One key to success in retail is monitoring sales trends. Imagine having a report for your business review that you can understand. This is where sales data visualization comes in.

The Power of Sales Data Visualization

As the Russian writer Ivan Turgenev wisely noted, "The drawing shows me at one glance what might be spread over ten pages in a book." This couldn't be truer when analysing your business's sales data.

Graphs offer a quick, clear snapshot of your sales trends. They help you:

• Spot ups and downs at a glance
• Identify long-term patterns
• Assess the impact of your business strategies

Let's dive into how you can easily create and interpret these visual goldmines using a business POS system.

Benefits of Visualising Your Sales Data

1. Decision-Making: You can quickly identify which products are your top performers.
2. Inventory Management: It helps you to anticipate seasonal trends and stock accordingly.
3. Better Sales Efficiency: It enables you to focus on what's working.
4. Time-Saving: Get retail data insights in seconds instead of hours spent poring spreadsheets.

Creating Your Sales Graph: A Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1: Access Your Reports

1. Go to Reports in your point of sale software
2. Select Sales
3. Choose Dissection Monthly Sales Trend (Graph)

Step 2: Set Your Parameters

To get a comprehensive view:

1. Select an extended timeframe (Do not be afraid to use five years as even this can show much)
2. Choose your product category (e.g., giftware)

There are many options here, but I will keep it quick and straightforward, and you can build up from there.

Pick a long time; I will pick seven years because I am looking at a long-term trend.

I decided to look at giftware products, so I picked selected and highlighted giftware.

What Can We Learn?

1. Long-term growth: Sales have increased from $20K-$50K to $30K-$80K monthly.
2. Seasonal patterns: Christmas peaks are noticeably higher in recent years.
3. Overall trend: The upward trajectory suggests successful strategies are in place.

I am sure you will agree that it is much easier to see that than a report with lots of numbers.

The Power of Visual Data

Imagine trying to spot these trends in a report full of numbers. With a graph, these insights jump out at you, saving time and mental energy.

Tips and Tricks for Effective Graph Analysis

1. Compare Year-on-Year: Overlay graphs from different years to spot seasonal patterns and growth.
2. Zoom In and Out: Look at long-term trends and short-term fluctuations for a complete picture.
3. Combine Categories: Look at group-related products to identify broader trends in your business.

Your Turn: Give It a Go!

Now that you've seen how easy and insightful graphing your sales can be, why not try it yourself? Here's a quick challenge:

1. Graph your top-selling product category for the past year
2. Look for any surprising trends or patterns
3. Jot down three insights you've gained

Conclusion

Graphing your sales results is a powerful tool for understanding your business travel. By regularly doing these graphs, you'll be better equipped to make informed decisions and improve sales performance.

Ready to Transform Your Sales Analysis?

Try our point-of-sale software now and see how easy it can work for you and turn your sales data for success.

In the world of retail today, knowledge is power. With our POS system for businesses, you have that power.

How did you go with creating your first sales graph? We'd love to hear about your experience and any insights you uncovered. Comment below or contact our support team if you need help getting started.

Imagine if, in a few minutes, instead of guessing how last year's sales went, you knew this. Sounds like magic, right? Well, that's the power of your modern POS software at your fingertips!

Why Analyse Your Sales?

In the bustling world of retail, staying on top of your sales performance isn't just bright—it's essential.  Knowledge is power. Understanding your sales trends through retail data insights allows you to make smarter decisions and drive your business forward.

Point of sale reporting

Before we dive into the nitty-gritty, let's quickly spotlight why your POS software is the unsung hero of your shop:

1. Real-time tracking: You need to know what is selling now!
2. Inventory management: Never run out of your bestsellers again.
3. Customer insights: Understand what the customers in your shop want.
4. Data-driven decisions: Make decisions based on data.

The Dissection Comparison Report: Your Retail Crystal Ball

Our point-of-sale software offers a powerful tool called the Dissection Comparison Report. This intelligent feature allows you to compare your sales performance across different periods. It's like having a time machine for your business!

How to Access Your Sales Comparison Report

Follow these simple steps to unlock your retail data insights:

1. Go to the Main Menu
2. Click on Cash Register
3. Select Register Reports
4. Under the Select Report tab, expand the Stock folder
5. Choose "Dissection Family Class Period Sales Comparison"

Comparing Year-on-Year Performance: Your Business Time Machine

Let's dive into how you can use this report to assess your annual performance:

Then you will see this screen. This is what you will get.

