Why not help the Last-Minute Shopper Grab Great Gifts? Here is a detailed analysis of the state of this market now.

Today, in the middle of this holiday season, many shoppers have left buying gifts to the last minute. As a brick-and-mortar shop, you can capture sales from these busy procrastinators with innovative merchandising strategies. This post covers ideas for enticing last-minute shoppers into your store and sending them away happy with gift purchases.

Create a Festive Storefront Display

You only have seconds to grab the attention of rushed shoppers passing by. It would help if you created an eye-catching display showcasing your goods. It does not have to be much, but it needs to be noticeable.

• Bright, festive colours and lights
• Best-selling gift items
• Sale signs and promotions

You need clear Signage 

These last-minute shoppers are not planners, they are desperate, they want instant solutions. So place eye-catching signs advertising your Gifts. Include calls to action like “Easy Gifts Inside!”

Set Up a Gift Solution Center

Clear prime floor space near the entrance to set up a small “Gift Solution Center.” This designated area should display the following:

Top-Selling Gifts

Showcase 8-12 of your absolute best-selling and universally gifted items. This removes the stress of choosing for frazzled shoppers. Some ideas:

• Candles
• Gift baskets
• Sets of something.

If you want to know how to get the top ten selling items in the shop at this period well, its easy in our point-of-sale system to do it.

Go to Register reports.

Now select "Top N Stock Sales for a Given Period."

You will want about 100 items with the last three months of sales on our listing, which will look like this because not all the items will be suitable. Like always you need to use some intelligence.  

Start at the top and build your stand.

Offer Gift Add-Ons

Do not stop there often. You can get a bit more to get full value for the impulse spending with these time-pressed shoppers. Make it easy for them to grab useful add-ons by displaying these items together near registers:

• Gift bags
• Tissue paper
• Gift tags
• Ribbons and bows
• Gift wrap

Small treats like chocolates or gift soaps also invite impulse buys.

Be Their Gift Hero

This holiday season, take advantage of busy, time-crunched gift shoppers by making your store the easiest place to grab quality presents fast.  

Implement eye-catching displays showcasing your top-selling, universally gifted items. Designate a unique gift solution centre right up front. Stack impulse add-ons like gift bags and wraps near registers.  

With convenient offerings and locations, your shop can become your community's go-to last-minute gift destination. Reduce holiday stress while ringing in sales! Become the gift hero for harried shoppers this Christmas.

Give it a shot and see how you go. 

Swipe, beep, tap. Thanks to modern payment technology, paying for something has never been easier. But while tap-and-go is crazy convenient for customers, the hidden fees in the payment system are anything but convenient for business owners.

Every time a customer pays with a dual-network debit or credit card, you may pay inflated processing fees that dig into your bottom line.

The Banks Have Been Slow to Act

But a simple fix could help you save - the least cost routing (Merchant-choice routing).

The Reserve Bank has revealed a woeful roll-out of least-cost routing technology by the major banks after repeated urgings to act.

.. the National Australia Bank has remarkably only turned the system on for 15 per cent of its merchants and the other major banks offer it to well under half their customers.

When I was told that, I freaked out.  How could so many people not have it? 

Small business payment processing

In the current payments system, a customer taps their debit or credit card to purchase in your shop, and that payment is without least cost routing, likely being sent through the bank's preferred path on the EFTPOS network, which is not often the cheapest.

But here's the thing - most of those cards also have access to the lower-cost EFTPOS network, but your EFTPOS/Credit systems are not set up to take advantage of this fact. If so, your shop is shouldering unfairly high fees on every card transaction. Why should you be penalised with an excessive fee?

Why Unfair Fees Matter

• You either absorb the fees and take a hit on your tight margins or pass the costs to customers through higher prices.

• This makes you dearer as your fees are higher than those with low-cost routing.

• This stifles competition when businesses are saddled with higher fees

Least Cost Routing Can Instantly Save You Money

Yet least-cost routing could help small businesses across Australia save over $1 billion per year.

With the least cost routing, dual-network card payments are automatically routed through the lowest fee network. This ensures you pay the minimum fees whenever a customer taps their card or buys online from your EFTPOS/Credit provider. Saving just cents per transaction adds up pretty fast.

Reducing card fees for small businesses

Please don't wait for your bank or payment provider to act because they are clearly not acting. You have to take control and access the savings of least-cost routing now.

Step 1: Ask Your Provider

First, contact your payment terminal or POS software provider. Ask if they offer the least-cost routing and whether it is activated for your business. If not, put pressure on them to enable it. 

Step 2: Review Your Fees

Take a detailed look at your monthly statements. Identify high credit/debit card fees.

Step 3: Train Your Team

Ensure staff know how to process cards via the EFTPOS network, which can save you money.

Take Action Now for Your Business

Small changes in your business can quickly add up to big savings. But we need your help to pressure the banks and payments giants to enable fair fees for all.

Contact your EFTPOS provider today to enable the least-cost routing. Also, check your monthly statements for excessive card fees to identify possible savings.

