The POS Software Blog

News from Tower Systems about locally made POS software for specialty local retailers.

CategoryJeweller software

More retailers are embracing omnichannel retailing with Tower Systems

November 9, 2016

1 Min read

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We were thrilled to see another retailer turn on a beautiful website connected to our POS software tidy as the next step in their well-considered omnichannel retail strategy.

We are glad to be part of this journey. Directly, too … not relying on another web company to do the work.

The depth of skill in our POS snd web development teams and the vision of the leadership of these teams enables us to deliver the type of solution we have delivered today.

We are proud of another win for small business retail and proud to be leading more to genuine 24/7 trading through beautiful POS software integrated websites.

Our web portfolio is brimming.

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Customer appreciation is appreciated by the POS software help desk

November 4, 2016

3 Min read

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We are thrilled with notes from customers over the last couple of weeks. here is small selection:

I just wanted to send you a little note about one of your support staff – Trav. Trav is very helpful, easy to talk to, returns calls and is a pleasure to deal with him. We always get great service from him. (That’s not to say that we don’t get good service from the rest of the team but I just thought Trav deserved a mention).
Hi Mark, Just a quick email, I am guessing you may have heard about the huge amount of problems I have, maybe not. Well they have upset the whole works and I have been beside myself with only two years in. I hear of people who have negative things to say but never good, so hence my email, there have been numerous helpers but to date I would sincerely like to acknowledge the efforts of Travis and Michael, they stuck in there and with me and at no time did I feel or be made feel that I was a nuisance, as sometimes you hear the undertone in a voice but in fact they tried to humour me as I was getting upset, so please pass on my gratitude to them as they worked so hard to make things right.
Thankyou
This from a supplier we helped get data from one business to another business: Just wanted to drop you a note to sincerely thank you. As a result of your support we were able to minimise any disruption to these customers in what were fairly unusual circumstances.
Hi Mark, I have been wanting to do this for some time……& just never get around to it….so today is the day. I just wanted to comment about how fabulous the above staff member is to deal with.(not suggesting they all aren’t). He is always patient, helpful, always ready to get to the bottom of the problem & always up for a very quick giggle about something that has happened in our day !! I love dealing with him.
Wow you guys are amazing. Thank you so much for your help. I am glad we changes software to Tower Systems. Thank you thank you.

Customer service is important to us. Every day we talk to several hundred small business retailers and employees. Each contact is as important as the other.

We are grateful for the opportunity to be of service.

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Accessibility is key to good small business POS software support

November 2, 2016

2 Min read

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Hi My name is Mark Fletcher. I am the owner of Tower Systems. My mobile number is 0418 321 338. My email is mark@towersystems.com.au.

The best was for a POS software company to demonstrate its commitment to accessibility of help for its customers is for the owner of the company to share their contact details.

This is what we do at Tower Sys6ems. In our correspondence. On our website. In our weekly customer email.

By demonstrating accessibility to the owner of the company we set the tone for accessibility throughout the company.

Small business owners and team members appreciate the personal. Retail is personal after all. We appreciate the personal here too. That is why our team members use real names and engage in real conversations.

Being real, being personal is key to a good POS software customer service experience.

Here is a video we shot in house about being personal in the context of POS software and what we do here at Tower Systems:

This video is another example of open and accessible communication. We have a large library of videos available for our customers to assist with training and business advice. The videos help our customers get more value from their relationship with us.

Our approach to being accessible is a differentiator for us. We are thrilled to be able to offer this to our customers.

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Helping accountants find small business retail customers

October 31, 2016

2 Min read

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We have been helping Xero skilled accountants and small business retailers using Xero connect as part of our integrated Xero POS software engagement.

Through a free listing on our website and in our weekly email communication to our customers, we are happy to list accountants with terrific Xero skills. This is how the Xero community works – people passionate about this wonderful accounting software supporting each other to bring more to the community.

We use Xero ourselves in our own businesses. We love it.

Here is a note we sent to Accountants recently as part of this project:

Help us help small business retailers find good accountants.
We are grateful to serve 3,500+ with our POS software for: gift shops, jewellers, toy shops, fishing/outdoors shops, pet shops, garden centres/nurseries, bike shops, produce stores, firearms shops and newsagents.
We are a Xero partner, having integrated our POS software with Xero.
We also use Xero for retail shops we own and run. We operate these businesses so we can walk in the shoes of our customers.
We want to help small business retailers find Xero skilled accountants. We have a page on our website where we list this. We also include the list in our weekly customer email. Click here to see this week’s email.
To be included on our list, please email me your details. There is no cost, no obligation. Our sole objective here is to help small business retailers find Xero skilled accountants.

