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NO TRICK: HALLOWEEN SEEN AS RETAILERS'
TREAT
By Jen
Haberkorn and Jonathan Swigart THE WASHINGTON
TIMES
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Halloween must not be
so scary anymore.
Americans are expected
to spend $5 billion, 50 percent more than last year, on candy,
decorations and costumes for the trick-or-treat day this year,
according to a study released yesterday by the National Retail
Federation (NRF), a D.C. trade group.
Nearly two-thirds of
Americans plan to celebrate Allhallows Eve this year, a
significant increase from last year, when half of Americans
celebrated the day.
"In recent years,
we've gradually seen it become a seasonal holiday. It's no
longer just a couple days you see families decorating their
front porches and homes," said Kathy Grannis, an NRF
spokeswoman. "It's definitely become one of the holidays we
like to look at as spanning across all niches, all sectors of
the retail industry."
People spooked by the
day in the past appear to be coming around. About
three-quarters of people plan to pass out candy and one-third
plan to dress in costume, according to the study. About 17
percent of people plan to celebrate the day with a trip to a
haunted house.
The average consumer
plans to spend $59.06 on Halloween, whether on candy, costumes
or decorations, according to the NRF. Last year, the average
person spent $48.48.
Julie Shymansky, 31,
of Kensington, said she expects to spend nearly $200 to $300
on Halloween merchandise, between her house and
yard.
"I'm a decorator. I
love to decorate. Every holiday, I have something out," she
said while Halloween shopping at Target in Wheaton
yesterday.
She said her neighbors
take a "Clark Griswold" -- from the National Lampoon movies --
approach to decorating.
"Everybody's trying to
outdo everybody else. Every year, something new comes out and
they go get it."
For some, Halloween
means more than just candy and costumes.
For 21-year-old
Yulissa Ozorio of Hyattsville, Oct. 31 is day for great
celebration.
"I like it. If you
have to spend some money to buy something, I will do it.
Because it's my birthday -- so it means something to me. And I
want people, when they come to my birthday, to see, like, 'Wow
-- where did she get that?'"
Retailers are
expanding their Halloween selection in response.
"Our Halloween
merchandise has grown from the past years," said Jami Arms, a
Wal-Mart spokeswoman. "In the stores this year, we have
products for a wider customer base."
While Wal-Mart still
has child-friendly treats and decorations, it also has
products targeted toward adults who want to decorate and more
"sophisticated" items such as a cast-iron tea-light
tree.
Halloween is the
second-biggest decorating day after Christmas. About 67
percent of Americans plan to purchase decorations this year,
up from 60 percent last year.
Sixty percent of
Americans plan to buy costumes this year -- up from 53 percent
last year. And they will spend an average of
$21.57.
"Consumers see Halloween as a seasonal celebration to
bridge the gap between the end of summer and the winter
holidays," said Tracy Mullin, president and chief executive
officer of NRF. "Halloween offers a little something for
everyone and, this year, people of all ages will be joining in
the fun."
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Tech Tips
Maintaining Your Computer
System
1. Never turn your
computer off with the power switch until Windows has shut
down.
The one exception to this rule is when your
computer locks up and your hard drive is not running (hard
drive light is not blinking). In this situation, you can turn
the power off without harmful effects to the hard drive. As
cutting the power can also result in lost data or Windows
files, you should only do this when you have
to.
2. You
should have a UPS (uninterruptible power supply) for
your computer. A UPS with line conditioner is preferred. This
will keep your computer from crashing during power outages,
and will protect your computer from low and high voltage
occurrences. An UPS is far superior to a surge protector and
will save your computer from almost any power type of
disaster.
3. Backup any data you
cannot afford to lose to at least two separate physical
drives. The time to backup is when you create something you
can't afford to lose. Backups should be scheduled
daily.
4. Defragment your hard drives at least
once a month . This will keep your hard drive healthy
and prevent crashes. It will also help with speed.
5.
Never unplug peripherals from the computer when it is
powered up. Unplugging with the power on can short
out the connector socket or the motherboard.
The
only exception to this rule is if you know a peripheral is
"hot pluggable". If you do not know what "hot pluggable" means
then ignore this exception.
6. Do keep at
least 400 MBs of your C: drive free for Windows to use.
