Point Of Sale Displays

 In a competitive market, point of sale displays help solve several of a marketer?s short-term hurdles. The impact of sales promotion measures is not durable like the results obtained through advertising and personal selling. Sale displays by and large are understood and practiced as a catalyst and as a supporting facility to advertising and personal selling.

Point of sale displays differs from advertising in many ways. Whereas advertising is mostly an indirect and subtle approach towards persuading consumers to buy a product, sale displays is a direct and almost open inducement to consumers to immediately try the product. Secondly, advertising normally has long-term objectives like building brand awareness or building consumer loyalty or repositioning a brand, sale displays performs an immediate task of increasing current sales. Finally, advertising helps sales by adding some durable and long-term value to the product, while point of sale displays aid selling by temporarily changing the existing price-value relationship of the product.

While continuing to use advertising to build long term patronage of the consumer, sale displays will come handy to give the occasional spurt required to boost up current sales. Marketing man resort to sale displays to meet several marketing needs such as introducing new products, overcoming a unique competitive situation, unloading accumulated inventory, overcoming seasonal slumps, getting new accounts, retrieving lost accounts and for persuading dealers to buy more/ increase the size of the orders.

The above categorization is based on the marketing problem to be tackled. If we look at the target group to whom sale displays measures are normally aimed at, we find four broad target groups, viz. the consumer, the trade or channel and influential groups. Bulk of the sale displays effort is aimed at the consumer and the trade.
Point Of Sale Displays provides detailed information on point of sale, point of sale displays, point of sale hardware, point of sale marketing and more. Point Of Sale Displays is affiliated with Affordable Point Of Sale Systems.

Point Of Sale

Point of Sale can be defined as the physical location at which goods are sold to customers. In a specific sense, sales promotion includes those sales activities that supplement both personal selling and advertising and coordinate them and help to make them effective, such as displays, shows and expositions, demonstrations and other non-recurrent selling efforts not in the ordinary routine.

Point of Sale can also be termed as a retail shop, a checkout counter in a shop, or a variable location where a transaction occurs. When a firm has a payable or receivable denominated in a foreign currency, a change in the exchange rate will alter the amount of local currency received or paid. Such a risk or exposure is referred to as transaction exposure.

Cash is the most liquid asset. It is of vital importance to the daily operations of business firms. While the proportion of corporate assets held in the form of cash is very small, often between 1 per cent and 3 per cent, its efficient management is crucial to the solvency of the business because in a very important sense cash is the focal point of fund flows in a business. In view of its importance, it is generally referred to as the ?life blood of a business enterprise?.

Why does a firm need cash? There are two primary reasons for a firm to hold cash: firstly to meet the needs of day-to-day transactions and secondly to protect the firm against uncertainties characterizing its cash flows. It is obvious that cash serves necessary functions. Nevertheless, cash is an idle resource. Holding too much cash forfeits alternative investment opportunities. Therefore, the financial manager should carefully control all cash.



Point Of Sale provides detailed information on point of sale, point of sale displays, point of sale hardware, point of sale marketing and more. Point Of Sale is affliated with Affordable Point Of Sale Systems.

Switching from a cash register to a computerized point of sale system was my best business move ever!

I had been putting off changing from my trusty old cash register to a computerized point of sale system, as I was intimidated and daunted by the task. I kept telling myself, changing to a new system would not really benefit my business that much, and in any event, I don't have the time.

A friend of mine, who had gone through the process a year earlier, was kind enough to sit down with me and share how he had handled the changeover process, and some of the tremendous benefits this had provided for his business. Now, two years later, I would like to pass on, how your business could also become more efficient and profitable, by switching to a modern computerized point of sale system.

Here are some of the great benefits I have come to appreciate after installing a computerized point of sale system in my business.

Isn't a point of sale system just like a cash register?

A POS software system does more than just replace your cash register. Showing your cash flow for the day is principally all a cash register does. It is unable to provide any information about profit margins; products sold or best/worst selling lines. On the other hand, a computerized POS system, can on demand instantly report on how much money is left in your cash drawer, and how much of that money is in fact profit. Product specific reports can also show how many were sold today, how many are left on the shelf and when that product needs to be re-ordered.

Helps prevent theft by just being there.

Studies have shown computerized point of sale systems typically, reduce theft by around 2.5%. That means an average small business with a turnover of $750,000 per year, could be losing approximately $18,750. This amount could be reduced or eliminated completely by simply installing a point of sale system. Inventory is watched much more carefully, because your employees know that stock is being monitored. All involved are more alert.

Reduce inventory shrinkage.

A computerized POS system monitors obsolete and broken inventory more carefully and in greater detail. Shelf inventory stock on hand counts are easily and accurately compared with computerized stock on hand counts, further reducing losses by an additional 2.5%.

Better manage your inventory.

Using detailed product reports, the flow of inventory can be managed much more carefully by monitoring increased sales. Historical product data helps in the prediction of future inventory needs. Orders should be based on what you know you sell, not on what you think you sell.

Watch your margins.

Examination of your product reports may indicate you have sold 9000 products that cost 48 cents, for 50 cents each. Or, that you have sold 200 products that cost $1.90, for $9.95 each. Correct use of your reports will help you stock more of what delivers greater profits, and fewer of what produces lesser profits.

Keep your customers happy.

Computerized POS systems, with touch screens, fast barcode scanners, fast thermal printers and many other tools, make the checkout process efficient and much quicker. This results in happier customers.

Pricing accuracy.

Completely eliminate the guesswork associated with manual pricing of your products. Using a computerized point of sale system ensures every product in your store has an associated and accurate price. Your sales staff will have no need to guess prices anymore.

Build a customer list.

Possibly, the most important and beneficial aspect of switching to a computerized point of sale system, is the ability to build a customer list and track your customers purchasing habits. Analyzing your best, worst, high profit, low profit, high frequency and infrequent customers becomes as easy as reading a report. Predicting when customers are about to stop patronizing you store means you are able to directly target market these customers with special offers or gift vouchers, in an attempt to win them back. You can use your POS system to market to a group of customers in a particular region or just to get to know your most loyal customers on a first name basis.

A computerized point of sale system has been one of the best investments I have made for my business. My business has become more efficient, more profitable and a better place for my customers.

Any doubt I may have had 2 years ago has been replaced with absolute amazement for what a computerized POS system has done for my business.

Raymond D of MELBOURNE VIC - POSActive Customer

Types of Point Of Sale Activation.

From : intelecard.com.

POSA is not only about activation, it also refers to balance inquiries, refunds, voids, refresh, report printing and can even include services, such as real-time web-based queries. There are two types of POSA available in the market, online solutions and offline solutions.

Online solutions

The term online does not refer to the Internet. An online solution is any technology that requires the POSA device in a store to communicate with the stored value platform at the time of sale. This type of solution involves reading data off a preprinted card and using that data to identify and manipulate a specific stored value account on the platform. The data on the card is usually stored on a magnetic stripe or encoded in a barcode on the product packaging. Either way, at the time of sale the data is read by the POS device and put into a data packet that is sent to the platform as part of an electronic transaction. Sending this packet of data at the time of sale is what specifically defines an online solution.

A communication link or "line," hence the term online, must be established between the POSA device and the platform where the stored value account, or PIN, resides. The POSA device can be a stand-alone POSA terminal or logic integrated into previously installed store equipment, such as credit card processing terminals. There are many different types of communication links and technologies, but for the purpose of this discussion I will illustrate online POSA by discussing two common types of technology, host-to-host and dial up. The distinguishing difference between host-to-host communication and dial-up communication is that one is always connected while the other is used only as needed. Large national retailers who have extensive technology facilities connecting their stores to a central corporate IT location can, and usually do, implement host-to-host connections.

This contrasts with smaller chains or single retail sites that must use the modem in their POSA device to dial the platform on an as-needed basis. A host-to-host solution is always connected. Dial-up communication is established and closed on a per-transaction basis. The point is that implementing online POSA technology requires the ability to support multiple communication mechanisms to the platform, including host-to-host and dial up.

Offline solutions

Offline solutions are the opposite of online, meaning that they do not require the POSA device to communicate with the platform at the time of sale. There is no such thing as an offline host-to-host POSA solution. Additionally, any offline POSA solution not have a PIN-printing solution.

Most PIN-printing solutions print the entire card on blank card stock at the time of sale. Others print only the PIN onto pre-existing cards, while another type of offline mechanism uses preprinted PINs in sticker form that are affixed to preprinted card stock at the time of sale. All offline POSA mechanisms give the retailer a secure way to sell stored value products without the need for the POS device to connect to the stored value platform at the time of sale.

PIN-printing technologies store active PINs and other information in the memory of the POSA device. When a stored value product is purchased, the required information is printed onto card stock or receipt paper. The PIN is already active in this type of POSA mechanism, so there is no need for technology to communicate with the platform for every sale. Instead, at the end of the day these devices typically upload their daily sales totals by dialing into a computer server that collects the data and also downloads more active PINs.

