Offering shoppers an eclectic mix, from antique furniture and mirrors to curios, jewellery and even cosmetics, After Noah bridges the gap between independent antique shops and high street chains. Established in 1990, the company now has two shops in Islington and Chelsea, each selling a winning formula of vintage 'one-offs' and mass-produced items.

While highly successful in attracting customers (alongside After Noah's website and mail order sales), this approach had posed challenges for the company's IT Manager, Simon Tarr. How, for instance, could stock entry be done efficiently when much of the stock was unique and the two product description fields allowed a maximum of 41 characters? Inevitably, the company found it almost impossible to keep track of stock; many items were processed with the wrong code and at the wrong price; there were unacceptable delays during busy periods; and there was little or no sales information available.

Unsurprisingly, After Noah decided to invest in more sophisticated, till-driven, retail software from Lancashire-based solution provider, Cybertill, which has transformed its operation. The system is based on a remote server so new items can be uploaded via the intranet while the tills continue in use. The software recognises bar codes, ensuring that staff can search for items quickly and then process them accurately and efficiently.

In contrast to its previous, paper-based system, the Cybertill solution provides After Noah with detailed information about sales and has enabled the company to base its stock replenishment decisions on reliable sales forecasts rather than educated guesswork. In addition, sales and customer records, which used to be filed in A4 folders, can now be accessed instantly through the tills, ensuring that any returns can be dealt with efficiently, with or without a receipt.

Another key factor in the success of the new system was the hardware peripherals, observed Simon Tarr. "In fact, we saw these as so important that we actually went out and individually selected hardware such as the printer on the basis of functionality and aesthetics."

The printer in question, an Epson TM-T88III, quickly proved an excellent investment: "Whoever designed it has done a very good job," said Simon. "It's extremely fast and is practically idiot-proof when it comes to loading. Being a thermal printer, the other major advantage is that there is almost no noise. This makes a huge difference to the ambience in our stores."