With simple advocacy, you can tap into instant savings for your shop. Let's work together to build a fairer payment system for small retailers and consumers.

If you have not done it yet, do it NOW!

I was reading this article here on how badly Optus handled its outage, and while reading it, I realised that there are many lessons here for all of us. As business owners, we strive to provide excellent service to our customers daily. But in life, things sometimes go wrong. Occasionally, things go badly south. I have had vital deliveries go missing; telephones knocked out, which knocked out all our support; water in the building, which meant everyone had to go home, etc. etc. etc. Then what matters most is how we respond during these difficult situations.

Here is my take on what happened.

Now, one of Australia's largest telecommunications companies, Optus, experienced a nationwide service outage that left millions of customers without mobile data, text messages, and phone calls. Most of the problems were fixed by the end of the day, but as of this morning, some of my clients were still reporting problems. 

Let us review Optus's outage handling, which provides valuable lessons for us in crisis management.

Quick Response is Crucial

When disaster strikes, a quick public response is vital. People knew that things were wrong. I was alerted about 5 AM. I soon learnt that it was not just us, but I needed help to get details from Optus on what was happening. I was upset about what would happen to our support without phones. I can tell you that a delayed response fuels outrage. Then, when they did announce it, it was a vague message. They should have immediately addressed any significant incident on social media and their website. Even a short but sincere message goes a long way, even if details need to be clarified. What you need to do then is to give customers a tentative score and assure customers that you're working urgently to resolve the problem. 

Regular Communication Builds Trust

Regular updates are essential, even if you have limited new information to share. For example, when a delivery goes missing, we try to find the score and then call our clients to apologise for the inconvenience. We then keep in touch with them regularly after that. I am sure you do, too. 

Empathy is Everything

Optus' CEO came across as distant and uncaring in her messaging. If the reports are correct, she lost all communications except for WhatsApp; if so, her reports eroded trust in her. We need to be empathetic in communications, then. Be transparent about impacts and acknowledge feelings of anxiety or inconvenience. Even if it is unimportant to you, it is important to them. I can remember my Mum being so upset when some flowers were going to be delivered late, then the florist was very good and assured her that they were committed to resolving issues promptly. They spoke in simple, human terms.

Get Ahead of the Narrative

With no substantive updates, we saw speculation and misinformation quickly spread online about the Optus outage. Some people will always think the worst. It would be best if you stopped them by being proactive with information.

Behind-the-Scenes Access

I love her suggestion that Optus could have generated goodwill by providing behind-the-scenes footage of their engineers working to restore networks. Introduce information that your staff is working hard to assist. This puts a human face on your recovery efforts.

Learn from Past Crises

If you think about it, Optus should have had a crisis plan in place after Optus's significant data breaches last year.  No worries as the saying saids

We need to learn from what went wrong.

Accountability Starts at the Top

The Optus CEO's lack of leadership during the outage sparked heavy criticism. In a crisis, owners/senior management must be visible. After all, they are the decision-makers. If you do not care, what does it say? It would be best to position yourself as commanding the situation with dedication and accountability.

Tone Deaf Actions Undermine Trust

When millions were struggling without phones, Optus' CEO provoked outrage by conducting a photo shoot in her luxury mansion. Perception is reality - avoid activities that seem insensitive given the circumstances. In a crisis, it is the time for selfless customer service, not self-promotion. 

Ongoing Reassurance is Key

Your post-incident messaging should reassure customers of your business resilience and commitment to delivering exceptional service. Responsible crisis management demonstrates your determination to preserve their trust for the long term.

Major crises will happen despite best efforts. But you can minimise the business damage and deepen customer loyalty through rapid response, transparency, accountability and compassion. Use the hard lessons from Optus as a blueprint to refine your incident readiness. Your customers will appreciate your dedication to continuity and care.

Summary: Key Takeaways for Retailers

• Immediately acknowledge major issues
• Provide regular updates, even without new info
• Adopt an empathetic, human tone
• Get ahead of online narratives
• Give behind-the-scenes access
• Learn from past incidents
• Show strong leadership
• Avoid insensitive actions
• Reassure customers post-crisis

By applying these crisis management practices, your business can demonstrate resilience, accountability and customer dedication. Be prepared to act decisively when unforeseen problems occur. Your efforts to maintain transparency and care will go a long way with your loyal customers.

We are always trying to improve things, so we are forever rearranging your existing space to improve. This can be an exciting but also challenging time. If you muck it up, you may need to call an engineer to fix it. That may cost you time and money.

Besides, your point of sale (POS) system is the heartbeat of your business operations, so moving it successfully is critical to avoiding disruptions while you do your POS system relocation.

Follow these tips to make sure your POS register and hardware transition smoothly to the new space:

Map Out Your New POS Setup

Before moving day, visit your new location and figure out exactly where you want your POS register and other hardware to be situated. Check your cables are long enough, and ensure you have enough space for all the devices, e.g. printers, cash draw, etc. The more you work out in advance, the better it will be.

Take a few photos

Do not be shy, take many photos. If something goes wrong, those photos will be really appreciated. 