POSA (Point Of Sale Activation) at a glance

From : intelecard.com.

POSA is a generic term that describes the many different types of transactions and services available at the point of sale that support the sale of stored value products. Thus, POSA is not only about activation, it also refers to balance inquiries, refunds, voids; refresh, report printing and can even include services, such as real-time web-based queries.

1. All offline POSA solutions are some type of PIN-printing solution.

2. Offline POSA solutions cannot provide as many features as complete online solutions.

3. Large national retail chains require online solutions because they demand a full suite of POSA features, often including in-store refresh and other custom transactions. Most of these solutions are host-to-host.

4. Payment card emulation solutions, often referred to as Visa emulation or debit card emulation, are online solutions, but because of their underlying technology, can provide only limited features.

5. PIN-printing devices eliminate the need to produce cards with individual encoding thereby reducing the cost of the card stock or eliminating it all together.

6. Some PIN-printing devices connect online to an intermediate computer system and thus are hybrid systems because they can provide real-time web-based transaction reporting but not true online functionality, such as in-store refresh or balance inquiry.

7. PIN printing almost always requires the retailer to own a special PIN-printing POSA terminal.

8. Online POSA can be integrated into existing POS software or loaded onto existing POS equipment.

9. POSA is complicated. All of these rules are generalizations.

Forgotten Point of Sale System Features | Cash In Drawer Limits

Restaurant point of sale systems have loads of features that POS salespeople love to talk about. Some are glamorous, others are flashy and some are unique to their product. When showing off these new and fancy features too often these salespeople forget about the basics and why cash registers were invented in the first place.

Preventing theft. That is the purpose of a cash register. Ringing up items and safely storing cash if the fundamental philosophy that created a now multi-billion dollar industry known as the Point of Sale Industry.

Why then are so many point of sale companies, software manufacturers and POS salespeople forgetting about the fundamental principles that are still valid in today's business environment? The answer eludes and frustrates me because valuable profits are being lost by not utilizing these basic and important features.

This is a series of articles about the fundamental features that every business should be using to stop employee theft, increase sales and increase profits.

Cash In Drawer (CID) Limit

This feature has been around since I started in the cash register business some 25+ years ago. I haven't heard POS salespeople talk about this for over a decade and if it isn't being used in your business you are opening yourself up for theft and possibly armed robbery of your business.

All cash registers and point of sale systems track sales and tenders. They all know how much money, checks, gift cards, credit cards and other forms of payment are in each cash drawer/till.

Most cash registers and a few point of sale software companies have the ability to set a limit on how much cash should be in each cash drawer/till. When this limit is reached the cashier is notified and then can notify management to do a cash pull from the drawer. Some systems go as far as sending a message via pager/cell phone alerting management that a cash drawer/till is over the cash limit.

Management can then go to the drawer, pull out an amount of cash, count it and enter the amount removed as a cash pull. This amount is then removed from the cash in drawer amount and lowers the overall cashier responsibility.

Do not forget that every time the cash drawer/till is opened all the cash is exposed to view and to the temptation of everyone. Not only does the money become accessible to your cashier, it is also accessible to long-armed customers who have been known to reach across when the cashier was not looking.

What could be even worse is the fact that when the cash drawer/till is open potential robbers are able to estimate and determine if your operation is worth returning for a full-scale robbery.

Cashiers like this feature in that it reduces the amount of cash they are responsible for as the cash removed is deducted from their overall cash responsibility. Cashiers also like the fact that if there is less cash in the drawer they are less apt to have a gun shoved in their face during a robbery.

Owners like this feature in that it reduces the temptation to remove money from the cash drawer/till through employee theft or through robbery.

If you are an owner, wouldn't you like keeping more of the money in your cash drawer/till for yourself? Wouldn't you like to reduce the chance/temptation of an armed robbery? This old-time cash register feature now found in some point of sale systems could be the exact answer to your needs.

Check your current point of sale system to see if the cash in drawer feature is even offered. If you are looking at a new point of sale system you should make sure that the cash in drawer feature is offered.

Don't let technology dazzle you to the point that you forget about the basics features that you need to stop theft and increase profits. Those features that have been around for decades are still valid today.

Cash in drawer limits were considered an important part of any cash register and point of sale system for many years. The reason for the feature and the need to keep your cash safe never went away. Stopping theft is still a critical aspect of any point of sale system. That being the case, why should you settle for anything less than your business needs? Don't settle for less. Demand the cash in drawer feature.

Jerry D. Wilson has over 25 years of point of sale experience helping business owners stop employee theft and increase profits. Please visit DirecTouch POS and DirectRetail POS for more information on other features that are important to your point of sale needs.

The Top 10 Reasons You Need A Restaurant Point Of Sale System

After over 25 years of consulting and helping business owners like yourself analyze their business and decide to invest in a point of sale system I have found that many reasons drove their decision. I have seen their problems, listened to their complaints and caught quite a few employees taken extra benefits directly from the cash register. To simplify things just a little, let's look at the top 10 reasons you need a point of sale system.

10. You have employees.

If you have employees you are open to theft, sweet-hearting and careless mistakes. You need a point of sale system to manage your employees, enforce your policies and insure that your money gets to you.

9. Pricing and Math Errors.

It is still amazing how many restaurants still use a calculator and hand written tickets. According to studies done by various institutions you are open to math and pricing mistakes totaling in excess of 1% of your annual volume. In a restaurant doing as little as $1,300 per day that would add up to $4,700 per year. (Less than the price of our 2-terminal Sweet Deal Package) To eliminate pricing and math errors you need a point of sale system.

8. Time In Attendance.

Employee payroll is one of the most overlooked and most easily managed portions of your profit and loss statement. If you have 12 employees and each of them clocks in 5 minutes early a day, that equates to 1 hour per day of extra payroll. Even with minimum wage plus benefits this could add up to $6 - $8 per day or over $2,900 per year. This figure doesn?t take into account the total man-hours it takes to compute time cards and then report on the hours worked for each employee. This is time that you could be spending elsewhere. If you have a few as 5 employees you need a point of sale system.

7. Reducing Theft.

This is the original reason for the invention of the cash register back in the late 1800?s. Even when most of the businesses were family owned and run there was a need for a cash register to reduce theft. In today?s world of hiring employees to help staff and manage your store there is even greater need for this type of control. For years we have known about the tendencies of people with regard to theft. 10% of the people wouldn?t steal if giving the opportunity. 10 % of the people are going to steal no matter what safeguards are in place. 80% of the people will steal if given the opportunity. Point of sale systems are put in place to guard against the 80% and make it more difficult for them to steal from you.

6. Speed of Service.

There is only 1 thing we can think of that will drive customers away faster than bad food and that is slow service. When a customer places their order their own internal clock is running in overdrive. No matter how long they took to look over the menu and to place their order, once they have given your server or cashier their order their hunger clock is speeding along faster than a fan on high! You need a fast, reliable way to get orders into your system. This should mean a terminal that is fast, easy to understand and quick to respond to the touch of the server, cashier or bar tender. The system should also distribute the order properly to the kitchen prep station or bar. Your point of sale system should also measure your speed of service and report on how you are doing. Reducing the time it takes to get your customer?s their food is critical and can even make up for less quality. For proof I give you some of the major fast food chains. Is their popularity based upon the best tasting, best dressed and best served burger or speed of service? If you want to speed up your customer service you need a point of sale system.

5. Enhanced Reporting.

What is the use of having a computer and not taking advantage of the power? If all you need is to have a total amount of cash in the drawer that sometimes matches to the amount of sales shown you probably don?t need a point of sale system. However, if you want more detail and information to help manage your operation and make it more profitable then you need a point of sale system. It used to be that having a good product was enough to get you by. Now it takes a lot more information in order to compete with all the other restaurants in your market that are all looking for the same customer you have seated in your restaurant. You need to understand the buying habits of your customers. What are they ordering? When are they ordering it? What is your most profitable item? How many of it did you sell? What items on your menu are not selling? If you cannot answer all of these questions with total confidence in your answers then you need a point of sale system. If you hesitate to correctly answer (without guessing) any of these questions you need a point of sale system.

4. Exporting of Data to Other Systems.

Even most small businesses today have some form of electronic accounting in place either in their operation or through an accounting service. In addition, most businesses have an electronic payroll service or software that creates payroll. Point of sale systems capture critical data for you and then export this data in formats that automatically put this information into accounting and payroll packages, eliminating hours of tedious manual input that often leads to mistakes and human error. If you have an electronic accounting or payroll service/software or even if you want to track your sales in Excel, you need a point of sale system.

3. Integrated Credit Cards.

If you are not currently taking credit cards as a form of payment you need to start today. Never mind the fees. The loss of business that you are suffering in today?s plastic minded economy will more than compensate for the fees charged. If you are currently taking credit cards through a stand-alone terminal you could be being charged exorbitant fees for the terminal when you could be processing through your point of sale system. In some cases, the elimination of the terminal rental will pay for the credit card interface in less than a year. With integrated credit card processing you are assured that the amount of the sale will match the amount charged on the credit card, eliminating the need to go back and match individual sales when the credit card batch does not match credit card sales. When high-speed Internet connections are used to process credit cards we receive approvals in less than 2 seconds. No longer is slower speed of service an excuse not to take credit cards. If you want to quickly, accurately and smoothly process credit cards you need a point of sale system.

