ARMS Success Stories

United Colors of Benetton is a globally recognized brand in the fashion apparel business. It offers women's, men's and children's apparel, shoes and accessories through a worldwide network of over 5,800 stores, which are independently owned. Our company owns and operates several United Colors of Benetton stores mostly located in the West Coast of the United States.

We have been using Retail PRO since the mid-1990s as our POS and inventory management software. When we purchased Retail Pro we were looking for a user-friendly yet efficient system so that all associates could learn to use it easily and Retail Pro fit the bill - it was very easy to learn. Retail PRO has kept evolving over the years by introducing new features and enhancing old ones. Today the system is more flexible, more sophisticated, still easy to use and customize. In addition, ARMS offers great technical support, timely response to any question or issue by phone or email.

Laura of Pembroke is a wonderfully diverse retail boutique with a strong European influence. Local owners Laura Sirpilla Bosworth, Veronica Sirpilla, and John Sirpilla started their venture in 1987 in the Cleveland, Ohio area. In 1997 they relocated the store to its present site at 3119 Whipple Avenue in Canton, Ohio.

The store originally featured only women's designer clothing and accessories. During the past several years the store has expanded at its present location, both in square footage and product offerings. We now offer exclusive women's clothing and accessories, home furnishings, design consulting, personal shopper service, bridal registry and unique gifts.

While we are fortunate to be a thriving boutique, we are a family-owned business with a single location. We have fewer than twenty employees with the majority being part-time help. This can bring with it many problems and challenges unique to a smaller business. One of our primary concerns when we were searching for new retail software was the necessity for it to be user-friendly. We could not afford to waste the time or productivity of our employees to "re-learn" how to use the program if they worked infrequently. Rpro has proven to be very easy for our staff to grasp quickly, but more importantly for us, it is a program which allows them to be away from it for days or weeks at a time, without a period of reintroduction. Its success to me is based on two things: the first is the fact that the program is set up logically, and the second is the "back" button!! Seriously! This ability to return to the previous screen by clicking the Retail button in the top right-hand corner has prevented many employees from having a melt-down or creating a disaster. Being a small business, many of our employees wear multiple hats and complete a wide range of tasks. We love the ease with which we can assign " privileges" for certain groups of employees, giving them access only to designated functions. As an example, our sales associates are members of the "POS" group. They have permission to complete basic sales tasks in Rpro, e.g. add a new customer or ring a sale. They do not have access to perform more advanced functions, such as voiding a transaction. Lead sales associates or managers (who are members of the "Admin" group) can quickly log in to Rpro, completing a function needing greater authorization. They quickly log out, allowing the sales associate to continue working in Rpro, with the access of the "POS" group. This is particularly helpful at the sales register to prevent a prolonged interruption of the cashiering process.

One aspect of Rpro that I particularly appreciate is the program's extensive capability. I am constantly finding new ways to utilize the customer and inventory databases to provide the correct data we need to analyze our sales and customer buying patterns. It saves me hours of manual generation of these figures.

I am very pleased with both the sales and technical support staff. Kathe Burke has been of great assistance with my software and hardware needs. She is extremely knowledgeable and prompt with her communication. The ARMS technical support staff is wonderful. There have been many times when I needed a quick answer (to what I am sure was a very simple question to them), but they were always courteous with their explanation and resolution of my concern. They have never made me feel less than intelligent for asking a question, even if, truth be told, I might have been!

If you are visiting in the Canton, Ohio area, please be sure to stop in and visit us at Laura of Pembroke. We will be pleased to offer assistance with outfitting you, or your home!

Uinta Golf opened in 1971 in the basement of a duplex. It was Utah's first discount golf store. Over the next several years, Uinta Golf grew into one of the most admired and respected single-store golf operations in the country.

In 1998, Sean Smith purchased Uinta Golf, beginning a new phase with a commitment to business growth. Uinta Golf opened its second store in 2000, its third store in 2005 and its fourth store in 2006. In 2008 Uinta Golf opened its RoboFit division. Most competitors treat club fitting as a sort of "premium service" that requires an additional fee. Uinta Golf believes that getting fit is just part of buying clubs! Their team of Club Fitting Specialists is trained and ready to help people find the clubs that best fit their game.

