|
|
|
|
|
Reward
Quality Over
Price
By
Matt
Townsend and Cotten
Timberlak 
Product is king again.
After
using discounts and promotions to deliver the
best holiday sales performance in six years,
U.S. retailers will need unique merchandise to
keep the momentum going.
"It's
got to be all about the product," said Christine
Chen, a Needham & Co. analyst based in San
Francisco. Discounts alone are not enough to
keep consumers shopping, she said.
Abercrombie
& Fitch Co., Lululemon Athletica Inc. and
Urban Outfitters Inc. are already winning
shoppers with quality, fashion and merchandise
that can't be found elsewhere, Chen said. At
Abercrombie, teenagers trading up to dresses
from graphic t-shirts helped drive December
same-store sales to almost five times the
industry average. Coach Inc. yesterday reported
a 26 percent increase in second-quarter profit
after introducing new bags more frequently
during the holidays.
Exclusive
merchandise may help decide winners in retail in
2011. Even as the economy improves, existing
stores likely will post sales growth of 3.4
percent, about the same as in fiscal 2010, which
ends Jan. 29, according to the International
Council of Shopping Centers in New York.
Though
the 18-month recession ended in June of 2009,
unemployment is still above 9 percent. At the
same time, rising costs of cotton and raw
materials are pushing up prices at the checkout
counter and may restrain spending, said Marshal
Cohen, chief industry analyst at market
researcher NPD Group Inc.
Continue
Reading: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-01-26/shoppers-want-quality-over-price-at-lululemon-victoria-s-secret.html
Source:
Bloomberg
|
|
Retail
Pro Version 8.6.0 Core Updates
FAQ's
What
is a Core Update?
A Core Update is a
product maintenance release that contains fixes
for specific issues in the software and may
contain new features as was the case with the
August 2010 Core Update which contained the new
Promotions module. Core Updates for Version
8.6.0 are currently being released about every 3
months. Since the initial release of Retail Pro
Version 8.6.0, there have been 9 Core Updates.
In contrast to a Core Update, a New Version
contains new features and functionality and is
designated by a change in Version number. The
next Version of the 8.6 Series, Version 8.6.1 is
planned for release mid 2011.
Do
I need to install each Core
Update?
We do not recommend that
every customer installs each Core Update as they
are released. If our technicians determine that
you are having technical problems that can be
addressed by a fix in a Core Update, we will
update your software to the latest Core release.
All Version 8.6 Core Update release notes can be
reviewed at the following link Version 8.6 Core Updates Release
Notes. Announcements will be sent out
quarterly announcing new Core Updates. If you
are interested in receiving a Core Update you
may schedule this appointment as per
below.
What is the cost to
receive a Core Update?
You must have
current Software Assurance to receive a Core
Update or a new Version of Retail Pro. Gold
Support customers will be updated to new Core
Updates at no charge (if an onsite visit is
requested, travel will be billed separately).
All other customers can expect to be billed for
approximately 45 to 90 minutes of Client
Services depending on the number of locations
and if ARMS installs all locations or if you
assist with the update.
How do I
schedule an appointment for a Core
Update?
If you are not experiencing
an issue with your system, you do not
necessarily need to install the latest Core
Update. If after reviewing the release notes for
a Core Update you decide you would like to have
this update, due to a fix or a new feature, this
appointment can be scheduled. You need to be on
Version 8.6.0 to install any Core Update
releases for this version. Please keep in mind
that with the release of the next version of the
8.6 series, Version 8.6.1, scheduled for mid
2011, you may want to wait to upgrade. To
schedule a Core Update, contact Rosie Grant at
rosie.grant@armsys.com or call
her at (303) 738-1800 Ext
320.
|
|
Announcing
Retail Pro Version 8.6.1
Retail
Pro is committed to enhancing the features and
functionality for customers on Version 8.6.
Below is a snapshot of the new features,
additional functionality and feature updates
included in the new Retail Pro Version 8.6.1
release scheduled for mid 2011. You must have
current Software Assurance to receive this new
Version of Retail Pro. Gold Support customers
will be updated at no charge. New releases like
Version 8.6.1 may require additional training.
Click here for detailed
information about Retail Pro Version 8.6.1.
Summary
of features:
ˇ
e-Receipts
ˇ
Tax Rate By ZipCode Interface
ˇ
RP8 to RP9 Direct Communication
ˇ
Pin Pad Line Item Display
ˇ
Communication Monitoring Tool
ˇ
Embedded POS Training Videos
ˇ
Accounting Link Updates
ˇ
Promotional Module Enhancements
ˇ
EFT Updates
ˇ
BI/DataStor Support
ˇ
Continued PCI/PA-DSS Support
ˇ
Windows 7 Support
We
will be making a final announcement mid year
once Version 8.6.1 is released and at that time
you may contact us to schedule your update. In
the interim, if you have any questions, please
contact our Inside Sales Team today at
(800) 305-0461 and ask for
Stacey or Andrea or E-mail us at insidesales@armsys.com
|
Consumers
will spread the love on Valentine's
Day
Consumer
spending on the couples' holiday is expected to
increase by 11% this year over 2010, according
to the National Retail
Federation.
By Adrianne
Pasquarelli
Hearts will be swelling this Valentine's
Day, and so will cash registers. Consumers are
expected to spend $116.21 apiece on merchandise
for the holiday this year, an 11% jump over last
year, according to an annual survey conducted by
the National Retail Federation. Cupid's favorite
day should ring in about $15.7 billion in total
spending as shoppers who previously cut back
return to spending, bolstered by improvements to
the economy.