Label Cables and Ports

As you’re disconnecting devices in your existing space, be sure to label each cable and note what port it was plugged into.

Clearly, labelling cables will help immensely when reconnecting everything in the new location. You want to avoid plugging devices into the wrong ports or having a tangled mess of cables without knowing what’s connected to what.

Some tips for labelling cables and ports:

• Use masking tape or printed labels that won’t come off quickly.
• Note the device name, port number/location, and what it was plugged into.

Back-Up Your POS System

Before moving equipment, do a full system backup of your POS software. It is good advice before doing anything to your hardware. Rarely have I seen anyone upset with having too many backups.

Treat your Hardware Safely

If you move them a fair distance, carefully pack them up to avoid damage in transit.

Schedule Vendor Support for Installation

Try not to do anything after hours or weekends. In an emergency, if you need help, if available, just in case. As a rule, I say do such tasks from Tuesday to Thursday.

Shut Down the POS Server and Devices Safely

This is important. Switch off everything before disconnecting and moving the devices from the power and data cables.

Test Connections at the New Location

At your new location, set up your POS register in stages:

• Get your POS server and networking hardware like routers and access points connected first.
• Slowly connect POS devices one at a time, testing after each.
• Verify connections by processing practice sales before going live.

Taking it slow helps isolate any connectivity issues or bad cables. Testing with practice transactions ensures your setup is operational before real customer use.

Conclusion for moving a POS System to a New Location

Moving your business can be hectic, but careful planning and preparation will ensure your POS system transitions smoothly without impacting operations.

The Debtors Outstanding report is one of the most critical reports in a business. As a rule, it should be run at least once every month. What it does is print an outstanding balance for all your debtors.

This determines how your business is handling its debt collection. This is why banks and financial institutions commonly request this report.

Looking at the image above, I think you will find it great that you can select any date (I chose a date in 2017, seven years ago, to show how flexible our POS System is) and display numbers for this date. This feature is handy.

This report is located in Registry Report > Client Trial Balance.

This is one of the most critical reports in a business. As a rule, it should be run at least once every month. What it does is print an outstanding balance for all your debtors.

This determines how your business is handling its debt collection. This is why banks and financial institutions commonly request this report.

Looking at the image above, I think you will find it great is that you can select any date (I chose four years ago) and display numbers for this date. This feature is handy.

This report is located in Registry Report> Client Trial Balance.

You also get the date range you want the breakup among the other options. In general, most people use months, but some prefer weeks. Others use a 4-week cycle because it gives an extra month in a year. It's up to you to decide. If you need more options, click the More Criteria tab.

In the standard report, you will get something like

The name is drawn out here, but if you look at it, you'll initially see that almost everything is within 90 days. It would be a red flag if it's actual data, not many years ago.

What I find very useful is to look at it twice a month. This lets me stay on top of debt collection and spot any issues early. Monitoring the debt levels regularly is crucial for any business.

I highly recommend adding the Debtors Outstanding report to your regular reporting schedule. It can help avoid cash flow issues and keep your business financially healthy. Let me know if you have any other questions!

RU OK? Today is a national day of action in Australia, where people are encouraged to check in with their family, friends and peers to ask if they are doing okay mentally and emotionally. 

Why is R U OK? Day important?

R U OK? Day is important because it raises awareness of the importance of mental health and wellbeing, especially in these challenging times of pandemic, disasters and economic uncertainty.

It is not just staff that are affected business owners also feel isolated.

How can you support your staff and colleagues on R U OK? Day?

A business owner does have a legal responsibility. Here are some tips for what is suggested that you can do:

• Download the free workplace resources from the R U OK? website here to learn how to ask, listen, encourage and check in with your staff and colleagues.
• If you are concerned ask your staff and colleagues how they are feeling and listen with an open mind. Don't judge, interrupt or offer advice unless they ask for it. 
• Encourage them to seek professional help if they are struggling with stress, anxiety, depression or other mental health issues. Your employee organisation can suggest services like Beyond Blue or Lifeline. 
• Create a supportive work environment where people feel valued and respected, a culture of trust, collaboration and kindness. Avoid unrealistic expectations, excessive workloads and unnecessary stress.

What if you are not doing okay?

Life can be challenging and unpredictable, especially during these times. If someone can help why not get help?

Today, with rising electricity rates to disturbing points, many shop owners are looking for ways to reduce their power usage. Computers and other electronics can chew through a fair bit of energy, so optimising their use is a great way to cut electricity costs. Here are some tips for saving power with your shop's computers and devices. On current rates, I estimate it should save about $300 for each computer a year.

Modern computer

A modern ENERGY STAR computer uses 30-65% less energy than the older models. So use your modern computers rather than your older computers. 

Enable Power Management Features

Enabling power management on computers and monitors can reduce electricity. To do this requires some computer skill, as it can really muck up your system. What I suggest is do one change, check it and if it goes okay, do another change.  The most important item is as the monitor uses most of the power, setting the monitor to go off after 15 minutes of non-use will save quite a lot of power with little risk.