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Tower Systems is proud to offer locally developed POS software for local small business retail

October 27, 2016

1 Min read

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New approach to jeweller software helps jewellers grow sales

October 25, 2016

3 Min read

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Tower Systems is proud to offer the only Australian developed and supported software specifically for jewellers.

We are a software company first. What this means is we are not consultants with a prime focus on earning consulting fees.

We make good software you can use without having to pay someone to analyse this for you.

Since we make the jeweller software ourselves we have the very best control over the software. This means we are able to deliver more user-suggested changes more quickly than software that is developed overseas or from a company owned by overseas interests with more of a focus on overseas needs.

Australian software for Australian based jewellers matters as it serves local needs.

And retail is changing locally quickly.

Using the Tower software, Jewellers have access to terrific tools for today’s marketplace:

Easy handing of special orders.
An elegant solution for managing the manufacturing process.
A comprehensive repairs management solution.
The easy ability to fine tune marketing to reach customers when you want and need to deliver the service level you hope for. Easy website integration.

WHAT IS UNIQUE ABOUT TOWER SYSTEMS?

We were recently asked by a journalist to list other “unique” things about our software/service. Here is our answer:

We are a software company, not a consulting business using software as a mechanism for driving consulting fees.
Our software evolves based on jeweller needs. We have a transparent approach to learning and serving needs beyond what we do today.
The proprietary TAGS facility in or software is a genuine technical point of difference jewellers have told us they love. We are grateful for their feedback.
We serve jewellers, not groups. Jewellers are our customers. While we happily enhance the software to serve marketing and buying group needs, the needs of individual jewellers come first as in our experience they have the very best ideas.
We are in your business. Not a contractor we hire, not over the phone, when we install the system we do it in your business, working with you.
Second-hand goods. These facilities have been developed with jewellers and authorities so you have the right records on hand.
These facilities have been developed to help you streamline workflow and keep in close contact with customers throughout.
Manufactured goods. From concept to manufacture, you can manage and track what you make for whom and when. This is a billing and management asset.
Lay-by. Our Lay-by facilities have been developed in close consultation with jewellers, making them unique and comprehensive.
We offer more facilities than any other system. These offer you flexibility for driving purchases in the current visit and for bringing shoppers back more often.
You have access to extraordinary customisation through settings, enabling you to represent your business how you want.
Embedded in our software are facilities for tracking how the software is used. This enables us to help you reduce employee theft.
Retail focussed. A challenge of retail is to uncover opportunities early. Smart reports in the Tower software unlock information about your business that too often is overlooked.

Jewellers are welcome to check us out. We are proud to serve hundreds of jewellers already.

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Small business retail management advice: custom stock takes eliminate the annual stock take

October 23, 2016

2 Min read

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The annual stock take is not necessary in small business retail. Thanks to smart custom stock take facilities and tight inventory management made easy, POS software company Tower Systems makes it easy for small business retailers to change their approach to stock take forever.

Save time by eliminating the annual stock take.
Save money by eliminating the annual stock take.
Improve inventory accurate by eliminating the annual stock take.
Cut shopper theft by eliminating the annual stock take.
Cut employee theft by eliminating the annual stock take.

Tower Systems has been actively engaged with retailers, accountants and the tax office on this project and the result is a beautiful approach to stock take in small business retail the improves the shopper experience. It also provides valuable small time frame tasks for employees to do on the shop floor that help the business improve and employees know more.

Thanks to use of proprietary tags and other smart tools, the custom stock take facilities in the Tower Systems software are revolutionary, in a good way and in a time saving way.

Our advice for small business retailers today is to eliminate the annual stock take. replace it with the more efficient and business friendly approach.

The Tower Systems software continues to offer full stock take facilities as well as other stock take options. However, the custom stock take facility is the most valuable in terms of category management, supplier management and time management in any retail business.

Retailers can choose how and when to stock take. The tags facility in the Tower Systems software takes the custom stock take options to a new height. Tags are a genuine differentiator.

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Beautiful POS connected appointment software for small businesses

October 22, 2016

2 Min read

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Australian POS software company Tower Systems has launched a cloud-based appointment facility.

Available as stand-alone as well as integrated with the Tower POS software, the new appointment facility enables people to make an appointment with a business from anywhere and at any time.

developed in close consultation with pet groomers, bike repairs experts, jewellers and others who make appointments as part of their everyday business services, this new facility has been built from the ground up to serve a vital need in small businesses.

Careful testing and consultation has been the key to creating a solution for the businesses and their customers that is accessible from anywhere and at any time. This is user-centred software at its best and Tower Systems is grateful to its customers for helping to make it a reality.

