How Do We Keep Our Employees Motivated

Tech Tips

Online Support Services

The Retail Spotlight

Meet Our Staff

Physical Inventory Scanner Rentals

BusinessWorks Gold Accounting Software

Referral Program

New! Who to Contact
 

By Anne M. Obarski

With all of the calendars and PDA's and lists I make I recently did a really dumb thing. I forgot my best friend's birthday and her anniversary. Both special days are back to back and I forgot both of them. After being friends for twenty years I feel old and stupid!

It could have been that I was packing my last child to go off to college and the constant comments like," You're going to be empty nesters", like I was a big, fat robin, were starting to wear very thin. Even having my youngest leave home was not enough of an excuse to miss two important days in my best friend's life.

So what did I do the minute I realized my mistake? I went shopping!

I drove to my local card shop in the strip center by my home because I knew that not only could I use my special coupon that I had, but that I probably could find something unique there. Just as I thought, as soon as I walked in I saw a display of "retro" Barbie items.

Not a big deal to you, but a big deal to me and I know, my best friend. You see, we grew up in that era and for a short time, I was time warped back to the sixties! I bought an armful of things! A special Christmas ornament, a photo album, a special gift bag, a card and a picture frame! I would have bought more but I was starting to feel a little less guilty at this point! I could just imagine her face when she opens the package. She and I both love "girly" things and this was the epitome of "girly"! I was so excited about these things that I decided right there in the store I needed to mail the package overnight so I could hear how much she loved each item!

As I carried all of my special "finds" throughout the store, I picked up an anniversary card and made my way to the counter. I was the only customer in the store at the time and I noticed that there was only one employee behind the counter doing what looked to be "busy work".

View complete article: http://www.merchandiseconcepts.com/articles.html
 

by Rick Segel

You can't talk about motivation without talking about money.

Everyone believes, or maybe we would like to believe, that money works. I don't have to tell you the answer - you know it doesn't. We want to believe it the same way we want to believe that there is still a Santa Claus. If money were the source for all motivation, then it would be easy. Just put everyone on commission or on a bonus plan and we'd be done. Of course, we would have a problem getting people to work on stock or clean or even help out with a shipment. Maybe we could pay a commission on those tasks as well.

Unfortunately, commissions and bonuses add to other problems.

There is nothing worse than two salespeople fighting over a hot customer who walks into the store. "She's mine!" "No, I waited on her the last time she came in the store!" "But I was on vacation the last time she came in. I always wait on her." "See, she doesn't even like you, why would she come in during your vacation if she likes you so much?"

Some of us have those problems without commissions, so why would we want to pay extra for that behavior?

The current trend in corporate America today is the concept of teams - people working together for a common goal.

A chain is only as strong as the weakest link. Everyone will help everybody for the good of the business and the team. The battle cry is "There is no "I" in team."

View complete article: http://www.ricksegel.com/reprints4.html

Tech Tips

Tips for calling into Support at Advanced Retail Management Systems

When calling into Advanced Retail Managements Systems always write down the trouble ticket number that is given to you by the support coordinator. Reference that number if you call back about the same issue. If you don't know the ticket number then our support coordinator can look it up for you.

There are very good reasons for this. If we open the same ticket on related calls we keep all the notes in order. For Gold support clients that will allow you to see that call on-line and all in one call. Should you have the same issue at a later date then you could go on-line and read the notes on how the issue was solved the 1st time.

If you are on Silver Support be sure to reference your call ticket number to prevent another incident from being charged to you. That is provided that the call was not previously closed and the issue is the same one.

When should you call into Emergency Technical Services (ETS or after hours support)? You should only call into ETS if you have a serious interruption in your business, i.e. your Point of Sale is down. All ETS calls are billed separately from your support agreement. Please listen to the off-hours message and prompts. They are different from regular business hours.

Remember, if you are calling in about training issues please have that scheduled with one of our trainers. You should also schedule any hardware setup calls. These types of calls are client service calls and are billed separate from your support agreement. It is possible to put these types of calls in our support queue but they are put in with a lower priority and they are not subject to the 1 hour response time. An invoice will be generated for all Client Service calls. We encourage you to make an appointment for these types of calls.

PI Preparation

·Being prepared is a step in the right direction for a good inventory. Make sure that your store has tags that are readable using a scanner.

·Make sure everything that needs a tag has one.

·Make an inventory map before your inventory day so you know what area the information that has been scanned is coming from.

·Have a meeting before you begin your inventory. Stress the importance of scanning EACH item or if doing a manual inventory make sure you write LEGIBLE.

·Do not be open while trying to take a physical inventory. You are just asking for inaccuracies

·Have a cut-off time for all transfers and vouchers between remote locations. You do not want merchandise moving around during an inventory.

·If new merchandise comes in and you plan to pay for it during the next inventory period, leave it in the box and do not count it until after the inventory.

·Analyze your existing inventory database. Do you have large negative quantities?