2. Competitive Marketing.

a. Frequent Diner Modules. Who are your customers? What do they buy? How often do they visit? Of your frequent visitors, who hasn?t been in to see you during the past month? Of your frequent visitors, who has a special day coming up this month? These are questions that you should have the answer to. All the major chains and all of your competitors are after the people who come to your restaurant. They want to take them for themselves. How are you going to compete with the billions of dollars being spent to draw your customer away? By marketing your operation and your menu. Your point of sale system should be able to manage your customer base, keep up with their buying habits, how often they visit, when was their last visit and what special occasions they have coming up. Your point of sale system then should be able to sort these into groups that should be sent mailers, coupons, invitations to special events or simply told that they are appreciated and asked to visit you again. If you have competition you need a point of sale system.

b. Gift cards have become the norm for so many businesses today. An entire industry has been formed around the old concept of giving a paper gift certificate. Today, you will find gift cards at most major checkout lines. A point of sale system should be able to sell, redeem and control balances for your own gift card program. No longer do you need a book of certificates that are kept in the safe. Today, all you need is a stack of blank plastic cards with your colorful logo on them. These cards carry no balance and have no cash value until sold and a balance placed on account. As an owner you should keep a few of these cards with you. Each of these cards might have a small balance on them for you to hand out to pull customers to your restaurant or to give in case of a poor experience to help bring someone back. Think of these cards as your personal marketing tool. When the customer looks in their purse or wallet and sees your logo they will be reminded to come visit you. If you use gift certificates or gift cards you need a point of sale system.

1. You Don?t Need Any More ?Partners?.

Sure you need gift cards. Yes you need to better understand your customer?s buying habits. You absolutely need to have credit cards integrated with your point of sale system. You need enhanced reporting and export of these reports to electronic accounting and payroll services. You need to eliminate errors, reduce mistakes and keep track of your payroll. But more than any of these you don?t need any more partners. Especially the ones that take their portion of the profits before you get yours. We are talking about the servers, waitresses, bartenders and cashiers who:

a. Undercharge customers in order to enhance their own tips. Show a $5 tab and a $50 tip. (Yes, I have seen this!)

b. Deliberately void or delete an item after it has been paid for.

c. Stuff coupons into the cash drawer in exchange for cash.

d. Don?t charge customers for soft beverages to enhance their tips.

e. Ring up a lower priced item (well brand) and serve a higher priced item (premium brand)

f. Give discounts to their friends.

g. In a buffet line, ring up a buffet and a tea. Reprint this ticket 10 times and sell and collect for themselves these reprinted receipts instead of ringing up new customers.

If you want to stay in business, you need a point of sale system.Jerry D. Wilson is Director of Internet Sales for DirecTouch Restaurant Point of Sale. With over 25 years of hospitality point of sale experience, he has written several articles explaining the benefits of touch screen and retail point of sale software. Please visit http://www.directouchpos.com or http://www.directretailpos.com for more information.

Use Restaurant Point Of Sale Systems And Their Employee Time Clock Feature To Control Your Payrol

Employee Time Clock

The History Of The Employee Time Clock And Point of Sale

The concept of punching a time clock has been around since the industrial revolution of the early 1900's. However, it was not until the invention of the electronic cash register in the early 1980's that employees could clock in/out on the cash register. This eliminated the need for a punch card and greatly increased accuracy and reduced manpower needs in calculating time worked for payroll purposes.

While the need for employees to clock in and out on a terminal started off simple the requirements of government have greatly increased the demands placed upon management. There are a host of different labor laws, tip reporting requirements and labor restrictions governing the number of hours to be worked in a day/week and even when minors are allowed to work.

The Need For An Employee Time Clock

What started off simple has quickly become complex. Your needs are far greater than a simple time clock that tracks the clock in and out times for your employees. You need help with the government regulations regarding different aspects of your labor pool.

Tip reporting and handling have become a huge issue in the restaurant business. You need help tracking tipped employees and what they declare as tips earned.

Tracking employee breaks has become a bigger and bigger hassle. Some states govern the length of breaks and whether they are paid or not. I know of one state that requires a minimum of a 20 minute unpaid break per employee. If that employee clocks back in 1 minute early, their entire break is paid. Who has time to monitor every employee's break?

And we have just now gotten to the problem of employees clocking in early, riding the clock or simply having a friend clock them in when they aren't even there!

You need help. You need an integrated time clock and you need it bad.

The Solution Of The Employee Time Clock

Some point of sale systems come standard with an employee time clock feature that is designed specifically for restaurants and the goofy requirements placed upon restaurant owners.

All employees can clock in/out on any terminal in the system. There is no set terminal that must be used by all employees. Any employee may clock in on any terminal.

Security and secrecy should be a concern and point of sale software products have different ways of accomplishing this.

* Secret 4-digit employee code for clock in/out.
* Optional magnetic card reader and magnetic cards for employees to use when clocking in/out.
* Optional biometric reader which recognizes individual fingerprints for employee clock in/out.

Employee breaks are tracked and various rules can be set depending upon your own state's regulations.

Tipped employees are required to declare their tips earned when they clock out for the day. These declared amounts are then reported with their time worked.

What good would all this data do if we didn't report on it? Most software products are able to track and report on all time clock data and use weekly, bi-weekly, bi-monthly and monthly payroll cycles. Be sure to verify that the product you are looking at will meet all of your requirements before purchase.

Some point of sale products will also export all time clock data to file for import into several different accounting packages.

The Benefit Of The Employee Time Clock To You

This feature has several benefits. Let's list a few:

* Increased accuracy over punch cards and manual time tracking.
* Reduced rounding errors in computing time.
* Reduced time for management to compute employee hours.
* Enforce break rules.
* Enforce tip tracking and declaration for tipped employees.
* Eliminate buddy punching with optional biometric scanners.
* Export time clock data to payroll software or payroll service.Jerry D. Wilson is Director of Internet Sales for DirecTouch Restaurant Point of Sale. With over 25 years of hospitality point of sale experience, he has written several articles explaining the benefits of touch screen and retail point of sale software. Please visit http://www.directouchpos.com or http://www.directretailpos.com for more information.

Restaurant Employee Tip Tracking Easier Through A Point Of Sale System

Restaurant Employee Tip Handling

The History Of Restaurant Employee Tip Handling

No one knows when tipping began. But we do know that in the 1980's the IRS levied new regulations on restaurant owners to track the tips received by the employees of the restaurant.

The magic number of 8% became the benchmark for servers and waiters to declare as their tipped earned. Not because it was accurate. Rather, because it was the minimum amount allowed by the IRS.

The trick is this. Tipped employees in restaurants are generally not paid minimum wage. The amount varies from state to state but it runs between $2.15 to $3.15 per hour. The IRS assumes that the tips received will make up the difference between this low hourly amount and the true minimum wage that is currently $5.15 per hour. If this is not the case, then it is up to the restaurant owner to make up the difference between what the tipped employee earned + declared tips and minimum wage. This makes accurate tip declaration, tracking and reporting a vital aspect of running a restaurant.

The Need For Restaurant Employee Tip Handling

You need a employee time clock system that recognizes tipped employees, tracks their individual sales, any charge tips collected and requires them to declare cash tips at the end of their shift.

You also need a employee time clock system that can handle tip sharing, tip pooling and tip out to bus help, bartenders and other servers.

You need a employee time clock system that will track the hours worked and tips collected and recognize problems with employees not declaring enough tips to meet the minimum wage requirements.

The Solution Of Restaurant Employee Tip Handling

Some point of sale software products have tip tracking built into their time in attendance module. Once you set an employee as a tipped employee the system will require tip declaration prior to clock out.

Servers and waiters who ring sales will have their total sales tracked. Tips collected through credit card sales are tracked and shown on the server closeout report. Prior to clock out the server/waiter will be shown their total sales, the charge tips collected and then asked to declare their cash tips.

Some point of sale products do allow for programming flexibility with this feature:

* You may change the minimum declaration from the default of 8%.
* You may change the requirement to declare tips at clock out.
* You may opt to have the system print a chit with their tips shown.
* You may opt to not show charge tips on the declaration screen.

The Benefit Of Restaurant Employee Tip Handling To You

How do you measure the amount of relief a person can have knowing that your point of sale system is enforcing tip regulations levied by the IRS? Not to mention the mass amount of time savings in tracking declared tips, charge tips and hour worked for every tipped employee.

This is one headache you don't want to have to deal with. If you have tipped employees you need a good point of sale system with tip tracking and time and attendance.: Jerry D. Wilson is Director of Internet Sales for DirecTouch Restaurant Point of Sale. With over 25 years of hospitality point of sale experience, he has written several articles explaining the benefits of touch screen and retail point of sale software. Please visit http://www.directouchpos.com or http://www.directretailpos.com for more information.