Turn Off Devices When Not in Use

If a device is unused, why not turn it off? Instruct your staff to turn off computers, monitors, printers, etc when not required. Generally, there is no reason at the end of the day to leave most of these on overnight.

Unplug chargers

Phones, laptops, and other power adapters continue to draw power even when not charging. Make sure to unplug these accessories when not in use.

Switch to Laptops

Rather than use desktop computers, consider switching to a laptop. Laptops use 90% less power than a typical desktop computer.

Print Less

Encourage employees to print when absolutely necessary. Consider using double-sided printing. This simple change can reduce paper usage by up to 50% while cutting toner and electricity costs.

Conclusion

With some diligence about powering down equipment and enabling power-saving settings, you can realise tangible electricity savings in your shop. Encourage staff to be mindful of their computer use habits.

The checkout or front counter is the best and most profitable area to display stock for most clients. Just ask your suppliers where they want their stock. I am sure they will say put it on your checkout counter. 

Because it is so vital the checkout counter is, its design requires careful thought. 

I like these U-shaped checkouts, which offer many benefits compared to traditional straight counter layouts.  

Here is an example.

Here are some advantages of this key selling area

> The checkout line is the best place for impulse sales. Shoppers there have selected items already and are ready to make purchases. U-shaped counters keep more customers in this mindset across multiple queues. This leads to greater impulse sales.

> Maximised Merchandising Display as it has more space around the counters. This extra space allows stores to merchandise more products in the high-traffic checkout zone.

> Increased Queue Capacity as the design will enable customers to line up on three sides rather than just one. This triples the queue capacity plus presents them with many products to consider. 

> Increases impulse buys, as the U-shaped counters provide the perfect space to display high-margin secondary items. Things like batteries, candy, magazines, and phone chargers can catch the eye of waiting shoppers. More open space means more opportunities to entice add-on purchases.

> The U-shaped counters allow supervisors to observe all registers quickly. The layout makes the checkout team more cohesive and coordinated. From both a sales and operations standpoint, U-shaped checkouts maximise productivity. 

> Makes it much easier to put many computer terminals together 

Conclusion

The checkout or front counter is a crucial area for retail businesses to showcase their products and increase sales through impulse sales. It is essential that you carefully plan and design this key selling area to maximise its potential. I think you will find that a U-shaped checkout layout offers several advantages over traditional straight counter designs.

Introduction

You likely utilise receipt rolls in your shop to generate receipts. The main uses are:

- Providing transaction evidence for customers.

- They are used for personalised messages, discount vouchers, or much of your advertising campaigns.

Here is our experience with our clients with such receipt rolls.

We do have some alternatives to using your receipt rolls.

-Emailed receipts are another option for those looking to provide customers with receipts while saving trees. Additionally, the email addresses can be used for marketing.

-Digital receipts, which can be sent online. Digital receipts allow more features than paper, making them popular among many modern businesses.

How to Choose the Right Receipt Rolls

If you're considering receipt rolls for your business, consider this purchasing.

- Think about what kind of printer you have - this will determine which types of receipt roll you can use. In particular, check the width.

- Another vital factor to bear in mind is the length of the paper roll, the longer the length, the better.

- Higher-quality paper looks better, stores better, has better strength and gives fewer paper jams.

- Prices can vary, so comparing prices among different suppliers is worth it. Look out for discounts or bulk deals that could save you money in the long run.

- Before buying in bulk, buy a roll to test out first and see if you like these rolls first.

Preprinted rolls

These come with customized logos or watermarks to make your shop look professional. It can also safeguard against fraud.

How to Store Receipt Rolls

Receipt rolls use thermal paper, so keep your receipt rolls in a cool, dry, and dark place, away from direct sunlight or heat sources.

Many people put them on the shelves to sell as well as store. Why not? They have to have them, so they try to do business.

It's essential to keep them in their original packaging or a sealed plastic bag until you use them.

Conclusion

Receipt rolls are essential for businesses that must provide customers with transaction evidence. But, not all receipt rolls are the same, and you need to consider several factors before buying them.

Actionable tips

- Consider why you need receipts. Some alternatives can often be used.

- Before buying, check your receipt printer's specifications, particularly its width.

-The longer the roll, the better.

-Better quality rolls make your receipts look better and help you work more efficiently.

-Check prices from different providers.

-Before buying in bulk, buy a single roll to test it.

-To give your shop a more professional appearance and increase your protection against fraud, you might want to use rolls preprinted and personalized with logos or watermarks.

-Receipt rolls must be stored in a cool, dry, dark area not exposed to heat or direct sunlight.

-Keep receipt rolls in their packing or seal them for security against residue, dampness, and residue.

-Assuming you have extra receipt rolls, you can show them on the stands for clients to buy. As well as providing storage, it may generate revenue.

We hope you found this blog post informative and helpful. Please share your experiences, questions, or feedback on receipt rolls.

In your shop, it is vital to ensure that everyone that uses your POS Software has their unique (ID) and that they use it. This practice makes people accountable and helps keep track of who did what.