Prior to selecting Retail Pro Uinta Golf had begun to use a software program from a competitor to Retail Pro. It didn't perform as promised, didn't provide data integrity or stability, and was basically vaporware. The experience was an unmitigated disaster. What Uinta Golf wanted was software that was reliable and stable, both in its operation and in the way it processed and reported sales, inventory and other information. They were also about to open a second store and needed software that worked reliably in a multi-store environment. With the Retail Pro software company controller Steve Hansen saw data integrity. The General Reports module offered lots of information and the multi-store polling process worked reliably.

Steve also states that they like the customizable user interfaces. "We like the stability and functionality of modules such as sales orders and physical inventory. We are also using ECI now, as we prepare to launch our e-commerce site." Steve has this to say about Advanced Retail Management Systems, "We have appreciated the annual RPRO workshop that has typically been offered in Salt Lake. It was a great chance to brush up on skills, learn new tips and tricks and meet other users. When we first implemented RPRO we were impressed by the carefully structured implementation plan. With our previous unfortunate undertaking, we worked with a different person for each phase and no one seemed to understand what else was happening or what the big picture was. With ARMS, it was entirely different from that. We had an integrated approach with one trainer who made sure everything worked. With the other software vendor, every step was complicated, confusing and difficult. With ARMS, the process was straightforward, smooth and satisfying. We've also observed that when we want to try something new, most of the time when we ask, "Is there a way we can do _____?" the answer is "yes" or else "I can find a way for you to accomplish that"."

Since implementing Retail Pro in 2000 Uinta Golf also appreciates the training and support staff at ARMS "Jeana Thomas was our "sherpa". She did a fantastic job in bringing us from knowing nothing to being competent users. Throughout the years she has answered many questions and provided additional training. When we decided upgrade to version 8.52, it was a given that we wanted her to guide us through the process, and as always, it was a pleasure to work with her.

We've worked with Michael Guymon since the first, also. He has helped us with many technical and data issues and helped us solve some unique problems." Whether you are a beginner, a pro or know someone that is a golfer be sure to stop in and visit the friendly and knowledgeable staff of Uinta Golf. You can also visit their website for location information. www.uintagolf.com.

A trip to down town San Antonio, Texas takes you to The Guenther House, a well-known landmark. The Guenther House is the pride of G.H. Guenther & Son, Inc. If you enjoy quality flour and baking products then you are familiar with G.H. Guenther & Son, Inc. They are the oldest family owned continuously operating flour mill in the United States, known for their trade marked flours; Pioneer Brand, White Lily and White Wings. The Guenther House was at one time the Guenther Family home, built in 1859. In 1988, the family restored the home to its former glory and opened the house to the public with a restaurant on the first floor, a store on the second floor and a 3rd floor ballroom that is used for special events. The retail store sells the famous G.H. Guenther & Son, Inc. products along with holiday gift baskets, gourmet baking tools and mixes, coffee and preserves. The Guenther House has been an ARMS client since 2001. They originally purchased Retail Pro Version 7.61 and recently upgraded to Version 8.51. According to Nancy Cato, Store Manager, Retail Pro allows them to keep track of their customers and the ease of looking up older invoices and purchase orders is very helpful.

When in San Antonio, plan on visiting The Guenther House. It is sure to be a memorable occasion. For further information on the Guenther House please press here.

The Colorado Rockies opened their own retail stores in 1992. The Colorado Rockies Dugout Stores have the largest of Colorado Rockies merchandise available. In addition to apparel and headwear the Colorado Rockies Dugout Stores offer exclusive products like game used bats and jerseys. The Dugout Stores also sell tickets for all Colorado Rockies home games. There are Dugout Stores in Denver, Littleton, Greeley, Colorado Springs and Broomfield, CO.

The Colorado Rockies evaluated many systems prior to selecting Retail Pro. They selected Retail Pro as their solution of choice as they felt it was the best product to catalog and maintain their inventory. They started on Retail Pro Version 7. Aaron Heinrich, Director of Retail Operations for the Colorado Rockies, states "Upgrading to Version 8 was a big step forward for us. I like the easier transitions among fields, the easier and more accurate ways to search and the ability to use flags on invoices to allow us to truly track the impact of various campaigns." Aaron also says of Advanced Retail Management Systems "They are there when we need them to be. We are not a high maintenance client, and they allow us to be that. I get a check in from various employees at least every couple of months. If I cannot get help from Stacey Ryan or Jeana Thomas, then I probably don't really need it."

