The POS Software Blog

The POS Software Blog

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

Latest stories

More Asian supermarkets and grocery stores choose Tower Systems

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We are grateful to welcome more local Asian grocery supermarkets to our community of POS software customers. This is a proven segment of retail for us, with our POS software proving to be useful.

Designed for fast, easy and accurate checkout, our Asian grocery POS software helps retailers streamline lanes, accurately sell, easily manage inventory levels and reduce fraud. Our work on customer and employee fraud is proven to help retailers in this expensive and fraught area.

Our Asian grocery POS software set checkout solution is also loved buy retailers and customers.

Using our Asian grocery POS software, retailers can easily:

  1. Scan products.
  2. Sell by weight thanks to approved scale integration.
  3. Sell in bundles.
  4. Offer shopper loyalty as cash back or points.
  5. Sell to customers at prices based on their profile.
  6. Order based on sales.
  7. Compare supplier performance.
  8. Compare product category performance.
  9. Use our AI supported insights dashboard to make sessions based on actual business performance.
  10. Use our AI tools to cut time imparting product invoices.

We serve our Asian supermarket customers in ways they love, like the ability to ask questions about our software in their language of choice and the answers being bigger in their language of choice.

Our customers can also easily and quickly configure the software to have the buttons they prefer on the POS screen.

With our Tower Systems Asian grocery POS software, there is one price per location regardless of the number of lanes in use. This helps retailers manage their tech costs. Our POS software pricing is transparent, easily understood.

You can use this POS software for Asian supermarkets on premise or in the cloud – you choose what’s best for your business.

Our multi-store option also helps when you want to add stores. Plus, our POS software makes it easy with integrations:

  1. Shopify, Big Commerce and Woo Commerce for online sales.
  2. Xero for easy accounting management.
  3. Deputy, Tanda, Planday and more for roster management.
  4. Tyro, Linkly, MX51, Quest and more for access to easy payments solutions. You choose what’s the most cost effective for your business.
  5. Slyp for digital receipts.
  6. Epay for phone card and other voucher sales.

Through these integrations and the comprehensive functionality in the POS software for Asian grocery shops from Tower Systems, you have access to a unified solution, something proven for local small business retail, and offered at a fixed cost per location without you having to pay more for additional lanes or computers. Sell in-store, online or a mixture with this POS software.

If you run an Asian grocery business, consider Tower Systems. We are based in Australia and we serve Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Papua New Guinea and nearby. We have 3,000+ local retail business customers, including Asian grocery businesses. Our customer service team is based in Australia and New Zealand. There is no offshoring of customer service. Everyone working on our help desk has retail experience – local small business retail experience.

We can help you convert data from other software. We also provide one-on-one training, and we back this with a large library of up-to-date training videos and a knowledge base with 600+ articles. Our software is professionally documented and, again, you can ask questions about the software the language of your choice.

For new staff, we are an short curriculum of self study videos to help onboard therewith our software to be of service to your business.

While the right POS system for any retail business depends on the specific needs of the retail business, Tower Systems was built to serve  Australian and New Zealand local small business specialty retailers. To see how we can help you…, request a free, no-obligation demo today. 

Call 1300 662 957 in Australia or 0800 444 367 in New Zealand. Or, email sales@towersystems.com.au. 

Tower Systems: POS Software Tailored for Australian Fashion and Apparel Retailers

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For local independent clothing shops in Australia and New Zealand, finding the right Point of Sale (POS) software is crucial for success. Tower Systems, a specialty retail business-focused POS software company, offers a feature-rich solution designed to help fashion and apparel retailers not just survive, but thrive in a competitive market.

We only work with small retail businesses, local businesses, specialty businesses. All of our customers have an equal voice, which we think is important.

Our POS  software is a comprehensive business management system that helps fashion and clothing retailers streamline operations, leverage insights, and nurture shopper engagement.

One of the key challenges for fashion retailers is managing inventory with multiple variants like colour, size, and style. The Tower Systems POS software handles this with ease, allowing for granular tracking of stock levels and sales performance. This ensures you always have the right products in stock to meet customer demand.

The software also offers flexible and powerful reporting as well as AI facilities business performance insights. You can analyse sales data by supplier, brand, or custom tags, giving you a deep understanding of your business performance. This data-driven approach allows you to make informed decisions about purchasing, pricing, and marketing.

Building a loyal customer base is essential for any independent retailer. Our POS software for fashion and apparel businesses provides a suite of tools to help you connect with your customers and keep them coming back. You can track customer preferences and purchase history, allowing you to offer personalised recommendations and targeted marketing campaigns via email or SMS.

The software also includes an “awesome loyalty” program that rewards repeat customers and encourages them to spend more. It’s unique and ideal for indie retail businesses. Our software also supports traditional lay-by options, which are seeing a resurgence in popularity, alongside modern “buy now, pay later” integrations like Afterpay and others.

Beyond core POS functionality, the Tower Systems software offers a range of features to streamline your daily operations. These include:

  • Alterations and repairs: A dedicated workshop facility helps you manage alterations and repairs, tracking time, materials, and costs for each job.
  • AI-powered product descriptions: Save time and create more engaging product descriptions for your website with the integrated AI writer.
  • Image background removal: Easily remove the background from product images for a clean, professional look on your e-commerce store.
  • E-commerce integration: Seamlessly connect your physical store with popular e-commerce platforms like Shopify, BigCommerce, Magento, and WooCommerce.
  • Supplier invoice import: Simplify your accounting with tools that import supplier invoices directly into the system.

The Tower Systems POS software is available for a modest monthly rental fee. This all-inclusive price includes:

  • Software licences for unlimited computers in your location.
  • Easy to access help desk support via phone or email.
  • Access to a comprehensive online knowledge base.
  • After-hours support for urgent system-down queries.
  • Integrations with Shopify, Xero, and other platforms.

Our POS software is constantly evolving, with regular updates and enhancements driven by feedback from the active user community.

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While the right POS system for any retail business depends on the specific needs of the retail business, Tower Systems was built to serve  Australian and New Zealand local small business specialty retailers. To see how we can help you…, request a free, no-obligation demo today. 