Sharing logins is NOT to be permitted.

This makes tracking what people are doing easier. Do this, and you can examine quicker errors and discrepancies and search for suspicious behaviour.

We had a situation last week where something went wrong with a transaction a few months ago. The shop owner had no idea who did it as the ID is used by many people in the shop.

Another example was that our client's evidence was rejected in court because the employee used an ID considered a generic code, rendering the evidence inconclusive. This unfortunate incident highlights the importance of adhering to the policy requiring employees to be issued individual IDs.

Conclusion

Please make everyone that uses your POS Software have and uses their ID.

Executive Summary:

> Everyone in the shop which uses the POS software needs a unique ID.

> Sharing logins must be wholly disallowed.

> Individual IDs simplify error detection and suspicious behaviour investigation, enabling activity tracking and raising accountability.

The National Disability Insurance Scheme, with its runaway costs, has brought disability into the public eye again. 

Now have you recognised the significance of accessible retail and the necessity of meeting the requirements of people with disabilities? Nearly 4.4 million Australians, or 18.5% of the population, reported having a disability, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics. 

Over the years, I have noticed that the retail industry has done much for individuals with handicaps. Still, here is a question for you: are you sufficiently meeting the requirements of some of our most vulnerable citizens?

Why it matters, here are some points. 

> Its the right thing to do 

We have a moral responsibility to ensure everyone has as full access to public life, no matter what their abilities or disabilities are.

> These people make up a large number of consumers. 

People with disabilities are more likely to shop in stores that are accessible. The fact is that they often bring their loved ones along. 

> If you do not make reasonable steps, what message are you sending?

It communicates something specific about your business. That you are insensitive or uncaring as you do not provide customers with disabilities with reasonable accommodations. 

> Problems with the law In Australia. 

There are several laws and regulations to protect the rights of people with disabilities. They state that you must make reasonable adjustments to meet the requirements of customers with disabilities and ensure that your products and services are accessible to those with disabilities. 

> Injury Prevention in Your Store as a result of a Lack of Proper Infrastructure 

Suppose someone with disabilities gets injured in your store due to inadequate infrastructure. 

Here is my personal example 

In a large shopping centre, an older adult fell. The centre manager came down immediately. He then talked nicely to the woman. He gave her a free drink. He ordered her a chair. Then had his staff help her with it. He then had a security guard escort her to the centre. Then he announced that when she returned, she would contact his office immediately, and he would ensure she would be escorted. 

The newsagents I talked to told me he could not see the centre manager. He never talks to him. This woman got centre manager immediately.

What can we do?

There are a few ideas.

> Providing clear signage is another easy way to make your store more accessible.

Your signs should be at a height that is comfortable for wheelchair users and so easy for them to read. 

> Customers who use wheelchairs or mobility aids should have access if possible.

The entrance, shop and point-of-sale aisle should be wide enough to accommodate these devices.

> Train your staff to offer help.

Your staff should be prepared to give help to clients' inabilities, such as assisting them with tracking down an item or conveying their purchases to the vehicle. 

Conclusion:

Retailers need to consider that their products and services are accessible to all customers, including those with disabilities, by making reasonable adjustments.

Executive summary:

> People with disability comprise about 4.4 million Australians or 18.5% of the population.
> Retailers need to consider making their stores accessible to people with disabilities.
> Some measures can be taken immediately at little cost.
 

Introduction

Selling greeting cards are a profitable business opportunity for retailers as they have high sales and margins. 

Greeting cards are considered the department in the shop that can be the fastest and best improved by monitoring by POS Software. Improvements, when done, are often immediate.

The problem now is that most of the greeting card management today in most stores is done by the sales representatives of the card companies. These people are notorious for making decisions that maximise their companies, not the retailer. This is because, in the past, managing this department was extremely difficult using manual methods as there were too many greeting card lines, but it is easy with POS Software designed to do so. Today by utilising POS Software, you can rapidly and effectively see which cards are selling well and which do not.

Now, what you can do - the action plan!

Your POS Software is tracking the cards sold. Most of you have the data inside your computer now. You can use that to make informed decisions about your greeting card stand.

Review your top-selling report by quantity and the last 12 months. Set up an arbitrary minimum sales number.

Say you want to find now your slow-moving stock that you are holding. This is a quick step by step way of doing just that.

Go to reports and select stock, see the red arrow on the image here.

Now enter in the criteria you require.

Where it is brown is the date range, I suggest starting with a year, but it's also good with three months.

Where it is blue, enter the minimum sales figure from the top-selling report.

Where it is purple is where you specify the greeting card department.

You then get a detailed report showing the value of the stock holdings and the amount moved in this period. I think many of you may get shocked by its value.

Further analysis

> Now analyse your cards by category using your sales data. See which categories are selling well and which do not. This information will help you decide which categories to expand and which to contract.

> Review greeting card sales by their position on the stand to see where your cards are selling well. Your best-selling cards should be in the best places. What you are trying to do is place the cards to maximise sales.