Version 8 Pro Tips:

Faster Startup
If you do not require the use of languages in Retail Pro other than the native English, you can disable loading of translation files during startup. You can also disable the display of the splash screen during startup. This can result in Retail Pro starting significantly faster in some cases (other program features and network configuration may also affect startup time). See the preference note below for more
information.

Indexes and Sort Able Columns
The columns that can be sorted will vary depending on how you have configured your installation of Retail Pro. In order for a column to be sort able, it must be an index (a file that contains specific information on the location of Retail Pro records.) The default index fields for each area are indicated in the Fields section of each individual chapter. In addition to the default indexes, in some places (such as RECEIPTS and INVENTORY) additional indexes can be defined by the user. This is done in RPRO DB. If a multiple field index is chosen, the first field in that index will be the sort able field. (Refer to specific chapters and Tool Supplement TS10. RPRO DB for more information.)

Online Support Services @ www.armsys.com 

Sign up today for our Online Support Services available to Gold Support Service customers. This advanced suite of services will allow you to place support calls online, check the status of your support calls as they are being handled by our technicians, help you in finding solutions to your questions through our Knowledge Base and allow you to communicate with other Retail Pro® users in the Newsgroup forums. These features and more are available when you create an account!

For more information on support plans from Advanced Retail Management Systems, contact Marta at 303-738-1800, Ext 323.

The Retail Spotlight

If you are in the Chicago area and you need a bicycle everyone knows you have to go to Village Cycle Center, the nation's largest bike store. Joe Bledsoe, Store Manager is very proud of the fact that his grandparents opened the store in 1971. Since then, the Village Cycle Center family has seen a lot of trends in cycling come and go. The vast array of their inventory tells part of the story.

Village Cycle Center implemented Retail Pro in December of 2001. Prior to using Retail Pro, the inventory was managed with Edge Technologies and hand written receipts at the Point of Sale. Joe really enjoys the benefits of Retail Pro. The on time inventory management with the ability of his staff to check on the availability of incoming product allows them to provide that extra service to their customers. Being the largest Bike store in the country means lots of lines at the register. Prior to integrating credit card processing with Retail Pro, the lines were 4 to 5 customers deep. Now it is 2 -3 customers deep. During the peak season Village Cycle Center can employ 45 people. According to Joe, training with Retail Pro is easy due to the Windows based application.

With the holidays just around the corner many folks will be looking for that first bike or that very special bike at Village Cycle Center.

Visit their web site at http://www.villagecycle.com

Would you like to be featured in the next issue of The Retail Edge? Contact Bob Evans at 1-800-305-0461, Ext 303 or email us at marketing@armsys.com.

Meet Our Staff

Kathe Oney, Inside Sales Consultant

Kathe will celebrate her 2nd anniversary with ARMS next month. She came to ARMS with extensive retail store experience. She feels her background gives her the edge in being able to anticipate her client's business needs. Kathe enjoys her downtime spent either in her garden or her kitchen.

Angie Ahlene, Accounting Associate

Angie has been a member of the Administration and Finance Department at ARMS for one year. Prior to joining ARMS, Angie did all the Financial Administration for her own business. As an Accounting Associate, Angie helps our clients stay on top of their needs, like the Retail Pro Membership program. While not working on all the details at ARMS, she is working on all the details with 3 children at home. Her time away from work is filled with her children's activities, outdoor fun, and redecorating her home.

Physical Inventory Scanner Rentals

Don't miss out! Reserve your Percon & Welch Allyn Physical Inventory Scanner today for only $100/per day per unit, plus shipping. Hurry quantities are limited. Contact Scott at 303-738-1800, Ext 326.

BusinessWorks Gold Accounting Software

We prefer and recommend BusinessWorks Gold for your business financial reporting.
    
BusinessWorks Gold is the software that links smoothly with Retail Pro to make your job easier. From the same company that makes MAS90, Accpac, Peachtree and DacEasy, BusinessWorks Gold is a solid, easy to learn and affordable accounting program, Sold and supported by our retail accounting software specialist.  For more information, call Doug at 303-738-1800, Ext 318.

Important Notice for our BusinessWorks Gold customers!
Best software will begin shipping BusinessWorks Gold Version 5, October 8, 2004. All customers with a current Best software maintenance plan will get the new version.

Do not install Version 5 if you are using the Accounting Link.
Retail Pro is working on a revised Accounting Link for BWG Version 5
and it will not be available until the first of the year.

 

Referral Program

Receive $500 credit on account or 4 Client Service hours every time you refer a new customer that purchases Retail Pro.

Retail Pro has grown to be the premier Inventory Control / POS software for small to mid-tier retailers. Whether you know a single store or a 100 store chain, Retail Pro provides the technology for retailers to excel.

Call your sales person today at 800-305-0461 or click here to complete the form on our web site to refer another retailer and start earning valuable rewards! 

 

New! Who to Contact

Click here to view our list of employee's departments & titles, phone numbers and email addresses.