Small Retail Social Media

Online Retail Points of Sale

Oct 29

Staring this weeks roundup is an award winning point of sale supply site that Intuit has announced as its solution provider of the year. We then feature an announcement made by a big box business that they are expanding their mobile payments to hundreds of their brick and motar retail stores.

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.

New POS Security, CAM Commerce Sale, Small Retail Mystery Shoppers, Coupons Are The Key, Small Business Sweetness

By POS Wizard

May 28

This weeks roundup features two announcements regarding the point of sale industry that will be affecting many small retailers. Heartland Payment Systems has launched a new security option for POS stations that will help retailers comply with the new PCI compliance. The second announcement stating the sale of CAM Commerce to Accelerated Payment Technologies will enhance small businesses using this point of sale software. Our third article this week will shed some light on using mystery shoppers to collect data in your small retail establishment. Then we move onto a way to bring new customers in and retain the old by offering coupons that are easy to find. The weekly roundup ends this week with a tip about a website that will assist small businesses in their daily duties as well as provide some online advice.

1. Heartland Payment Systems(R) Commercially Launches State-of-the-Art Payment Card Security Technology – Heartland Payment Systems is now offering a way small and large businesses to assure their customer data is safe across all payment options without any increased fees.

2. Accelerated Payment Technologies Introduced Following Sale Of CAM Commerce Point-Of-Sale Software Division – I was surprised at the sale of Cam Commerce this week but the good news is that this will help customers of the company’s point of sale software with a higher quality. Accelerated Payment Technologies is the company that will take over and provide POS customers with a 100% focused integrated payment system with new innovative technologies.

3. Opinion: Why mystery shopping isn’t enough for retailers – Although this is an opinion article, it raises some very valid point when considering using mystery shoppers to evaluate your overall customer service. Many small retailers use mystery shoppers to provide insight on satisfaction, spending, loyalty and employee knowledge but the numbers might not be as they seem.

4. Study: 60 percent of customers look for coupons before shopping – Coupons are still a valuable way to retain and gain new customers according to a recent study by The Integer Group. They state that 60% of consumers look for coupon before entering their favorite retail establishment and this could greatly affect their spending. As a small retailer offering coupons at the front of your store could bring the satisfaction and sales you’re looking for.

5. BizSugar Sweetens Your Small Business Social Media Marketing Campaign – As a small business owner you need to be up with the times, fads and new technologies in order to compete with larger brand name stores. This article outlines some of the fascinating things you could be learning at a comprehensive retail website called BizSugar.

POS Tips for Fitness Retailers, Point of Sale Spring Clean Up, Small Retail Employees, RatePoint Success, FaceBook Works, Small Retail Web 2.0 Tools

By POS Wizard

Apr 01

Last week, due to an extenuating circumstance I was unable to bring our faithful readers the weekly roundup. BUT I’m back this week, a day early and with an extra news story as an added bonus. The first feature article this week provides fantastic point of sale advice for small retailers involved in the fitness industry and it comes straight from a know business fitness expert. The second article in this weeks roundup focuses on something many of you might not have thought of…spring cleaning your point of sale area and other select areas of your small business. Getting organized and presenting a clean environment will defiantly help improve customer satisfaction in turn leading to an increase in overall profit. The third article offers a list of ten strengths your small retail employees need to have. The next feature is an impressive story of a small retail mom that used RatePoint as a way to gain trust and grow her business. The fifth article (which is usually the last) is proof that small businesses using Facebook as a way to communicate with their customers is working in a very positive way. The last bonus featured article is an invaluable list of six Web 2.0 tools that every small retail business should be taking advantage of to grow their customer base.

1. POS: Are you leveraging this? – This is an excellent article written by Sean Greeley, a leading fitness business owner. In the article Sean outlines the importance of a POS in your retail business and how improve the efficiency of your point of sale.

2. How to Increase Sales With a Company-Wide Clean-Up – This article reminds a small retailer of something you might overlook that could be costing you time and profits. Cleaning and organizing the clutter around your point of sale and other areas of your business is an easy to do task that will bring a ton of benefits. The author offers tips on where to start along with five steps to getting organized in your small retail establishment.

3. The 10 essential strengths of front-line retail employees – All small retailers know how important your retail staff is in retaining customer satisfaction. This article offers some wonderful tips on helping your employees have a better initial engagement with customers. There are also 10 essential traits or skills your retail employees need to have in order to provide the quality you need to succeed.

4. Retailer SmartMomma gains trust, grows business with RatePoint – an inspiring story of a small retailer that has used RatePoint’s small business service to grow her business by establishing trust through her customer relationships. RatePoint offers a 30 day trial for small retail business that would like to try their services.

5. New study reveals impact of Facebook on retail – The latest Morpace Omnibus study shows that small retailers using Facebook to connect with their customers have a distinct advantage over their competitors. This is positive news for small retail businesses that have implemented some type of Social Media strategy for marketing customer service.