> To identify seasonal patterns, retailers should also keep an eye on trends in sales over time by categories. These patterns can to used to maximise profitability.

> Now compare your greeting sales data to previous periods. You can see how your greeting card stand performs by comparing sales data to prior periods.

> Your sales reports can also help you identify your price points in the greeting card. Using it, you can quickly determine the prices for cards your customers are willing to pay.

Quantities on Hand

If your stock levels are incorrect, you must consider a stocktake to proceed.

Retailers should track inventory levels to avoid overstocking and increased storage costs. It is common in your storage area to find cards just sitting there.

Set up a monitoring schedule.

Set up a regular schedule to watch your card sales and stock information. It takes little time to do this once you are set up.

Conclusion

Using your POS software sales data analysis can be a more lucrative department.

Executive Summary:

> Greeting cards are a lucrative business opportunity for retailers due to their high margins and sales.
> POS software that monitors sales of greeting cards may result in immediate sales increases.
> Retailers frequently rely on management from card companies' sales representatives, who may not put the retailer's interests first.
>Greeting card sales can be effectively managed, and data-driven insights for decision-making can be provided by POS software.
>Top-selling cards can be reviewed, sales can be analyzed by category and location, seasonal patterns can be found, sales data can be compared to previous periods, and the best price points can be found using POS software.
>Additionally, retailers can avoid overstocking and storage costs by monitoring inventory levels and establishing a monitoring schedule.
>Retailers can increase their greeting card department's profitability by using sales data analysis in point-of-sale software.

Today transactions have become more convenient, and various payment methods have made our lives easier. However, with convenience comes the risk of errors and fraud. Therefore, it is vital to be careful and vigilant regarding financial transactions.

Recently, a client of ours sold a few thousand dollars of goods. The people needed help figuring out what to get, so they put the goods on order and left the shop. A few hours later, they rang up, said it was going ahead, and asked for the payment details. Soon my client received a copy of the receipt for the cheque deposited at the bank. Then the people rang up to ask to pick the goods up immediately.

I will not go into the details, but the cheque bounced. 

This can be a frustrating experience for anyone.

There are many reasons why a cheque can bounce; some that I have come across were: 

> Drawer needed more funds.
> There are errors on the cheque
> The account was closed
>  The person put a stop order on the cheque.

Many of you can add more points.

If you want to know how careful you must be, I once had a cheque bounce from a government department. I went to the department accounts personally and was told they could do nothing and that I would need to notify them in writing. 

Conclusion

Exercising caution and taking the necessary precautions are essential when processing financial transactions. It is best to wait for bank clearance before releasing the goods or transferring ownership because releasing them before then can be risky.

They say that a bounced cheque can teach a businessman a valuable lesson about the risks and challenges of running a business.

It can be frustrating when software issues arise and you believe you need help. So then people call our technical support.

Now that people contact us can be frustrating if they do not provide information to identify them. If we cannot contact someone, how can we assist them?

Here's an illustration from yesterday.

We will notify you by email that we believe your issue has been resolved and are closing the matter. If the problem is still present, you can reopen it then and there.

Additionally, we ask that you rate our support on a scale from 0 (worst) to 10 (best) so it's anonymous. 

Here the person gave a score of 0 because the problem still needed to be fixed. Okay, but who are they? How do we help them? If it is you, please get in touch with us right now.

What we required

To prevent this from happening, please include the following information when reporting a support issue to us:

>Please state which organisation on your behalf you are contacting us.

> Provide us with the contact name of the person handling the situation on your end.

>Please give us your phone number or email address so we can contact you in case we don't already have it.

>Describe your problem so we can select the best person to help you. Don't worry about providing too much information, either. I have never encountered a situation in which knowing more was a problem.

The Need for Faster Internet Speed

Nowadays, the internet is a necessary component of nearly every business. You must select an internet that is both fast and dependable if you want your business to operate as smoothly as possible.

NBN vs mobile

More people are getting faster internet as the switch from copper to fibre continues. Yet, despite improvements, Australian speeds are still average.

Many people cannot get NBN; some, amazingly, are in big cities. We assist these individuals with mobile data via 4G and 5G, with varying degrees of success. In most cases, mobile internet costs are higher. Nor are they dependable. Something goes wrong with the tower, and they die. Often the problem can only be fixed once the ISP support team is working. What is fustrating is that your ISP usually has to go to the Telstra or Optus Tower support team; this sometimes means the internet is down for a day. Another issue is that current usage, traffic and rain impact speed.

Some advantages of speed and dependability

Since many services you use today are connected to the internet, you can only serve your customers if you have access to the internet. I've had clients whose EFTPOS failed, forcing them to turn away customers. The internet is required for many software packages to function. You can only use them if there is the internet.

It doesn't take a rocket scientist to realize that the faster you work, the more you can do. It is a waste of time to wait for the internet. It is time-consuming and stressful; Despite your readiness, you cannot work.

Slow speeds are detrimental.

