Whistlestop Discount Stores Ltd is the brainchild of London entrepreneur, Nadir Lalani. Trading as 99p Stores since February 2001, the chain offers a wide range of quality products for 99p. Rolling out new stores at the rate of one per month, it has aggressive expansion plans which the latest EPoS and warehousing technology is helping to achieve.

With its outlet total currently standing at 30, it is 99p Stores' objective to more than double in size and extend its store locations across the UK, over the next two years. "Due to our rapid growth, the systems we had in place previously were beginning to show the strain," explained Nadir Lalani, Chief Executive for 99p Stores. "We required an integrated, more cost-effective system of a higher specification to meet the needs of our expanding business."With stock control, warehouse management and excellent service key in delivering 99p Stores' offering to its customers, the Company is rolling out to all new stores as they open, a comprehensive retail and warehouse suite from Torex Retail. EPoS, plus back and head office software, has been deployed to provide till configuration, stock/cash management, replenishment and reporting.

Each store within the Company's estate has, on average, seven cash desks and it is here that Epson's modular MR-800 registers run the Torex Retail software. Indeed, the Liverpool store - 99p Stores' largest - has installed 16 of the advanced, terminals with their ultra-slim touchscreen monitor and built in Magnetic Stripe Reader. "The touch panels have been a major benefit as they remove the need for traditional conventional keyboards. They save valuable space on the counter, and make training and operation at the PoS far easier," said Nadir.

In addition, Torex Retail's VWMS (Visual Warehouse Management System) has been deployed to the Company's warehouse at Staples Corner, Middlesex. Previously much of 99p Stores' warehousing processes were carried out manually which was both time-consuming and labour intensive. The new system automates the majority of warehouse procedures, such as store order inputting and goods-received receipts, enabling allocation and re-stocking to happen automatically, and allows orders to be reconciled overnight, electronically via PoS. However, the system also provides the flexibility to allow management overrides and stock level changes whenever necessary. VWMS is fully scaleable and therefore can grow with 99p Stores expansion.

"The warehouse technology has already provided substantial cost reductions, not to mention the added efficiency benefits that Epson's MR-800 has brought to the company," said Nadir. "Used together, the EPoS hardware and software allows the time staff traditionally spent with back office administration, to be utilised more productively on the shop floor."

For further information contact
Paul Gill, Torex Retail, Tel: 0114 2062019
or visit www.torexretail.com