Located at www.makemyappointment.com.au this new facility offers a full suite of appointment facilities including:

Easy appointment making as well as changes – from any device, anywhere.
Text message and/or email notification. This is a must for seamless and easy customer engagement.
Send reminders of appointments. The business can choose how this is done based on their needs and the needs of their customers.
Schedule staff, rooms and equipment based on the type of appointment being made and staff and resource availability. This is key to efficient resource management in the business.
Australian developed and supported. True blue.
Data located on a secure server in a purpose built data warehouse facility.
Low monthly access cost. Paid 30 days in advance. Easily cancellable.
Tower Systems POS software integrated to make processing payments easy.
Business management back end to see the schedule of appointments by staff member and overall and to efficiently manage resources.

Developed initially for pet groomers, this new appointment facility has been designed to serve a variety of needs including managing appointments for product repairs, professional services and other businesses.

Each business has its own public-facing landing page that can be found through search engines. There is also a website plug-in to enable appointments to be seamlessly made form your website.

Priced at $1 a day, the Tower Systems appointment facility is low cost.

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Small business retailers loving the POS software e-commerce workshops

October 20, 2016

1 Min read

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We are grateful for the opportunity to meet with many small business retailers around Australia over the last two weeks for our POS software e-commerce workshops.

The support for the sessions has been terrific as has been the discussion.

We demonstrated how our POS software links seamlessly to Shopify and Magento as well as other platforms. We also showed live how to create a Shopify site – empowering small business retailers to have more control over their online presence.

Providing a stable in-store platform from which to populate a website, the Tower Systems software can play a key role in helping small retailers get online in a cost effective way. This enhances the value and relevance of their POS software investment.

By doing all of this in-house from Tower we are not bouncing our customers to an external business that may not understand our customers as such as we do.

The free workshops are part of our commitment to delivering continuous learning opportunities to our small business retail partners.

The photo was taken toward the end of our Sydney session last week.

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Advice for small business retailers: How to choose POS software

October 19, 2016

1 Min read

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Here is advice any small business retailer in and specialty channel could rely on when considering POS software:

This video is another in the series of educational videos from Tower Systems to help small business retailers be more informed in the choices they make.

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Enhancements in Tower Systems small business retail management software

October 17, 2016

3 Min read

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The latest release of the Tower Systems POS software includes more than 130 changes with the majority of these suggested by users looking to evolve the software they use as they evolve their own businesses.

Our democratic and transparent process for considering software enhancements is paying off for our customers and for us as we work together to ensure our software evolves with customer businesses.

Here are headline enhancements in the latest update:

Layby Receipts
This new feature brings our Layby Receipts into line with the recently revamped Sale and Invoice Receipts. The new format contains clearer and more discernible information as well as the ability to customize. We have also made sure the new receipts meet any TRS requirements.

As part of this work we have also added Layby Notes which will allow users to add notes on a per item basis for use in things such as storage locations.

Eftpos Receipts
This new feature allows users to prompt for receipt printing for sales where EFTPOS was used as the payment type. This is an optional setting and is available for those using our integrated EFTPOS platform with Tyro, DPS, PC EFTPOS etc.

Enhanced Shopify Website Integration
This new feature gives users a tight link between Retailer and their Shopify based Webstore. Including integration of Stock, Customers, Sales and Product Images. The key feature is the time saving of not having to double entries in multiple platforms.

Special Customer Orders
As a result of extensive customer feedback and Software Ideas submissions we have made further improvements to the Special Customer Orders module to provide a cleaner and more coherent approach. For a detail list of the changes made to Special Customer Orders please see below.

Multi-Store Ordering, Order by Sales and Multi-Store Transfers
As a result of extensive customer feedback and Software Ideas submissions we have made significant improvements to these modules to provide a cleaner and more coherent and retailer friendly approach. For a detailed list of the changes made to Multi-Store Ordering please see below.

Custom Menus
Users now have the ability to show which items show in the Customer menu and the Payment menu. For example if you wanted to only show the Pay Specific Invoice and the Pay Layby options all the others can be easily hidden. This feature can be accessed by double clicking on the blue menu bar at the top on the menu screen.

All Tower customers are being advised the full site of enhancements in advance of them deciding if they would like the update installed for their business.

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Five ways small business retailers are better off using Tower Systems POS software

October 10, 2016

3 Min read

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Of course we would say small business retailers are better off using the Tower Systems POS software. We are Tower Systems and so you would expect us to back our own product.

But our claim is more than marketing spin. The claim has its roots in what we stand for as a business, it has its roots in our relentless support of small business retailers.

We only sell our POS software to small business retailers. We serve well over 3,000 of them. We are growing. Our commitment is in our own numbers.

So, considering these points, here are Five ways small business retailers are better off using Tower Systems POS software … based on what small business retailers tell us they love about our software and about us.

