The POS Software Blog

The POS Software Blog

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

Latest stories

Selecting the Perfect Gift Shop Software: A Guide for Aussie Gift Shop Retailers

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Choosing the right software for your gift shop can feel like a big decision, and it is for sure! Here at Tower Systems we offer our advice here to help navigate the process with a calm and friendly approach.

Here at Tower Systems, we believe the focus should be about the value you receive … value in terms of money-making decisions, time saved, peace of mind and the value of the business as reflected in your P&L. Gift shop software needs to help you drive profitability.

Thinking about your gift shop’s specific needs, we’ve compiled some questions to consider when exploring Gift Shop POS software options:

  • Will it make your shop more profitable?
  • Can it help you save valuable time?
  • Does it contribute to the overall value of your business?
  • Will it bring you more joy in running your shop?

At Tower Systems, we design gift shop software specifically for our Aussie mates. It’s crafted to help you achieve all of the above – increased profits, time savings, a more valuable business, and, of course, a happier you!

Here’s what sets us apart:

  • Retail-savvy training and support: Our experienced team understands the ins and outs of retail, especially the gift shop world. This expertise ensures you maximise the value you get from our software.
  • A community of over 3,750 happy retailers: We’re proud to support countless local businesses, and we’d love to welcome you to the fold!
  • Features designed for gift shops: From managing sales, pre-orders, and loyalty programs to integrating with Xero and offering local product features, our software is built with your needs in mind.

We believe that fantastic gift shop software backed by knowledgeable support is key to a thriving business. Here at Tower Systems, that’s our ultimate goal. When local shops succeed, everyone benefits – owners, staff, suppliers, and the entire community! We understand this interconnectedness and do everything we can to help everyone make the most of our software.

That’s the Tower Systems difference. We’re not just another software company; we’re local people passionate about supporting local retailers. This deep understanding allows us to provide a level of service you can truly rely on.

Ready to find the perfect fit for your gift shop? We’re here to help! Feel free to contact us – we’d love to chat. Call us on 1300 662 957 or email sales@towersystems.com.au.

Is cash out day the best way to make cash appealing to Australians? Maybe not we think and here’s why

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Is Cash Out Day a misdirected focus? Maybe, we think.

Cash Out Day, a campaign designed to highlight the use of cash in retail and other transactions, often falls short of its intended goal. By focusing solely on a single day and targeting banks, it presents a simplistic view of the decline in cash usage.

While the campaign aims to engage people with cash, it’s essentially a one-day media stunt. The emphasis on withdrawing cash from ATMs suggests that banks are somehow responsible for the shift towards electronic payments. This oversimplification overlooks the broader societal and technological factors driving this change.

Perhaps more effective campaigns could focus on highlighting the unique benefits of cash. For example, many retailers are currently offering the NAIDOC 50 cent piece as change. This sought-after coin appeals to collectors and underscores the tangible nature of physical currency.

The process of collecting and holding coins is a tactile experience that sets cash apart from digital transactions. By circulating the NAIDOC coin through cash registers, retailers are participating in a more subtle yet meaningful campaign.

While this approach might not garner the same media attention as Cash Out Day, it offers a more nuanced and sustainable way to promote cash usage. It emphasizes the value and collectability of physical currency, without placing blame on banks or resorting to short-term media stunts.

By focusing on a single day and placing blame on banks, it fails to address the underlying reasons for the decline in cash usage.

More effective campaigns could highlight the unique benefits of cash, such as its tangible nature and collectability. The NAIDOC 50 cent piece, for example, offers a tangible incentive for people to use cash and appreciate its value.

By promoting cash in a more nuanced and sustainable way, we can encourage its continued use without resorting to short-term media stunts or placing blame on specific institutions.

Tower Systems is grateful to be working with many retailers offering the NAIDOC 50c coin as change through their cash registers, helping Australians across the country access this sought after coin and thereby to engage with the joy of holding physical currency in their hands. Our POS software reaches many, in varied ways.

Our Tower Systems Pet Shop Software: Made with Love for Aussie Indie Pet Shops

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We understand the heart and soul that goes into running an independent pet shop. That’s why we’ve developed Tower Systems, pet shop software built with your unique needs in mind.