Will You Make These Mistakes When You Buy Retail Point of Sale Software?

If you're like most retailers, you're worried about making a mistake when you choose point of sale (POS) software. I don't blame you. Buying POS software is a big investment. Not to mention, POS software can have huge impact on the efficiency and success of your retail business!

What's more, there are around 1,000 different POS systems to choose from. And they're all different. All these choices can be overwhelming and confusing.

The truth is... choosing POS software is very difficult. And
too many retailers end up with the wrong system. In fact, it's common for retailers to go through 2, 3 or even 4 different POS systems before they find one they're happy with. Those mistakes probably cost at least $10,000 - $100,000.

Here are a few mistakes that I see retailers making over and over again.

They Buy Hardware First

I can't tell you how many times I've heard a retailer say, "I just bought new computers, printers and I have everything ready to go. Now I need to find POS software."

As soon as I hear that, I think to myself, "This guy could have saved himself a lot of time and money if he selected his POS software first!"

Why?

First of all, your POS software will have hardware and operating system requirements. For example, the software will require a certain version of Windows, Unix or Linux. (Unless it's an "open architecture" system like ASP) In addition, each program will only function with certain types of printers, scanners, cash drawers and card readers.

Second, and more importantly, not all POS systems are the same. And the system that you choose is very important. It will have a huge impact on the efficiency of your business! If you install your computer system first, you will limit your POS software choices. The perfect fit for your "unique" business might run on UNIX but you already bought a Windows 2003 Server! You might also find that the printers and scanners you just bought aren't compatible either.

You can avoid frustration and save money if you choose the POS software first. Then you can ask the software company about their recommended hardware and operating systems.

They Ask the Wrong People

All too often retailers ask a local computer consultant for suggestions about POS software. Most computer consultants have good intentions but they tend to give poor advice when it comes to choosing POS software.

Computer consultants are great sources for information about computers, hardware, and networking. However they don't usually understand the intricacies of POS software and retail management. Nor do they realize that there are almost 1,000 different POS systems to choose from and it's VERY easy to choose the wrong one.

Every retail business is different and has different needs. If you get poor advice and select the wrong type of system, your business will lose money.

They Don't Place Enough Focus on the Character of the Software Company

When you invest in point of sale software, you're buying a relationship, not just a product. In fact, the "quality" of the software company is usually just as important as the product.

Why is the software company so important?

Well...

After you purchase the software, you will rely on the software company to supply updates, training, technical support, and possibly hardware.

Let me ask you a few questions to help you understand why the company is so important...

- What if the software company went out of business? (Dozens of POS software companies come and go every year!)

- What if they don't give you software updates when you need them?

- What if it takes 2 days to get your technical questions answered?

- What if the software has a bug and they don't fix it?

- What if they didn't give you sufficient training? And as a result, your sales reports are showing the wrong totals!

- What if you can't print and it takes 6 hours to get help from a support technician?

The truth is, the level of service and the financial stability of the software company is very important. It's critical to evaluate the software company; otherwise you could run into some frustrating and expensive problems.

They Pass The Buck

Too many owners give the responsibility of choosing a POS system to an employee or a computer consultant that is not familiar with your industry. This is a huge mistake!

Top management and other key personnel must be involved in the selection and implementation process. You should never rely solely on a consultant's recommendation or input.

The person that evaluates the software must have in-depth knowledge about your business!

POS software is complicated. Not to mention it can make a huge difference in your businesses productivity. POS software is too important to pass the evaluation process to someone else!

I see owners and managers make this mistake all the time. Don't make the same one!

They Overlook Important Features

Unless you are a retail POS expert, it's difficult to sort through countless POS systems and figure out what you need. What's more, it's difficult to understand the "true" potential of your POS system. As a result, many retailers get confused and they overlook important features that would save them a lot of time and money.

Most people don't realize that every POS system is VERY different. Some are designed for large ticket items like tractors. And others are designed to work in fast moving retail environments like a grocery store.

As a result, it's common for retailers to end up with POS software that isn't really designed for them. That's why it's important to properly analyze the needs of your business (even if you're a small retailer). Then you can create a list of features that are important. That list will help you compare and choose the right system.

This might seem complicated, but with a little guidance, you can quickly find the right POS system. You just need to know which mistakes to avoid, where to look, and the right formula.

Jeff Haefner is the author of "The Point of Sale Software Buyers Guide -- How to Choose POS Software and Avoid Problems." It will teach you the secrets to choosing POS software for ANY retail business. If you'd like to learn how to avoid problems, save time, and boost efficiency then check out => http://www.possoftwareguide.com

POS (Point of Sale ) Cash Register Systems- They May Be The Best Investment You'll Ever Make

The Slope Report read, ?excellent conditions?. It was cold but sunny and the slopes were full of skiers and snowboarders. The powder? Perfect. I could see out the window a group of skiers were headed toward the lodge bar. Inside the bar they waited patiently as the bartender keyed in their seating numbers, drinks and bar tab. It took over four minutes for them to get their drinks; the same amount of time it took for them to decide on dinner at another pub.

Capturing the skiers during a weather-perfect season is simple. Capturing their food and beverage business isn?t always so easy. It requires not only need a customer-friendly environment, but also a user-friendly POS (point of sale) cash register system for efficiency. Today?s technology provides this?and more. POS cash register terminals that continuously synchronize with each other, endless report options, alcohol inventory controlled by bottle weights and computerized tap monitors, staff time and attendance, ski, school, and guest database management, and so much more are available. Let?s face it. It takes more than cooperative weather to run a ski resort.

So, when choosing a POS software system, be certain to explore all the options. Cost is always a factor, but unless the software gives you all the management tools you need and is fully supported, an initially less expensive system can end up costing you much more. There are as many point of sale cash register systems available as there are skis and choosing the right one can be confusing and time-consuming. Aside from meeting technological requirements, your POS system must remain easy to use, with speed and accuracy. Customers, Employees, Managers and Sales Staff are all affected by a point of sale system. So, imagine first what you would like the ideal computer cash register system to do for your resort; make a list of features you hope to find. Chances are you?ll find all of them on today?s market.

One software company that stands out above the rest is a Canadian-based company called Tesoro Technologies, Incorporated. Wired or wireless, Windows or Linux, networked or independent terminals, their Volant? POS System is up for any challenge. Since 1993, Volant? System developers have been designing equipment that is ?cash register tough and computer smart? to serve some of the biggest and best.

Snow Valley Ski Resort, located in Barrie, Ontario, wanted a POS system that could produce ID cards and time passes, manage a client database and ski school, as well as handling all their food and beverage and retail services. The geographical location had Director, Peter Haney, concerned at first. ? Like most ski resorts, we are very remote. We needed a satellite tower and wireless system. We also looked at a lot of providers and found that most of the companies didn?t offer the hospitality end we needed. Volant? is hospitality.?

Tesoro had to install a fail-safe, independently running system for the remote summit area that could also be integrated with the high volume operations below. Using both wired and wireless network topology, their system has operated without software failure despite the unstable power and network issues. Snow Valley Ski Resort also utilizes the database of guests and 5,800 pass holders to generate email broadcasts, which enhances their marketing plan. ?We?re real pleased with Volant?. It?s an entity that grows and evolves along with our business,? says Haney.

In fact, Volant? has revolutionized the wireless POS industry. Their creative approach to wireless mobile computing makes Volant? the perfect POS software choice for not only ski resorts, but for other venues as well, such as stadiums, trade shows, casinos, arenas, race tracks and outdoor sales areas where conventional POS cash register systems aren't practical nor feasible.

Tesoro Technologies, Inc. may be at the forefront of a new generation of guest management technology, but they?re still producing. Recent breakthroughs in point of sale development are allowing a full range of services and back office capabilities never before considered.

So, when you?re looking for a more efficient POS cash register system that can create ?excellent conditions? for your business, spend the extra time researching your options ? it may turn out to be the best investment you?ll ever make.

For more information on how Tesoro and Volante POS systems can help your business, contact them through their website http://www.volantesystems.com/ or email them at sales@volantesystems.com.

Cash Register Stand Allows Retailers to Make the Most out of Cramped Quarters

One of the biggest problems for most independent retailers is space- or more accurately, the lack of it. In the never ending quest to offer more to customers, we soon find ourselves offering less space to move around within our store. And that can cause big problems. One solution many retailers are turning to is cash register stands. By abandoning the large store counters of the past for simpler, smaller space saving cash register stands, retailers are saving space and making the most out of their available square footage.

Cash register stands give retailers the professional presence of a traditional checkout counter, without taking excessive space that could better be used to display additional products or allow for more free flowing in-store traffic. Most cash register stands have a flat front with shelving in the back where retailers still have space to store essentials.

For some retailers, it?s important to have a large and long countertop checkout area in the front of the store. But for retailers whose situation has forced them to value space over presence, a cash register stand can be a very valuable consideration for saving space and creating a more welcoming and open environment to entice and serve your customers.

