet, when new owners hear of all the benefits of POS systems, they will first, realize that they cannot compete with other businesses without having a system in place and second, they will usually jump at the first offer and then suffer later when they realize that what they purchased is only part of a complete POS system. New owners definitely have to educate themselves first with not only POS knowledge, but what type of system is specific to their business and financial outline. A POS system is not just a monitor connected to a cash register. While it can be sold that way, buyers will quickly become restricted when they realize they are missing a key component of the entire system that makes the point of sale set-up 100% effective. A typical POS bundle will include:      

Monitor

Cash Drawer

Barcode Scanner

Receipt Printer

POS software

These are the requirements of a fully functional system. A lot of dealers will sell these parts individually then include the rest as "add-ons" or "gifts". While there are many other peripherals that go hand0in-hand with a POS system, such as CCTV security cameras, customized gift cards and digital menu boards, the 5 items included in the list should always be included in your bundle as the whole system will become ineffective without any individual piece. Another thing to be aware of when shopping for a POS system is their availability of Merchant Services. Some POS dealers will offer great discounts, yet keep buyers unaware of their requirement to use a specific merchant service. Some buyers purchase POS software only to find out that the system is not compatible with their current merchant service. While hard to find, it is good to find a dealer who has the ability to make merchant services "optional". This gives the buyer the ability to determine what service is right for their budget. Be careful, as most dealers will choose not to disclose this information until purchase is complete, at which point the buyer can be stuck in an unproductive contract. In conclusion, when starting up a new business, or better yet, living out an inspired dream, take time to make sure that tools used to strengthen the foundation of your success are researched and implemented, because once your are open for business, usually it's hard to turn back. A POS system can become the hub of your business, keeping success organized and within reach. When looking to purchase a system, make sure to take such issues into account, such as: should you buy or lease-to-own a system? What kind of warranty is offered? How long is the install? Is their on-site training? What is included in the POS Bundle? Are merchant services available and optional? Asking these questions will usually cut right through salesman chatter and get you to a POS system specific to your business. Just remember, customers wont take your business seriously, when you are still ringing them up on a cash register.