The POS Software Blog

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

Categorygift shop software

POS software helps retailers sell to customers who love particular ranges

August 10, 2015

1 Min read

P

Retailers using the Tower Systems POS software can rely on the software to track who purchases what from a single store or many stores in a group.

This information is used by the software when creating a list of shoppers to email or write to about new products in the range or that would appeal to purchasers of the range.

Our specialisation is in managing the data for use externally. The export file can then be used with specialist email and other software, such as MailChimp – to provide you with the best marketing outcome for the business.

Tracking purchases by customer using our POS software is easy thanks to smart setting facilities that enable efficient and accurate data capture at the sales counter.

The facilities enabling creating of a marketing list based on customer purchase history is one of multiple facilities in our Marketing Tools and part of the valued Tower Advantage^TM.

Read on Read later

Sunday retail management advice: live and be local

August 9, 2015

1 Min read

S

Thanks to smart tools in the Tower Systems POS software, our small business retail partners are able to connect with, promote and support local engagement in a variety of valuable and sustainable ways.

We are grateful for the opportunities to help small business retailers engage locally in this way.

From actively supporting local community groups to promoting local events to supporting local suppliers, the Tower Systems POS software is ideal for small and independent retailers who want to pitch a genuine local message.

A successful local connection requires strategic planning and consistent execution. This is where the various facilities in our software can help retailers – we offer multiple touch points and the certainty of consistency. It is a valuable offering on which our retail partners can count.

As part of the Tower Advantage^TM our local credential

Read on Read later

POS software helps small business retailers grow sales

August 8, 2015

2 Min read

P

Our sales are up by 15% year on year and I put much of that down to your loyalty software.

This is a real retailer sharing their results for the 2014/15 financial year.

We started using discount vouchers a year and a half ago and in the last twelve months we have seen the biggest sales surge in our history.

A deep analysis of sales and other data shows the valuable extent to which Discount Vouchers are changing shopper behaviour and attracting new shoppers.

We have a point of difference nearby competitors don’t have. We love it.

In this business they call the Discount Voucher a Thank You Voucher. This is one of many benefits in our POS software – retailers can call the vouchers what they want. They also set how the voucher is calculated and the products it can be redeemed for.

Retailers from many channels are growing their businesses thanks to our unique Discount Voucher facilities. retailers implementing them following our advice can do so at no cost to the business. They can bank on a commercial result that will deliver excellent bottom line results.

The Discount Voucher facilities live up to our promise: we’re here to help.

Read on Read later

Supplier relationships strengthened at the Gift Fair

August 3, 2015

1 Min read

S

Tower Systems has been using its time at the Melbourne Gift Fairs, at the Showgrounds and the MCEC to strengthen supplier relationships. Over the last three days we have visited with many suppliers discussing even stronger links between them and the retail businesses we serve. The result will time saves for suppliers and retailers, improved business data accuracy and greater mutual support.

Trade shows provide a valuable platform for exploring supplier relationships through which we can better serve our customers. While we are happy to be the leader here, we are surprised other software companies are not participating.

Read on Read later

Listening to POS software customers on the trade show floor

August 2, 2015

1 Min read

L

One of the most important activities for service business is listening our customers. This is what we have been doing this weekend at the Melbourne Gift Fair. We have caught up with plenty of users of our POS software. We have been actively listening to feedback on what they love about us and our software and what we can improve.

It is important for any business to put itself in front of customers for this type of interaction. Hiding from them is not good customer service and will multi,lately see more of them flee from you. We do this regularly at trade shows – sixteen this year. We appreciate the opportunity.

Read on Read later

Sunday retail management tip: leverage a point of difference on loyalty

August 2, 2015

1 Min read

S

More and more retailers are switching from the old school points based loyalty programs to our discount vouchers. They are finding the vouchers are driving more immediate and more valuable outcomes for retailers – they are driving a better bottom line. We are hearing new success stories daily.

It is thrilling hearing success stories of how businesses have switched from points to $$ loyalty offers. It’s exciting and invigorating hearing of small and independent retailers achieving excellent outcomes for their businesses and knowing that we have played a role in this.

This is our retail management tip today – chase a point of difference, leverage new age discount vouchers and stop using the old points based loyalty offers.

Retailers can call the vouchers what they like. They can also choose how the value on a voucher is calculated and what it can be redeemed for.