We also understand that it’s a competitive marketplace with some very big players. Our software helps local independent pet shops thrive.

Over 100 Aussie pet shops have shared their valuable insights with us, helping us fine-tune the system to perfectly suit your niche. We go beyond the standard point-of-sale features you expect, offering specialised tools to make your life easier and your customers happier.

Show You Care:

  • Add personalised pet care instructions directly to customer receipts based on their purchases. It’s a simple way to share your expertise and build trust.

Faster, Easier Stock Management:

  • Save hours on data entry! Popular suppliers like Kongs, Master Pet, Premier Pets, and Western Pets offer direct electronic invoicing that seamlessly integrates with our system.
  • See how quick it can be in this handy video: [link to video]

Help Customers Remember:

  • Set up automated reminders for specific pet needs based on purchases. We can even send reminders for worming and other date-based treatments, making pet care a breeze for your customers.

Plus, all these great features:

  • Microchip & Licence Tracking: Easily capture and manage pet microchip details and owner licences.
  • Events Marketing: Send pet birthday greetings and event reminders via email or mail.
  • Pet Bundles: Create special bundles like puppy starter kits or aquarium setups with accurate stock tracking.
  • Receipt Coupons: Offer targeted promotions based on purchased items or advertise in-store services.
  • Special Customer Orders: Take orders for out-of-stock items, accept deposits, and even send SMS notifications once they arrive.
  • Promotion & Catalogue Management: Run all your promotions through the system for automatic pricing.
  • Loyalty Programs: Drive customer loyalty with flexible rewards programs including points, discounts, or freebies.
  • Beautiful Gift & VIP Cards: We have designers on hand to create stunning cards for your shop.
  • Automated Reordering: Never run out of stock again with automated reordering based on minimum/maximum levels or seasonal trends.
  • Stock Images: Enhance your point-of-sale experience and website with beautiful product images.
  • Security: Track suspicious transactions and deter theft.
  • Website Integration: Connect easily with Shopify, Magento, Big Commerce or WooCommerce to take your products online.
  • Accounting Integration: Enjoy seamless data flow to Xero, MYOB, and other popular accounting software.

Personal Support: We believe in personal service. Our training is conducted one-on-one at your shop, and our friendly Melbourne-based help desk is always available to assist you.

Tower Systems does not charge a % based on your transactions.

Tower Systems: Proudly developed in Australia, for Aussie independent pet shops. Let’s help your business thrive!

Our Tower Systems Guide to Toy Shop Software: Streamlining Your Retail Experience Navigating the Complexities of Toy Retail

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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. Here at Tower Systems we understand that with the help of the many toy shops we already serve.

To help you achieve these goals, our specialised software designed specifically for toy retailers can be a game-changer.

Key Features of the Tower Systems Toy Shop POS software

  • Bundling: Create custom packages of toys to offer unique deals and encourage impulse purchases.
  • Instant Loyalty Rewards: 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.
  • Electronic Data Interchange (EDI): Seamlessly integrate with suppliers and marketing partners for efficient data exchange.
  • 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: Place custom orders on behalf of customers and notify them of arrival.
  • Gift Vouchers: Provide a convenient gift-giving option for customers.
  • Supplier Comparison: Analyze supplier performance to optimize 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.

One of the standout features 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 3,750+ local independent retailers across a range of specialty retail sectors.

Pitching our POS software at Auckland Gift Fair

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While we had some freight challenges – our display booth collateral got lost in transit – the Auckland Gift Fair was a terrific event where we met plenty of prospective POS software customers and reacquainted ourselves with others. Being the only software company there was terrific.

The trade show ended Tuesday last week and already we are progressing well with new contacts made.

Business performance insights from POS software helping local small business retailers shine

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Local small business retailers are often time poor and struggle to wade through reports looking for data needed to guide business decisions. Tower Systems has made it much easier for them.

The Visual Deck with our POS software sends an email weekly and monthly outlining business performance across a range of key performance indicators for the business. The visual representation of performance makes understand the health of the business easy and the decision opportunities even easier.

We have dramatically cut the time needed by retailers to access data, understand it and make decisions based on it. The emails weekly and monthly is another way our Tower Systems POS software is helping small business retailers run more enjoyable and valuable local retail businesses.