Check Your Speed

A quick speed test can help determine if your current connection is adequate for your needs. A broadband download speed of 40 Mbps (megabits per second) is the minimum standard quoted for modern businesses. But to get a complete picture of its performance, you must test your speed at various times throughout the day. Many people have speed problems at some times of the day.

A good speed test and comparisons are available here

Fixing Slow Internet Speed

There are many reasons why your internet speed could be faster. If you see the numbers above and think it's slow, you should talk to your ISP to see if it's a problem with your ISP or your plan.

In other instances, it might be an issue on your end, a lousy modem, a broken network, a bad connection, etc.

Conclusion

It is crucial to get the best internet possible in today's world. Businesses today need access to fast and dependable internet.

Why Data-Driven Retailers Can Be so successful

Introduction

I often meet big, small, and everything between retailers as part of my job. Besides frequently having big egos, large retailers operate in results-oriented and data-driven environments.

From personal experience, do yourself a favour and never overestimate a person's intelligence with a budget of tens of millions of dollars,

Where do they succeed? Well, large corporations often replace decision-makers if they fail, even when it is not their fault. I remember one marketing executive who told me he was the third marketing manager in his organisation in the past year. Data measure them. Why can you not use data?

Research

Experts are consulted before they begin working on an idea; They use experts while carrying out the idea, and if they abandon the idea, they also use experts. Almost all is planned and monitored in their stores and marketing. I have some excellent suggestions for you:

> Take a look at a few big retailers your business can relate to.
> Look what they did
> Take notes on what you find interesting.
> Come back to see if you can use it yourself.

You will gain many insights and copying costs you nothing.

Measuring the effect of improving.

You now have an excellent reporting system in your POS software so that you can measure it as well; in fact, it is superior to most majors. Partly because I always take notes after I visit majors, and if I like something, I put it in your POS software.

Let us start with the following:

Suppose your shop sells your customers $150,000 worth of crafts in a department. If the cost of the items for sale is 50% or $75,000, your gross profit is $75,000.

Real-time Data Tracking and Analysis Using data.

Now, let's see what you can do with only minor adjustments. You try to improve by 1% by buying more of what people are buying. Do not underestimate modern retail analytics.

By using A/B testing and monitoring in your shop, you should get an additional 1% increase.

Professional loyalty program

Introduce a professional loyalty program into the shop. It is free in your POS Software in the CRM so that you can personalise your customer's shopping experience. Personalize product recommendations, targeted promotions, and even in-store experiences with its help. It should be good for another 1%.

Sales are now up by 3%

Inventory management

Since you use your reports to buy better, you should enhance your inventory management to get better margins by a 1%.

Your supply chain efficiency improves as you order in smaller lots using AI that optimises your stock holdings. As a result, you cut back on purchases and buy fewer things that don't sell, which reduces your margin by another 1%.

Result

Sales are now $150,000 plus 3% = $154,500

Cost of sales is now $154,500 less 2% = $$74,160

Our gross profit in this one department is now $80,340 or 7% higher, and all we have done is work at 1% by simply using the data and systems you have.

You can do this for each department, and I have not even discussed dead stock, shop theft reduction here, etc.

Conclusion

Being a data-driven retailer today is essential today. Make good decisions with the tools you have at your disposal.

Data-driven retailing is the way of the future.

How to Check Your Items, No Longer On Sale, but Marked Down

The problem

Today many of you currently have items with discounts for the Christmas season that are still marked down on the label; however, this sale has ended. It can be challenging to ensure that you have found all these markdown items. As such, you risk

>either selling those items at the wrong price

>or arguing with a customer about why you are not honouring that price on the label.

Shoppers use this popular technique to get bargains, looking for items wrongly marked. Bargain sites frequently mention such shops with wrongly marked merchandise.

To stop this, you must identify those items and change their prices on the label to avoid this problem.

Most stores have to go through their inventory and physically check whether all the items are still on sale, a very time-consuming task, but you have a better way.

Finding Out-of-Sale Items

You can run a unique report from your point-of-sale system showing all the off-sale items. Check these items off; doing this will save time and money.

Go to the stock system > Select Sales Promotion here.

Select reports (marked with Green)

Now select the dates marked with the black arrows, and you'll see a report of all items with a sales price change in this period. Next comes a list of all items affected for you to investigate

Conclusion

Doing this can ensure that you are selling your items at the correct prices and avoid confusion and pricing errors over items going off sale.

For businesses that want to produce receipts of high quality using their POS software quickly, thermal receipt printers are the most popular option.

They function by applying heat to the thermal paper from the printhead. This triggers a chemical reaction on the thermal paper's heat-sensitive layer.

People frequently encounter this issue: they insert a new roll of paper, and the paper moves, but nothing prints.

Don't worry if you're experiencing this issue because there are a few common causes.

Please follow the steps below.

FAQ

> You may have pulled the wires or loosened the connections of the wires.

Solution: Verify that every wire and cable is connected correctly.

> Examine the receipt paper roll; you may have brought the wrong one.

Solution: There is no "one size fits all," so the roll may need to be returned. It is essential to select the appropriate paper roll. Contact our support team if you need help with what to use. They can help you choose the best paper for your needs.