Read on Read later

Gift shop software all set for Reed Gift Fair Melbourne

August 1, 2015

1 Min read

G

Tower Systems all set to go for the Reed Gif Fair that starts today in Melbourne.

We will have our latest Gift Shop Software on show – packed with business building initiatives and opportunities.

We appreciate this opportunity to help retailers of gifts to grow their businesses.

Read on Read later

Support for #smallbusiness #retail is vital for our POS software company

July 25, 2015

1 Min read

S

At Tower Systems we live our support for small business retailers every day from practical help we provide through our POS software to the business management assistance we provide through a host of free resources any small business retailer can access.

The new free small business retail marketing collateral we sent out last week has been a hit with businesses contacting us appreciative of these local targeted resources they can use to promote their businesses.

What does this have to do with POS software? Plenty we say as our POS software helps make retail businesses more efficient and smarter. The marketing resources help them spread their message wider than they otherwise might. The two work hand in hand.

We are grateful for the opportunity to serve small business retailers in a variety of ways.

Read on Read later

Smart POS software takes stock performance measurement and management to a higher level

July 24, 2015

1 Min read

S

We are thrilled with the feedback on a new report we are trialling in our POS software. Developed with a senior business consultant for a group of retailers in the high ticket price item space, this report provides an alternative view on inventory performance, a view we think many of our customers will find useful as they look to extract more value from their businesses.

This latest report reflects further enhancement of the Tower Systems software along a path of continuous improvement and in response to customer requests.

Engaging our development team direct with customers is a most useful exercise for any software company.

Read on Read later

Another POS software training video from Tower Systems

July 22, 2015

1 Min read

A

We have launched another training video for retailers using our POS software. This new video is not your usual training – no, it highlights a new feature of the software, something fresh for all users. It provides a high level introduction from one of the architects of the new facility. All customers have been provided free access to the video and plenty have viewed it already. We are thrilled for such terrific engagement.

Read on Read later

POS software to shine at Reed Melbourne Gift Fair

July 21, 2015

1 Min read

P

POS software company Tower Systems will be showing off its latest gift shop software at the Reed Melbourne Gift Fair in two weeks.

Our involvement is already being promoted in the thick catalogue promoting the fair – sent to all gift shops, suppliers and other retailers in the gift space.

We are grateful for the opportunity to participate in this fair again this year. We anticipate learning plenty as well as making connections with many possible new customers as we show off what we do pitch the Tower Advantage^TM.

We are especially excited about some surprises we have to share at this marquee event.

Read on Read later

Software for teddy bear shops helps grow sales

July 14, 2015

1 Min read

S

Thoughtful customisation and attention to detail by our development team has meant Australian POS software company Tower Systems is able to offer Australian teddy bear shop software to serve a range of unique for important customer service needs.

Here are some of the areas where bear shops can use our software in their highly specialised and personal businesses:

Special orders, LayBys, gift cards, pre-orders – they are all easily handled in our software. Our software can send customers notification when their order arrives.
You can also record the number of the bear sold for limited editions from Steiff, Charlie Bears and others.
On the receipt you can include your personal care information that adds value to the sale, showing off why buying from you is important to collectors.
We also have a unique loyalty facility bear collectors love and that can turn people into collectors.

Bear shops are unique. Here at Tower Systems we understand that. We provide a unique mix of software and support services to help bear shops leverage their unique products and services to strengthen their businesses and ensure they have a strong competitive footing.

Read on Read later

Smart POS software helps small business retailers sell Spiderman

July 8, 2015

1 Min read

S

Spiderman is a superhero loved by generations. He is more popular today than decades ago thanks to a reinvigorating of the franchise by Marvel.

Retailers using our POS software can track the success of superheroes in their retail businesses. They can do this through a range of views, providing insights beyond what is common in POS software.

The insights can help retailers undertake more finely tuned marketing.

Spiderman, for example, can appeal to a young kid discovering their first superhero as much as he can appeal to a baby-boomer reliving memories of their first Spiderman comic back in the day.

These different customers engage with their fan driven interests in different ways. Thanks to a clever approach to viewing data, retailers are able to treat both interests differently and the same as may be needed from time to time.

This is another smart approach to inventory management from the smart software development team at Tower Systems.

Read on Read later

What gift shop owners love about the Tower Systems Gift Shop Software

July 6, 2015

1 Min read

W

Here are some of the features gift shop owners love about our Gift Shop Software in addition to the facilities you would expect from good POS software.

