The third feature of the week, is one you won’t want to pass up. It’s a new mobile app that will have small retailers getting their products online in a hurry. This leads into our fourth article that states online sales for the holidays will increase again this year. If you haven’t made an online presence for your retail establishment yet, you will be after you reading these two articles.

We end our round up this week with a great customer service lesson. The author showcases how one major corporation has alienated their customers while forcing change and it’s not a pretty situation.

1. ThePOSWarehouse.com is Named Intuit Solution Provider (ISP) Partner of the Year – Out of 550 qualified ISP’s ThePOSWarehouse.com won the award form Intuit as partner of the year. We say, congratulations! The company offers discounted POS hardware, software and supplies including Intuit’s Quickbooks point of sale.

2. Starbucks Extends Mobile Payments to Nearly 300 More Stores – The company will be equipping hundreds of stores in the New York City and Long Island area with their mobile payments. The company started in small areas testing the concepts and it must being doing well although there has been no official word from Starbucks as to exactly how well it’s working.

3. iPhone App Scans Product Barcodes for Self-Checkout at Stores – Hold onto your hats small retailers, here’s an app that will knock your socks off. It’s called AisleBuyer and if you have an extension of your retail store online you’ll love what this can do for you. The app allows customers to scan your product barcode in store, check out without waiting in line and records their information for future use such as sending a mobile coupon. The article is featured at Mashable.com and is full of great information on the use of the app PLUS there’s an incredible video that shows you how it works.

4. NRF expects strong online holiday sales – It’s no surprise that online retailers are expecting another jump in holiday sales. Reading this article has to convince any small retail business that has not yet expanded to the virtual world.

“In addition to using websites to bring in sales, retailers are leveraging the internet to encourage shoppers to head to nearby stores, featuring store locator information, product availability, and store circulars on their websites.”

5. BOA’s Whiplash Strategy – I was shocked when I read the details of what the Back of America has put in place for their new customer service policy and I believe you will too. After you read this article you will know everything that you should not do to your customers including CHARGING them for personal human contact.

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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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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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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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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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FIRMS Handheld Restaurant POS Software Overview

Lecere is a company based in Oregon that is composed of a team of individuals that have many years in the restaurant and technology fields. The FIRMS restaurant POS software solution is designed with future technologies in mind and offers a total restaurant point of sale solution. The software is an integrated set of SaaS modules used to excel any restaurant from a small mom and pop operation to a large well known chain.

FIRMS provides the restaurant owner five individual, on-demand modules:

• Point of sales (POS), with online delivery or takeout accessible via a web browser, PDA, or cell phone
• Networked, multiple-restaurant accounting
• Powerful online reservations capability for restaurants, accessible via a web browser, PDA, or cell phone
• Mapping and geocoding for directions to the restaurant, display of nearby, and optimized delivery
• Data mining, which allows the restaurant to target selected customers for special offers

Lecere states on their website that with as little as an inexpensive handheld device you can purchase modules as your business grows. This will alleviate the high cost of certain business operations and improve customer service. FIRMS is compatible with a variety of handheld computers including the new Apple iPad eliminating the need for larger high cost POS systems.

Video – FIRMS Handheld Restaurant POS iPad Demonstration:

For more information visit the Lecere website.

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1. Reality Check: Retail wireless trends – Marcelo Claure, Chairman, President and CEO, Brightstar Corp. gives some great insight on how evolution in wireless technology has changed the way consumers make buying decisions. The article touches on the consumer experience, the muti-channel market, as well as store design and merchandising.

2. Dirks on Strategy: Never say goodbye to a customer – This great article focuses on what to do AFTER you sell a product or service to a customer. Let’s just say it doesn’t end with the sale. If small retailers pay attention to the needs and wants of the customer while following through after the sale, profits as well as customer retention will improve.

3. Google Rules for Retail – These rules were taken out of the book What Would Google Do by Jeff Davis. The rules make sense and put attention on the consumer. The article is graphically easy on the eyes and outlines the rule, industry examples and what retailers should take form the information and implement on their own.

4. Etsy, Craft Sites Help Small Businesses Survive – Many small specialty retailers have had no choice but to close their storefront shops due to rising costs and a troubled economy. Websites such as Etsy, ArtFire and the Handmade Market have given these small retailers a different option to continue to sell their product without the frustration and overhead cost of a business website. They offer a “space” on the web for small retail business to sell their products with a nominal commission fee.

5. Foursquare: Are You Checking Out the Hottest Social Media App? – We’ve mentioned Foursquare before on the weekly roundup but this article is much easier to understand for retailers that are not familiar with the service. This website is simply a geo-location app that allows users to find and interact with their local retailers. If you’re not listed there yet, you could be missing out on many potential customers.

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Salon Touch POS Software Overview

Salon Touch POS is a complete all in one package for salons and spas. The robust software combined with the innovative touch screen hardware makes this an efficient low cost solution for any small business owner in the beauty industry. The hardware resists damage from common salon products that can be hazardous and comes complete with a cash drawer, receipt printer, mouse, credit card reader, extra keyboard and all the cables for easy connection. The Salon Touch POS offers two low cost solutions that can either be leased or a rent to own plan. You pay $89 a month for three years and you own this excellent all in one salon point of sale system free and clear.

Salon Touch POS Software Features

• Intuitive touch screen interface that will reduce training time and cost
• Easy to use integrated appointment book and commission tracking
• Free, real-time web reporting with batch and deposit details
• Free gift card balances and easy to use gift card processing
• Real-Time up to the second inventory control
• Full customer sales histories
• Ability to do Email Blasts marketing to your entire customer list
• The credit card reader has built in full PCI card compliance
• Intuitive graphics reduce training costs
• NCR retail Tested durability for a harsh retail environment
• Small design to save counter space
• Low monthly cost

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