Low-quality paper rolls can damage or build up dirt inside your printer, a related issue. Make sure to distinguish cheap from low-quality; I've seen low-quality sold as expensive.

> The roll might have been inserted from behind, so the paper is fed upside down due to this.

Solution: 

 1. Make sure the right side of the paper is facing up when you open the printer.

2. If not, take out the roll of paper.

3. Reload it after you've turned it over.

> The printer may be jammed if these solutions do not resolve the issue.

Solution: Remove the printer's power and try resetting it. Although resetting a printer may delete the document you are trying to print, our POS software allows you to reprint the receipt without losing any data.

> It's possible that the printer itself is the issue.

Solution: Unfortunately, printers are mechanical gadgets. They eventually fail, like any mechanical device. Parts can slack off.

1. First, entirely cutting off the printer's power.

2. Clean the printer by opening it up. Use a dry rag; If you have to use a liquid, only use a small amount and then dry it off.

3. The printer be assembled

4. Only then should the power be turned on and tested once more.

If it still does not print, you may need a new one or professional help to fix it.

Conclusion

A thermal printer's age does not necessarily determine how long it will last. A printer's lifespan is largely determined by how well it is used and maintained. A printer may fail sooner than anticipated if it is frequently used and improperly maintained. On the other hand, a printer may continue to function correctly for longer if it is well-maintained. It is essential to adhere to the usage and maintenance instructions if you want your printer to last as long as possible. This could mean cleaning the printer regularly, replacing worn parts, and using the right kind of paper to get the most out of your printer and extend its lifespan. 

Customers Return their Purchases to your shop

There is currently an avalanche of customer returns.

Although I have not seen any Australian figures in the US, studies by the National Retail Federation, the largest retail trade association in the world, indicated that 10.6% of all retail sales in the United States were returned in 2020. Roughly 5.9% were found to be fraudulent, which was the most troubling. 

There were, I am sure, more fraudulent claims than 5.9%. Almost every retailer I know has a story about fake receipts or returned goods for which they were not purchased.

Common reasons for returns and some ideas:

Unwanted presents

Presents bought by people who don't want them are a big problem, especially around this time of year. 

Try offering something else.

Change of Mind

Customers often buy something, decide it's too complicated for them, or don't want it and return it.

Legally, you are not required to refund here; yet it is frequently difficult to enforce your rights there.

A product that is damaged or defective.

One worrying aspect of the situation is that many retailers occasionally sell defective goods at significantly reduced prices. They concede that they are imperfect and thus sell it with no guarantees and ASIS. Legally, I don't think this is right. If you do it frequently, consider looking into this situation. 

Agency problems

Incorrect product received

If you are the agent for the item, this frequently occurs; try contacting the supplier to ensure that the correct product is sent. You may also have a claim against the supplier if this is not your fault; you have done everything right, it is not your fault the wrong goods were sent.

Put procedures in place to reduce this issue in the future and prevent this from happening again.

To late

Another example is when a customer needed something immediately, but it never showed up, so they went elsewhere and did not need it anymore.

In the future, attempt and make a method where you can supply your clients with precise delivery info about the specific time for delivery.

Fraud

A well-known example is "Wardrobing", which occurs when a customer purchases an item to return it after a brief period of use. It is difficult to stop this fraudulent practice.

You must have proper procedures for handling returns.

Opportunity to fix the problem

If you handle returns professionally, customers may have a positive impression of your business and be more likely to shop with you again. If you mess up, you could lose them forever so returns can be a chance to provide better customer service, offer more products or services, and interact with them. Even if it doesn't help this time, it might result in better future results.

Having a clear return policy

A simple return procedure would be ideal if you had a clear return policy. I advise posting a sign outlining your shop's policy somewhere.

Examine item

Well, it looks like the item is coming back; you better check what you are getting, so examine the product for any indications of abuse or damage.

Make sure the receipt is authentic.

Nowadays, it is all too easy to produce forged receipts and confirming the time and location of an item transaction should be simple with your POS system. 

Also, I am aware of instances in which individuals have retrieved old receipts from trash cans in shopping centres. Then entered a store, grabbed the item and requested a refund at the counter. The receipt is valid here, but it's fraud. 

The only solution here is that you have a high-quality security camera.  

Payment procedure

Ensure that the method of payment is the one refunded. If they paid using VISA, you refund with VISA. If they paid with EFTPOS, you refund them with EFTPOS, and so on.

If you don't, one of the risks here is known as a double chargeback. A person who paid with VISA receives a cash refund and then files a refund claim with VISA. You must then show that you paid in cash.

Also, record the customer's identity before issuing a cash refund. I'd ask them to sign as well.

Conclusion

Managing retail returns is crucial because they can affect customer satisfaction and loyalty. Customers today expect fast, free, and easy returns. Even though retail returns can be costly, a poor returns experience can decrease customer loyalty. Time and money can be saved, customer loyalty can be increased, and opportunities for engagement and upselling can be created by effectively managing the return.