What training is available for POS software in a small retail business?

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The training provided in the use of POS software varies by POS software company. Be sure to ask what training is provided prior to choosing your POS software.

Consider training for when you first start to use the POS software and training you may want to access for new employees or as you start to use extended facilities as you become more familiar with what the software could offer your business.

The difference between POS software companies in terms of user training available is considerable.

Tower Systems offers its POS software users access to one-on-one training tailored to each business, serving their specific needs.

Tower Systems also offers its POS software users unlimited access to a regularly updated library of training videos, structured in an easy to follow curriculum. Across hundreds of videos customers can learn at their own pace, review and have others trained in the business. Each video is short, single topic, and can be accessed from anywhere.

Tower Systems offers its POS software users access to text based training through 800+ articles in a regularly reviewed and updated knowledge base. For those who learn by reading, this is an excellent resource.

Tower Systems offers its POS software users access to free and regularly run user meetings. Hosted online, these live sessions provide customers with easy access to training as well as feedback opportunities on using the POS software.

Tower Systems makes access to training easy, knowing that the better a user understands how to use the software the more useful it will be and the more benefit coal for the local retail business in which it is used.

Before you decide on POS software for your retail business ask about training opportunities. Engage with some of the training to gauge its usefulness for your type of business. Assess it for yourself.

Training could be the key to you enjoying the POS software. It should not be an after thought in your consideration.

Serving thousands of local small business retailers, here at Tower Systems we understand the importance of good, easy to access and relevant training. This is why we invest in maintaining our training assets and people to be the best possible for the different retail channels we serve.

Are there any hidden fees or recurring costs associated with POS software?

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Tower Systems does not have any hidden fees associated with use of its POS software.

With Tower Systems:

  • There is no fee per transactions.
  • There is no requirement to use a specific payments gateway.
  • There is no additional fee to use loyalty, access smart reports or to handle customer accounts.
  • There is no additional fee associated with the value of sales, the number of stock items or the number of customers.
  • There is no extra fee to access the Xero link, Shopify link or other third party links.
  • There is no extra fee to access the customer service help desk.

Anyone considering POS software needs to thoroughly research costs associated with any POS software they are considering.

In our experience, too many POS software companies do have hidden fees and additional costs associated with their POS software.

Transaction Fees

  • Payment Processing: Some POS systems charge a percentage of each transaction, often combined with a fixed fee.  One company charges the retailer an additional fee if they use a payments gateway other than their own.
  • Card Types: Some systems may charge higher fees for certain card types.

Monthly Subscription Fees

  • Software Access: Many POS systems require a monthly subscription fee to access the software and its features.   
  • Additional Modules: If you need specialised features like inventory management, employee scheduling, or customer loyalty programs, you may face additional subscription costs. Do your homework.

Integration Costs

  • Third-Party Apps: If you want to integrate your POS system with other software, such as accounting or e-commerce platforms, you may incur integration fees.

Support and Training

  • Technical Support: Many providers offer technical support, but it may come at an additional cost, especially for premium services.
  • Training: Training your staff on how to use the POS system effectively can also be expensive.

Data Migration and Setup Fees

  • Moving Data: If you’re switching from another POS system, you may need to pay for data migration services.
  • Setup Costs: Setting up the POS system, including hardware installation and configuration, can involve one-time fees. Be sure to get the details up front.

To avoid surprises, it’s crucial to:

  • Read the Fine Print: Carefully review the terms and conditions of the POS software agreement.
  • Ask Questions: Don’t hesitate to inquire about any potential hidden fees or recurring costs.

Tower Systems does not have any hidden fees associated with use of its POS software.

Do POS systems in Australia support omnichannel retailing, including online sales and in-store pickup?

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Aussie software company Tower Systems offers local retailers POS software serving the omnichannel need of retail businesses. Ours is a true omnichannel solution thanks to tight integrations with Shopify, Big Commerce, Magento and WooCommerce. Purchases can be dispatched, or set for easy click and collect.

Our POS software serves in-store sales, sales from a truck, van or similar on the road, sales from a pop up shop, and sales online. This is what omnichannel retail looks like today. And, inventory is managed across all shopper touchpoint back to a single view of inventory availability.

This is smart retail management for retailers in 2024. easy omnichannel retail for local small business retailers.