Call 1300 662 957 in Australia or 0800 444 367 in New Zealand. Or, email sales@towersystems.com.au. 

POS software for New Zealand small business retailers, specialty retailers

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For years, Tower Systems has supported local small business retailers in New Zealand. We provide specialised point of sale software tailored for a diverse range of specialty retailers. Our clients include jewellers, bike shops, farm supply businesses, gift and homewares stores, toy shops, dairies, bookstores, and many others. We are proud to serve a growing network of satisfied customers throughout the country.

Our software is developed specifically with the needs of small businesses in mind. It offers a powerful suite of features designed to save you time, streamline operations, and improve your financial results.

Our own experiences gained from years of owning and running specialty retail shops continues to inform us today. This along with tight relationships with plenty of local retailers helps us in our service of local small business retailers with PSO software in New Zealand.

We know that reliable local support is critical. Our customer service team is available via a toll free number during New Zealand business hours to provide prompt and professional assistance. With team members based near Christchurch and in Auckland, you have a familiar point of contact. We also regularly host face to face training and networking sessions for our customers in New Zealand.

Our POS software integrates seamlessly with popular e-commerce platforms, including Shopify, Magento, Big Commerce, and WooCommerce. This allows you to effortlessly manage your online and physical store sales from a single system. Furthermore, we offer native integration with Xero accounting software to simplify your financial management.

Tower Systems’ POS software provides a complete toolkit to enhance your retail operations.

  • Detailed Sales Tracking: Monitor sales by colour, size, style, or any other attribute relevant to your business.
  • Age Checking: Easily manage the sale of age restricted products with integrated prompts.
  • Club Pricing: Foster loyalty and attract community groups with targeted pricing and special offers.
  • Repair Management: Simplify the entire repair process from tracking and customer communication to final invoicing.
  • Flexible Sales Options: Sell products by weight, by fractions, or create custom units of measure.
  • Advanced Loyalty Programs: Move beyond basic points systems with innovative and engaging customer loyalty solutions.
  • Promotional Tools: Drive sales with powerful promotional options like buy one get one free offers.
  • Warranty Tracking: Improve customer service by efficiently managing all product warranties.
  • Targeted Marketing: Re-engage your customer base with automated campaigns for birthdays, anniversaries, and other key dates.
  • Mobile Sales: Use our Retailer Roam mobile app to process sales anywhere in your store or at events.
  • Special Order Management: Efficiently track and manage all customer special orders from deposit to fulfillment.
  • Customisable Labels: Design and print product labels and receipts that align with your brand identity.

Our low monthly rental fee provides a comprehensive POS solution for your business. This single fee includes unlimited computer licenses for your retail location, all ongoing software updates, access to our full range of integrations, and personalised one on one training to ensure you get started successfully.

If you are an independent retailer in New Zealand looking for a reliable and feature rich POS software partner, we can help. We are committed to the success of your business.

Contact us today to learn more about how our software can benefit your operations. We will begin with a conversation to understand the specific needs of your business.

Phone: 0800 444 367

Email: sales@towersystems.com.au

An alternative to Square POS and other ‘free’ POS software solutions

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You get what you pay for. It’s true. Free is rarely free. In fact, free can be for more expensive.

Square POS is pitched as free from time to time. Is it really free? We suspect now. But, we suggest you do your own research.

POS systems offering their software for free rarely make it free once you understand how it works, the whole process.  The allure of a “free” system can be powerful. But as with most things in business, it pays to look a little closer.

On the surface, a POS system with no upfront software cost, free like we see from Square POS sometimes, seems like an unbeatable deal. However, the true cost often lies in the details, specifically, in the transaction fees. Many popular “free” platforms build their business model around their integrated payment processing. With every tap, swipe, or insert, a percentage of the sale goes to them.

Over time, these non-negotiable, built-in rates can quietly chip away at your margins.

We’ve seen these fees run significantly higher than what a retailer could secure by shopping around for a competitive EFTPOS rate. When you do the maths, that “free” system can end up costing you thousands of dollars a year.

This is where a different conversation about value begins. Instead of asking what the software costs upfront, a better question might be: What is the total cost to my business over the long term?

When we look at it this way, the picture changes. Our analysis shows that a typical independent retailer, by pairing our Tower Systems POS software with a competitive EFTPOS rate, could save thousands of dollars annually compared to a fee-based “free” system.

But value isn’t just about saving money on transaction fees. It’s about what your system gives you. It’s about having the right tools built-in, not bolted on as expensive extras.

here at Tower Systems we see our POS software as a viable alternative to the Square POS software solution.

  • Building loyalty, not monthly bills: A great loyalty program encourages repeat business and makes customers feel valued. We believe this is a core function, which is why it’s included in our software at no extra cost. Many other POS systems  charge a recurring monthly fee for this essential feature. Not us.
  • A human on the other end of the line: When something goes wrong during a busy Saturday service, the last thing you want is to navigate a complex support bot or wait for an email response. We offer 24/7 support from a team that understands retail. We answer the phone because we know that sometimes, you just need to talk to a person.
  • Software that grows with you: Your business isn’t static, and your POS shouldn’t be either. Our software is constantly evolving, with enhancements and new features suggested and voted on by our community of users, the people who use it every day.
  • Serving specialty retail needs. If you see your business as specialists, look for software that serves your specialist needs.

Here at Tower Systems we understand the challenges and the triumphs. We believe value is a combination of a financial benefit and an emotional one: the money you save and the peace of mind you gain knowing you have a partner committed to your success.

Choosing a POS is about finding the right fit for the business you’re running today and the one you hope to build for tomorrow.

If you are looking for an alternative to Square POS software, consider us: www.towersystems.com.au.

Beyond the counter: how Tower Systems is powering the modern Australian newsagency

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Running a successful newsagency in Australia today  is a juggling act. From managing lottery sales and magazine returns to embracing e-commerce and diversifying your product range, the demands are greater than ever. Ask any newsagent. They will tell you. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed.

At Tower Systems, we understand these challenges. As the only newsagency software provider to have owned and operated our own newsagencies, we have a valuable and unique perspective. We have experience. Our stores were our learning labs, allowing us to build a solution that genuinely addresses the real-world needs of Aussie newsagents.