Our help is live, based on a conversation, 100% focused on you and your business. Too often POS software companies situate their help desks offshore and they run them using scripts that do not allow for conversation about the needs of a business. At Tower Systems you know the real name of the person helping you, the help is based on a plain English discussion of your needs. This ensures a more personal and useful outcome for you.
Our software reflects your needs. We have a transparent software enhancement suggestion process. Two thirds of updates in the last year have come from user suggestions. We love your suggestions, respond to every one and are transparent on the process of inclusion. It is your software after all.
We are retailers too. We walk in your shoes, use the software you use and test everything we offer our users in our own shops. Our experience as retailers ensures empathy software only businesses cannot provide.
We only serve specialty retail. Our software is not designed for all retail businesses. We only serve selected retail channels. If we are not a good fit we wish you all the best and move on. Just as successful retail businesses specialise, so do we.
We are not a start up. The world is full of POS software start ups. The problem with start ups is they serve their venture capitalists ahead of their customers – they have to. In our case we are long-established, debt free, stable and growing. Our growth trajectory gives you confidence we will serve you as long as you need us.

While there are plenty of reasons Tower Systems is a better POS software partner for specialty retail businesses, this list is the top five based on needs small business retailers explain to us.

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Tyro / Xero / POS software integration best practice for small business retail

October 8, 2016

2 Min read

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Small business retailers integrating their POS software with Xero and Tyro unlock for themselves a beautiful partnership from which they can leverage valuable business benefits.

Tower Systems offers integration from its small business POS software with Tyro and Xero.

We are proud to be listed as partners of Xero and Tyro on their websites. This listing is key to building trust with retailers as it demonstrated respected partnerships.

Whereas software integrations are usually between two software products, the Tower Systems / Xero / Tyro integration leverages all three products into a comprehensive whole of business solution. Many retailers are already leveraging this for their benefit. Indeed, Tower Systems itself leverages the benefits in retail businesses we own and operate.

Our POS software Xero link is best practice offering a seamless integration between our POS software and the leading cloud based accounting solution.

Our Tyro broadband EFTPOS integration is also best practice with an extraordinary number of retailers using it with success and happiness at the time saving and mistake reduction being achieved.

Put the two together and you multiply the benefits considerably as we can demonstrate.

The mission of small business retailers to cut operational overheads and run their businesses to a higher level of efficiency is important as big business competitors muscle up themselves.

Tower Systems offers not only beautiful integrations with Tyro, Xero, Shopify and Magento, the company backs these with personal service and advice and retail smart training based on our own many years of experience as retailers. This is the difference, we speak from current personal experience, making our advice more relevant and understandable in small business retail circles.

The integrations are available in the Tower desktop products as well as the Tower cloud based products that are accessed through software as a service models for retail businesses in a variety of specialty retail channels.

Tower Systems offers specialty software for: gift shops, jewellers, toy shops, fishing/outdoors businesses, garden centres/nurseries, pet shops, bike shops,produce stores, firearms businesses and newsagents.

Our sales team can show you our software: Please call our sales team at 1300 662 957 or email them at sales@towersystems.com.au.

Managing Director: Mark Fletcher. 0418 321 338.

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Massive boost to Xero user numbers

October 7, 2016

1 Min read

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We are thrilled to partner with Xero through our Xero POS software integration. because of the seamless link to the cloud based accounting solution. We are also thrilled because Xero continues to lead the market. here is news out just yesterday:

The dominant player in the Australian market, Xero, saw its Australian subscriber numbers grow 54 per cent to 312,000 in the year to March.

Xero is the product more accounts and small business retailers are preferring.

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Free POS software integrated Shopify and Magento workshops start next week

October 7, 2016

2 Min read

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Join Tower Systems for a one of our free seminars in Australia and New Zealand (in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch) where we will show our latest Australian developed POS software for specialty independent small business retail.

Discover how to connect your retail business with Magento or Shopify direct from POS software.
Learn how to be found through Google.
Learn about creating beautiful websites for a fraction of the costs some charge.
See the POS software to Magento and Shopify links LIVE with working websites.

This will be a truly interactive learning opportunity for small business retailers, an opportunity to see under the hood of website development, to discover is this is something any retailer could do for their business.

We will show you how to setup up a Shopify store that can be live in hours. Plus, there will be a Q&A opportunity so you can explore your specific needs. Book now by clicking on the city location you prefer.

Adelaide. October 10. 10am. Rydges South Park.
Sydney. October 11. 10am. Kogarah Golf Club.
Brisbane. October 12. 10am. River View Hotel.
Perth. October 13. 9am. Country Comfort Inter City Hotel.
Melbourne. October 14. 10am. Hawthorn Arts Centre.
Canberra. October 18. 10am. Vibe Hotel, Canberra Airport.
Hobart. October 19. 11am. Rydges Hobart.
Darwin. October 26. 2pm Mantra on the Esplanade.
Auckland. Nov. 2. 3pm. Novotel, Auckland Airport.
Wellington. Nov. 3. 10am. Intercontinental Hotel.
Christchurch. Nov. 4. 10am. Novotel Christchurch.