Whether you’re operating a brick-and-mortar store, a mobile sales team, or an online shop, Tower Systems offers a versatile POS solution that caters to all your retail needs. Easily manage in-store sales, mobile sales, pop-up shops, and online orders from a single platform. Our advanced inventory management system ensures accurate stock levels across all sales channels, providing a clear and up-to-date view of product availability.

We have one business with a fleet of trucks from which they sell, another customer who operates at lo9cal markets and hundreds with website integrated solutions connected to their physical shops.

Tower Systems offers:

  • Seamless Omnichannel Integration: Connect your online and offline sales channels for a unified customer experience.
  • Versatile POS Solution: Manage sales from various locations, including stores, mobile sales teams, and online platforms.
  • Advanced Inventory Management: Maintain accurate stock levels across all channels to avoid stockouts and overstocking.
  • Easy-to-Use Interface: Our intuitive software makes it simple for retailers of all sizes to manage their operations.

As a leading Australian software company, Tower Systems provides retailers with comprehensive Point of Sale (POS) software designed to meet the evolving needs of today’s omnichannel businesses. Evolving is the key word here. Retail is changing. Tech is changing. We lean into change every day. We are grateful for these opportunities.

So, to answer the question: Do POS systems in Australia support omnichannel retailing, including online sales and in-store pickup? POS software from Tower Systems is the POS solution to consider.

Tower Systems POS Software Integrated with Tyro EFTPOS: A Powerful Solution for Small Business Retailers

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Tower Systems is a leading provider of POS software for small business retailers in Australia. We’re proud of that and grateful to our 3,750+ local retail;l business customers.

We are proud to offer a seamless integration with Tyro EFTPOS, providing our customers with an easy-to-use, safe, secure, and business-beneficial solution for taking card payments in-store.

Tower Systems was an early adopter of POS software integration with Tyro. We are grateful to count many hundreds of small business retailer customers using this specific solution today.

The Tower POS software Tyro integration means less keystrokes at the sales counter. This saves time and reduces mistakes. Best of all, it reduces the opportunity for employee theft. This is a single touch POS / EFTPOS solution for retailers, and it has been around for many years, helping retail businesses of all sizes, including garden centres, jewellers, bike shops, newsagents, pet shops, toy shops, music shops, produce businesses, outdoors businesses, bookshops, and more.

Benefits of the seamless and smart Tower Systems Tyro Integration

  • Easy to use: The Tower POS software Tyro integration is simple to set up and use. There is no need for additional training or support.
  • Safe and secure: Tyro is a PCI DSS Level 1 compliant payment processor. This means that your customer’s card data is always safe and secure.
  • Business beneficial: The Tower POS software Tyro integration can help you save time and money. It can also help you reduce the risk of employee theft.
  • Reliable: Tyro has a proven track record of reliability. You can count on Tyro to provide you with a high-quality EFTPOS service.

Get Started Here:

If you are a small business retailer in Australia, we encourage you to learn more about the Tower Systems Tyro integration. You can visit our website or contact us directly on 1300 662 957 or sales@towersystems.com.au to request a demo.

Okay, we’re going to toot our own horn: we think that our Tower Systems Tyro integration is the best POS / EFTPOS solution for small business specialty retailers in Australia. We are confident that you will be happy with our product and service. If we think we are not right for you, we will say so.

Let’s recap:

  • Tower Systems is a proud partner of Tyro.
  • The Tower POS software Tyro integration is available to all small business retailers in Australia.
  • Tyro is a PCI DSS Level 1 compliant payment processor.
  • The Tower POS software Tyro integration can help you save time and money.
  • The Tower POS software Tyro integration can help you reduce the risk of employee theft.

We are a local Aussie POS software company serving local Aussie retail businesses. Our focus is on small businesses. Each one of our customers has a voice. Our direction as a software company is not controlled by a big loud and demanding customer. Small businesses rock!!!

Thank you for reading!

How is Australian made POS software better for Australian retail businesses than overseas POS software?

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We were asked recently How is Australian made POS software better for Australian retail businesses than overseas POS software? Here’s our answer.

