Emerging with the POS systems are the new VeriFones that will be able to us POS systems in place of credit cards, checks and other means of payments.  The problem is that it would need to be widely accepted by retailers for it to work.  The VeriFone would work in place of the physical credit card for easier and faster check out. This may be the new wave of the future for payments.

This may only work if there are already retailers on board with the capabilities of using the verifone.  It also may help if there were a “rewards” card or some type of incentive to get our patrons to use this new way of paying.  All of the glitches need to be worked out because with peoples credit information they are not so willing to just use it for anyone.  They need the confidence that their information is secure and safe.  This can all happen with the new POS systems.

1.  Keeping tabs: Restaurant corporation integrates video with POS system – Information regarding the ease and capabilities of the POS systems used in restaurants, according to David Starmer this is a great way to help with loss prevention, integrating the POS system has helped with time, loss prevention, surveillance, as well as  ordering and a lot of help with extra “eyes” to watch the cash flow in the business.

2. VeriFone puts money near mouth, says it’ll include NFC in all new POS terminals – Continue to upgrade your business to keep up with the changing times.  This VeriFone idea could very well be the lead of the next best thing.  Keep your business in the running by changing your system to accept this type of sale, allow patrons to pay with ease and stay ahead of the changing technology to better succeed in your business.

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This week is all about mobile, whether it’s implementing the newest POS mobile hardware, the latest app or wooing your customers mobile is the new way to go. Old Navy has started using iPod based POS systems just in time for the busy Holiday rush. Discover has also joined the ranks of mobile technology and started offering their first contactless point of sale payment devices.

The third article featured in our roundup this week is the integration of mobile and digital signage for the new age future customer, giving them all the information they need to make an informed decision about a product. We then go into a new directory that allows mobile users to find brick and mortar retailers in their local area including their current inventory. We end the round up this week with 10 retailers that show you how mobile and retail integration should be done.

1. Gap testing Apple’s point-of-sale system at Old Navy stores – Apple has now partnered with Old Navy to run a pilot program testing the use of mobile point of sale equipment before bringing it to the mainstream market. The POS hardware has a special backing on the iPod Touch to allow for the swiping of credit cards and signature can be obtained with a stylus pen or a finger!

2. Discover Begins Rollout of Contactless Devices to Consumers – The major credit card company will begin to roll out it’s Discover ZIP, a contactless credit card and stickers to allow for lighting fast speed at the point of sale checkout. Customers will begin seeing their new payment options arriving in the mail any day now and it’s sure to be a hit during the busy shopping season.

3. A two-way integration of digital signage and mobile – This might sound foreign to you but EnQii and Kombi have joined to bring a great integration between digital signage and mobile technology. The digital signage will include a QR code, which are “quick response” matrix 2-D codes that contain data, like text, images or website URLs.

“Forever, brick-and-mortar loyalty has meant consumer loyal to brick-and-mortar; it has never had to mean brick-and-mortar loyal to consumer,” he said. “If brick-and-mortar is going to have a future, they need to solve that problem, and we’re giving them a mechanism by which they can do that.”

4. Goodzer Includes Small Retailers in Local Real-Time Product Search– Another mobile way to engage with your customers. Goodzer has launched their shopping search engine in a limited market to test the results. Currently it picks up the inventory availability of 15,000 New York City brick-and-mortar retailers, both large and small. It’s available on the web and iPhone with plans to expand to Droid and the iPad. Customers have your entire inventory at their fingertips before they enter your retail store.

5. 10 retailers show what can be done with mobile – Mobile commerce is a rapidly approaching technology that’s here to stay. This great article gives you examples of how 10 retailers are using mobile to reach their customers and expand sales. Companies such as Walgreens, ShopNBC, and the Catholic Company. Read on to see what you should be doing in the mobile market.