We will share our experiences in the small business POS and e-commerce areas and outline what we learned when creating sites for our own retail businesses. This seminar could save you thousands in web developer fees. Book online.

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Helping small business retailers cut employee theft in any type of business

October 7, 2016

3 Min read

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Employee theft is a challenge for any small business retailer. The cost of theft depends on how the business manages the theft situation. To minimise the cost of theft, retailers are advised to follow these simple to implement strategies. They have been developed by our small business retail support team here at Tower Systems over many years of helping small business retailers through our POS software.

Pay above award wages. The quality of your employees is up to you. If you’re doing your job you have good employees. Value them. Pay above award. HR and business psychology experts say this will reduce theft.
Talk to them. Ask for their honest comments about the business. The more they feel, genuinely feel, valued, the less likely they are to steal from you.
No employee bags at the counter.
Clear refund policy. Type the policy up and put it on the wall for customers and employees to see. Cover, for example, age of transaction, management approval, that you need their name, address, phone number and signature – such requirements will stop abuse.
Offer good discounts to employees. Let employees buy products from you at your cost or just above it. This respects them as part of your team and it reduces the chances of them being tempted to steal what they want from you.
Don’t take cash out of the til yourself. If employees see you take money out for items like a coffee or your lunch they will feel invited to do the same.
Roster mix up. Change your roster regularly. It is common that a roster change will show you a theft problem you never thought was there.
Roster rules. Don’t have friends working with friends if they are the only ones rostered on.
Speed humps. Have a day where you turn on receipts for ALL customers. Then a day where you require that everything is scanned (as opposed to using hot keys and the like). These changes will keep employees and customers off guard and make it easier for you to spot problems. It will also keep you on your guard and that’s good for the business.
Spend more time at the counter. The further you are from the action in your business the greater the opportunity for you to be ripped off. Spend time where the action is – unexpectedly.
Balance the register during the day. Do this every so often. Again to keep people on their toes. It is also good practice.
Don’t let employees ring their own purchases up.
Don’t let employees sell to family and friends.
Your local council. Many local councils offer theft prevention training and help as do some local police. (Local U.S. police stations are considerably more active in this area.)
Beware of popularity. There is anecdotal evidence that the more popular the employee the more likely they are the one stealing from you.

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FREE e-commerce / website seminar for small business retailers in Australia and New Zealand

October 4, 2016

2 Min read

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Join Tower Systems for a one of our free seminars in Australia and New Zealand (in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch) where we will show our latest Australian developed POS software for specialty independent small business retail.

Discover how to connect your retail business with Magento or Shopify direct from POS software.
Learn how to be found through Google.
Learn about creating beautiful websites for a fraction of the costs some charge.
See the POS software integration that saves time and cuts mistakes.
See a new approach to loyalty shoppers love and big businesses cannot copy.
See the POS software to Magento and Shopify links LIVE with working websites.

This will be a truly interactive learning opportunity for small business retailers, an opportunity to see under the hood of website development, to discover is this is something any retailer could do for their business.

We will show you how to setup up a Shopify store that can be live in hours. Plus, there will be a Q&A opportunity so you can explore your specific needs. Book now by clicking on the city location you prefer.

Adelaide. October 10. 10am. Rydges South Park.
Sydney. October 11. 10am. Kogarah Golf Club.
Brisbane. October 12. 10am. River View Hotel.
Perth. October 13. 9am. Country Comfort Inter City Hotel.
Melbourne. October 14. 10am. Hawthorn Arts Centre.
Canberra. October 18. 10am. Vibe Hotel, Canberra Airport.
Hobart. October 19. 11am. Rydges Hobart.
Darwin. October 26. 2pm Mantra on the Esplanade.
Auckland. Nov. 2. 3pm. Novotel, Auckland Airport.
Wellington. Nov. 3. 10am. Intercontinental Hotel.
Christchurch. Nov. 4. 10am. Novotel Christchurch.

We will share our experiences in the small business POS and e-commerce areas and outline what we learned when creating sites for our own retail businesses. This seminar could save you thousands in web developer fees.

If you have questions, please email mark@towersystems.com.au or call 0418 321 338. If you are in New Zealand, please call toll free on 0800 444 367.

Tower Systems is an Australian small business focussed POS software company based in Hawthorn Victoria with sales and support nationally. Our software is available to run locally or in the cloud and can be purchased, leased or rented for a few dollars a day. Our phone number is 1300 662 957.

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Small business retail advice on how to cut labour costs in your business

October 2, 2016

2 Min read

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The cost of labour is one of the top three costs in any retail business, usually coming after cost of goods and retail space. Yet small business and independent retailers often do not manage labour cost to be a s low as practical.