Australian made means local and local matters to local small retail businesses. The software is more likely to serve local business needs, to use terminology that is local, handle local regulatory requirements and have a local aesthetic. Offshore businesses can’t be local no matter how much money they spend trying to look, feel and sound local. Each of these points matter for ease of use, relevance and enjoyment in using the POS software.

Australian made means local access. You are more likely able to talk to someone local about the software any queries you may have about its use in your business. Offshore software companies push you to a call centre tens of thousands of kms from your business. In these call centres they follow a rigid script. Calling a local Aussie call centre means you are likely to start with a conversation. Small business retailers understand conversations.

Australian made means more competitive. A small local competitor will be more agile, smarter and capable than a large and maybe bloated offshore software company where you are barely noticed. You will be far more important to a local POS software company. Pick up the phone and ask to speak to someone from the senior management team and see for yourself. Offshore, you will struggle to get a human to answer. Locally, you can get to someone immediately. (0418 321 338 by the way)

Australian made means local economic benefit. All of us in local Aussie businesses rely on the local economy and the local economy benefits when more money is spent locally – in our businesses and local businesses like ours. Sure, a business can donate to a local charity to feel local. A local business itself, however, hires local and contributes local and this is what makes for better education, health care and infrastructure locally.

The software you choose for your retail business should be the software that best serves your specific business needs. Take your time. Consider not only functionality, consider support, ability to engage with software enhancements and how the software company helps you achieve with the software in and for your retail business.

In local small retail businesses every day local matters. Locally made and supported POS software has this advantage over offshoot POS software. It’s an easy win for the retailers.

Disclaimer: Of course we are biased. We are an Australian POS software company serving retailers in Australia and nearby.

Are some retailers passing on the cost of their POS software platform to consumers in their ‘EFTPOS’ surcharge?

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In a shop the other day we were surprised by a surcharge of over 2% of an everyday purchase. We know a bit about EFTPOS fees and know for sure that the business would not be paying 2% for EFTPOS fees. Their actual EFTPOS costs would be around 1%, maybe a little less.

They are using software though that bundles payments with the software in a way that gives the software company more revenue. We suspect it is the cost of the POS software platform that is included in what they say is an EFTPOS surcharge. If this is the case, it’s something the ACCC may be interested in.

The ACCC website offers details:

Costs that businesses can include

The Reserve Bank of Australia sets out the costs that businesses can include when determining their reasonable costs of accepting payment types.

Before introducing a payment surcharge, businesses should read our Payment surcharges guide and the Reserve Bank of Australia guidance material. Consumers may also wish to read these guides for further information about how excessive payment surcharges are calculated.

Business costs of accepting payments

Businesses receive monthly and annual statements from their bank or payment facilitator. These should include the business’s average percentage cost of accepting each payment type. This figure will generally include service fees, costs for card terminal rental and maintenance. It may also include other fees the bank or payment facilitator passes on to the business for processing card transactions.

Businesses should contact their bank or payment facilitator, or the Reserve Bank of Australia, if there are issues obtaining these statements.

Reading through this and going to the various links, we do not think a retail business can surcharge their shoppers the platform costs, costs associated with the POS software itself. What we are wondering of course is whether the overseas POS software companies are facilitating behaviour that may be open to challenge through the ACCC. While we don’t know, back at the shop we visited with the high surcharge we do wonder if that is their case in that business. It an explanation we can think of.

If you have encountered an excessing EFTPOS surcharge you can make a report to the ACCC.

Retailers using our Tower Systems POS software can use whatever payments platform they choose. We directly integrate with many. We have also negotiated competitive rates for retailers interested in leveraging the power of our community of retailers, although they are not as good as the rates some of Australia’s biggest retailers have.

Fixed price web development done in Australia for local small business retailers

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Tower Systems, www.towersystems.com.au, offers Australian based website development for local small business retailers based in Australia.

Being Australian based matters because our web developers understand Australian retail, local retail, we understand the Australian language and style. We get you and you’ll get us. This matters in the all important client / web developer relationship.

We know retailers love that they can call us. Since we are local we work on local time. They ask our advice and since we live and shop locally we can provide advice and feedback that makes sense to local business retailers. Since we develop POS software we can make the connection smooth, easy.