This made our software the industry standard, trusted by over 1,800 newsagents across Australia. It made us the industry standard.

Good newsagency software is a central nervous system for your entire business. It should be:

  • Easy to use for you and your team.
  • Updated regularly with features that matter.
  • Accessible from anywhere, so you’re not tied to the counter.
  • Powerful enough to help you sell anywhere—in-store, online, or at a local market.

Our newsagency software is these things. It is designed to tick all these boxes and more, providing a comprehensive toolkit to help you run a more efficient, valuable, and enjoyable business.

We’ve packed our software with features specifically designed to save you time, reduce errors, and open up new revenue streams.

Mastering core newsagency operations:

  • Seamless The Lott integration: Manage lottery transactions effortlessly with our direct link to The Lott via XchangeIT.
  • Streamlined publication management: Handle magazine arrivals and returns through XchangeIT, manage complex publication pricing for different days of the week, and apply price changes with ease.
  • Home delivery & customer accounts: Effortlessly manage newspaper home delivery routes, sub-agent accounts, customer putaways, and special orders.

Driving modern retail efficiency:

  • Integrated AI tools. These are a game changer.
  • Business performance insights. ready 24/7. Money making. Attention grabbing.
  • Integrated EFTPOS: Connect directly with all major banks to speed up transactions, eliminate mistakes, and automatically pass on fees with an optional surcharge.
  • Seamless accounting: Link directly with Xero for up-to-date, time-saving accounting management.
  • Powerful e-commerce integrations: Sell 24/7 beyond your local area by connecting your inventory directly to Shopify, WooCommerce, Big Commerce, and more. We can even help you build the website.
  • Smart integrations: Connect with popular roster apps (Deputy, Tanda), delivery apps, and more to streamline every part of your operation.

The local Aussie newsagency is changing, and our software is built to change with you. We are proud to support newsagents who have evolved their businesses to include:

  • Coffee shops & cafes with table service
  • Gift, book, and toy shops
  • Baby and boutique clothing stores
  • Camping and outdoor suppliers
  • Local artist consignment and tourism rentals

Our flexible platform provides the tools and data you need to confidently diversify and ensure your business remains a vital part of your community.

We believe our role extends beyond providing a great product. When you join the Tower Systems community, you gain a partner invested in your success. We offer:

  • Expert marketing advice to help you reach new customers.
  • Theft mitigation guidance to protect your bottom line.
  • Dedicated ongoing support from our friendly help desk team, available six days a week.
  • A comprehensive training library of short videos, free for your entire team.

For a few dollars a day, you can rent the complete Tower Systems software package. This all-inclusive price covers software for all computers in your location, help desk access, and all our powerful integrations.

We’ve recently launched exciting new features that are getting cheers from our customers, making our newsagency software even better.

Request a personal demo: To discuss your specific business needs, call our team on 1300 662 957 or email us at sales@towersystems.com.au.

We are sincerely grateful to the many newsagents who have already joined us this year and the 1,800+ businesses who trust us every day. Let us help you build a more valuable and enjoyable future for your newsagency.

Welcome IGA to the cash back loyalty reward opportunity

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Here at Tower Systems we launched cash back loyalty rewards through our POS software for local small business retailers in early 2013. It was a hit at launch and has continued to be a hit since.

For years, loyalty points have been a staple of retail marketing. Back in 2013 we thought they had become confusing.  Still today, traditional points-based systems feel tired and outdated, their value diluted by the complex schemes of supermarket giants, leaving customers confused and uninspired. So, we created an alternative.

At Tower Systems, our experience serving thousands of indie retailers has shown that a successful loyalty program can drive business growth. That’s why back in 2013 we added a solution with universally understood value: cash. Our fully integrated Discount Voucher feature offers a modern, effective, and refreshingly simple alternative.

We continue to offer a points program for the retailers who prefer that though.

We mention this today because of the news that IGA supermarkets have launched a cash back loyalty program. Welcome IGA to something similar to what we have been doing this past 12 years through our POS software.

Imagine launching a complete loyalty program in minutes. Our Tower Systems Discount Voucher POS software tools are designed for the time-poor small business owner. There is no need for additional technology, no plastic cards to order, and no complex customer sign-up process. This makes it an easy, low-cost, and low-overhead solution that starts delivering value from day one.

A key weakness of generic loyalty programs is their rigidity. Our Discount Vouchers put you firmly in the driver’s seat.

  • Customise the Name: Call them “Thank You Gifts,” “Bonus Bucks,” or “Customer Rewards.” The name is yours to decide, reflecting your unique brand identity.
  • Set the Rules: You determine the voucher’s value, define which products or categories it can be used on, and set a clear expiry date.
  • Ensure Profitability: With flexible settings, you can structure your offers to ensure every redeemed voucher is a positive outcome for your profit and loss statement.

Our cash back program is a bit different to the IGA program. With ours, each retailer is 100% in control.

Discount Vouchers deliver bankable results. One of our retail partners witnessed a remarkable 20% sales lift in the first quarter after implementation, driven significantly by impulse purchases at the sales counter.

This powerful tool helps you to:

  • Increase Basket Size: Motivate customers to spend more during their visit to earn or redeem a voucher.
  • Encourage Repeat Business: Give shoppers a compelling reason to return to your store sooner.
  • Attract New Customers: Stand out from your competitors with a clear and enticing offer.
  • Stimulate Impulse Buys: A voucher in hand is a powerful incentive for that extra last-minute purchase.

Unlike confusing points conversions, the value of a discount voucher is immediate and clear. A $10 voucher is understood as $10 in value, a direct and appreciated reward. This transparency builds trust and provides the instant gratification that modern consumers value. We observe that some shoppers redeem their vouchers immediately, while others save them for a future treat, creating another valuable touchpoint for your business.

The Discount Voucher solution we offer is exclusive to Tower Systems. Backed by our retail-experienced support team, it provides you with terrific control and clear reporting to analyse customer engagement.

Abandon outdated loyalty methods and adopt a solution that offers clarity, control, and proven results.

