#caturday
24
August
5 ways to use our POS software to increase sales
23
August
Here are five ways you can use our small business focused, specialty retail business POS software to increase sales. We can help you implement each of these:
- Discount vouchers. A voucher on receipts offer customers $$ off a purchase. The pitch is easy. Differentiate your business from old-school loyalty. Usually, 20% of vouchers are redeemed. Guys redeem immediately, girls a week or so later. Get shoppers back sooner and spending more.
- Multi-buy. Easily offer a deal for the purchase of more than one of an item. This approach is used effectively in big businesses like Officeworks and Bunnings. Setup is easy. Tracking the results is a dream.
- Buy now pay later. Zip Pay, Zip Money, Humm and others integrated in our software offer easy and fast settling buy now pay laterplatforms where you carry no financial risk. This is better for your business than LayBy.
- Show off your value-add. Include product care information and local area knowledge related to what you sell on receipts. Share your knowledge to differentiate your business.
- Easily sell online. Connect your business to a beautiful Shopify website and sell way beyond your local area. We can develop the site for you on a fixed price basis and link it to your POS software to save time and money.
This advice is part of regular advice we provide our customers in a customer service email ent weekly. For each advice point we have specific implementation guidance that we share to make it easier and more consistent to achieve what we pitch.
This is all part of the Tower Systems service, part of what we do beyond the software itself to help our customers achieve more from and with our POS software.
We think they type of service is a differentiator for us. It is a way we demonstrate deliverables for our customers that are not common from POS software companies. We are grateful to our community for the opportunity to share these and other business beneficial ideas.
Of course, we have more than these 5 ways to use our POS software to increase sales, many more. These ideas are a start, a simple demonstration. We help our customers way beyond these five.
Come join us…
How our POS software company helps retailers go cashless if they want
22
August
Cashless retail is a thing. It is growing in retail, especially small business retail where trading in cash is challenging with banks withdrawing services and some increasing fees for handling cash.
Tower Systems, in its POS software, helps small business retailers transact without cast cost effectively, safely and quickly. We do this in myriad ways including…
Lower cost direct EFTPOS. We have negotiated excellent, competitive, rates for our 3,000+ customers for direct connect broadband EFTPOS, making accessing EFTPOS cheaper as well as faster and safer. This makes using EFTPOS at the counter as fast as cash if not actually faster.
Direct integration with EFTPOS. This means there is no extra keying of sales amounts, no separate terminal. No slower process for handling. Fewer mistakes. Easier end of shift balancing. More certainty for customers and for the business.
Easier access to cashflow finance. Through the EFTPOS arrangement, there is access to cashflow finance that can help the business better managing capital needs with greater certainty given the flow of funds between EFTPOS and the business bank account.
Direct Xero integration. This means less keystrokes, less accounting and bookkeeping fees, less mistakes and greater business certainty thanks to a more robust base off data on which business decisions can be made.
Business process advice. This includes migrating your end of shift from cash and other payment methods to other only, eliminating the float, making services payments easier and more.
Tower Systems can help retail businesses that want to transition to cashless to achieve this. We are not advocating this as we recognise each business owner needs to make the decision that is right for them. Our message is we are here with a plan if you want it.
As retailers ourselves, the questions about whether to go cashless in retail as well as how to go cashless in retail are as real for us as other retailers. Indeed, these are questions we have right now … hence, our preparation of plans and considerations, so we are positioning ourselves for our retail businesses and are happy to share this with other retailers in our small business retail community.
Cashless is growing in use in retail. We think it is useful and appropriate for retailers to learn how to deal with this. We are here to be a sounding board for anyone interested.
POS software lead referral program for bookkeepers and accountants
21
August
Our lead referral program is for bookkeepers and accountants who invest time and knowledge to help introduce us to prospective POS software customers. To express interest please email sales@towersystems.com.au. To find out more: Click here for an information document from us.
- We link direct to Xero.
- We link through a partner to MYOB and Quicken.
- We link to Tyro for fast, safe cost effective EFTPOS as well as the big banks.
- For buy now pay later, we link to Oxipay (Hmmm) and ZipPay ZipMoney.