"Having surpassed expectations during
the holiday season, it seems consumers are not
done spending on gifts," said NRF Chief
Executive Matthew Shay in a statement. "Jewelry,
candy and apparel sales should provide a nice
boost for retailers during the typically slower
months of January and February."
Local retailers that specialize in
Valentine's Day gifts like flowers and chocolate
are gearing up for the influx of shoppers. At
Red Rose & Lavender, a three-year-old
business in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, business is
expected to increase 15% to 20% this February,
according to owner Kimberly Sevilla.
"A lot of people have been contacting me
about Valentine's Day now. In the past, they
haven't done that so early," she said. She noted
that the company has several different
arrangements, ranging in price from $65 to $150,
for the holiday. Red Rose also recently began
offering a subscription service for monthly
flowers, which Ms. Sevilla expects to be a big
seller on Feb. 14. The majority of her
arrangements are eclectic and non-traditional,
with extras like vintage milk-glass vases and
blackberries rather than red roses in a
vase.
Continue Reading: http://www.crainsnewyork.com/article/20110127/SMALLBIZ/11012
9883/0/FREE#
Source: Crains New Your
Business
|
Announcing the Retail Mobile
Suite for Retail Pro
Perform
Physical Inventory, Receiving, Transfers, Line
Busting, Inventory Status Check, and Label
Printing in a mobile environment with tight
integration to Retail Pro. The Retail Mobile
Suite from FoundryLogic is easy-to-use and you
can get started with minimum training. It works
with Retail Pro Version 8 and Version 9 and runs
on a Windows Mobile 5-6 and a Windows CE mobile
device. The Retail Mobile Suite supports both
online and offline transactions.
A
consistent look and feel is maintained across
all activities and the user interface is
optimized for fast operation with minimal use of
a stylus. Every session is date and time stamped
so that entries are fully auditable.
 Physical Inventory is
supported with both open and blind counting
methods. Multiple physical inventory sessions
can be saved in the handheld device. The
sessions are synchronized to Retail ProŽ as
desired.
Upload
scanned items into Receipts, Sales Orders,
Slips, Transfer Orders, Vouchers, POs, and
Adjustments quickly and easily.
Transaction
discrepancies are handled natively in Retail
ProŽ, which gives you the opportunity to remove
or fix bad scans before importing them into your
documents.
Use
Inventory Check to quickly scan and verify item
information, such as price, quantity, size and
color. You can print labels using a
Bluetooth-enabled printer.
The Retail Mobile
Suite also offers shopper checkout with Line
Buster, or get even more personal and allow your
Shoppers to checkout on the sales floor with
Mobile POS. Mobile POS accepts Cash, Credit
Cards (Planned release Q1 2011), and Gift Cards.
Secure data is sent wirelessly to Retail Pro and
your Credit Card gateway. The Retail Mobile
Suite allows you to E-mail or print a sales
receipt.
For
more information on the Retail Mobile Suite and
Honeywell Mobile Computers, contact our Inside
Sales Team today at (800) 305-0461 and ask for
Stacey or Andrea or E-mail us at insidesales@armsys.com
|
Diagnostic
tool
The Retail Pro System
Diagnostics Tool is used to diagnose and
troubleshoot system and software problems. You
can quickly and easily generate a diagnostic
report containing a detailed analysis of system
hardware, RTI software, and configuration
settings. If necessary, the report can be
printed and sent to Technical Support to aid in
the identification and correction of a problem.
Reports can be saved, printed, and optionally
polled to the Main station.
Step
1 From the TOOLS menu select
DIAGNOSIS.
Step
2 In the Systems Diagnostics window, select
the system components you want to include in the
report. By default, all components are included
except HARD DRIVE CONTENTS. To add a component,
select its check box. To remove one, clear the
check box.
Step
3 Select START to run the report
immediately. The time required to complete the
diagnosis will vary depending on the components
selected and your system performance.
Step
4 After the diagnosis is completed, the
report is displayed in the report window.
Navigate through the report using the scroll
bars, arrow keys, /, or the drop-down list of
report areas. Selecting an area from the
drop-down list takes you instantly to that
section of the report.
The first section of the
report always includes date/time,
store/station/workstation identification, and
Retail Pro configuration information. This
section is automatically included, so no option
to include/exclude is available.
|
Randall
Diederich
Technical Support
Manager
Randall
joined ARMS in 2002, and has a long and diverse
history in IT, including many years with IBM and
going back all the way to system programming on
mainframe computers. He also spent a couple
years with Retail Pro and SPS Commerce in
California, before moving back to
Colorado.
Randall
splits his time between taking care of some of
ARMS larger customers, keeping the technical
services department running smooth, and taking
the lead with newer products such as Retail Pro
Version 9.
When
not working, Randall enjoys spending time with
his family, traveling, music, and
church.
|
Follow
Advanced Retail Management Systems on
Facebook
 Keep up with latest
happenings in Retail and your particular
POS\Inventory Control software by becoming a fan
of Advanced Retail Management Systems (ARMS) on
Facebook! Video Clips from
the ARMS staff with Tech Tips and other helpful
information coming soon!
By being a fan of ARMS, you will receive
information about your software including
special "web only" tips & tricks that won't
be given elsewhere. You'll be among the first to
learn about new release and features, training
opportunities, and links to interesting
information on the web. Connect with the
ARMS staff and our customers!
|
Tell another retail store that is
looking for a Point of Sale system about
Advanced Retail Management Systems. When
you refer a retailer to us that participates in
a 1 hour web presentation for Retail Pro,
CounterPoint or Microsoft RMS, we will send you
$100 - it's that simple!
Register
your referral today. Call Susie Carmen
today at (303) 738-1800 Ext 357
or E-mail her at susie.carmen@armsys.com
|
|
| |