We are grateful to see IGA supermarkets embrace cash back. We think it will work a treat for their customers and for the IGA businesses.

Tower Systems offers a POS software alternative to Retail Express customers

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If you use the Retail Express POS software in your shop and are looking for an alternative, our Tower Systems POS software could be worth considering.

Awe are not always the best alternative. If we think we’re not a good fit the case based on your needs we will say so.

So if you’re in the market for an alternative to retail Express, check us out: www.towersystems.com.au.

Finding the right tools for your business is critical. Here at Tower Systems, we find our home in the heart of local communities, serving the independent specialty retailers who make our towns unique.

Our partners are small and independent specialty retail businesses: garden centres, bike shops, jewellers, newsagents, pet shops, and so many more. We focus exclusively on the needs of small, local businesses, which is why we don’t supply to large corporations or franchises.

If you are exploring your options and have wondered how our POS software compares to a system like Retail Express, we’d like to share our approach.

We focus on you

You might notice that we don’t publish direct comparisons between our software and others. This is a mindful choice. We believe our energy is best spent nurturing our software and supporting our retail partners, rather than analysing other products on the market.

We’ve not used Retail Express ourselves. We have used our software though.

The comparison that matters is the one you make for yourself, the one that reveals which software feels right for your unique business.

If you are looking for a new path and considering an alternative to Retail Express, we invite you to explore Tower Systems at your own pace. We may be a good fit, but we encourage you to take your time and find the solution that brings you peace of mind.

A gentle and transparent approach

We want you to feel comfortable and informed as you consider your options. That’s why we make it easy to see our software in action. You are welcome to browse our Tower Systems YouTube channel anytime, with no sign-ups or commitments needed, to get a feel for how it works. Compare our approach to others. The transparency we demonstrate speaks to our approach.

For a closer look, we are always happy to provide a personal demonstration. In this quiet, one-on-one setting, we can walk you through our system. If it’s helpful for you, we can even sit with you and conduct a gentle, function-by-function comparison with Retail Express, helping you see clearly how each platform might serve your specific needs.

Your needs come first

We want to support your success as that is key to our success. From our very first conversation to help desk support, we  listen and place the needs of your business first. You won’t find any pressure or hard sales pitches here. If our Tower Systems POS software isn’t the right fit for you, we’ll be the first to say so and sincerely wish you the best in your search.

The right software should feel like a partnership. Our features and enhancements are inspired by the suggestions from the community of over 3,000 local businesses we serve. This means our software is always evolving to meet the real-world needs of retailers like you.

Good decisions are calm and informed ones. We would be grateful to be a part of your research.

Toy shop software helps local independent toy shops thrive

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A toy shop is a specialty retail business, a business focussed on a specific type of products. It’s not. a gift shop, or a cafe, or a homewares shop, or a jeweller, or a bike shop, or a convenience store. A toy shop is a toy shop.

Toy shops need toy shop software, POS software made for their type of business.

Running a toy shop is more than just stocking shelves with fun and games. It’s about understanding the unique needs of your customers, managing inventory efficiently, and staying ahead of the competition. This is where a toy shop is different to traditional retail, average retail.

The needs of toy shops are not served by generic software.

Our specialised software designed specifically for toy retailers can be a game-changer for local independent toy shops. It’s made for them. We work with plenty, and with suppliers – to help facilitate efficiency, success and enjoyment. We work to help local indie toy shops thrive.

Key features of our Tower Systems Toy Shop POS software:

  • Bundling: Create custom packages of toys to offer unique deals and encourage impulse purchases. Sell more. Make price comparison harder.
  • Instant loyalty benefits: Reward repeat customers with instant discounts or points to foster loyalty. This works well with the shopper frequency of toy shops.
  • Buy One, Get One Free (BOGO): Easily manage BOGO promotions at the register for a seamless customer experience.
  • Smart receipts: Include care instructions on receipts to provide added value and differentiate your service.
  • AI supplier invoice imports: Bring in supplier invoices using our smart AI tools. These are a game changer said one customer recently.
  • Serial number tracking: Ensure accurate tracking of high-value items with serial numbers.
  • Community group discounts: Offer exclusive discounts to local groups to attract new customers and build relationships.
  • Special customer orders: These are so easy. Place custom orders on behalf of customers and notify them of arrival.
  • Gift vouchers: Provide a convenient gift-giving option for customers.
  • Supplier comparison: Analyse supplier performance to optimise your purchasing decisions.
  • Linked/assorted items: Manage inventory effectively for assorted products with varying contents.
  • Gift cards: Offer customers a flexible payment option for future purchases.

Our software for toy shops is much more than this list tho, and it continues to evolve thanks to advice from customers.

One feature of this specialised toy shop software is its seamless integration with popular online platforms like Shopify, Magento, Big Commerce, Woo Commerce, Xero, Linkly Cloud, Tyro, Tanda, Deputy and plenty more.

Our work with key international brands ensures that your online store adheres to brand guidelines and provides a consistent shopping experience for customers.

By leveraging the powerful features of this specialised toy shop POS software, you can streamline your operations, enhance customer satisfaction, and gain a competitive edge in the dynamic toy retail industry.

Tower Systems is grateful to already serve thousands of  local independent retailers across a range of specialty retail sectors.

We only serve small retailers. This focus matters as no one big retailer or group dominates the conversation.

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While the right POS system for any retail business depends on the specific needs of the retail business, Tower Systems was built to serve  Australian and New Zealand local small business specialty retailers. To see how we can help you…, request a free, no-obligation demo today. 

Call 1300 662 957 in Australia or 0800 444 367 in New Zealand. Or, email sales@towersystems.com.au. 

What’s the best software for newsagents?

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The real question has to be what’s the best software for your newsagency business. We say this since there is a big difference between newsagency businesses. Few are the traditional newsagencies Aussies grew up with. More have transformed. Some are gift shops, others are cafes, others are homewares shops, others are very cool general stores.

If you do want to think about it more broadly when asking What’s the best software for newsagents? the answer likely is Tower Systems since more newsagents have chosen our newsagency software than all other POS software products considered by newsagents combined. We are grateful to serve close to 1,900 newsagency businesses today.