Based on years of helping small business retailers run more successful and valuable retail businesses. here are out top five tips for cutting the cost of labour in any retail business.

Here are our top five tips:

Put yourself on the roster. Your time is a cost to the business. Be transparent with yourself.
Stop cutting and pasting the roster. Create a new roster every week. This forces you to think about the money you spend.
Is one person enough? Having an additional person on for security could be more costly than having the right person on and working alone.
Know your revenue per rostered hour. This data point will focus your attention on labour costs.
Split the roster. Have one person work up to 4 hours and then someone else for up to four hours and avoid the meal break requirement.

We have plenty more suggestions than these five. They are a starting point of the advice Tower Systems can provide.

Advice like this is provided as part of our weekly advice and assistance to small business retailers.

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Small business POS software Xero link cuts time and mistakes

September 29, 2016

2 Min read

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The link between our small business POS software and Xero cloud based accounting is helping small business retailers eliminate time-consuming and error prone bookkeeping steps … and this is money in the bank for small business retailers.

Our POS software Xero link runs in the background, delivering data to Xero so it is working for you rather than you being a slave to it as is often the case with older approaches to accounting software use in small business retail.

Using Xero ourselves in our own retail businesses, shops we own as live test beds for what we do here, we know the benefits, we see then and bank the benefits.

We have an in-house accountant who oversees our various businesses and he delights at the time saving from the PO software to Xero link. He also delights over the mistake elimination by cutting out what were manual processes.

This is the key of the link to Xero.

And when you overlay the Tyro broadband banking solution for small business retail you have an even better solution cutting more processes, freeing up more cash and empowering small business retailers for better outcomes.

What is Transferred to Xero?

Sales

End of Shift based department-level sales are transferred to Xero via a sales invoice. Each department can be assigned its own Xero account.

Invoices

Invoices received into Retailer are transferred to Xero at department level. No individual stock items are transferred.

Write Offs & No Sales

These are transferred to individual expense accounts depending on the transaction reason chosen.

Cost Of Sales

An option on sales exporting is to export Cost of Sales. While not a full implementation of COGS it does transfer over the cost price of items sold each day to reduce the value of Stock On Hand in Xero. If you use this option you will export Write offs, not as expenses, but as adjustment to your Stock on Hand. This makes processing stock adjustments for the End Of Month much easier.

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FREE SEMINAR: Linking POS software for your type of business with Magento, Shopify and Xero

September 29, 2016

2 Min read

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Join Tower Systems for a one of our free seminars in Australia and New Zealand (in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch) where we will show our latest Australian developed POS software for specialty independent small business retail.

See the POS software to Magento and Shopify links that get you online. See the POS software Xero link that saves time and money. See a new approach to loyalty shoppers love and big businesses cannot copy.

We will show you how to setup up a Shopify store that can be live in hours. Plus, there will be a Q&A opportunity so you can explore your specific needs. Book now by clicking on the city location you prefer.

Adelaide. October 10. 10am. Rydges South Park.
Sydney. October 11. 10am. Kogarah Golf Club.
Brisbane. October 12. 10am. River View Hotel.
Perth. October 13. 9am. Country Comfort Inter City Hotel.
Melbourne. October 14. 10am. Hawthorn Arts Centre.
Canberra. October 18. 10am. Vibe Hotel, Canberra Airport.
Hobart. October 19. 11am. Rydges Hobart.
Darwin. October 26. 2pm Mantra on the Esplanade.
Auckland. Nov. 2. 3pm. Novotel, Auckland Airport.
Wellington. Nov. 3. 10am. Intercontinental Hotel.
Christchurch. Nov. 4. 10am. Novotel Christchurch.

We will share our experiences in the small business POS and e-commerce areas and outline what we learned when creating sites for our own retail businesses. This seminar could save you thousands in web developer fees.

If you have questions, please email mark@towersystems.com.au or call 0418 321 338. If you are in New Zealand, please call toll free on 0800 444 367.

Tower Systems is an Australian small business focussed POS software company based in Hawthorn Victoria with sales and support nationally. Our software is available to run locally or in the cloud and can be purchased, leased or rented for a few dollars a day. Our phone number is 1300 662 957.

Tower Systems offers specialty software for: gift shops, jewellers, toy shops, fishing/outdoors businesses, garden centres/nurseries, pet shops, bike shops,produce stores, firearms businesses and newsagents.

Our sales team can show you our software: Please call our sales team at 1300 662 957 or email them at sales@towersystems.com.au.

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Helping small business retailers to compete with online through POS software

September 27, 2016

5 Min read

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Bricks and mortar retailers are doing it tough in the fight for sales with online businesses. You are often sought out for face to face advice but lose the sale to an online operation when it comes to price comparison.