- We integrate with Shopify, Magento and Woo for easy e-commerce.
- We also develop websites for retailers at our Hawthorn, VIC, head office, websites finely tuned to the needs of local retailers..
Our POS software is purpose built with versions for garden centres, jewellers, bike shops, toy shops, firearms businesses, fishing and outdoors shops, gift shops, newsagents, farm supply, rural and stockfeed businesses, adult shops and newsagents. We dive deep into the needs of each retail channel.
We are keen to work with bookkeepers and others who also specialise in their service of specific retail channel retailers. We’d love to get sales leads from you. To engage please email sales@towersystems.com.au. This is also the entry point for any queries. Click here to access an information document.
ABOUT US.
Tower Systems is a vertical market POS software company. That is, we sell software designed for specific retail channels. The home page of our website lists all the retail channels in which we serve at any time.
While we may sell/rent/lease our software to businesses outside the retail channels listed, it is rare and only when approved by the leadership team of the company.
We currently serve in excess of 3,000 small business retailers primarily in Australia and New Zealand.
We actively promote our software through direct mail, social media marketing, search engine ads, trade shows and, recently, on radio and TV.
WE ARE RETAILERS TOO.
We own and run three unique retail shops, offering us hands-on retail experience where we can test and refine our software. This has been particularly useful in workflow management where we have tuned our software for efficiency in counter-based retail.
Owning and running retail businesses enables us to provide a unique and valuable level of practical, retailer-focussed, advice to our customers.
ACCOUNTING LINKS AND SERVICES.
We have a full time CPA in the business as our CFO.
Our software is directly integrated with Xero. We are a Xero partner.
Our software also links with MYOB and Quicken through a third party product.
Our customers, through our help desk, have access to comp0lete support in the use of our software as well as practical advice on the correct linking of our software with accounting software. We help our customers achieve and maintain a seamless link.
Thank you for considering working with Tower Systems to empower small business retailers to run more efficient and successful businesses.
To find out more about our POS software and support for specialty retailers…
- WA / SA/ VIC: Tim Batt. 0401 833 917.
- NSW / ACT / TAS: Nathan Morrison. 0417 568 148.
- QLD / NT: Justin Randall. 0434 365 789.
Bankable benefits for small business retailers from Tower Systems POS software
20
August
The tangible, bankable benefits of partnering with Tower Systems, beyond the software.
Not all POS software companies are the same.
- We are local. Local matters in local communities. Tower Systems is Australian owned, developed and supported. Call us and a human answers the phone.
- We listen to your needs and engage in conversation with you.
- Our training is personal, in your business. We think people learn better from face to face training.
- Customers guide our software enhancement. We offer a transparent, democratic, process for guiding software update content.
- In the cloud or in-store. You choose where the software runs.
- Rent or buy. You choose how to acquire and fund the software.
- Retail channel specific. This software is developed for your type of business.
- We help with business performance analysis and theft checks, services where we take a deep dive into your data and provide confidential insights.
- Every customer has the direct contact details for our leadership team for easy and safe escalation of any query.
- No pressure. You buy when you are ready.
- Unlimited free training. Long after you install the software, ask for free top-up training and all we will organise it.
- Retail group engagement. Groups and members of groups have opportunities for group level customisation website sales and more.
- New customer care. All new customers have a separate specialist team with which they connect, to ease settling-in.
- It’s personal. Retail is personal. This is why we prefer to train you in your shop. Yes, we said this above. We say it again as it is a differentiator.
Tower Systems is not an average POS software company. We are a small business, indie business, focussed POS software company developing software in Australia and New Zealand for Australian and New Zealand based specialty retailers.
Thank you for considering us.
Serving over 3,000 small business retail customers, Tower Systems is engaged locally, across multiple specialty retail channels, delivering solutions retailers want and need to differentiate their businesses. We help indie retailers specialise, locally. This matters because it helps local businesses thrive locally.
Shopping local is key to the fabric of any local community.
Benefits from the Tower Systems Garden Centre Software
19
August
Tower Systems is proud to serve local, specialty indie retailers. Our Garden Centre Software is made for indie garden centres.