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The last three articles we showcase this week way more heavily on the retail side of the roundup. Heading the article showcase is a very inspiring article from Bright Perspectives. The author, Bill Brown, a retail consultant promises to bring new perspectives to your traditional retail business. Then we go into a fascinating piece that gives you some sound advice from the world’s most successful businessman, Richard Branson. We end this weeks roundup with an article about cloud computing…if you’re unsure of what that means, check it out below, this is the future for many small retail establishments.

1. Point of Sale That Synchs Brick & Mortar and Online Inventory – The news of Shopkeep.com partnering with Shopify.com has many small retailers excited about the possibilities that they will be able to run their online and brick & mortar businesses from one location. ShopKeep is a web based point of sale software (see our review below) that shares a vision for retail businesses to be able to manage both their online and physical business with one easy to use software.

2. PaymentMax Merchant Services on the List of America’s Fastest Growing Companies
– PaymentMax, founded in 2004 provides merchant services for credit card processing at the POS. The company has continued to grow at a fast pace by offering a variety of payment avenues including cell phone technology. The company has found small to mid-size retailers and helped them enable their smartphones, iPads, ect for processing major credit cards. Inc. Magazine ranked the company #151 in revenue growth between 2006 – 2009.

3. The Future is Bright for Small Retailers – This inspiring article will have small retailers on the edge of their seats looking forward to the future. The article mentions the business growth of online retailers but insists there is still hope for the traditional brick and mortar retailer through adaptation and change. He states:

Do not listen to the doom merchants: the future is indeed bright for small retailers, but only for those who work smart and really “get” how to market their businesses effectively in this age of “mature e-commerce”.

4. Six marketing lessons from Sir Richard Branson – Who wouldn’t listen to some sound advice from one of the most famous entrepreneurs of all time, Mr. Richard Branson. In this great article featured at the Retail Customer Experience, Mr. Branson lays out six ways to compete ahead of the game. Richard Branson’s philosophy on starting a business:

Get the product right, put a great brand on it and then you’ll have a great success.

5. Why Cloud Business is THE Business Model for Small Business – If you have no idea what cloud computing is, you’re not alone. This fairly new term has a very simple meaning. Cloud computing is essentially “internet-based” computing and many small businesses are starting to lean toward the trend. This article will give you a Cloud Computing 101 tutorial that will have you using great applications such as Google Documents, Zendesk, FedEx and many more.

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Company Website:

ShopKeep POS Software Overview

ShopKeep is a web based point of sale software that was designed by retailers for retailers. The POS software provides a way for small businesses to ring up sales, accept credit cards/cash, track sales, manage inventory and much more using your web browser. Shopkeep allows for the importing of existing data such as items, customers and sales history. The software is PCI compliant and keeps working even if you lose your internet connection.

The company is offering a 30 day “Test Drive” with no credit card required. Shopkeep POS software has four pricing plans that start at Free and go up to $129 for the premium plan.

ShopKeep POS Software Features

• Accept Credit Cards
• Works Offline
• PCI Compliant Card Processing
• Unlimited Email & Online Support
• Unlimited Cashiers
• Track Items & Quantities
• Track Customer Purchases
• Quickbooks Export File
• Import Items & Customers
• Works on a Mac or PC
• Unlimited Telephone Support
• Choose your Merchant Processor
• Packing Slip Printing
• Loyalty Program
• PCI Compliant Card Storage
• Shopify.com Webstore Syncing

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ASI POS Software Overview

Anand Systems Inc offers a point of sale software solution that combine with their front desk software creates an entire management suite for the hospitality industry. ASI-POS is a feature rich point of sale program that is an add on module for the companies popular ASI FrontDesk. The point of sale software is customizable in a variety of ways and is very easy to use with the ample support the company provides to it’s clients.

Anand Systems does offer a free version of their software available to download from their website. The version is a 45 day trial that will help you familiarized yourself with the software.