Cash register stands are also very popular among seasonal retailers, including garden retailers and produce and pumpkin farms across the country. Cash register stands work well in this environment because they are portable, they take up very little space when in use, and they? extremely easy to store. A traditional store counter simply isn?t versatile enough to be functional in garden retail spaces.

Retailers who are short on space can look to other areas of their store for solutions as well. Walls provide retailers with a number of options for displaying or storing products and freeing up the sales floor. There are a number of product display solutions that, if implemented creatively, will allow retailers to always make the most of their available space.

Nu-Era and nu-era.com are services of The Nu-Era Group, LLC -the industry leader in store fixtures, supplies, and fulfillment. Nu-Era has been providing its customers with competitively priced quality products with customer-oriented service since 1949. For more information, visit them online at http://www.nu-era.com Visit the company?s blog at http://www.retailstoresupplyinfo.com

Cash Register

James Ritty might not have guessed that the cash register, which he invented in 1879, would change completely into some thing, which even he would fail to identify. He just wanted to devise a fool proof cash handling system, which effectively prevented his dishonest staff steal and pocket the money at his tavern in his Dayton, Ohio.

Early cash registers were mechanical machines, which did not issue receipts. The cashier would crank up the machine and press the total key to register transaction and that is when the cash drawer would open and a bell ring at the managers/owner?s office to alert him of a completed transaction.

But would it not be possible to open the register when there is no sale at all? These are day to day necessities and the manager or the owner would want to check or take away cash from the register even when there is no sale and the drawer can be opened by hitting the NS (no sale) key which opens the drawer after logging that the drawer was opened. Some models have special keys and latches for such instances.

Modern Cash Registers Whether you have a small business or a restaurant, modern line of cash registers will fit the bills for you. These computerized cash registers of the day can be attached to scales, check stands and bar code readers. Some specially ordered models have the capacity to be attached to credit card terminals and software such as EFTPOS. EFTPOS stands for Electronic Fund Transfer and Point of Sale, which handle transactions with customers. It handles electronic debiting of customers? accounts and crediting the amount to the merchants? account.

Pilferages with modern cash registers are not easy. These are highly protected. One example is alphanumeric passwords.

Accounting and Taxation Angle to Cash Registers It is mandatory for customers and merchants to maintain the receipts for some time while merchants compile tax returns. The point is, it is easy taking stock at the cash registers by the volume of sales rather than inventory. Bar code scanners such as EAN and UPC maintain logs for each item sold and totaled at the end of the day.

Top Manufacturers and Salient Features Japanese have pulled it off in this regard. Toshiba, Casio, Sharp and American companies like IBM, Wincor-Nixdorf and TEC are top selling models. Features keep changing but, Clerk ID System, Self Tax Computation, Memory Protection, Locking Cash Drawer Locking coin tray, multiple tax rates; thermal printers and pop-up rear display are only the most common features.

Have you seen a self checkout cash register yet?

Alan Ross is a regular article contributor on many topics. Be sure to visit his other websites Cash Register Resources, POS Cash Register and One Stop Information

Why You Need To Advertise Beyond The Cash Register

Advertising campaigns need clearly defined objectives, especially when the offer is a low margin sale on single (or a few) items. Most ad efforts by small to mid-size businesses leave the real money on the table. Here's how to extend your strategy beyond the initial sale.

Advertise Beyond The Cash Register
Most of the retail ads I see offer ?bargain basement? discounts with painfully low profit value to the seller. Sure, there?s the expectation that a buyer will make an additional purchase, but as someone very accurately said, ?hope is not a strategy?!

While it might be a moderately safe ?percentage play? to hope that a buyer will make multiple purchases?a more proactive conversion strategy will produce more impressive, and far more profitable results. Formulating longer-range objectives in all of your ad campaigns will, ultimately, lower your overall marketing costs by increasing the profitability of each campaign.

You Know They?re Coming, So ?Bake A Cake?
Attracting buyers isn?t the same as acquiring a customer, and your marketing strategy has to take this distinction into account. A business that?s not converting buyers into customers is just an endless series of promotions!

Why not have your salespeople ready with pre-planned up-sell and cross-sell strategies, as well as bundled offerings to go along with your initially advertised ?specials?? Granting authority to offer discretionary ?one-off? discounts to complete a bundle can add tremendous power to your sales force and turbo charge their effectiveness.

When an ad campaign is well thought out, your product offering gives a lot of clues about what the buyers who respond really want to accomplish. Instead of thinking about the products you?re selling, consider what problem your buyers want to solve as a result of the purchase.

When you think like a solutions provider, you can create upselling and cross-selling tactics in advance, and instruct your sales force accordingly. This is where discretionary ?one-off? discounts come in handy. Your sales staff can then construct a personalized bundled solution that may have otherwise been missed.

Show The Advantages Of Being A Customer
Do you sell to a return trip by offering a ?first time buyer?s certificate? that is good for some special offering if redeemed in the next 15 or 30 days? What about a ?bring a friend coupon? that may get a response from an additional buyer that your campaign may have either missed or failed to convince.

Your sales staff should have a range of 'bounce-back' options since the same offer isn?t going to be attractive to everyone. Just guessing by what is being bought at the time is a very inaccurate way to judge. After all, the guy whose buying exterior paint supplies for his home isn?t going to be doing that again for a long time!

Capture Their Personal Data
Do you enroll them in your automatic ?birthday discount shopping spree? program to capture their personal information? You?ll need it in the future to involve your new buyer in your relationship marketing efforts.

When you can correlate this data with their first purchase, purchase amounts, etc., you can begin to develop accurate individual customer profiles. As time goes by you?ll know the buying patterns and preferences that will let you deliver laser focused, irresistible offers that generate high volume, high profit responses.

The Takeaway
The deliberate planning of the micro-steps all along the conversion process will generate higher returns on your advertising investments and ensure a continuously widening customer base. You?ll soon see a dramatic upsurge in revenue that you may have otherwise thought impossible!

Kamau Jackson is a Chicago marketing consultant who helps business owners leverage their existing assets to dramatically increase profits?without increasing advertising costs. Get more info about online and offline small business marketing strategies at www.internetknowledgesolutions.com. ? 2006 Internet Knowledge Solutions.

For Maximum Profit Growth: Advertise Beyond The Cash Register

Much of the advertising by small to mid-size businesses leaves the real money on the table. Here's how to extend your profit strategy beyond the initial sale.

Most of the retail advertising I see offers "bargain basement" discounts with painfully low profit value to the seller. Sure, there's the expectation that a buyer will make an additional purchase, but as someone very accurately said, "hope is not a strategy"! Using a more proactive conversion strategy will give you far more profitable results.

Formulating longer-range objectives in all of your ad campaigns will, ultimately, lower your overall marketing costs by increasing the profitability of each campaign.

You Know They're Coming, So 'Bake A Cake'
Attracting buyers isn't the same as acquiring a customer, and your marketing strategy has to take this distinction into account. A business that's not converting buyers into customers is just an endless series of promotions!

Why not have your salespeople ready with pre-planned up-sell and cross-sell strategies, as well as bundled offerings to go along with your initially advertised 'specials'? Granting authority to offer discretionary 'one-off' discounts to complete a bundle can add tremendous power to your sales force and turbo charge their effectiveness.

When an ad campaign is well thought out, your product offering gives a lot of clues about what the buyers who respond really want to accomplish. Instead of thinking about the products you're selling, consider what problem your buyers want to solve as a result of the purchase.

Show The Advantages Of Being A Customer
Do you sell to a return trip by offering a 'first time buyer's certificate' that is good for some special offering if redeemed in the next 15 or 30 days? What about a 'bring a friend coupon' that may get an additional buyer your campaign may have either missed or failed to convince.

Your sales staff should have a range of 'bounce-back' options since the same offer isn't going to be attractive to everyone.

Capture Their Personal Data
Do you enroll them in your automatic 'birthday discount shopping spree' program to capture their personal information? You'll need it in the future to involve your new buyer in your relationship marketing efforts. When you can begin to acurately correlate this data, you can begin to develop accurate individual customer profiles.

As time goes by you'll know the buying patterns and preferences that will let you deliver laser focused, offers that generate high volume, high profit responses.

The Takeaway
The deliberate planning of your conversion process will generate higher returns on your advertising investments and ensure a continuously widening customer base. You'll soon see a dramatic upsurge in revenue that you may have otherwise thought impossible!

Kamau Jackson is a Chicago marketing consultant who helps business owners leverage their existing assets to dramatically increase profits without increasing advertising costs. Get more info about online and offline small business marketing strategies at www.internetknowledgesolutions.com.

Why An Efficient POS (Point of Sale ) Cash Register System May Be The Best Investment You'll Ever Make

The Slope Report read, "excellent conditions". It was cold but sunny and the slopes were full of skiers and snowboarders. The powder? Perfect. I could see out the window a group of skiers were headed toward the lodge bar. Inside the bar they waited patiently as the bartender keyed in their seating numbers, drinks and bar tab. It took over four minutes for them to get their drinks; the same amount of time it took for them to decide on dinner at another pub.