Advanced Retail Management Systems is very pleased to have the Colorado Rockies as a Retail Pro client since 1992. If you need anything "Rockies" be sure to visit your local Dugout Store. Go Rockies!

Since 1985 Bedside Manor has been providing customers with the inspiration and customer service to create bedding ensembles that make a difference in their homes. The store started out as a brass bed boutique in Long Grove, IL. It quickly evolved into the source for fine bedding and furniture with 4 locations in Chicago and its suburbs. The stores represent over 100 vendors from the US and Europe and has recently developed its own Beside Manor Private Label Collection.

Per owner Michael Carroll, prior to purchasing Retail Pro in 2005, they were using a semi automated program for sales through a vendor program with accounting and purchasing on a manual system. With the growth of the business they needed to coordinate the purchasing, sales, inventory and accounting. Retail Pro has allowed the business to integrate all of these functions and at the same time has given accurate and immediate reports that have been necessary for better control and growth in all aspects of the business. The margin percentage in the vouchers has given Michael and his staff the ability to track the cost and retail of merchandise. This has allowed them to catch pricing errors and maintain correct pricing between the four locations. The sales staff really took a liking to the system which was very important. To quote Michael, "Through the networking of all the locations together through Retail Pro we are now able to make communications and transfers between locations more timely and accurate. The inventory is more accurate which aids us in year end counts and monthly financial reports."

Bedside Manor also utilizes the BusinessWorks Accounting Link. Initially they continued to run the accounting on another accounting system for the first year to allow for a smooth implementation of Retail Pro at the point of sale for the stores. When they made the transition to BusinessWorks for the accounting aspect of the business it was simple to set up and the confidence and knowledge with the Retail Pro system allowed for an easy transition. Michael feels that they were fortunate to have the expertise of ARMS technician, Randy Hanson as our liaison for their initial set up. During the first year the prompt responses from the service staff was appreciated and crucial to avoid any interruption to daily sales. With 4 store locations and 6 stations there is always a need for support. Michael stresses that it has also been very beneficial to a have a dedicated employee at Bedside Manor who oversees and coordinates the program with the Retail Pro staff. In regards to support Michael acknowledges that it is nice to have the peace of mind to know there is support and help a phone call away.

If you are in need of quality bed linens and home furnishings and are in the Chicago area stop in and visit with the friendly staff at Bedside Manor. You can also shop online at http://www.bedsidemanorltd.com/.

SOL ... store of lingerie, Denver's premiere lingerie boutique has been providing the finest products and exceptional customer service for the past nine years. Providing professional bra fittings is the backbone of this Cherry Creek North landmark, and it is owned and operated by Cindy Johnson and Jeanie Peterson. These sisters credit the success of SOL to the collaboration of niche marketing, complementary talents and a passion for customer service.

Mark Weaver started Active Endeavors in Iowa City, Iowa in 1986 as a local shopping alternative to the outdoor retail catalogue. Weaver, originally from Iowa, later opened stores in Des Moines and the Quad Cities. Active Endeavors offers the best in outdoor apparel and gear from the most technical shell jackets to comfortable, well-fitting back packs. In addition, this unique shop also carries top of the line lifestyle apparel lines such as Patagonia, The North Face, Seven For All Mankind, Michael Stars, and UGG to mention a few. Store Manager, Dave Nerad says Active Endeavors currently buys from more than two hundred vendors. Active Endeavors is a landmark in downtown Iowa City, located just off the University of Iowa campus.

Active Endeavors has been an Advanced Retail Management Systems client since 1995, utlizing Retail Pro’s point of sale and inventory control systems. Nerad likes the versatility of the Retail Pro’s reporting process. Nerad can generate different reports necessary for analyzing a particular product line or department. For a unique shopping experience visit the five floors of Active Endeavors in the heart of downtown Iowa City. Mark Weaver and his wife Eadie, Dave and the rest of the Active Endeavors’ staff provide excellent service and great products.