We have newsagents using our POS software to manage magazines, sales of lottery tickets through The Lott, gift products, jewellery, coffee, food, games, toys, cards, newspapers, hunting goods, camping goods, books and plenty more. The diversity in our POS software is part of what appeals not only to newsagents but to other retailers looking for software solutions for their local specialty retail businesses.

As the newsagency channel evolves, newsagents want software that evolves with them. The size of our newsagency customer base positions us well for this. Software companies with 400, 200 or fewer customers will struggle to keep up, to deliver software and customer service vital to efficient and commercially valuable retail management. The question What’s the best software for newsagents? is really about this evolution.

Our work with and for newsagents since 1981 has been every day, in creating software newsagents prefer, backing this with customer service they love and helping newsagents make business decisions that are valuable for their businesses.

The question What’s the best software for newsagents? is relevant today because so many software products pitch themselves to newsagents. few have the technical facilities to serve what’s unique and specialist about running a local Aussie newsagency business.

Our most recent innovation for newsagents is the AI tools embedded in our newsagency software. First released three years ago and enhanced in each update since, this is a rapidly evolving area of change in newsagency management. It’s a money maker for plenty, for sure. One newsagent we spoke with this week said it was saving between 3 and 5 hours a week. Now that’s a real business cost saving. Another told us about online sales they were now getting and a direct result of using the AI tools.

Retail is changing rapidly and newsagency management is changing rapidly. This brings opportunities and we are loving seeing the innovation flow.

If you are wondering What’s the best software for newsagents? we think Tower Systems is the software to consider.

How small business retailers help POS software evolve

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Join us in a discussion about =t the Software Ideas platform from Tower Systems.

At Tower Systems, we believe the best insights for improving our POS software come directly from the specialty retailers who use it every day, small business retailers with the kind of boots in the ground experience that is key to helping us make best-practice POS software. That’s why we created our Software Ideas platform—a democratic and transparent space for you to help shape the future of your software.

Through the platform, you can submit your suggestions for enhancements and vote on ideas shared by other retailers. This collaborative process ensures our development roadmap is guided by the real-world challenges and opportunities you face. Every software update we release includes features born from this platform, proposed and prioritized by our customer community.

This unique approach turns you into a key partner in our development. An idea from a single local business can blossom into a feature that saves time, streamlines workflows, or unlocks new revenue streams for thousands of retailers across the country. It creates a direct channel from your shop floor to our coding team, ensuring your front-line expertise becomes our development priority.

To show you how it works, we’ve created a video that walks you through submitting an idea and our consideration process. We’ve shared it publicly on our YouTube channel as a training resource and as another example of the transparency we champion.

Tower Systems is a POS software company focused on the needs of niche, small business retailers. With Software Ideas, your voice doesn’t just get heard—it gets built into the next version of the software you rely on.

Here’s how Software Ideas makes an impact:

  • A Voice for Every User: Submit your own suggestions for new features and improvements, giving you a direct line to our development team.
  • Democratic Prioritization: Vote on ideas submitted by the entire community. The most popular suggestions rise to the top, guiding what we build next.
  • Transparent Process: Our open platform means every idea and vote is visible. We believe sunlight is good for democracy, and it’s great for software development too.
  • Real Results in Every Update: Each new version of our POS software includes enhancements sourced directly from the Software Ideas platform. You’ll see your influence in the tools you use every day.
  • From Your Shop to Our Code: You are the expert. This platform ensures your front-line knowledge is translated into powerful features that save time, improve workflows, and create new opportunities for thousands of retailers.

We are grateful to our POS software customers for their engagement with Software Ideas.

Small business retailers benefit from EFTPOS flexibility with POS software

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Tower Systems does not lock retailers into a specific EFTPOS solution. retailers using our POS software can choose the EFTPOS partner that best serves their needs.

This means retailers can choose the EFTPOS partner that offers the rates they like backed by service they love and with a settlement time that serves their business needs.

More often today we are seeing POS software companies lock retailers into an EFTPOS solution that does not benefit the customers of the retailers.

If you surcharge customers for EFTPOS use and therefore think it’s not a cost to worry you, a higher than best rate cost can make your business look less competitive due to the surcharge you apply.

A better EFTPOS benefits you and your customers. This is one reason why we think it is vital that retailers get to choose the EFTPOS solution that best serves their needs. This is why we as a POS software company make no EFTPOS demands on ur customers.

We know of a software company making more money from the clip they get from each transaction in shops running their software than from what they charge for the software. This is like a sales tax applied by a software company on their customers, a tax all too often passed on to unwitting shoppers through a surcharge.

Using the Tower Systems POS software you can apply a surcharge. You can also choose the EFTPOS that works best for you. Go for a low cost solution and this means your surcharge on your customers will be low. They will love you for that. And, if surcharges are eventually banned in Australia as the RBA has foreshadowed you’re ahead of the game.

Our commitment is to your business’s success, not to creating a hidden revenue stream from your sales. This freedom of EFTPOS choice is fundamental to our partnership approach.

We believe the best POS software empowers you to make the smartest financial decisions for your store, from negotiating rates to managing cash flow with timely settlements.

By refusing to lock you into a single provider, we ensure your focus can remain on what truly matters: serving your customers and growing your business with the best-fit financial tools at your disposal.

When considering POS software for your business, research the total cost of ownership for you, and for your customers. Go into your decision with all the information. Oh, and take your time. beware any who rush you.

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While the right POS system for any retail business depends on the specific needs of the retail business, Tower Systems was built to serve Australian and New Zealand local small business specialty retailers. To see how we can help you…, request a free, no-obligation demo today. 

Call 1300 662 957 in Australia or 0800 444 367 in New Zealand. Or, email sales@towersystems.com.au. 

AI enabled POS software makes it easy for garden centres to import supplier invoices

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Our new video shows you how. See our POS software’s built-in AI instantly import supplier invoices for a garden centre, saving time, money, and eliminating errors.

Tower Systems is an innovator in POS software made for local small business retailers. We are dedicated to delivering competitive advantages to specialty small businesses.

This video showcases one of our innovations: AI-powered supplier invoice importing.