With our website development done on a fixed price basis with a comprehensive list of inclusions, our customers can go into this knowing exactly what is included and that they an expect a beautiful and useful website connected to their POS software. This is what we have done for hundreds with delight and joy. We have many reference websites we can provide, including some for our own retail shops that we run.

Our local Aussie made websites come with all this and plenty more:

  1. Homepage. Including text and images (which you are to provide), and site navigation. We would also recommend including a business location map as this is important so local people can find your store (Google account needed).
  2. Navigation. Creation of the menus that drive your site.This is as important as the look and feel and should be carefully considered.
  3. Social media links to your: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest.
  4. About page. Your text, describing you and your business: 150 – 350 words. Well written, clear as to what you and your business are about.
  5. Shipping, returns and other policies. We can use yours or you can edit ours and use it.
  6. Contact us page showing your contact details as well as an enquiry form.
  7. Configured Product Pages. Creation of up to 2 different product template pages, these pages show the images and details about products.  If additional product templates are required, then these are charge at $440 per page.  Examples of template pages are
  8. Pre Order Product Pages.
  9. Enquiry Only Product pages.
  10. Messaging on Delivery or Pickup only products
  11. Shopify Inbox setup, if you want chat turned on.
  12. Blog feed. A blog allows you to publish your own news.
  13. Flat Rate shipping based on Shopify’s inbuilt shipping profiles and your advice after consultation.
  14. The setup of loading of products into the site via a live link to the Retailer software. We would need you to have this data in Retailer ready for export.
  15. Interfacing to standard gateways: Shopify Payments and Paypal. In addition to credit card payments, Shopify Payments can also connect to Shop Pay, Apple Pay and Google Pay. Please note that depending on required site functionality it may not be possible to use the express checkout options. We will advise if this is the case.
  16. Interfacing to Humm, Zip and Afterpay and other Shopify supported payment methods incur an additional fee of $220 per payment method.
  17. Training: so you can get live and maintain the website.

There is much more to the opportunity, so much more we do to help retailers bring their websites to life.

4. minute video: Things to love about our newsagency software

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Justin Randall grew up in newsagencies. he knows them well. Prior to joining our sales team, he managed one of our own newsagencies in Melbourne.

In this 4 minute video Justin shares some things he loves about our newsagency software beyond our industry compliance, The Lott integration, XchangeIT integration, magazine management and more.

We are grateful that our newsagency software is helping more than 1,750 newsagents transition to new retail opportunities.

3 minute video: what we love about this Garden Centre POS software

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Join Tim, one of our sales people, as he shares some of the things he loves about our Aussie made and supported Garden Centre POS software.

This is software made for Garden Centres, packed with features to love for more efficient, enjoyable and successful trade.

Appointment retail is going the way of appointment TV, radio and print

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The retail industry is undergoing a major shift, similar to what happened with traditional media. With the rise of streaming services and on-demand content, consumers are no longer tied to appointment TV, radio, and print schedules. Instead,they can access the content they want, when they want, and on any device. This same trend is now happening in retail.

In the past, retailers dictated when and how customers could shop. Stores had specific opening hours, and customers had to physically visit the store to make a purchase. However, with the growth of e-commerce, consumers can now shop online 24/7. This gives them greater flexibility and convenience, and it’s forcing retailers to adapt.

Tower Systems argues that retailers who fail to embrace this shift will miss out on a huge opportunity. By offering online shopping, retailers can reach a wider audience and sell to customers who may not be able to visit their physical store.Additionally, online shopping can provide valuable data about customer behavior, which can be used to improve the overall customer experience.

If you’re a retailer, it’s important to consider how you can adapt to this changing landscape. One option is to create a website or online store where customers can browse and purchase your products. You can also use social media to connect with customers and promote your business.

Ultimately, the key to success in the retail industry is to put the customer first. By offering convenience, flexibility, and a great shopping experience, you can attract and retain customers in today’s competitive market.

This transformation is not just about the shift from physical to digital stores. It’s also about creating a seamless omnichannel experience. Consumers expect to be able to shop anytime, anywhere, and on any device. They want to research products online, then try them on in-store, and potentially purchase them through their mobile phone. Retailers must integrate their online and offline channels to meet these evolving expectations. This includes offering services like click-and-collect, buy online, pick-up in-store, and returns to physical stores. Tower Systems can help with this.