- EASILY SELL BY MEASURE OR WEIGHT – in whole numbers or fractions. Accurate billing and stock levels, which customers love.
- DIFFERENTIATE WITH BUNDLED PACKS – combine items to create a pack, build items out of goods and more
- CUSTOMERS LOVE GARDEN CARE RECIEPTS – customise receipts with your care information – notes specific to items purchased. Your
- STAND OUT WITH OUTDOOR LABELS – high resolution, customisable weatherproof product labels.
- MAKE MORE MONEY AS PLANTS GROW – easily re-pot plants into larger pots and charge accordingly.
- INCREASE TRAFFIC WITH SEASONAL MARKETING – share seasonal planting and care advice for your area to guide customer spend.
- EASILY ORDER FOR SEASONS– reorder stock based on min/max levels or previous seasonal sales history
- MAKE DELIVERIES EASIER AND MORE CERTAIN– delivery notes and picking slips streamline your processes.
- SAFE AND FAST EFTPOS – reduce mistakes by cutting keystrokes.
- SELL MORE WITH BUY NOW, PAY LATER– through Zip and Humm – interest free finance platforms loved by Boomers, Gen X and Gen Y.
- SELL MORE PER VISIT AND BRING PEOPLE BACK – offer discounts, points or vouchers to increase customer spend and retention
- EASY AND ACCURATE STOCK MANAGEMENT – know what is selling and not selling easily. Carry less dead stock.
- SAVE TIME & CUT MSTAKES WITH ACCOUNTING INTEGRATION – Direct to Xero. We support MYOB & Quicken.
- SAVE TIME– Electronic invoices and orders are a breeze!
- EASILY SELL ONLINE WITH STREAMLINED DATA AND IMAGE FLOW – data flow from POS software is automatic.
- EASY SPECIAL ORDERS – track deposit, supplier order & arrival notification.
- MAKE SMARTER BUSINESS DECISIONS. Have less dead stock.
- HELP CUSTOMERS BUY ITEMS TOGETHER. Smart basket analysis shows what sells with what, often surprising retailers and growing sales.
- EASY, ACCURATE, SELLING – Sell accurately, easily, safely in-store or the back of the lot. Customisation options help personalise the experience.
Proudly supporting local Aussie garden centres with awesome garden centre software, which is supported locally … helping local businesses serve their local communities.
With many customers already, k this software has become an industry standard that grows and evolves like beautiful plants, changing to the changing needs of the garden centre marketplace.
Call one of our Garden Centre Software experts today:
- VIC/SA/WA: Tim Batt 0401 833 917 tim@towersystems.com.au;
- QLD /NT: Justin Randall 0434 365 789 justin@towersystems.com.au;
- NSW/ACT/TAS: Nathan Morrison 0417 568 148 nathan@towersystems.com.au.
POS software at AFTA fishing trade show on the Gold Coast
15
August
What a terrific first day at this awesome trade show, showing off our fishing and outdoors shop POS software.
Awesome small business POS software update in beta release
10
August
Earlier this week, Tower Systems commenced beta release of an awesome POS software update for its small business retailers. Plenty of the content in this update was suggested by small business retail customers who asked for enhancements based on in-store experiences. Each new facility and each enhancement of an existing facility adds value to what we offer our customers through our specialty retail POS software.
Once the beta release cycle is complete and feedback processed, we will commence commercial release.
Humm buy now pay later helps small business retailers compete
9
August
Tower Systems was the first POS software company to offer direct in integration between POS software and the Humm buy now pay later product.
Today, years on, many of the Tower POS software customers are Humm users, winning retail sales thanks to offering easy and safe access to an interest free finance model that customers love.
Accessible direct from within the POS software, Humm is another payment method accessible from the counter,. seamlessly, with few keystrokes, offering indie retailers easy payment surety that is better than LayBy can be. It is a terrific solution in this space, one small business retailers are enjoying and appreciating.
Tower Systems works with Humm to enhance the solution and evolve wth marketplace needs.
Give your customers the power to pay later, interest free and watch your sales grow. Tower Systems and Humm have teamed up to provide a seamless, interest free payment solution for your customer, allowing your business to benefit from:
- Increased sales volume
- Increased average order values
- Increased customer repurchases
- Now, with a seamless integration with Tower Systems, you can accept Humm and Zip payments as soon as you are accredited. Simply enter your credentials.
