Your Dream Store

My Dream Store…

If I could have a store, I would sell electric violins. Now, I don’t know of anywhere that would support a whole store of just electric violins, but I do know what you would want to run your store.

First, I would choose Microsoft’s Retail Management System for my software. Yes, there are others out there that would work just as well, but I’m really taking a liking to its user friendliness. It’s solid, it wouldn’t be hard to train employees and I like the way that I can customize the reports and export them.

I would have a simple but modern register counter, think IKEA or Dwell magazine. Since I’m creative I might build my own otherwise I would order a cash wrap through ARS. A Computer down below with airflow to keep it cool with just a standard Windows operating system, I definitely won’t go cheap on the quality of the computer, but don’t see the need for a reved up version either. Simple, standard and easy to maintain. Touch screen monitor? Definitely! People just love using them, but I would still have a keyboard with card swipe. Thermal receipt printer, yes… it has to ooze ‘sophistication’ with the silent speed.

And the other two big ‘give the sophisticated impression’ items would be an Ingenico signature capture (look like the ‘big boys’) and a customer facing flat screen monitor for showing the sale and advertising, maybe some websites that have short videos of performers, plus add on sales, upcoming events so it gives a ‘in the know’ impression (big impact for really no more than a traditional pole display (why wouldn’t I?). Credit cards integrated over the internet. Oh, and a barcode scanner of course, that is a given; the Metrologic Voyager would be plenty.

If I had to start out small, I would still have a second computer in the back. It would have enough power and memory to act as the server, allowing the point of sale computer to go into off line mode as a backup in case the server fails for any reason. Backups would be saved to an external hard drive that could be moved to any computer in case of an emergency to restore data.

This back room computer would be situated where the product is received and handled the most, not necessarily in a traditional office setting. I would set up a Zebra label printer and invest in either a wireless scanner to receive product or better yet a hand held device. Sure the Symbol MC50 wireless hand held computer would be nice but any hand held for collecting SKU’s could be used for physical inventory, adjusting min / maxes, etc.

The next step would be to add a dedicated Server and / or an Office computer. A dedicated Server for reliability, speed, and security, and an Office computer for the messiness of daily life… email, web browsing, messaging, spreadsheets, accounting and all my official stuff that I don’t want affecting the POS system.

I don’t want the selling screen slowing down because someone sent me a 10GB attachment by mistake. How could I forget to mention remote access? The dedicated server along with a fixed IP address would give me the ability to work from home or at least check up on store information.

The last piece would be to add an integrated web store. Nitrosell has a great product without a huge learning curve or maintenance. I’ve worked with the integrated web stores and I like the ability to easily manage items and download orders. Conforming to the templates isn’t a draw back to me, my clients won’t care that I’ve taken the shortcut and not had a website made from scratch.

The only part of this that is a ‘dream’ is the actual electric violin part. The rest is all or in part what clients of ours are already doing. Feel free to contact me directly about anything that I’ve written here. Just call 800-426-5708 ask for Peter, and we'll work on creating your Dream Store.

Hmmm… maybe if I just find the right location……… I wonder……

Peter Johnson
POS Department Manger
American Retail Supply Technology Solutions

P.S. There are a lot of extras you can add to a POS computer system. Some may be a perfect fit for your business, some may not. Contact our POS sales team at 800-426-5708 and we'll be sure you get the right POS system and any extras you may need that will fit for your store.

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Lauren Lindamen, So Much Yarn, Seattle, WA

Robin Galison, Music Gift Company of England, Boca Raton, FL
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