If you do not have enough free space you will choke
Windows and it will start dumping data to your hard drive, or
it will just get really, really, slow. Use the ADD/Delete tool
in the Windows Control Panel to delete unneeded programs from
your drive.
7. Do not let a lot of
programs load up when you start your computer. They
use valuable memory and Windows Resources (Windows internal
workspace). All programs in your Windows System Tray (in the
lower right of your screen) are running on your computer.
Close them if you don't need them or run them and configure
them not to load when you boot up.
8. Do use a
virus checker regularly. Everyone should use a virus
checker. The best type of protection is continuous monitoring
from a dedicated anti-virus program like Trend Micro or
McAfee. We have had significant speed issues when using Norton
Antivirus with Retail Pro.
9. If you have a
high speed Internet connection you need a firewall. A
firewall program keeps those who want to hijack your computer
from gaining access to your system. You really do not want
someone else running your computer.
10. The greatest enemy to
your computer is heat. It causes the internal
components and chips to wear out. Heat also lowers the
performance of your system. The first thing to check is the
ventilation around your system. Many of the standard computer
desks force you to place your computer in an enclosed cabinet.
If your system is in an enclosed space, cut a hole in the back
of the cabinet behind your cooling fan. This will allow it to
draw cool air into the system. Your system should have at
least 4 inches of space to the rear, with no clutter, loose
paper, etc., to block the flow of air into the
computer.
The second thing you can do, is to clean the
dust from the inside surfaces of your system. Do this at least
twice a year and your monitor once every 2 years.
Make
sure that you clean the blades of the cooling fans. Clean the
power supply fan, the CPU's cooling fan and the case fan (if
you have one) as well.
Custom
Programming
Is your staff spending time on tasks that could be
automated and completed in a fraction of the time? Are
your labor costs whittling away at your profits with
duplicated effort? Advanced Retail Management Systems
offers custom programming services that streamline your
operations, reduce errors and improve your bottom line.
With 20 years of experience in retail technology, we can help
you identify and realize new solutions suited to your business
needs.
We have established an excellent reputation in
providing solutions that include the
following:
? Integration to
various applications: E-commerce, EDI, Order
Fulfillment, and
other systems
? Custom data
import and export routines
? Gift
Card Solutions
? POS system
enhancements
? Process automation
? Custom development for mobile
devices
The ARMS Research and Development Group is
headed by Shawn Wong, who brings the diverse experiences
necessary to understand and provide the optimum blend of
technology, form and function. Shawn's background includes
retail management, web operations, system administration,
software and database development and experience with multiple
POS platforms. Custom Development projects are generally
completed in 3-6 weeks and there is no charge for the initial
consultation. For more information contact your account
representative or E-mail Shawn Wong at
Shawn.Wong@Armsys.com
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The Most Demanding Space In Your Store
One of the most demanding spaces
in your store is the last three feet where you consummate the
transaction with the customer. Point of Sale hardware is often
the most overlooked and under planned component in almost all
independent retail businesses. Your Point of Sale hardware
should be rock solid and durable. For more than 12 years,
Radiant Systems been making Point of Sale Terminals focused on
innovation for non-stop sales reliability. The Radiant P1550
is an all-in-one retail hardened POS terminal combing Intel's
Pentium M Processor, with Touch Screen and MSR reader. The
P1550 is Radiant Systems' premium Point of Sale Terminal built
to with stand the rigors of Retail.
Retail Hardened Design
The
physical strains placed on electronic devices in a Retail site
far exceeds the stresses placed on a device in an office or
home environment.
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Fit-for-Purpose: The
Radiant P1550 has few moving parts with no CPU or power supply
fan and only a backup system fan. The retail hardened design
offers a spill resistant, high impact enclosure that is built
to withstand tough in-store conditions. All this maximizes
system uptime with continuous operation.
Design Validation:
Radiant's extensive design validation process includes stress
testing, accelerated life testing, thermal analysis, agency
certifications and alpha and beta test programs.
Integration Testing:
Radiant conducts full software integration testing with its
hardware products
Experience: Radiant
Systems has designed over two hundred boards in the
development of its Terminals.
Radiant Systems offers a compact,
functional integration tray that combines the P1550 with
keyboard, printer and cash drawer in an attractive package for
space utilization. The P1550 also comes with an optional
integrated Order Confirmation Display or Standard Pole
Display.