Getting up and running with Humm is the easy.
Ideal POS software for garden centres
8
August
Since its release several years ago, the specialty Garden Centre Software has been tunedto help local garden centres serve local communities.
As our software is updated, which is done regularly by our software development team, these updates are made available to our rental customers for no additional cost. Our customers can choose if they install the software update or not.
Here are some of the garden centre specific facilities garden centre owners and managers tell us they love about our software:
- Manage repotting. As plants grow, so does their value. Our software helps you leverage this.
- Selling fractionsof an item. For example, 1.5 metres of something.
- Handling and tracking customer special orders.
- Easily offer plant care informationon receipts.
- Hazardous goods management.
- Pricing model flexibility– allowing you to give discounts in flexible ways.
- Weatherproof labels.
- Marketing to customers based on purchases.
- Loading electronic invoices from suppliers.
- An automated link to Shopify including for images.
These specialty facilities and more make our specialty garden centre software ideal for specialty garden centres.
We also help you pitch local, by helping you share local knowledge, appreciate local shoppers through awesome loyalty tools, competewith big businessthrough facilities that let you differentiate and more.
We understand local.Tower Systems is a well-established Aussie POS software company with more than 3,500 small business retail customers in nine specific retail niche categories, like garden centres.
- This awesome Garden Centre Software is developed in Australia.
- Garden Centre owners and staff guide software enhancements.
- Our customer service team is Australian based. If you call, email, text, Facebook message or visit us, a human, with a real name, responds.
- Our software is regularly enhanced, based on user suggestions.
- You have access to unlimited one-on-one training.
- We offer business growth training.
- Easy access to a fantastic knowledge base– like a searchable manual.
To help you get up and running with the garden centre software we have a structured on-boarding process. This is done on-site, in your business. This face to face work helps you and your team get the most value from the software.
On-boarding includes…
- Providing a pre-install packet. This is a starter set of documentation, to help you be ready in your business and with hardware.
- Pre-installation planning. A phone meeting to plan the installation and to go over the training process, ensuring cover what matters to you.
- On-siteinstallation and training. On-site installation of and training in the Tower software anywhere in Australia for up to two days.
- Data conversion. Conversion of all data possible (within reasonable time constraints). This is a two-step process:
- Pre-conversion. This is where we connect to an existing system and extract data to be checked for layout and consistency. It is a critical planning step.
- The conversion itself. This is done as part of the software installation process.
- Personal priority support. New user priority support through a specialist area of the new customer help desk.
- Personal post-installation follow-up. A separate structured call to check knowledge and use processes.
- Travel to and from the installation.
Advice for small business retailers on dealing with employee theft by a minor
7
August
This advice is from our vault of business management advice for indie small business retailers. This vault contains advice on many diverse aspects of small business management, often far removed from the POS software we are known for.
Today our advice is about how to deal with employee theft by a minor in a retail business.
If you suspect an employee aged under eighteen of theft from your business you need to be careful as to how you navigate this. It is important to take time to decide the appropriate plan of action before you approach the suspect to even investigate the matter. The wrong approach could have challenging consequences for you, your business and the person you suspect.
Our suggestion is that the moment you have a suspicion, invite the suspect and a parent in for a meeting. Have someone else there as well, as your witness.
- Present your evidence and invite their response.
- Ensure you are civil, factual and not emotional.
- Listen to their response without interruption.
- If they ask what you want to do about it, be sure you have a reasonable response ready. If there is agreement on this, move forward.
- If there is not agreement on what you propose, or if they deny the theft, you need to be ready with your next course of action. This course of action should be reasonable and focussed on getting to verifiable truth.
If there is agreement that theft occurred and the employee is casual, my suggestion is immediate termination with you paying out what is owed by law. Put it behind you. Never speak of it outside the business. To constantly revisit it, especially outside a major city, can be debilitating.
If there is not agreement, ask they other side what they want to do. It could be that even though they deny it they are happy to walk away from the business. If this is not the case, you could suggest mediation. The Fair Work Obmudsman office could possible play a role here. You could equally suggest that both sides take the matter to the police.
