While regular Update readers will be aware of the benefits of Epson's touchscreen Intelligent Register (IR) for large hospitality and convenience chains such as Little Chef and Elf, it's also admirably suited to smaller-scale applications. Indeed, partnered with the right software solution, the IR can be an invaluable resource for speciality retailers, as these examples illustrate:

The Bug - a platform for expansion
A fast-growing gadget and novelty gift company with three shops in Chester, Solihull and Bury, The Bug also has concessions in over 40 Burton stores, following a recent agreement with the Arcadia Group.

To support its expansion, The Bug's owners recognised the need to invest in a flexible front and back office IT system, which could enable them to efficiently control store replenishment and merchandise from a central head office. The system would need to be fast and easy to use for The Bug's large number of temporary staff during Christmas trading. It was also critical that it could interface with Arcadia's own retail set up so that sales data and stock information could be exchanged between the two companies.

After a careful evaluation, The Bug chose the NPoS solution from Bolton-based Nisyst, running on Epson's IR terminals (four in each store). The system gives the company central control over merchandise and automated replenishment in its stores, and provides an extranet link to the Arcadia system. At the point of sale, the IRÍs clear colour screen, and easy to navigate menus, combined with features such as automated discounting, have made processing sales transactions much faster.

"The new system has been a dream," enthused Managing Director, Pierre Gaillard. "Not only has it enabled us to improve productivity and cut waiting time at the point of sale by a third, it's also far more reliable than what we had before and produces much better management reporting."

Having completed the initial roll-out in 2001, The Bug now sees its new hardware and software as the ideal platform for expansion in the UK and abroad in 2002.

Hallmark Cards - "eye opening" sales information
Impressed by the simplicity of the IR's touchscreen interface, compared to his previous DOS-based system, shop owner Neil Patel asked Nisyst to install its retail management system in his two Hallmark Cards franchises, in Uxbridge and Woking (also the head office).

The NPoS software gives the franchises greater control over merchandise, including the opportunity to run a stock check on the other branch, and manage efficient inter-shop transfers. While 90% of stock is barcoded, on-screen hot keys enable the sale of small items such as key-rings to be properly monitored, rather than processed under a general "dump code". At the point of sale, customers have been served more quickly and waiting time reduced, as staff have quickly adapted to the new system, despite many having little previous experience of computers.

Both shops are polled nightly, giving the company the opportunity to create detailed management reports, which have already proved very useful, as Neil Patel recalls: "We now have access to eye-opening information which has enabled us to increase our sales. For example, we have an area in the shops for gift wrapping products such as sheets of wrapping paper, tags and gift boxes and bags. Sales analysis from the Nisyst system revealed that the gift bags were our best sellers, prompting us to allocate much more display space to these lines and significantly increase sales."

Royal Mile Whiskies and The Cigar Box - enhancing customer services
Replacing its DOS-based EPoS solution with more efficient Windows-based Nisyst software, has given specialist staff at Royal Mile Whiskies in Edinburgh, much more time to spend advising customers.

The NPoS front, back and head office system, running on the Epson IR, has recently been installed by Royal Mile Whiskies in both the whisky shop (which offers an extensive range of Scottish, Irish and American brands) and its other outlet, The Cigar Box, just four doors along.

To the delight of Managing Director, Keir Sword, the system offers all the functionality he requires, without being prohibitively expensive. For example, the Cigar Box outlet stocks over 50 different brands, in various sizes, of which only 20-30% can be scanned. Rather than having long lists of barcodes by the tills, which can lead to inputting errors, the shop has allocated a hot key on the system for each brand, enabling it to enter and obtain accurate sales data for the different brands.

"Our shops have quite a traditional look," concluded Keir Sword. "We know a lot of our customers and some may come in just to taste a malt or get some advice from our experts. The new system complements our approach, enabling us to deliver efficient service and access a range of detailed management reports."

For further information contact Nadi Ali, Nisyst Tel:01204 364041