The
Radiant P1550 Point-of-Sale Terminal offers the ultimate in
quality and reliability for the most demanding space in your
store. The P1550 is tested and approved to work with Retail
Pro Version 8. Contact Bob Evans today to learn more at (303)
738-1800 Ext. 303 or at bob.evans@armsys.com.
We Want Your
Feedback
At Advanced Retail Management Systems
we are committed to offering the best products and services in
the industry. Your feedback is very important to us in
helping us deliver this promise. Please E-mail us at
customerservice@armsys.com with your comments and suggestions.
Your feedback will remain confidential. Thank you in
advance for your input.
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Meet Our Staff
Cathy Shields - Inventory
Control
Cathy is the newest member of
ARMS Accounting Team. She has been with the company for
2 ½ months. Cathy manages all of ARMS inventory and is
responsible for shipping and receiving. Included with
this Cathy also handles Accounts Payable. Working with
ARMS is an enjoyment for Cathy. "I like the atmosphere
and teamwork."
Her background before coming to
work at ARMS was as an operations manager for a large
distribution facility in Denver. She worked in this
field for 16 years. Prior to this she was an office
manager for a medical collections company in Boulder,
CO.
When not at work Cathy spends her
free time bicycling, walking and enjoying family activities
with her three daughters. Originally from Iowa, she has
called Colorado home since she was age 5.
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The Easiest $100 You Have Ever
Earned
Tell another retail store that is looking
for a Point-of-Sale system about Advanced Retail Management
Systems and Retail Pro and receive a $100 American Express
Gift Certificate. The first 5 Retail Pro customers each month
that refer a qualified lead* will receive this $100 gift - its
that easy! We strive to provide the best Point-of-Sale
products and services in the industry and want to pay you to
help us get the word out. In addition, if your referral
purchases Retail Pro, you will receive our standard
referral fee of $500 on account or 4 Client Service Hours. So
spread the word about Retail Pro and receive a fee gift each
month. Click
here to submit your referral.
*Qualified lead: must be looking to purchase a
system within 6 months and willing to see a Retail Pro product
demonstration. ARMS reserves the right to make a final
determination as to what is approved as a qualified lead.
Antivirus
and General Security for Your Windows Operating System
Environment
Purchase, install and use antivirus
software.
An antivirus software program helps
protect your computer against most viruses, worms, Trojan
horses, and other malicious code. All antivirus software
has some impact on performance with the programs that you use
however this impact is usually insignificant. Advanced
Retail Management Systems has found that Trend Micro Corporate
and their single computer version, PC-Cillan works well as
does AVG and McAfee. The single user of Norton has been
known to significantly affect the performance of Retail pro
however the corporate version of Norton has faired well if
network scanning is turned off.
Just having
antivirus loaded is not enough, antivirus software must be
updated regularly, which usually requires a subscription from
the software manufacturer. If you don't have a current
subscription for your antivirus software, your computer is
vulnerable to new threats. Therefore, you should install
antivirus software, use it, and keep it current. Updates are
usually available at least once a week.
After you've
installed your antivirus software, configure it to check all
existing files, incoming and downloaded files, email messages,
and attachments. Set the "check for updates" schedule for a
daily check.
Use an internet
firewall.
If you don't use a firewall, attackers
can find and attack your computer within 15 minutes of
connecting to the internet. If you use an "always-on" form of
internet access, such as cable modem or DSL, you should
install a firewall and keep it up to date.
Firewalls
come in two forms: hardware and software. A hardware-based
firewall is usually a router, or a personal computer that's
been tweaked to act as a firewall to the rest of your home
network. Today, however, many internet firewalls used in the
home or small office setting are software-based. They might
already be built into your operating system, such as ICF
(Internet Connection Firewall) or Windows Firewall in
Microsoft Windows XP, depending on which service pack you have
installed.
Update your computer's operating
system.
Once you have the firewall in place, keep
your computer's most fundamental software, the operating
system, current by applying the most current software updates.
Failure to do so leaves your computer extremely vulnerable
because flaws in operating systems are usually well-known and
targeted by hackers.
If you use a current Windows
operating system, such as Windows XP, you can use the Windows
Update feature to manually download and install updates from
the Microsoft Windows Update website. To automatically
download updates now and in the future, enable the Automatic
Updates feature by clicking Start > Control
Panel > Security
Center.