We have put together advice for small business retailers, independent retailers, to offer guidance on the future direction and management opportunities where competing with online businesses is a challenge. We offer this advice here for free to any retailer to consider, regardless of the POS software they use.

Given the different cost bases for an online business serving a country or the world compared to a retail shop serving a local community, you can’t win on price, not in the long term.

In working with thousands of small business independent retailers in Australia, New Zealand and other countries over many years we have seen some excellent successes and some epic failures.

Success in competing with online competitors begins and ends with making good decisions based on sound facts and structuring the business for success at every possible point.

This is business

For many retail shop owners, the retail shop is part lifestyle, part sport and part business. This can complicate the decisions that need to be made to make the business successful.

Running your retail shop as a business has to come first. Get this right and you can enjoy the sport and have the lifestyle you want. If business does not come first, the other two will usually not follow.

So, competing with online begins with your headspace, it begins with committing to getting the business right and relentlessly pursuing its success.

In practical terms, this means that every business decision is based on careful consideration of sound data. If the data does not support a business decision, you don’t do it. Simple.

Five ways you can compete with online

Here are five ways you can differentiate your business from online, ways that leverage personal, human, contact.

Track every contact. Treat every contact as a customer. Know who they are. Explain that it’s part of your service – to offer advice and keep in touch. This will qualify them as a customer from their very first question. While it may scare some off, better that you do it early before you give away your expert advice.
Give them a gift for listening to you. Every customer who spends time taking in your advice should be given a voucher for them to spend in-store in a purchase above a certain value. This shows that you value their attention. Presented well it can better connect them with you for the longer term.
Subtly share stories about the risks of online shopping. There are documented stories you can find about people being ripped off – what they ordered is not what they received, credit card fraud and the like. Arm your team with these stories … maybe a story about a customer who bought from you following an expensive rip off online.
Reward loyalty with a front-end approach. Ensure that every purchase over, say, $10, comes with a voucher offering a discount off the next purchase. Factor this into your mark-up model. Cash rewards showing on a receipt can be a powerful lure to bringing a shopper back.
Personalise your service. Arm all sales staff with personal business cards. Place follow up calls or emails to shoppers spending over, say, $100. Host networking events in-store. Connect with and support local clubs. Add value through personal contact at every possible opportunity. Structure regular, value-adding, contact with your customer base.

The difference between a bricks and mortar retail shop and a website selling the same products online is that your business, the bricks and mortar business, is real, it can be visited, it’s personal. Everything you say and do needs to reinforce this and build trust based on this.

Be open about price

Don’t be afraid to say that online businesses can sell for less. That’s because they do less and care less. You could do this too but that’s probably not the business you want to run.

Competing on price really comes down to changing the game. This is where a properly structured and consistently run loyalty program offering an amount of cash off the next purchase based on the current purchase can make a difference for you.

Being consistent

Online businesses through the software behind their websites are consistent if nothing else. This is where good retail shop software can help a retail shop compete. It can drive consistency in the bricks and mortar business on pricing, loyalty rewards, customer marketing, buying, pricing and employee performance tracking and motivation.

Good retail shop software is designed specifically for retail shops to leverage the difference retail shops offer over online retailers. When used to the fullest, it can drive sales and bring customers back more often. It can play a key role on competing with online.

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How to choose POS software for your retail business

September 24, 2016

1 Min read

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POS software update adds value to small business software

September 23, 2016

2 Min read

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Tower Systems is thrilled to announced the advanced beta release of the latest version of its smart POS software. Developed in-house bbq the Tower Systems retail software development team, this latest release of the Retailer software delivers many enhancements. here are just some of the enhancements:

Enhancements to Special Customer Order Arrivals and Management
Enhancements to Stock Re-ordering processes (Order by Sales and Order Management)
New Improved and expanded Multi-Store ordering and receiving processes
New direct Shopify Integration
New Layby Receipts to match the new POS Receipts
New Layby Notes for collections
New Layby Tourist Refund Scheme compliance
New Customisable Customer Menus
Latest News Corp Route Delivery List Integration
New Bulk Image Import tool for stock
New option to disable receipts for EFTPOS sales
New and more comprehensive ability to manually Edit Customer Loyalty Points
New ability to open Special Customer Order Management screen directly from POS
Enhancements to Linked Items
Enhancements and consistency to Packs (previously Cartons)
Enhancements to Customer Invoice Maintenance Ordering and Re-ordering.

As noted, these are only some of the enhancements to the POS software delivered in the latest update delivered by Tower Systems.

Enhancements are sourced from user suggestions and developed in close consultation with users of the software.

Each update is tested in house, alpha tested in several retail stores and then released to the beta community prior to release to all customers. This process results in stable and enjoyed software.