Easy to use yet structured and professional Lay-By.
Customer special orders with TXT message when stock arrives.
Professional gift cards with your logo and proper management of balance.
Easy to produce gift vouchers.
Gift receipts that can be wrapped with a gift (no pricing).
Intelligent receipts with product care information.
Easy handling of hampers and bundled offers.
Supplier performance comparison.
Employee performance management and rewards.
Importing electronic invoices from gift shop suppliers. We work with for you.
Linking to your website to manage a common stock file.
Loyalty options including traditional points as well as front end loyalty to drive infrequent shopper engagement.
Inventory management to guide you to a more efficient inventory level.
Theft reduction tools to reduce the opportunity of employee theft.
It’s easy to use.
It’s regularly updated based on user suggestions.

Read on Read later

Gift shop software on show at Gift HQ in Brisbane from tomorrow

July 3, 2015

1 Min read

G

Tower Systems is thrilled to be showing off new gift shop software at Gift HQ in Brisbane from tomorrow morning:

Read on Read later

More POS software training for the new financial year

July 2, 2015

1 Min read

M

Tower Systems has kicked off the New Financial Year with the launch of fresh POS software user training opportunities for retailers who partner with us.

The free online new training is genuinely new: fresh, new topics … designed to help retailers get more from their Tower Systems relationship.

Our customers can book in for the free training now from our website. We send an email with instructions on how to get online.

Read on Read later

Specialised software for gift shops

June 30, 2015

1 Min read

S

The latest Tower Systems Specialised Software for Gift Shops is driving excellent commercial outcomes for small business gift shop retailers. Feedback on more loyalty options, more supplier integrations and more more management tools is fantastic. We are thrilled that our customers are thrilled.

We are especially happy to provide gift shop owners facilities through which they are able to evolve their businesses. This is vital in today;re retail marketplace where change is the order of the day.

We make it easy for gift retailers to tap into our gift shop opportunities through the gift shop portal on our website:

Read on Read later

Best practice stocktake advice for small business POS software users

June 25, 2015

2 Min read

B

This advice is about the best business approach to undertaking a stocktake. Please refer to other Knowledge base articles on how to actually use the software. All retailers using our POS software have access to our knowledge base.

Please ensure you have the latest version of the Tower Systems Retailer POS software installed prior to undertaking a stocktake.

For the process to be as easy as possible you will need a wireless network – vital for OH&S reasons.

The best way to do a stocktake in your business is by using a laptop (or laptops) or tablet computer with a scanner attached. This enables you to do the stocktake live with no impact on sales and absolute integrity of your stock on hand data.

While using a laptop (or laptops) or tablet computer may seem cumbersome, it is our best practice advice for speed, data integrity and the ability to address data issues you may encounter on the shop floor. It enables you to do management work to ensure completely accurate data.

The alternative is to use a PDE. The challenges with this are the many different PDEs and it is challenging to be expert in all plus the PDE counts at that time and you load the data at a later time – meaning a gap in time in which sales could have been done. While PDE software is available for live to data updates, we have seen this be problematic and so we do not use it.

Given the advances in technology, our best practice recommendation is either a laptop of tablet computer as either offers a better solution than a PDE.

We suggest you setup a Laptop or tablet and use Team Viewer or the like to connect in and count this way. This approach means you do not need to purchase an additional software licence for the laptop. Team Viewer is easy to setup.

For the physical stocktake, we suggest you approach the business aisle by aisle, counting and rearranging stock as you go.

Once you have completed your first full stocktake, our advice is you engage in a rolling stocktake, doing parts of the business, through the year. The Tax Office does not require businesses with full sock control implemented to do a stocktake at the end of the financial year. They will accept data from your system if you manage stock through the year.

Read on Read later

Sunday retail management advice: use your POS software well

June 21, 2015

1 Min read

S

This advice seems simple, obvious – yet it is advice that must good POS software companies repeat daily. Here at Tower Systems we take this seriously we offer advice on how to use the software well, how to run a better business with the support of the software

Going beyond what is traditional in POS software support, Tower Systems helps its customers get more. Here are some of the ways retailers can use their POS software well:

To track everything sold by item detail.
To track all products returned.
To manage gift vouchers.
To run your Lay-By program.
To create order for replenishment stock.
To manage the employee roster.
To track inventory theft.
To track all sales.
To stop employee theft.

This list is just a start on how to use your POS software well. Too many retailers use their software as a glorified cash register and we don’t like that. There are plenty more ways retailers can use their POS software to run more efficient and valuable businesses.