1. Set the left side dates:

   • From: 01/07/2022
   • To: 30/06/2023

2. Set the other side dates:

   • From: 01/07/2023
   • To: 30/06/2024

This comparison will show how your business has grown over the past year. It's like searching past photos of your business.

What to Look For in Your Retail Sales Analysis

• Overall sales growth: Has your total revenue increased?
• Top-performing categories: Which product families are your stars?
• Underperforming areas: Where might you need to make changes?
• Seasonal trends: Do certain products shine at specific times of the year?

Zooming in on Quarterly Performance: The Recent Snapshot

To get a more recent snapshot of your business, let's look at the last quarter:

1. Set the left side dates:

   • From: 01/04/2023
   • To: 30/06/2023

2. Set the other side dates:

   • From: 01/04/2024
   • To: 30/06/2024

This comparison is used to spot recent trends. It's like having a magnifying glass for your most recent business performance!

Questions to Ask Yourself for Better Business Insights

• What products or categories have seen considerable growth?
• Are there any surprising declines in sales?
• How do these quarterly results compare to your annual trends?
• Is your inventory management aligned with your sales patterns?

Data-driven retail management

Now that you have the information, here are some tips to turn your retail data into action:

1. Celebrate wins: Did a particular product category smash it out of the park? Give yourself a pat on the back, and consider expanding that line!

2. Investigate dips: If sales dropped in an area, ask yourself why. Was it a change in customer behaviour or perhaps a supply issue? Your POS software can help you dig deeper.

3. Spot opportunities: Are there growing categories you could expand? Use your data to guide new product decisions.

4. Plan: Use these insights to guide your inventory management and marketing efforts. Stock up on what's trending before your competitors do!

5. Customer focus: Look for patterns in what your regulars are buying. Can you create bundles or promotions based on these insights?

6. Staff training: Share these insights with your team. Knowing what's selling can help them provide better customer service.

Business growth strategies

These reports are your numbers – they are your story. Regularly checking your sales performance gives you the knowledge to make intelligent decisions.

Your Action Plan:

1. Log into your POS software today
2. Run your first Dissection Comparison Report
3. Identify one area of improvement and one area of success
4. Make a plan to address the improvement area
5. Share your success with your team to boost morale

Ready to Supercharge Your Retail Success?

Don't let valuable insights slip through your fingers! Your POS software is ready to reveal the secrets of your shop's performance. Why not dive into your Dissection Comparison Report today? You might just uncover the key to your next big business breakthrough!

As a retail business owner now, it will be many months before you know how your business travelled in 2023. Here is a quick method to check and compare your yearly sales figures.

Year-over-year comparison

First, pull total sales reports for the past few years. For example:

Go to register reports.

Now select the item marked "Sales Comparison for a Given period".

Note you can do it by a supplier, but that can be done later when you have more time for detailed analysis. What we are doing here is getting a quick idea.

1) Put in here the dates 

01/01/2022 to 31/12/2022 AND 01/01/2023 to 31/12/2023

This will take you a few seconds. Then you will get detailed information showing how you went in 2022 compared to 2023.

Write down some key figures. on the report that you wish to measure.

2) Now go back in and run the report with 

01/01/2020 to 31/12/2020 AND 01/01/2021 to 31/12/2021 

You now have four years of information to study. This should give you a pretty good idea of how your business travels now. I find drawing a graph of sales shows me a clear picture. I hope these figures went well for you.

Sales trends

Say, for example, I have figures like this 

• 2020 total sales: $450,000
• 2021 total sales: $485,000
• 2022 total sales: $510,000
• 2023 total sales: $560,000

Compare the totals to identify upward or downward sales trends over time. Steady yearly growth suggests your efforts are working.

Evaluate Suppliers Sales

Use the same method except this time to break down sales by your suppliers month-by-month.

See how the supplier is doing for you.

Compare Operational Factors

Now, some questions to ask yourself.

• Did you expand hours, staffing, space or inventory?
• Did you run more promotions or advertising campaigns?
• Did you add or remove product lines or services?

Data-driven decisions

Use this to make data-driven decisions for your business to move forward. See what is working, what’s not, and where your retail business needs to head next. Let data guide your strategy. Turning those sales insights into concrete actions to improve your future performance is vital. Let the data direct you toward new opportunities for sales, traffic, and profit growth in 2024!