The reality is that once you make a complaint to parents you have to be prepared to follow through, to see the matter to a reasonable end.
My core message today is that handling the suspected theft by someone under eighteen takes care and planning, to ensure that you, your business and the suspect are all dealt with fairly and safely.
Small business retail advice: preparing your shop for sale
6
August
Selling a retail business is like selling a house, you need to prepare it so that it looks appealing to prospective purchasers. Selling a newsagency is more challenging because of assumptions out there and changes in what a newsagency is can could be.
Here at Tower Systems we are often asked for retail advice beyond our POS software. Preparing a retail shop for sale is one example of advice we are asked for. We have developed a package of information to help small business retailers as they navigate this. What we share in this blog post today is some of the information we have put together.
Tower Systems POS software customers have access to this and more business management advice and insights.
- Make it look and feel appealing. While there are people who will look for a challenge (opportunity). Most buyers will want two see a retail business they understand and feel they can run.
- Eliminate dead stock. It looks bad on the shelves and looks bad on the books. Purchasers should not pay full wholesale for inventory more than six months old as your poor buying or management is not their obligation.
- Streamline operations. Make the business look easy to run by ensuring it is easy to run for you. The easier it looks to run the more interesting to people who don’t understand the business.
- Maximise profit. What anyone will pay will depend on actual profitability of the business.
- Be happy. Owners who talk their business down will find it harder to sell the business. You never know who is shopping your shop and the broader interest they may have.
- Keep your social media presence up to date. Today, many people check out a business online prior to looking at it in-store. Maintain up to date Facebook, Instagram and elsewhere.
- Get your paperwork in order. Early on, get business documents together:
- Premises lease.
- Equipment lease.
- Employee records.
- Product forward orders.
- Franchise documents.
- Supplier agreements.
- Details of any forward orders.
- Any other documents relating to the operation of the business including manuals for any equipment items.
- Choose a broker for your circumstances.
Success at selling your retail business depends on the work you do to prepare it for sale. Focus months, even a years, out can make for an easier and better sale.
Get it right and you can expect to make more than you might have thought possible.
Let’s talk about empty shops – why there are so many and what can be done about them
5
August
Talk to any small business retailer and they will have stories about empty shops in their area that are having a negative impact on their business.
In shopping centres, suburban high streets and country town main roads, there are plenty of empty shops.
Some have been empty for years.
Empty shops make a shopping centre or area feel unpopular, making the task of attracting shoppers harder for remaining retailers. Retailers nearby who are doing it tough will point to empty shops nearby as a core cause.
Some local councils have been innovative in addressing the vacant retail space challenge by opening them to local makers and artists. This has been terrific to see. In Newcastle in NSW, for example, they did some excellent work in this area years ago. Most councils, however, have not.
Why are there so many empty shops? Talk to retailers and they will blame landlords for rents that are too high. Talk to economists and others expert in retail property space as a ratio of population and they will say that Australia has too much retail space. Talk to the folks in some specific towns and they will blame the main street empty spaces on the new mall that has opened just outside town. Talk to almost anyone and they will blame online. Talk to some landlords and they will say retailers are not innovative enough.
As with any contentious issue that has opposing vested interests, it is hard to get to the truth of the situation.
For what it is worth, my opinion is that the answer to the question lies in a mixture of the reasons offered above.
I do think we have too much retail space in Australia. Rent is among the highest in the world. Retail is not that innovative. People are shopping online for convenience. So, yes, I am hedging my bets.
That said, the why does not matter as much as what to do with them.
Occasionally, you can find a pragmatic landlord who is happy to have a space filled at a lower rent than sit empty for a year or more. We think we need more pragmatic landlords.
Occasionally, we see small business retailers burst out of what has been traditional for their type of business and create something genuinely innovative, which is embraced by local shoppers. We need more of this. However, it is hard work, often capital intensive and high risk.
Occasionally, we see empty shops torn down and the space used for something difference. We need to see much more of this. Less retail space is a good thing for retailers and this is good for local communities.
The challenge for small business retailers today with empty shops nearby is how to deal with the stench of those empty shops.