As demonstrated with real-world invoices from garden centres, our integrated AI tools make processing supplier documents effortless. This technology is a direct result of our commitment to genuine, practical support for local retailers—a commitment we began over three years ago with the first release of AI features in our POS software.

The impact is significant. Retailers using these tools report considerable savings in time and money, alongside a marked reduction in costly mistakes. Ultimately, this technology is about resource reallocation. It automates tedious data entry, empowering business owners and their staff to dedicate their energy to core activities like customer service, stock management, and strategic growth.

Described by many of our customers as a “true game changer,” this feature is not limited to the horticultural industry; it benefits any retailer on our platform.

At Tower Systems, we practice a “show, don’t tell” philosophy. Our publicly available YouTube videos provide transparent demonstrations of our software’s capabilities. We invite you to view this video and contact us for a personalised demonstration to see how our POS software can work for you.

Now, here are key advantages of our integrated AI tools:

  • Boost Efficiency: Our garden centre clients report massive time savings by automating what was once a manual data entry chore.
  • Enhance Accuracy: By removing manual keying, the AI drastically reduces costly human errors.
  • Drive Profitability: Save time and cut mistakes to improve your bottom line.
  • Focus on What Matters: Free your team from back-office tasks to concentrate on customer care, stock management, and business growth.
  • Pioneering Technology: Tower Systems has been an innovator in this space for over three years, continuously developing our AI tools with each software update to support small business retailers.

This powerful feature is a core part of our POS software and is available for all specialty retail types, not just garden centres.

The Halloween opportunity most Aussie small business retailers ignore

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The majority of small business retailers in Australia ignore the Halloween opportunity.

In the US, the Halloween season is celebrated with enthusiasm across almost every retail sector. It’s worth billions. It’s embraced as fun, nothing too scary, sinister or weird.

A remarkable diversity of retailers engage with the season, including jewellers, garden centres, bike shops, pet stores, bookshops, and even landscape supply businesses. there is no barrier to the type of business engaging with Halloween.

More than candy.

What stands out is that the approach extends far beyond simply selling candy for trick-or-treating. Retailers in the US treat Halloween as a prime opportunity for fun and, most importantly, for community engagement.

They use the season to host in-store events, offer unique photo opportunities, and run themed sales, all designed to reconnect with their local customer base in a memorable and enjoyable way. It is a seasonal embrace with a sense of fun at its heart—local, engaging, and highly effective.

A simple example can be seen in a creative display at a bike and coffee shop. An installation prompted people to stop, crouch down, and take photos. It was an engaging, low-cost feature that created a buzz and drew people toward the business.

This model presents a compelling opportunity for Australian retailers. Positioned perfectly in the retail calendar after Father’s Day and before the Christmas season fully commences, Halloween can fill a potential quiet period with valuable activity and engagement.

Events in-store, in any type of retail business, are vital to helping to be noticed, attract new shoppers, and grow a loyal customer base.

Many US retailers also use the early September start for Halloween preparations as a gentle ramp-up to the busy Christmas period, easing customers and staff into the festive shopping mindset.

Retail is a personal. Leaning into an event like Halloween allows a business to showcase its personality and connect with customers on a more human level, fostering loyalty that lasts well beyond a single season.

For businesses looking to explore this opportunity, our Tower Systems POS software is equipped to help you track the performance of seasonal campaigns, providing valuable data to measure your success and refine future events. There are countless creative opportunities for local retailers to engage, delight, and grow their customer base, no matter what they sell.

Aussie made and supported POS software for Multi-Store retail businesses

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If you run a shop with multiple locations, our POS software may be a solution for you, especially if yours is a specialty retail businesses.

Our Multi store POS software pricing is simple with a single price per location.

Tower Systems specialises in serving jewellers, pet shops, gift shops, bookshops, produce businesses, stockfeed businesses, garden centres, bike shops, toy shops, charity shops (like op. shops), convenience stores, newsagents, fishing shops, outdoors shops, haberdashery businesses, fabric shops, sewing shops and more.

Using our POS software, you can manage multiple retail locations from one location, including being completely offsite from the retail businesses.

Our Multi-store POS software solution is cloud based. This offers the flexibility needed for multi-store operation.

Harnessing the power of consolidated data is a key advantage. Our software provides you with a single, comprehensive view of your retail operation. This allows you to make smarter, data-driven strategic decisions, from identifying best-selling products across all stores to understanding regional customer preferences. You can manage group-wide promotions, centralise your purchasing for better supplier terms, and implement a unified loyalty program, ensuring a consistent and rewarding customer experience no matter which location they visit.

We first expanded our software suite with multi-store functionality in 2007 and continue to install and support it for many small business retail clients, whether they have two shops or ten.

Developed initially out of our own lived retail experience running four gift shops many years ago, the software has evolved considerably thanks to advice from many different retailers.

Here are some examples of how our multi store POS software can help: if a customer asks for a product that is out of stock at their current retail location, our software will immediately check for stock in other stores and inform your customer service staff of its availability. If you have a warehouse location, your staff can provide estimates on how long it will take to restock your retail store, or to transfer stock across from another store.

Seamless connectivity is instantaneous, invisible to the customer and representative of the opportunities of a multi-store point of sale system.

Multi-store locations can also be managed remotely, from any device and at any time – all you need is an Internet connection.

You can easily do stock item maintenance for all your stores from home in the evening, or arrive invoices for some of your stores while you head to a café for lunch.

You can compare store sales data over breakfast, adjust rosters for each store’s employees from the backseat of a taxi and much more.

Multi-store POS software is this flexible: it’s small business retail management where and when you want, and need.

Our multi-store package has fixed, transparent pricing.

Our pricing is location based – not matter how many POS terminals you run.  It’s also scalable – if you have one store now, you can easily add another later.

Tower Systems’ multi-store functionality has been built from the ground up to link your stores and give you the best possible control. We want to help you grow your business.

We don’t know if our POS software is right for you. We’ll start by seeking to fully understand your needs. If at any time in the sales process we think we may not fit what you’re looking for, we will say so.

Tower Systems is a no pressure POS software company. We know that sometimes making the right decision can take considerable time. We’re patient, and grateful for your interest.