ASI POS Software Features

• Compatible with receipt printer
• Customizable discount and tax calculation
• Center wise Voucher Numbering
• GroupWise Item Management
• Multiple rate for single Item
• POS Center wise Item rate
• Season wise Item Rate
• Conversion ratio for Each Item
• Item wise tax detail
• Department wise Items Exchange Utility
• Ingredients Base Product
• Table wise server/waiter assignment
• Sales, Sales Return, Complimentary Sales
• Stock adjustment utility
• Direct billing to company
• Default rate selection for Item
• Collection Report, Revenue Report, Stock Report

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Vend POS Software Overview

Vend is a combination of a retail point of sale and stock management software that’s entirely web based making it available to any computer user. The point of sale software will work whether you’re online or offline and it’s compatible with all your existing POS hardware including receipt printers, barcode readers and even touchscreen monitors.

Vend point of sale software offers multiple management areas including product management, stock control and customer management. Each area allows you to easily maintain products, inventory and pricing standards for one or multiple retail locations. The company also offers a 30 day free trial.

Vend POS Software Features

• Web Based: It works with any computer
• Product barcoding, Multiple tax rates, CSV import & export
• Stock Control, Supplier Orders, Multi-location stock control
• Customer Management and sales history
• Real-time view of your sales history and popular products
• Full suite of product, sales and stock reports
• Data is automatically backed up several times a day
• It works with your existing devices including touchscreens
• Works even if you lose an internet connection
• Backed by the same encryption used by online banking
• Xero Accounting Software Integration
• Low monthly price with no commitments

How Vend works

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We start this week with a major announcement from the Dutch that shows mobile point of sale solutions are becoming the future for many retailers. Our second feature is also an announcement stating the collaboration of a well known point of sale vendor and a data security company to bring PCI Compliance to their customers.

The last two articles we showcase in the roundup this week focus solely on the retail industry. Read about the launch of a new technology that combines smart phones with consumer behavior for a pioneering in store shopping experience. The last article we feature will help small retailers understand exactly IF they will qualify for Obama’s proposed Business Tax Break.

1. Netherlands to have mobile payment system by 2012 – Dutch Banks have joined forces with mobile operators to allow consumers in the Netherlands to use their smart phones as a mobile payment solution by the year 2012. Six companies have started the process of interacting exactly what is needed to make this a secure and successful solution for Dutch shoppers.

2. Retail Anywhere Collaborates with Cybera to Deliver PCI Compliance Solution – This announcement will hopefully be good news for Retail Anywhere customers. The company is promising this joint venture will provide a clear, easy answer to retail business to assure they are PCI compliant.

3. Jones New York Launches Innovative in-Store Experience at Macy’s Herald Square – The new technology might be the secret to the future of retailing. Using Microsoft tags, shoppers can download content on their smart phones as they shop on 25 products throughout the store. This would allow the potential buyer to view a unique “sales pitch” of the product while standing there deciding on whether to make the purchase…

4. Obama tax breaks: Limited help for small biz – Many businesses were eager to hear to the announcement of President Obama’s Business Tax Cuts but they reality is a little disconcerting for many small retailers. It seems the proposed “help” would only benefit businesses that spent over $250,000 in one year making improvement such as purchasing new inventory or equipment. The fact that small retailers are having a tough time just making payroll, it seems that type of spending is very unrealistic.

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The third article this week is about a company offering a small hand to small retailers by offering a cost effective mailing promotion for their customers. Then we move onto a serious issue across our nation, how small business owners are fairing the Gulf oil spill. We end our round up this week with an inspiring story of an entrepreneur that helps retail establishments offer coupons to local customers via the internet.

1. Intuit launches credit card processing tool for iPhones – It was only going to be a matter of time before a well known point of sale company provided a solution for a mobile POS. Intuit announced this week the creation of an app that will turn your iPhone into a mobile POS system for the retailers on the go.