If your landlord has those shops too and there is one next to you, ask them if you can use the space for display. To us, that would be a win win for you both. The key is to craft the right approach that serves the interests of the landlord as well as your own.
If the shops are not from your landlord, the most obvious response will be to be louder and bigger from your premises. By louder, we mean more events to attract shoppers, give people more reason to come to you.
The best way to deal with online is to be online yourself, with a compelling offer, probably under a brand that is not your shop brand, seeking out shoppers far from your shop location.
The alternative to action is to complain because, yeah, complaining achieves a lot … not.
Empty shops are a problem in Australia. How we deal with that in our own retail businesses comes down to us and the actions we take.
Retailers: sync images from your POS software to your website easily, seamlessly and without human intervention
2
August
Small business retailers using the Tower Systems POS software can easily, quickly, safely and accurately sync product images from their PSO software to their Shopify, Magento, WooCommerce or other POS software site easily, quickly and accurately thanks to smart image management in the Tower Systems POS software.
Syncing images without the need for human intervention saves time. It also cuts mistakes, streamlines workflow and provides a better e-commerce as well as in0-store management outcome.
This is good for business.
Tower Systems has offered this POS software website image sync for ages, as part of its core e-commerce interface benefits.
As retailers with multiple websites and active in-store use of POS software in businesses it owns, Tower Systems is delivering solutions it itself wants for more efficient, accurate and successful e-commerce trading. This personal experience is a key factor in why Tower Systems is able to differentiate its offer over other POS software companies in this and other areas.
With the POS software the keeper of the images – multiple per product and any size that is appropriate to what you sell – connecting to the website is easy and seamless. Each new image loaded for a product is synced to the website based on rules established and managed in-store. This enables the software to behave in accordance with the wishes of the business.
Tower already partners with Shopify, Magento and WordPress – WooCommerce. The interface for each with the Tower software is direct and not through a third party. This is also key in the service of accurate, seamless and safe product image transfer.
Tower Systems is able to demonstrate these facilities live to any retailer contemplating the Tower software or website development services.
Image syncing between POS software and a website is critical for any small business that wants to sell online as it reduces the workload involved in managing images. Too often, small business retailers are asked to manually cut and paste and do other work on images. The Tower software makes the process easier, more certain and more enjoyable in that getting to the opportunity its to sell online is faster.
Any POS software that cannot facilitate the automatic and easy flow of images to a Shopify, Magento or WooCommerce website could be considered to be inappropriate for a business that prides efficiency and accuracy.
POS software that helps retailers sell by measure and sell by fractions
1
August
The POS software from Tower Systems is powerful in ways specialty retailers like.
In addition to awesome and government approved scale integration, the software also allows sales of items by fractions. This is important when you sell a portion of something, like a length of fabric or a length of wire or a weight of something but don’t have scales integrated.
Not many POS software programs let you sell 1.25 of something or .75 of something. They usually want to deal only in whole numbers. Selling by fractions is important to many retailers. Tower Systems has the answer.
Thanks to our with in fishing businesses where they sell bait by fractions and in bike repair businesses where a component can be to several decimal places in measure, our software its proven and able to help in this area.
Selling by fractions is just one of a bunch of terrific facilities that we have built into our POS software for specialty retailers, facilities that help them run more efficient businesses, enjoy more accurate trading and better control the inventory investment in their business. This is what good software does, it is first for purpose in serving the needs of a business.
Tower Systems is a well established POS software company with thousands of small indie retailers in Australia and New Zealand. We have attracted customers through cool facilities such as being able to sell by measure, including selling by fractions.
This is what we do, it is what we are known for. That we sell what we make helps us deliver on the provided that we make to those we do business with.
While Tower Systems offers POS services for all retailers, our core business is the provision of specialist software packages for gift shops, newsagents, jewellers, pet shops, garden centres, firearms shops, adult shops, bike shops and toy shops. We are the leading Australian company supporting these markets and our software is directly developed for their unique needs.
Tower Systems understands these needs because it owns and manages its own thriving retail businesses. Our staff have retail experience and our software is informed by what happens in real world business – not from what happens behind a desk.