Capturing the skiers during a weather-perfect season is simple. Capturing their food and beverage business isn't always so easy. It requires not only need a customer-friendly environment, but also a user-friendly POS (point of sale) cash register system for efficiency. Today's technology provides this...and more. POS cash register terminals that continuously synchronize with each other, endless report options, alcohol inventory controlled by bottle weights and computerized tap monitors, staff time and attendance, ski, school, and guest database management, and so much more are available. Let's face it. It takes more than cooperative weather to run a ski resort.

So, when choosing a POS software system, be certain to explore all the options. Cost is always a factor, but unless the software gives you all the management tools you need and is fully supported, an initially less expensive system can end up costing you much more. There are as many point of sale cash register systems available as there are skis and choosing the right one can be confusing and time-consuming. Aside from meeting technological requirements, your POS system must remain easy to use, with speed and accuracy. Customers, Employees, Managers and Sales Staff are all affected by a point of sale system. So, imagine first what you would like the ideal computer cash register system to do for your resort; make a list of features you hope to find. Chances are you'll find all of them on today's market.

One software company that stands out above the rest is a Canadian-based company called Tesoro Technologies, Incorporated. Wired or wireless, Windows or Linux, networked or independent terminals, their Volant? POS System is up for any challenge. Since 1993, Volant? System developers have been designing equipment that is "cash register tough and computer smart" to serve some of the biggest and best.

Snow Valley Ski Resort, located in Barrie, Ontario, wanted a POS system that could produce ID cards and time passes, manage a client database and ski school, as well as handling all their food and beverage and retail services. The geographical location had Director, Peter Haney, concerned at first. " Like most ski resorts, we are very remote. We needed a satellite tower and wireless system. We also looked at a lot of providers and found that most of the companies didn't offer the hospitality end we needed. Volant? is hospitality."

Tesoro had to install a fail-safe, independently running system for the remote summit area that could also be integrated with the high volume operations below. Using both wired and wireless network topology, their system has operated without software failure despite the unstable power and network issues. Snow Valley Ski Resort also utilizes the database of guests and 5,800 pass holders to generate email broadcasts, which enhances their marketing plan. "We're real pleased with Volant?. It's an entity that grows and evolves along with our business," says Haney.

In fact, Volant? has revolutionized the wireless POS industry. Their creative approach to wireless mobile computing makes Volant? the perfect POS software choice for not only ski resorts, but for other venues as well, such as stadiums, trade shows, casinos, arenas, race tracks and outdoor sales areas where conventional POS cash register systems aren't practical nor feasible.

Tesoro Technologies, Inc. may be at the forefront of a new generation of guest management technology, but they're still producing. Recent breakthroughs in point of sale development are allowing a full range of services and back office capabilities never before considered. For more information on how Tesoro and Volante POS systems can help your business, contact them through their website, www.volantesystems.com, or email them at sales@volantesystems.com.

So, when you're looking for a more efficient POS cash register system that can create "excellent conditions" at your resort, spend the extra time researching your options - it may turn out to be the best investment you're resort has ever made.

Used Cash Registers

 There are a large number of used cash registers available for sale on the Internet. Used cash registers are a good way for a business to save money. A register that is suitable for the scale and type of business needs to be well researched and picked carefully.

Companies that sell used cash registers usually do a thorough check of the machine. After that the printer is given a rebuild and fresh printer rolls are loaded. Loose connections and loose circuits are examined and fixed. The machine is dismantled, cleaned out, and then reassembled. During this time, every effort to make the machine look as new as possible will be made. The basic requirements are then reprogrammed into the register. An instruction manual comes with the register to help once it arrives at its destination.

There are many businesses that cater to second-hand reconditioned cash registers, offering repairs, regular servicing and troubleshooting. Some dealers are completely dedicated to selling used cash tills exclusively. The average life of a cash register is 15 years, but it can be extended much more. Most people upgrade their machines every 5 years, which means many used registers available have plenty of life left in them.

Usually when clients purchase new machines, the original dealers buy back the old ones and resell them after servicing. If buying a register for the first time, it is a good idea to start with a used machine and then as needs become clearer upgrade to a new one. That is a good way to discover your cash register needs, and not get stuck with one that lacks the required functionality.

The main thing to check for in a used machine is the speed and accuracy. There should also be a secure money tray and a battery backup, in case the machine loses power. Keeping these things in mind, it is often a good idea to purchase used cash registers.



Cash Registers provides detailed information on Cash Registers, Cash Registers for Sale, Electronic Cash Registers, Used Cash Registers and more. Cash Registers is affliated with Business Letter Forms

Switching from a cash register to a computerized point of sale system was my best business move ever!

I had been putting off changing from my trusty old cash register to a computerized point of sale system, as I was intimidated and daunted by the task. I kept telling myself, changing to a new system would not really benefit my business that much, and in any event, I don't have the time.

A friend of mine, who had gone through the process a year earlier, was kind enough to sit down with me and share how he had handled the changeover process, and some of the tremendous benefits this had provided for his business. Now, two years later, I would like to pass on, how your business could also become more efficient and profitable, by switching to a modern computerized point of sale system.

Here are some of the great benefits I have come to appreciate after installing a computerized point of sale system in my business.

Isn't a point of sale system just like a cash register?

A POS software system does more than just replace your cash register. Showing your cash flow for the day is principally all a cash register does. It is unable to provide any information about profit margins; products sold or best/worst selling lines. On the other hand, a computerized POS system, can on demand instantly report on how much money is left in your cash drawer, and how much of that money is in fact profit. Product specific reports can also show how many were sold today, how many are left on the shelf and when that product needs to be re-ordered.

Helps prevent theft by just being there.

Studies have shown computerized point of sale systems typically, reduce theft by around 2.5%. That means an average small business with a turnover of $750,000 per year, could be losing approximately $18,750. This amount could be reduced or eliminated completely by simply installing a point of sale system. Inventory is watched much more carefully, because your employees know that stock is being monitored. All involved are more alert.

Reduce inventory shrinkage.

A computerized POS system monitors obsolete and broken inventory more carefully and in greater detail. Shelf inventory stock on hand counts are easily and accurately compared with computerized stock on hand counts, further reducing losses by an additional 2.5%.

Better manage your inventory.

Using detailed product reports, the flow of inventory can be managed much more carefully by monitoring increased sales. Historical product data helps in the prediction of future inventory needs. Orders should be based on what you know you sell, not on what you think you sell.

Watch your margins.

Examination of your product reports may indicate you have sold 9000 products that cost 48 cents, for 50 cents each. Or, that you have sold 200 products that cost $1.90, for $9.95 each. Correct use of your reports will help you stock more of what delivers greater profits, and fewer of what produces lesser profits.

Keep your customers happy.

Computerized POS systems, with touch screens, fast barcode scanners, fast thermal printers and many other tools, make the checkout process efficient and much quicker. This results in happier customers.

Pricing accuracy.

Completely eliminate the guesswork associated with manual pricing of your products. Using a computerized point of sale system ensures every product in your store has an associated and accurate price. Your sales staff will have no need to guess prices anymore.

Build a customer list.

Possibly, the most important and beneficial aspect of switching to a computerized point of sale system, is the ability to build a customer list and track your customers purchasing habits. Analyzing your best, worst, high profit, low profit, high frequency and infrequent customers becomes as easy as reading a report. Predicting when customers are about to stop patronizing you store means you are able to directly target market these customers with special offers or gift vouchers, in an attempt to win them back. You can use your POS system to market to a group of customers in a particular region or just to get to know your most loyal customers on a first name basis.

A computerized point of sale system has been one of the best investments I have made for my business. My business has become more efficient, more profitable and a better place for my customers.

Any doubt I may have had 2 years ago has been replaced with absolute amazement for what a computerized POS system has done for my business.

Raymond D of MELBOURNE VIC - POSActive Customer

Preventing Your Visitors From Eluding Your Cash Register

The World Wide Web is probably the biggest technological advancement in the last 75 years. Every bit of information you could ever need is right at your fingertips. However, reading that information can get to be a bit hard on the eyes.

As a Web-surfer, you've probably noticed that it is hard to spend a lot of time reading Web pages directly from your computer screen. The more information there is on a Web page, the more apt you are to print it out and read it later rather then read it directly off the screen. You most likely tend to scan Web pages, reading only what you find interesting.

Now, as a Web site owner, let me ask you this. Are you overwhelming your visitors with too much text? Yes, I know, "copy sells". However, long text (whether sales copy, reports, articles or anything else) read from a lighted surface (like your computer monitor) is not as enjoyable because of the eyestrain. However, there are ways you can create an environment where reading is pleasurable.

Get Their Attention With A Catchy Headline

The first thing your visitor should notice is the headline on the page. Make sure your headline is bold and at least 2 point sizes larger then the rest of your copy. Most importantly, use a headline that will get your visitors attention and will interest them into reading more.