Prevent spyware, adware,
and spam.
Many websites and freeware software
tools spy on users and report activities to third parties who,
in turn, use that information to send you spam emails by the
hundreds. If you surf the internet, your computer will get
spyware and adware. If you share files or do instant
messaging, you'll get spyware and adware even
faster.
The best defense against spyware and adware is
not to download it in the first place. To protect your
computer from downloading potentially dangerous
programs:
? Download
programs only from websites you trust.
? Read all security
warnings, license agreements, and privacy
statements
associated
with any downloads.
? Never
click Agree or OK to close a
window. Instead, click the red X in
the
upper-right corner
of the window or press Alt+F4 on your
keyboard to close
a
window.
? Be cautious about
using "free" music and movie file-sharing programs, and
be sure you clearly
understand all of the software packaged with
those
programs.
To minimize spam, consider these
options:
? Ask your ISP
(internet service provider) to verify that they're running
some
type of spam and
antivirus scanner.
? Set up
email filters within your email client (such as Outlook
Express,
Eudora, and
others). Some spam filters mark email that appears to be
spam by placing
***SPAM***in the subject line. Others put the
term
X_SPAM or a
similar header in the mail format area. You can set up
filters
to find these
messages and move them to a separate inbox for you
to
delete at your
leisure.
? You can also
use third-party products that automatically remove
known
spam and place
the messages in a separate inbox for
you.
Choose a reputable pop-up
blocker.
You should avoid freeware tools from
non-reputable vendors. Many freeware tools have spyware in
them. They advertise that they do one thing that you need, but
behind the scenes, they contain programs that can harm your
computer. Pop-up blockers such as the Google toolbar or
StopZilla you can use with your browser or use an alternate
browser (Mozilla, Firefox, or Opera) that has a pop-up blocker
built in.
If you're running Windows XP with Service
Pack 2, enable Pop-up Blocker in Internet Explorer. You can do
this by clicking Tools > Pop-up Blocker > Turn
on Pop-up Blocker. The best way to stop pop-ups is to
never allow them to install themselves on your computer in the
first place. You can do this by staying away from questionable
websites, and never downloading and installing files from
non-reputable sources.
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Physical Inventory Data Collectors
The demand for
renting Percon PT Data Collectors (Physical Inventory Data
Collectors) has been traditionally very high at the end of
each year. We have a large number of Percon PT Data Collectors
available for rental, however, based on the demand we may not
have enough units for all customers. The Percon PT Data
Collectors are reserved and rented on a first come first serve
basis. If you plan to do a physical inventory soon or at the
end of the year, we suggest reserving your rentals as soon as
possible. Please contact Cathy Shields at (303) 738-1800 Ext.
326 or E-mail her at Cathy.shields@armsys.com,
Retail SpotLight
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A boat shop at the Marina, a
ski shop at the bottom of the mountain. Why not a bike
shop on the bike trail? That is where you can find
Criterium Bicycles in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The
motto is 'Start Here!' Criterium stocks the best bikes and
equipment for serious beginners in every age, size and price
range. Criterium in located right off the highway but
more importantly it is located on the bike trail. The
main trail in Colorado Springs runs 18 miles north from the
store and 25 miles south. For Kay Caunt, owner of
Criterium, what better place to provide product and services
than the place people need them.
Criterium is a long time Advanced
Retail Management Systems client and Retail Pro user.
Kay purchased Retail Pro Version 5 from Bruce Klepper, ARMS
company president in 1992. At the time she was looking
for a multi-store point of sale and inventory control solution
that also had a matrix in the inventory database. Retail
Pro was one of the first systems to provide that
feature. When asked about Retail Pro, Kay's message to
retailers is, "go with a company that has staying power for
data management." Retail Pro has consistently provided a
logical path of upgrading from one version to the next.
Criterium is currently running Retail Pro Version 8.
The next time you are in Colorado
Springs enjoying a famous Colorado summer, winter, spring or
fall day; stop at Criterium and start biking. For more
great information on biking and Criterium go to their website
at www.criterium.com .
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8100 Southpark Way # A-10,
Littleton, CO 80120
303-738-1800 | Fax
303-738-9563
Denver - St. Louis - Chicago
www.armsys.com
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