How to create and send a Shopify marketing email to your online customers

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We made this short video Thursday last week to show some retailers we were talking with how to create and send a basic marketing email in Shopify. In the email we pitched a new silver coin celebrating the classic 1960s Batman car that we have at a website connected to my newsagency: www.mintcoinshop.com.au. Two hours after we sent the email we’d sold 9 of the Batman car coins – $1,890.00. The email generated $2,000.00 in sales of other coins.

Here’s the video where we show how to create and send a Shopify marketing email to your online customers:

We are sharing the video here to be transparent about the ease of sending a marketing email through Shopify. Originally, we made the video to be private and shared with a few. Today we thought why not show off this simple and successful opportunity.

Our advice on how to create and send a Shopify marketing email to your online customers speaks to the breadth of service we provide our small business retail customers.

Tower Systems has a web development team that can create beautiful websites connected to our POS software. This helps our retailers reach more shoppers. Our experience with Shopify ourselves helps inform the services we provide in this space. We speak from lived experience, which plenty of web developers are unable to do.

All of our web development is done in Australia, by our own people. There is no outsourcing of website development here.

Drawing from experience in fixing websites for retailers, we see the same avoidable mistakes time and again. By being aware of them, you can steer your project towards success.

  • Not Knowing Your Online Customer: The target customer for your website may be completely different from your regular foot traffic. Your site’s primary goal should be to reach people who would otherwise never discover your store. Define this new audience first.
  • Replicating Your Physical Shop: Creating an online catalogue of everything you sell in-store is a missed opportunity. The most successful retail websites focus on a niche. Stand for something specific online to make your site more appealing and easier to find via search.
  • Thinking the Work is Done at Launch: A website is not a “set and forget” project. Think of it as a hungry beast that needs to be fed constantly with new content, products, and updates to remain relevant and visible.
  • Assuming the Developer Knows Best: Web developers are experts in technology, not necessarily in retail. Your business strategy should lead the project. Partner with a developer who shows a genuine interest in understanding your business and your industry.
  • Ignoring the Total Cost of Ownership: The initial development fee is just the beginning. Before you sign any contract, ensure you have a clear, documented understanding of all ongoing costs, including hosting, maintenance, security updates, and support.
  • Using Generic Supplier Content: It is tempting to save time by using stock images and product descriptions from your suppliers. However, search engines penalise duplicate content. Creating your own unique photos and descriptions is hard work, but it pays off enormously in search rankings and brand identity.
  • Viewing Your Website as a Final Destination: Your website is a milestone, not an endpoint. It will need to evolve constantly, and eventually, it will need to be rebuilt. Go into the process knowing this is one important step on a longer digital journey.

From creating websites to provide advice on how to create a marketing email using Shopify, we’re here to help local small business retailers thrive. We hope our video How to create and send a Shopify marketing email to your online customers was helpful.

How easy it is to move from a POS software solution could indicate whether that software is right for your business

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How easy it is to move from a POS software solution could indicate whether that software is right for your business

Some software companies make it hard to switch from their software to something else.

They may do this by not allowing easy access to your business data, a valuable asset for any business.

They may do this by locking you into a long contract.

They may do this by not offering any advice on how to switch.

We have seen software companies do these things to reduce the ease with which someone can change from their software. We think it is a weak move for if they trusted their software and their customer service they’d make it easy to switch, knowing customers want ato stay with them because they like the service, they value it.

Tower Systems makes it easy for people to move from our software because we back ourselves, every day.

Your choice of POS software is a strategic decision that impacts the future agility of your business.

Being locked into a POS system that no longer serves your needs can stifle growth, prevent you from adopting new technologies, and leave you at the mercy of unexpected price increases.

A software provider that offers a clear and simple exit path is demonstrating that they view you as a partner, not a prisoner. They are betting on their ability to continually earn your business through excellent service and innovation, giving you the freedom and control to always make the best choice for your company’s future.

If you are considering POS software for your business, take your time, investigate, be sure to ask about ease of access to your data should you decide at some point two switch software.

Also, make sure you understand the contract term and what termination may look like.

These are vital things to know in advance, so you can make a more informed decision.

…

While the right POS system for any retail business depends on the specific needs of the retail business, Tower Systems was built to serve  Australian and New Zealand local small business specialty retailers. To see how we can help you…, request a free, no-obligation demo today. 

Call 1300 662 957 in Australia or 0800 444 367 in New Zealand. Or, email sales@towersystems.com.au. 

It’s a public holiday in Melbourne today and we’re here for you

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Our head office in Melbourne is closed today for the AFL Grand Final public holiday. The good news is we are here for you regardless. Our help desk phone numbers are live and staffed by your regular POS software experts ready to answer calls, our support email is live and giving immediate responses, our Software Ideas platform for enhancement suggestions is live, our Knowledge Base is live and available and our awesome ChatBot is live and helping people.

Retail is personal and businesses like ours that support retailers understand the value of personal service.

Retailer Roam: the sell from anywhere, any time, even without internet access POS software solution

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Modern retail is not restricted to four walls and a fixed counter. The smartest retailers know that the key to growth is to be where the customers are, whether that’s on the shop floor, at a local market, a pop-up event, or even off the back of a truck.

Retail is personal and the more in the moment you can be with shoppers the better.

This new landscape requires tools that are as agile and mobile as your business. Our Retailer Roam solution is a calm, capable, and cloud-based tool in the Tower Systems software suite, designed to give you the freedom to sell anywhere, anytime.

We have customers using Retailer Roam for pop-up shops, trade show events, selling from a trust, selling on the shop floor, selling from a local market and selling from out in the field and far away fro the sales counter. And, bets of all, a new release of Retailer Roam is out now, launched just a couple of weeks ago, in late August 2025.

Retailer Roam makes it easy to sell anywhere, at any time. We have jewellers, garden centres, produce businesses and not-for profit use cases from live experience.

Portability and Uninterrupted Sales

As a tablet-based app for Apple iPads and Android devices, Retailer Roam serves as a powerful extension of our core Retailer POS software from us here at Tower Systems. It’s built for small businesses on the move, but its key strength lies in its ability to operate with or without an internet connection.