That said... don't stop there! Go on to include "subheads" throughout your copy. It has been proven time and time again that Web site visitors scan before they read. By including sub-headlines within your copy, you can help them quickly pick out exactly what interests them - keeping them at your site longer and increasing your chances of making a sale.

break It Up

break up your copy into easy to read paragraphs of about 3 sentences. Use subheads whenever possible. If you have an extreme amount of copy (long sales letter, extensive report, etc.) you may choose to triple space between paragraphs instead of double space. This will allow more "white space" to come through, thus making it easier on your reader's eyes.

break things out even further by using bulleted or numbered lists. These types of lists are easily scanned so be sure to include important points or benefits within your list.

Lastly, vary your justification. Flush left is the easiest to read. However, an occasional sentence or paragraph that is centered can bring attention to a statement and give additional visual interest to your reader.

Make The Fonts Eye-Friendly

Use an easy to read font for the main copy of your Web site. Arial, Verdana or Helvetica are good fonts to use because they are "non-serif". This means they have no "feet", they appear straight up and down. Non-serif fonts are more easily viewed on a lighted surface. Serif fonts (like Times Roman) that have small "curves" or "feet" at the stopping points of the letters are more easily read in print.

Some other tips include:

· Using a plain black font if possible. Colored text is very hard to read on a computer screen, as it strains the eyes.

· Avoiding all capital letters as they are associated with shouting.

· Using bold or italics only to emphasize important phrases.

· Avoiding underlined text. Underlines are associated with hyperlinks and your visitors may be mislead if you underline text that is not a clickable link.

· Creating graphics-free pages for information that your visitors would be interested in printing out. Since your product is what your visitors came to your site for, it only makes sense to place special emphasis on the text. The more enjoyable you can make your customer's stay, the longer they'll visit, the more likely they'll buy and the better the chance they'll come back.

Carmen is the VP Client Relations of Ms. SEO Inc., a Calgary based Search Engine Optimization & Internet Marketing Company. Ms. Seo Inc. works with their sister company Ms. Hype Inc., a Calgary Web Design Company, and their parent company Cre8 Hype Solutions Inc., a Calgary based Internet Marketing Company, to offer their clients a powerful online presence.

Why Are Your Cash Registers Empty? 8 Reasons Why Your Site is not Getting Sales

Ok, you've got your webpage up and running and you have submitted your site to the
search engines, now it is time to make that money! Right? Well then, how come your
virtual cash register has that hollow ring to it everytime you open it? Your site is not
making sales and there are at least 8 reasons why and 8 simple fixes you can
implement in order to immediately remedy anything you are doing incorrectly.

1.You have relied on a passive promotion strategy to get the word out about your
site. Many of you assume that simply putting up a website will cause tons of
visitors to flock to your site with cash in hand practically begging to buy your
products or services.

Sorry, a passive marketing strategy may bring you in a trickle of sales or
absolutely none at all. Alternatively, by utilizing an active marketing strategy,
you do not wait for visitors to come to you, you do everything in your power to
bring targeted visitors to your site. Active marketers utilize methods such as
ezine advertising and article submissions to targeted ezines in order to draw
traffic to their site. They will also use free publicity tools such as press releases
in order to get the word out about their site to an audience that cares.

2.You do not offer a simple and secure method of online ordering or accept
different forms of payment.

This could be easily solved by getting set up with a merchant account provider
that enables you to accept checks and all the major credit cards and provides
you with a secure website to process transactions automatically. The best
company for this in my opinion is ECommerce Exchange. You can learn more
about them here:
http://www.qcaffiliate.com/qc/goldbar

3.You do not have a method of capturing your prospects names and email
addresses when they visit your site.

Get this set up immediately and start building a mailing list of interested
prospects.

The best way to do this is to offer a mailing list that people could subscribe to.
You could offer either a newsletter about a topic that interests your audience or
even a small tips sheet that sends people interesting and useful information
related to the topic of your website. When you've built up your list to over a few
hundred people, then you can begin to send commercial information regarding
the products and services you offer. As long as you are also offering quality
information for free, your audience will be more responsive to your commercial
solicitations.

4.You do not offer enough methods for people to contact you.

You should offer people as many different ways of contacting (and ordering)
from you as possible. Here are some cost effective contact methods you can
implement: the most natural one on the web is of course email. However, you
should also include your phone number for those who prefer to speak with a
human being. If you have one, provide a fax number. There is an inexpensive fax
solution available from a company called JFax. They will allow you to receive
both fax and voice messages in your inbox for an extremely low monthly fee. To
learn more visit: http://www.j2.com Lastly, you should always list your snail
mail address on your website.

5.You only advertise online.

Big mistake. There are millions of people offline who might be interested in your
site and your information. They are often more likely to order immediately as
opposed to someone who surfs the web regularly and who knows they can
always "come back sometime in the future".

One of the best ways to reach an audience and bring them to your site is to put
your URL and your email address on every piece of correspondence you send
out. I know of one person who adds his URL to every bill he sends out hoping
that it will cause someone to visit. The best part is that this type of promotion is
free so you have nothing to lose. One of the most effective offline advertising
techniques involves getting your ad onto a card deck that reaches a targeted
audience. This is a great way to spread the word about your site to many
interested prospects who otherwise may not have had the chance to find out
about you.

6.You do not rely on the power of joint ventures to get the word out about your
products and services.

Joint venture endorsements have the power to bring in more visitors and sales
to your site than any other method I know of. Joint Venture Marketing involves 2
parties: a list owner and someone who wishes to have his product or service
introduced and endorsed to the members of the mailing list. This has the ability
to pull in a large amount of sales due to the trust built up between the members
of the list and the list owner. When he endorses your products or services in
his own words to his list, he conveys your legitimacy and in turn they transfer
their trust to you. If you have ever heard radio shows like Rush Limbaugh or
Howard Stern, you will notice that the ads that receive the most response are
the ones that these disk jockeys read themselves and almost make a part of
their "shtick". They are in effect endorsing a product and in turn generating
interest and sales for it.

7.You do not follow up when people ask you for more information.

Huge mistake. That person has indicated that they are interested in what you
have to sell. Statistics show that people have to be exposed to your marketing
message at least 7 times before they will respond. Sending one email
explaining your product is not enough. You must follow up with a prospect and
make a concerted effort to close the sale. Explain the benefits of your product
or service, refer them to testimonials of satisfied customers, ask if you can call
them to explain your product in greater detail. If people see this as badgering
and they ask you to stop bothering them by all means do so. A great idea is to
automate all of your follow-up by using autoresponders. There are some great
tools on the market to help you with this, we highly recommend using
GetResponse. Discover some of the great benefits of using this sequential
autoresponder by clicking here: http://www.getresponse.com?13323

8.You try to sell too many products and services from your website.

This may work for a site selling books or toys or vitamins where people may be
looking for a large variety of products. However, on a site that is geared towards
business, too many product offerings can give the impression that your
business lacks focus. If someone gets to your site and is immediately
bombarded with marketing material, they may become overwhelmed or even
annoyed at the commercial nature of your site. Offering many products and
services takes away from your credibility by giving the impression that you will
sell anything just to make a buck. Instead, develop your site around one or two
complementary products and services and offer lots of free, related information.
That is sure to build up your credibility with your potential customers. Try to
develop a traffic magnet (such as a discussion board or related articles) so you
can bring back your targeted audience time and again.
search engines, now it is time to make that money! Right? Well then, how come your
virtual cash register has that hollow ring to it everytime you open it? Your site is not
making sales and there are at least 8 reasons why and 8 simple fixes you can
implement in order to immediately remedy anything you are doing incorrectly.

1.You have relied on a passive promotion strategy to get the word out about your
site. Many of you assume that simply putting up a website will cause tons of
visitors to flock to your site with cash in hand practically begging to buy your
products or services.

Sorry, a passive marketing strategy may bring you in a trickle of sales or
absolutely none at all. Alternatively, by utilizing an active marketing strategy,
you do not wait for visitors to come to you, you do everything in your power to
bring targeted visitors to your site. Active marketers utilize methods such as
ezine advertising and article submissions to targeted ezines in order to draw
traffic to their site. They will also use free publicity tools such as press releases
in order to get the word out about their site to an audience that cares.

2.You do not offer a simple and secure method of online ordering or accept
different forms of payment.

This could be easily solved by getting set up with a merchant account provider
that enables you to accept checks and all the major credit cards and provides
you with a secure website to process transactions automatically. The best
company for this in my opinion is ECommerce Exchange. You can learn more
about them here:
http://www.qcaffiliate.com/qc/goldbar

3.You do not have a method of capturing your prospects names and email
addresses when they visit your site.

Get this set up immediately and start building a mailing list of interested
prospects.

The best way to do this is to offer a mailing list that people could subscribe to.
You could offer either a newsletter about a topic that interests your audience or
even a small tips sheet that sends people interesting and useful information
related to the topic of your website. When you've built up your list to over a few
hundred people, then you can begin to send commercial information regarding
the products and services you offer. As long as you are also offering quality
information for free, your audience will be more responsive to your commercial
solicitations.