Steve Lincks opened Ptarmigan Sports in July 1998. Ptarmigan Sports has been in the same location in Edwards CO for all of their 9 years in business. Steve is the sole proprietor of this outdoor adventure store. Combining his lifestyle as an avid outdoorsman and 12 years of industry experience, Steve opened Ptarmigan Sports with 1,850 square feet of selling space and then it grew to 3,000 square feet of selling space.

Ptarmigan Sports does more than sell product. They support a lifestyle that so many people in the Colorado Mountains and those who visit enjoy. Advanced Retail Management Systems is pleased to have Ptarmigan Sports as a Retail Pro client since 1998. Their first version of Retail Pro was Version 6.51. In the past few months they upgraded to Version 8.52. Regarding the changes Steve stated, "it is super easy to train new employees." For Steve the biggest thing is the ease of reports and the reporting capabilities within Retail Pro Version 8.52. If you are in the Vail Edwards area of Colorado whether it is winter or not, Ptarmigan Sports requires a visit. Check them out at www.ptarmigansports.com.

John Capella, President and owner of The Fragrance Depot opened his first store 18 years ago in the Sawgrass Mills Mall in the Fort Lauderdale, FL area. The store was a great success and being a very learned businessman, he waited 8 years to open the second store. The growth has now gone to 9 very successful stores. Where is The Fragrance Depot?s success? It lies in the fact that they have an extensive selection of perfumes and colognes. Where a major department store will carry a select list of products, The Fragrance Depot has over 300 different fragrances. Add to that a dedicated sales staff that provides full service and you will give the customers what they want.

John has been a Retail Pro user for several years. In 2005, he switched to Advanced Retail Management Systems as his dealer. John really appreciates the level of service that the technical support team at ARMS provides. He is impressed that the support technicians ?don?t just throw out answers, they ask a lot of questions to get a good understanding of the problems.? Julie Gilmore, one of John?s key people in the office is very dependent on Retail Pro for reporting needs. She is able to get 90% of what she needs straight from Retail Pro?s report module.

If you are searching for a very special, or hard to find fragrance, then The Fragrance Depot is the place to go. Currently stores are located in, Sunrise FL, Miami, FL, Hanover, MD, Lawrenceville, GA, Auburn Hills, MI and Cincinnati, OH.

Lorigs in Colorado Springs, Colorado is landmark business that opened its doors in 1932. This local institution specializes in Western Wear for men, ladies and children as well as uniforms for industry, police and fire departments. This 5,000 square foot retail store was originally in downtown Colorado Springs. About 3 years ago they moved to a new location just 18 blocks east on a major intersection. Harold Eichenbaum who has been with Lorigs for 37 years and eventually became a partner and in 1982 the sole owner enjoys what he does.

Working in western fashion and work wear retail has given Harold a good understanding of what it takes to make a store profitable. In 1995 he purchased Retail Pro from Advanced Retail Management Systems. In 2005 they upgraded from Version 7.61 to Version 8.51 and currently are running Version 8.52. When asked what he liked about Retail Pro, Harold stated, ?Retail Pro has allowed me to increase my sales and decrease inventory levels, resulting in a faster turn of his merchandise and increased cash flow.

When you are in Colorado Springs, CO and need good work wear or nice western wear make sure you make a visit to Lorigs.

The Tooth of Time is a famous landmark along the Santa Fe Trail in New Mexico. Tooth of Time Traders is also the name of the trading post at Philmont Scout Ranch in Cimarron, NM. Philmont Scout Ranch officially opened in 1938 and began selling souvenirs and equipment to scouts and visitors. Today the Tooth of Time Traders continues that service.

Tooth of Time Traders is an Advanced Retail Management Systems client. They purchased Retail Pro in April of 2003. Shelley O'Neill, who manages Tooth of Time Traders, began working at the store 17 years ago during the summer season. Ten years ago she began working year round. When asked about Retail Pro, Shelley loves it. She has learned to create her own reports and documents fully utilizing the program.

Along with selling from the store, Tooth of Time Traders also has a web site that is integrated to Retail Pro. Shelley speaks highly of the staff at ARMS. There are still signs across the western United States indicating the Santa Fe Trail. If you see the 9,003 foot tall Tooth of Time, then you are close to the Tooth of Time Traders.