Tower Systems leftists customers choose when they install any software update. Small business retailers love this.

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POS software Shopify integrated websites for small business retailers

September 21, 2016

4 Min read

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The deep and seamless link between the Tower Systems POS software and Shopify e-commerce sites is proving to be popular with small business retailers keen to transact online in a smart and current technology way.

The now released Shopify POS software link is racking up sales as shoppers shop for what they love with product fulfilled from a high street retailer using the link.

Being able to run one stock file between online and offline is vital for retail businesses.

With the Shopify site being live in a few days and using inventory data from the high street store, Tower Systems has devlieverd a best-practice POS Software / Shopify solution that any small business retailer could use.

WHY SHOPIFY?

Shopify is an easy to use e-commerce platform. We think anyone can setup a Shopify site for themselves. Linking the site to our retailer software is also easy. Shopify is a great place for a business to start on their online journey. You can control pages, products, look and plenty more. Shopify is not as complex as Magento and other more comprehensive website platforms.

WHAT TOWER SYSTEMS OFFERS.

For a modest fee, Tower Systems offers a live Shopify site linked to a retailer’s business with plenty of facilities and functionality:

For ease of reference and clarity, below is a numbered list of all work and tasks included in the above quote. This is the complete list.

Shopify account. We would create this for / with you. It needs your credit card. There is a basic Shopify cost, currently US$29.00 a month.
Template / theme selection. We will step you through template / theme options included in the price and with you and choose one for the site. Note: there are some themes (not developed by us) that you can purchase outside our package price for more specialist options. These can cost up to $200.00 extra.
Overall design to be applied to the template selected to customise the look and feel of the site. The design process is not priced to be a back and forth process. We will listen to your brief and provide a design. Minor adjustments can be made within the quote but any diversion from the original brief would add to the cost.
A functioning live website for your business that works and can be accessed from different devices – computer, phone, tablet – with auto detect of the device so the site looks good. With the website to be based on Shopify with the following:
1. Homepage. Including text, images, button.
2. Home page links to any business accounts you have for: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest.
3. A home page feed of your business blog if you have one and it is published through Shopify that allows data feeds.
4. Admin page for your management of the site. This is not seen by the public. There is a range of settings you can control for proper management of the site.
5. About page. Where your business is described. You will provide the text for this.
6. Privacy Policy page listing a good privacy policy we have developed – that you can modify.
7. Terms and conditions page listing terms and conditions we have developed – that you can modify.
8. Contact us page showing your location on a map and making contact easy with you.
9. A shopping cart facility for managing the products you sell. This is the guts of the site, the most important part. This specifically includes facilities you would use to manually load products or import products from Retailer.
The setup of loading of products into the site via a live link to the Retailer software.
Interfacing to one or both payment gateways: Stripe and Paypal.
Defined to Google and Bing so those search engines know about the site and it can be found. This is vitally important.
Embedded SEO. Each page will be developed with appropriate meta tags to encourage easy finding through search engines. We will use our best-practice SEO knowledge to maximise the opportunity.
Training of your nominated person in the management of the site. This is done over the phone and should take no more than two hours. We would suggest two sessions of training for appropriately skilled people.

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How Tower Systems settles new POS software users in to enjoy their software

September 19, 2016

2 Min read

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Tower Systems offers a level of personal service to small business retailers installing its POS software. The company has multiple roles in the business focussed on the easy and gentle settling in of the software into businesses using the software. The roles have evolved over time to serve the singular goal of helping retailers get to a happy place with their Tower Systems software quickly.

One of the most important benefits of the Tower Systems approach to new customers is the new customer help desk entry point.

New customers of POS software have different needs to long term customers. We have found that by handling the two are different points on the help desk we are able to deliver a better help desk experience to each.

Our new customer specialists make outbound calls, to get to our new customers ahead of them getting to us, to provide them with intuitive assistance prior to them realising they could benefit from then insights being shared.

By separating new customers out from the everyday support call traffic, help desk resources are better managed and customers more satisfied with the different experiences based on their knowledge and needs.

In additional to personal new customer service, Tower Systems helps new customers settle in with terrific user documentation, training videos, follow up training and business management level insights.

Since we own and operate our own retail businesses using our POS software we are able to speak from personal experience. This is a valuable point of difference for our customers and for us. For example, we can talk about how to setup for easy Xero integration or the ideal product category structure or how to deal with suppliers more efficiently. being able to say this is how we resolve this issue in our shop is a tremendous point of difference our customers love.

There is nothing worse than a help desk person telling you what to do when they do not understand what they are saying in the context of your retail business. Context is everything as they say. We understand the context of POS software in a retail business because we live it. We use this context in helping small business retailers settle into using our POS software.

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