4.You do not offer enough methods for people to contact you.

You should offer people as many different ways of contacting (and ordering)
from you as possible. Here are some cost effective contact methods you can
implement: the most natural one on the web is of course email. However, you
should also include your phone number for those who prefer to speak with a
human being. If you have one, provide a fax number. There is an inexpensive fax
solution available from a company called JFax. They will allow you to receive
both fax and voice messages in your inbox for an extremely low monthly fee. To
learn more visit: http://www.j2.com Lastly, you should always list your snail
mail address on your website.

5.You only advertise online.

Big mistake. There are millions of people offline who might be interested in your
site and your information. They are often more likely to order immediately as
opposed to someone who surfs the web regularly and who knows they can
always "come back sometime in the future".

One of the best ways to reach an audience and bring them to your site is to put
your URL and your email address on every piece of correspondence you send
out. I know of one person who adds his URL to every bill he sends out hoping
that it will cause someone to visit. The best part is that this type of promotion is
free so you have nothing to lose. One of the most effective offline advertising
techniques involves getting your ad onto a card deck that reaches a targeted
audience. This is a great way to spread the word about your site to many
interested prospects who otherwise may not have had the chance to find out
about you.

6.You do not rely on the power of joint ventures to get the word out about your
products and services.

Joint venture endorsements have the power to bring in more visitors and sales
to your site than any other method I know of. Joint Venture Marketing involves 2
parties: a list owner and someone who wishes to have his product or service
introduced and endorsed to the members of the mailing list. This has the ability
to pull in a large amount of sales due to the trust built up between the members
of the list and the list owner. When he endorses your products or services in
his own words to his list, he conveys your legitimacy and in turn they transfer
their trust to you. If you have ever heard radio shows like Rush Limbaugh or
Howard Stern, you will notice that the ads that receive the most response are
the ones that these disk jockeys read themselves and almost make a part of
their "shtick". They are in effect endorsing a product and in turn generating
interest and sales for it.

7.You do not follow up when people ask you for more information.

Huge mistake. That person has indicated that they are interested in what you
have to sell. Statistics show that people have to be exposed to your marketing
message at least 7 times before they will respond. Sending one email
explaining your product is not enough. You must follow up with a prospect and
make a concerted effort to close the sale. Explain the benefits of your product
or service, refer them to testimonials of satisfied customers, ask if you can call
them to explain your product in greater detail. If people see this as badgering
and they ask you to stop bothering them by all means do so. A great idea is to
automate all of your follow-up by using autoresponders. There are some great
tools on the market to help you with this, we highly recommend using
GetResponse. Discover some of the great benefits of using this sequential
autoresponder by clicking here: http://www.getresponse.com?13323

8.You try to sell too many products and services from your website.

This may work for a site selling books or toys or vitamins where people may be
looking for a large variety of products. However, on a site that is geared towards
business, too many product offerings can give the impression that your
business lacks focus. If someone gets to your site and is immediately
bombarded with marketing material, they may become overwhelmed or even
annoyed at the commercial nature of your site. Offering many products and
services takes away from your credibility by giving the impression that you will
sell anything just to make a buck. Instead, develop your site around one or two
complementary products and services and offer lots of free, related information.
That is sure to build up your credibility with your potential customers. Try to
develop a traffic magnet (such as a discussion board or related articles) so you
can bring back your targeted audience time and again.

Marc Goldman, Goldbar Enterprises
subscribe to The Marketers Resource Weekly:
The Free Internet Marketing Resource for the New
Millennium. Subscribe at http://www.goldbar.net
Discover the exclusive members only website that
will propel your business to dizzying heights.
The Ultimate Marketers Resource

 

Why Are Your Cash Registers Empty? 8 Reasons Why Your Site is not Getting Sales

Ok, you've got your webpage up and running and you have submitted your site to the search engines, now it is time to make that money! Right? Well then, how come your virtual cash register has that hollow ring to it everytime you open it? Your site is not making sales and there are at least 8 reasons why and 8 simple fixes you can implement in order to immediately remedy anything you are doing incorrectly.

1.You have relied on a passive promotion strategy to get the word out about your site. Many of you assume that simply putting up a website will cause tons of visitors to flock to your site with cash in hand practically begging to buy your products or services.

Sorry, a passive marketing strategy may bring you in a trickle of sales or absolutely none at all. Alternatively, by utilizing an active marketing strategy, you do not wait for visitors to come to you, you do everything in your power to bring targeted visitors to your site. Active marketers utilize methods such as ezine advertising and article submissions to targeted ezines in order to draw traffic to their site. They will also use free publicity tools such as press releases in order to get the word out about their site to an audience that cares.

2.You do not offer a simple and secure method of online ordering or accept different forms of payment.

This could be easily solved by getting set up with a merchant account provider that enables you to accept checks and all the major credit cards and provides you with a secure website to process transactions automatically. The best company for this in my opinion is ECommerce Exchange. You can learn more about them here:
http://www.qcaffiliate.com/qc/goldbar

3.You do not have a method of capturing your prospects names and email addresses when they visit your site.

Get this set up immediately and start building a mailing list of interested prospects.

The best way to do this is to offer a mailing list that people could subscribe to. You could offer either a newsletter about a topic that interests your audience or even a small tips sheet that sends people interesting and useful information related to the topic of your website. When you've built up your list to over a few hundred people, then you can begin to send commercial information regarding the products and services you offer. As long as you are also offering quality information for free, your audience will be more responsive to your commercial solicitations.

4.You do not offer enough methods for people to contact you.

You should offer people as many different ways of contacting (and ordering) from you as possible. Here are some cost effective contact methods you can implement: the most natural one on the web is of course email. However, you should also include your phone number for those who prefer to speak with a human being. If you have one, provide a fax number. There is an inexpensive fax solution available from a company called JFax. They will allow you to receive both fax and voice messages in your inbox for an extremely low monthly fee. To learn more visit: http://www.j2.com Lastly, you should always list your snail mail address on your website.

5.You only advertise online.

Big mistake. There are millions of people offline who might be interested in your site and your information. They are often more likely to order immediately as opposed to someone who surfs the web regularly and who knows they can always "come back sometime in the future".

One of the best ways to reach an audience and bring them to your site is to put your URL and your email address on every piece of correspondence you send out. I know of one person who adds his URL to every bill he sends out hoping that it will cause someone to visit. The best part is that this type of promotion is free so you have nothing to lose. One of the most effective offline advertising techniques involves getting your ad onto a card deck that reaches a targeted audience. This is a great way to spread the word about your site to many interested prospects who otherwise may not have had the chance to find out about you.

6.You do not rely on the power of joint ventures to get the word out about your products and services.

Joint venture endorsements have the power to bring in more visitors and sales to your site than any other method I know of. Joint Venture Marketing involves 2 parties: a list owner and someone who wishes to have his product or service introduced and endorsed to the members of the mailing list. This has the ability to pull in a large amount of sales due to the trust built up between the members of the list and the list owner. When he endorses your products or services in his own words to his list, he conveys your legitimacy and in turn they transfer their trust to you. If you have ever heard radio shows like Rush Limbaugh or Howard Stern, you will notice that the ads that receive the most response are the ones that these disk jockeys read themselves and almost make a part of their "shtick". They are in effect endorsing a product and in turn generating interest and sales for it.

7.You do not follow up when people ask you for more information.

Huge mistake. That person has indicated that they are interested in what you have to sell. Statistics show that people have to be exposed to your marketing message at least 7 times before they will respond. Sending one email explaining your product is not enough. You must follow up with a prospect and make a concerted effort to close the sale. Explain the benefits of your product or service, refer them to testimonials of satisfied customers, ask if you can call them to explain your product in greater detail. If people see this as badgering and they ask you to stop bothering them by all means do so. A great idea is to automate all of your follow-up by using autoresponders. There are some great tools on the market to help you with this, we highly recommend using GetResponse. Discover some of the great benefits of using this sequential autoresponder by clicking here: http://www.getresponse.com?13323

8.You try to sell too many products and services from your website.

This may work for a site selling books or toys or vitamins where people may be looking for a large variety of products. However, on a site that is geared towards business, too many product offerings can give the impression that your business lacks focus. If someone gets to your site and is immediately bombarded with marketing material, they may become overwhelmed or even annoyed at the commercial nature of your site. Offering many products and services takes away from your credibility by giving the impression that you will sell anything just to make a buck. Instead, develop your site around one or two complementary products and services and offer lots of free, related information. That is sure to build up your credibility with your potential customers. Try to develop a traffic magnet (such as a discussion board or related articles) so you can bring back your targeted audience time and again.

Marc Goldman, Goldbar Enterprises
subscribe to The Marketers Resource Weekly: The Free Internet Marketing Resource for the New Millennium. Subscribe at http://www.goldbar.net Discover the exclusive members only website that will propel your business to dizzying heights. The Ultimate Marketers Resource