2. Video: iPad-based Point Of Sale Cash Register System – The revelation and testing of a new system for point of sale transactions to be placed using the iPad and a few other components. The system is called FLAVIUS, it includes an iPad and a special purpose counter that eliminates the bulky cash register. The article includes a video demonstration of this new technology.

3. Business Booster Online launches site to help Small Businesses – The companies announcement this week is for small retail business that are looking to target a specific audience with direct mailings. The company offers retailers to pick a postcard design add a custom message and have them mailed for under 65 cents per card. You can view their designs here.

4. Gulf Spill Taking Toll on Small Businesses – A quarter of the small businesses surveyed across the nation state that the Gulf oil spill has had some type of negative effect on their establishments. Although the report suggests things might be stabilizing the effects could linger on long term. The article provides some very informative data on what small retailers reported.

5. Chicago entrepreneur makes a go in the online coupon business – A website launched at the beginning of the year by Gwen Bauer allows businesses in the Chicago area to offer local customers online coupons. This allows the retail community to reach a variety of new customers in the area that are looking for local deals. If your business is located within the Chicago area visit Printmecoupon.com to find out how you can start offering customers online discount coupons.

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Company Website:

Artisan POS Software Overview

Artisan point of sale software offers a flexible, unique design that works in a variety of different retail industries. The company says it’s one of the easiest POS systems on the market to use. Artisan POS comes with a complete inventory and customer management system as well as support for numerous POS hardware devices including barcode readers.

The data that Artisan point of sale collects can easily be imported into Peachtree, Quickbooks and many other accounting programs for a total business management solution. The company tries to bring a one of a kind perspective to their point of sale software making it a viable solution aimed at small and medium retail stores.

Artisan POS Software Features

• More accurately price and ring up items.
• Increase speed & accuracy at the register by using a bar code scanner.
• Accurately track purchase costs & buy smarter.
• Computer-printed price tags dramatically save time & are easier to read.
• Issue (and track) credit for returned merchandise instead of paying cash.
• Track inventory changes to help prevent and identify theft.
• Detailed reports & easy consignment support let you buy smarter and lower inventory investment.
• Faster physical inventory counting with the use of portable data terminals.

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Our retail industry news this week is full of tips for small businesses. We start off with our third article with seven must do things that will keep customer loyalty. Then we found an article with seven tips for small retailers to be successful when lobbying a government office. The last article we feature has a few common sense low marketing ideas that will work in any business, small or large.

1. HP Tablet Goes Enterprise, WebOS Tablet Due Too? – The Enterprise tablet will be released by HP in the near future and will be available to enterprise customers only. The tablet will run the Windows 7 operating system and will be able to perform mobile point of sale operations. There is not an official release date but this will offer small retailers another option for a mobile POS.

2. ScanSource POS & Barcoding Enhances Hospitality & Retail Services Offering Through Distribution Agreement With ParTech – This partnership is sure to take off in the businesses in the retail industry using or interested in using PAR’s technology solutions. Here it is straight from the president of ScanSource POS & Barcoding, Jeff Yelton.

“PAR has a laser focus on the hospitality industry, delivering rugged, robust and reliable hardware and peripherals for resellers selling into the industry. We are pleased to be the only distributor offering these high-performing solutions to hospitality resellers.”

3. Seven requirements for becoming customer-centric – As a small retailer you can never read enough tips on customer service. That’s why we feature so many articles from the Retail Customer Experience. Yet again, here’s an information packed article that will help you become more customer-centric.

4. Seven Lobbying Mistakes Small Businesses Make and What to Do Instead – This article is so unique that it makes itself valuable. There might only be a small select few small business owners that benefit from the advice given but it’s advice that hard to find. Learning how to influence your state and local government could be an essential survival skills…read more to find out.

5. 8 Low-Cost Marketing Tips for Small Retailers – This is a clear and concise article that outlines eight great tips on using low cost marketing methods. The number one tips is to develop a budget including the time you spend, after all time is money.

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