Read on Read later

Small business retailers love the time saved with POS software cloud backup service

June 19, 2015

1 Min read

S

The cloud backup service launched last year by Tower Systems is popular with retailers using our POS software. Backups are seamless, not taking any noticeable time thanks to the smart technology. The result is welcome double protection.

While Tower Systems has supported external and automated backup services for years, this new cloud-based service that offers excellent protection to users of our POS software.

Run on a subscription basis and backing up to the cloud real-time through the day, this is a comprehensive replacement of the old end of shift backup approach for small and independent retailers.

Read on Read later

Xero cloud based accounting promotes the Tower Systems POS software

June 18, 2015

1 Min read

X

Cloud accounting software company Xero features Tower Systems and its retail management software on the Xero website. This privilege is for software companies which have met compliance requirements set by Xero. Tower Systems achieved this status last year. Since then, we have worked with Xero on communication with small business retailers about the benefits of our Xero integrated POS software solution.

We have plenty of retailers using our software and our automated link to Xero … saving them time and money in the management of their financial records.

We use the Xero live and automated link for our own retail businesses and can speak to the benefits ourselves.

Read on Read later

Good news from a retailer switching to our POS software

June 15, 2015

1 Min read

G

Thank you for helping us switch to your software. I had no idea we could do what we are already doing with your software. For years I thought I had a good software program. The time saving alone pays for itself. Thank you.

We love feedback from retailers who switch to us as it encourages us to work even harder at leveraging our point of difference. This latest retailer to switch provided us with comprehensive insights into the weaknesses of the software they have switched from, insights we can leverage in our communication with other retailers in the channel.

Making good POS software is one thing. Guiding retailers to get the maximum commercial value from the software is something else. This is where Tower Systems excels.

Read on Read later

Sunday retail management advice: how to act local in your independent retail business

June 14, 2015

1 Min read

S

Independent retail businesses often seek local shopper support. This Lismore easily achieved if these businesses themselves act locally and love locally. Here are some of the many act local suggestions we have developed over years of supporting local small and independent retail businesses:

Support local community groups through raising awareness and funds.
Use your retail space to attract locals on local issues.
Leverage your communication channels to support local issues and groups.
Offer practical help to local school.
Be engaged in local representation on councils and committees.
Preference hiring local people.
Seek out local suppliers.
Offer local training opportunities to local school students.
If appropriate to your business, seek out local artists.
Participate in local markets.
Welcome local groups to raise funds from out the front of your shop.
Get your business name on local sports team clothing.
Learn and tell local stories.

We have many other suggestions to help independent local retailers to better connect with their local community … helping our customers way beyond our software.

Tower Systems serves close to 3,000 retailers using our smart POS software.

Read on Read later

Smart vouchers on POS software receipts invite shoppers to return

June 13, 2015

1 Min read

S

Getting a shopper to return to your independent retail business can be difficult, you need to embrace every opportunity possible. This is where POS software company Tower Systems can help – using our smart POS software you can include on the receipt a coupon or voucher for a variety of purposes including marketing, information, direct discounts or other promotional activity.

The voucher based marketing facilities in our software are being actively used in all specialist channels in which we serve.

It could be a simple discount on return, a promotion of a new service, a discount based what is in this purchase or an offer based on a future bulk buy.

The beauty of the voucher serving technology embedded in the Tower software is that it is flexible and available for use in the business without cost. This ensures that the independent retailers using it are not having to share costs with others. The benefits are as considerable as the flexibility of the service.

Read on Read later

POS software help desk support is about much more than the software

June 11, 2015

2 Min read

P

And how can I use that information in the business?

This is a question that can stump someone working on the help desk as a POS software company as it goes beyond the what and how and delves into the why. The answer to this question is a chink of gold that can be mined using smart POS software.

This is a questions the Tower Systems help desk team members can answer because the understand the why: why the software matters, why the data harvested is valuable, why a business owner wanting to grow the business will want to use the data.

This information is vital in small business as it is information that unlocks the real value of POS software for these small independent business users.

We can help small business owners understand data on reports as they relate to their specific businesses. Context is everything as they say and we know POS software cannot be one size fits all. A datapoint could be used by three different businesses in different ways depending on other metrics and KPIs. This is where our help desk team is smart and engaged.

Beyond the shat and how, our POS software help desk team loves to delve into the why.

Read on Read later