We understand that reliable WiFi isn’t always guaranteed at an event or temporary location. Retailer Roam is engineered to work seamlessly even when a connection is unavailable. Sales and customer data are stored securely in a queue on the device and then automatically synchronised with your main system the moment you’re back online. This offers complete peace of mind, ensuring you never miss a sale due to a sketchy connection.

Developed with retailers, for retailers, Retailer Roam has years of in-the-field use that proves its value.

Powerful Retail Features, Right in Your Hands

Retailer Roam isn’t a scaled-down app; it provides the power of a full POS terminal in a portable format. With it, you can:

  • Transact with Ease: Effortlessly process cash and integrated EFTPOS sales, create invoices, set up a LayBy, and handle refunds.
  • Manage Stock: Sell items with serial numbers, conduct on-the-go stocktakes, and manage re-ordering from anywhere.
  • Engage Customers: Accrue and redeem loyalty points on the spot, strengthening your customer relationships wherever you meet them.
  • Customise Your Workflow: Adapt the POS screen to suit your specific needs for faster, more intuitive service.

How Retailer Roam Works

Behind the scenes, a secure and reliable three-phase process keeps your data accurate and synchronised with your main business database. It begins with an initial transfer of your base stock information to get you selling immediately. The app then receives live product updates, like price changes, and finally, all sales and customer data from the Roam terminal is sent back to your main software. This gives you a complete, unified picture of your business performance across all locations.

With the most recent version released just last month in August 2025, we continue to evolve Retailer Roam to ensure it remains a viable and loved solution for local small business retailers. It’s a proven tool for any retail business that needs to be agile, secure, and ready for anything.


While the right POS system depends on the specific needs of your business, Tower Systems was built to serve Australian and New Zealand specialty retailers.

To see how we can help you, request a free, no-obligation demo today.

Call: 1300 662 957 (in Australia) or 0800 444 367 (in New Zealand) Email: sales@towersystems.com.au

An easy way for retailers to apportion the cost of freight across products on a supplier invoice

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From Frustration to Efficiency: Simplifying Freight Cost Allocation

Handling the cost of freight can be a significant challenge for any retail business. For some, a substantial freight charge on an invoice can be a source of frustration. For others, the practical struggle lies in accurately apportioning that single cost across all the different items in the shipment.

Let’s start with the frustration. The simple truth is that every single item you receive has a freight cost associated with getting it to your store. Sometimes this cost is clearly itemised on your invoice; other times, it’s hidden within the cost of the goods themselves. But either way, it is always there.

The second challenge is the practical one: how do you accurately assign a portion of a $150 freight bill to hundreds of individual products on an invoice? This is where our Tower Systems POS software can help make the process easy.

In our software, you can take the total freight charge shown on an invoice and have it automatically apportioned across all items received. This ensures the landed cost of each product is accurate. The system is flexible, too. If you feel a specific product should carry more or less of the freight burden, you can easily adjust it manually. Plus, if your invoice has more than one freight charge, you can add them all in to be spread across the items.

Handling freight costs accurately and quickly is essential for maintaining healthy margins. Our software is designed to save you time on these crucial back-office tasks. We believe that every minute saved is valuable. Labour has a cost, and the more we can do to help retailers reduce this, the better.

Our software provides independent small businesses with a framework for consistency in their operations. By simplifying processes like freight allocation, we help you establish a reliable and accurate method for reflecting the true cost of your goods, paving the way for smarter pricing and better business decisions.

We love helping local small business retailers thrive. We do this for bookshops, sewing shops, music shops, garden centres, pet shops, toy shops, produce businesses, stockfeed businesses, jewellers, firearms dealers and more – all specialty retailers, all with unique needs, yet businesses with common needs when it comes to managing freight costs.

Your Business, Your Language: Next-Level Support for Multilingual Retailers

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The small business retail community across Australia and New Zealand is a vibrant tapestry of cultures and backgrounds. For many dedicated business owners, English is a second, third, or even fourth language, not the one they use most comfortably in their day-to-day communication.

At Tower Systems, we believe that language should be a bridge, not a barrier, to getting the most from your (our) point-of-sale software.

Our commitment to this isn’t new. We first introduced Mandarin and Cantonese language support from our help desk back in 2002, later adding Vietnamese. We saw then how vital it was to offer support in the languages our customers speak most fluently.

Fast forward to today, and we’ve taken this support to a new level. Leveraging a professional and secure AI platform, we can now offer assistance in a vast array of foreign languages. This technology is powered by a structured knowledge base we have built over many years, containing more than 700 articles and hundreds of videos on how to use our POS software.

The system is designed for ease and flexibility. Our customers can type a query in their preferred language and receive a clear, written response in that same language. If it’s easier to explain an issue out loud, they can simply speak their query. The platform listens, considers the question, and responds verbally. Users can even record their query and upload the file for a prompt response.

Foreign language support is vital in local retail today. It empowers retailers to use their software more effectively, unlocking benefits for their businesses and the communities they serve. Before we released this capability publicly, we tested it thoroughly to ensure the process was seamless, trustworthy, and even enjoyable. After all, a positive customer service experience is paramount.

We started with our own high school-level French, German, and Spanish. Then, we invited some of our customers to put the system through its paces, and they went far beyond our basic skills. It was a genuine treat to see people so happy and satisfied with their engagement.

While we embrace technology, we know that retail is personal. We haven’t forgotten that. Access to the people here at Tower Systems remains as easy as ever—there are no barriers or roadblocks. In fact, by having our chatbot handle many common questions in multiple languages, our human team is freed up for more complex interactions that truly benefit from personal engagement.

Helping local retailers thrive has been our driving force for decades. Offering broader foreign language support for our POS software is another way we are innovating for them. Local small businesses are the heart of our communities; they carry the local narrative and enrich our culture. Helping them succeed is good for our economy and our community spirit.

By providing this service, we are giving our retailers new opportunities to thrive. We like that. No, we love it. Because a thriving local retail sector means a thriving community for everyone.


Find out more about our foreign language POS software support:

Email: sales@towersystems.com.au Phone (Australia): 1300 772 957 Phone (New Zealand): 0400 444 367

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