6. Six Web 2.0 Tools Retailers Need to Know About – This is the bonus article of the week and the most important especially after reading the article above. The author lays out six essential Web 2.0 tools that small retailers should be using. Some of these tools are Foursquare, Groupon, Yelp and more. The author does an excellent job at describing the service as well as the potential of each for small retailers.

Pharmacy Point of Sale, New POS Ordering System, Quickbooks POS Tutorial, Social Media Success for Small Retailers

By POS Wizard

Mar 05

In the beginning of February we featured a POS review of a new web based point of sale software called Cashier Live. This week the company’s announcement of the launch of their web based Pharmacy POS is our first roundup feature. The next feature is the announcement of NewLeads new and innovative “show order system” also known as SOS. Our third featured article is an easy to follow report tutorial created by TechRepublic for QuickBook Point of Sale users. The last two articles that are featured in this weeks roundup have to do with small retailers using social media. You’ll see that the numbers prove this is a marketing technique your small business needs to be using and what social media site is most successful for small retail businesses.

1. Cashier Live Launches Web-Based Pharmacy Point of Sale – Cashier Live has announced they have secured their SIGIS certification which is a first for a SaaS point of sale application which means pharmacies can accept FSA (flexible spending account) cards. The low subscription price for Cashier Live’s Pharmacy POS is sure to draw many businesses owners looking for a way to comply with the new regulations and keep it within budget.

2. NewLeads Offers a Point-of-Sale Ordering System – This new and innovative show order system (SOS) is going to be a big hit with small retailers that attend trade shows. New Leads unique point of sale system allows merchants to scan or looked up items, take orders or perform a checkout, the reseller information is attached the order, securely enter credit card information (either swiped or manual entry) and automatically print invoices or regular receipts.

3. How do I create and memorize reports in QuickBooks Point of Sale? – This is a great visual tutorial provided by TechRepublic. If you’re a user of Quickbooks point of sale and you need to know how to create and memorize reports, grab a pen and paper then start learning.

4. Adoption Of Social Media Doubled Among SMBs – Small retailers are staring to jump on the social media bandwagon according to a new study by The Center for Media Research that states the number has doubled in the last year. The author gives an interesting take on which sector of small businesses were including in the jump.

5. Social media for retailers: Focus on Facebook – This article featured at the Retail Customer Experience speaks for itself the minute you visit the site. As many of you may know we offer many articles from this excellent retail website and they too have embraced social media. Take a look at their new engaging look while you read about why your small retail business needs to be focusing on Facebook.

POS Online Magazine, Small Retailer Mobile Point of Sale, POS Redemption, Small Business Blog Tips, Online Product Pricing

By POS Wizard

Feb 12

One of the easiest ways to run your small retail business is to know your point of sale. That means everything form software, hardware, applications, troubleshooting and more. Being knowledgeable and having the right resources will help you maintain the level of efficiency you need to have with your point of sale system. This weeks first featured article actually came from a press release but that it would be an excellent point of sale resource similar to our Wizard of POS site. Our second article focuses on a mobile point of sale application that was tested by a small businesses owner and comes highly recommended. As we roll into our third article you will read about Radiants Systems new employee theft deterrent application. The last two articles in this weeks roundup reflect on your small retail online presence, tips for your business blog and how online pricing should be handled.

1. New Online Magazine Launched for Point of Sale Industry - Expert Retail Knowledge and Breaking News on Pointofsale.com – PointofSale.com is a new website directed at giving information to business owners and small retailers about various POS topics. This online magazine covers many topics such as hardware, mobile products, specialized retail software and software for various niche retailers.

2. Leave The Credit Card, Take The Cell Phone – Marketing director of Wallace Oil, Rachel Wallace has a review of a new mobile point of sale payment solution that is affordable for small retailers. This service called Bling Nation is a mere $40 a month but could save thousands in the long term.

3. Radiant Systems Announces Launch of Widely Adopted Employee Theft Deterrent Application – Radiant Systems may be trying to redeem itself after the major security breach that is making headlines. They are introducing a new application that promises to deter employee theft.

“Aloha Restaurant Guard has been the most impactful application to our operations that we have installed since Aloha POS,” said Jim Nichols, owner of Nichols restaurant in Marina Del Rey, Calif. “We discovered that more than 40 percent of our employees were stealing, and in one instance with a single person, the overall theft equated to a loss of $10,000 per year.”

4. How to Use Your Business Blog for Brand Evangelism – If you don’t already have a blog for your small retail business, create one according to these great branding tips. If you currently have a blog for your small business, hurray, just tweak what you have to help build your brand and bring in new customers. The Noobpreneur has some expert advice on what will work to get your blog noticed.

5. The pros and cons of concealing product prices online – Some great advice on how to decide if you should display the price of a product or service online. This is a great article that features a panel of retail industry experts called BrainTrust

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