Smart POS software and other tech is enabling new retail models. Subscription boxes, personalised recommendations, and augmented reality shopping experiences are becoming increasingly common. These innovations are changing the way consumers discover and purchase products. Retailers must stay ahead of the curve by adopting new technologies and experimenting with different retail formats. Ultimately, the future of retail belongs to those who can create engaging and evolving customer experiences across all touch points.

Giving back: Tower Systems is grateful to support local charity shops and community enterprises

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Tower Systems is proud and grateful to be able to support local op shops, charity shops, and community-owned enterprises with Point of Sale (POS) software tailored to their specific needs.

Our charity shop POS software is designed to address the unique challenges faced by these organisations, particularly those with a volunteer workforce. Recognising the frequent turnover of volunteers, we have prioritised ease of use and learning in our software.

Our offer to charity businesses is half price for the software and for any training. This is part of our giving back commitment.

Key features of our software include:

  • Intuitive Interface: Our system is straightforward to learn, making it suitable for staff with varying levels of computer proficiency.
  • Flexible Inventory Management: Track stock by product type, size, colour, style, or individual item, providing valuable insights into sales trends.
  • Customer Loyalty: Our cash-off loyalty program has proven effective in increasing customer spending and encouraging return visits.
  • Security and Control: Protect your business with robust security features and built-in checks and balances.
  • Community Focus: Leverage our software to engage with local clubs and groups through targeted offers and pricing.
  • Data-Driven Insights: Gain valuable data to optimise stock management and decision-making.
  • Online Presence: Expand your reach with seamless integration between your POS and a professional website.

We understand the vital role these organisations play in their communities and are committed to supporting their success.As part of this commitment, we offer significantly discounted pricing on our POS software.

We have a curriculum of training videos made specifically for charity enterprises. Short format training designed for volunteers  to make it easier fort them to learn and to support their charity.

By providing essential tools for inventory management, sales tracking, and customer engagement, we empower your organisation to focus on its core mission. Let Tower Systems help you transform your charity shop into a thriving hub of community support and sustainability.

Tower Systems is an Australian-owned and operated company with a long history of serving the local community. We are dedicated to providing exceptional software solutions that help our clients thrive.

Thank you for supporting local Aussie charities.

Tower Systems POS software at Spring Fair in Auckland

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Awe are grateful to have a stand for demonstrating our POS software the Spring Fair in Auckland in a few weeks. We’ll get too catch up with some of our New Zealand customers as well as making new friends.

This gift fair trade show is an important event on the calendar for gift suppliers and retailers in Auckland.

The Spring Gift Fair in Auckland offers a valuable opportunity for retailers to refresh their stock and gain a competitive edge. This bustling event brings together a diverse range of exhibitors showcasing the latest trends in homewares and gift products.

By attending, retailers can efficiently explore a vast array of options in one convenient location. It’s a chance to discover new and exciting products, reconnect with trusted suppliers, and build relationships with potential partners. The fair also provides a platform to gain insights into market trends and consumer preferences, helping retailers make informed purchasing decisions. Ultimately, attending the Spring Gift Fair can streamline the sourcing process and ensure your store is stocked with the most appealing and profitable items for the upcoming season.

These are some of the reasons we chose to be part of this event.

Importing Evergreen Connect invoices into POS software form Tower Systems is easy

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You can import EDI invoice files from Evergreen Connect. To access the EDI file contact Evergreen Connect and advise them you are using Retailer. The EDI file will be emailed to you.

Setting up the supplier

  1. From the main screen of Retailer, click on Stock > Suppliers and departments.
  2. Click on the Suppliers tab.
  3. Click on Search at the bottom and find Evergreen Connect.
    NOTE: If they do not exist, add them as a new supplier
  4. Click on the EDI tab.
  5. On the option When arriving EDI invoices this supplier arrives by, change the option to Supplier stock code.
  6. Then click Save and Close.

Saving the CSV File

  1. Log into your e-mail account.
  2. Open the message where the electronic invoice is attached.
  3. Click on Desktop on the left and click Save.

DO NOT open the file under any circumstance. This corrupts any barcode and/or supplier stock code information.

Importing the CSV Invoice

  1. From the main screen of Retailer, click on Stock -> Invoice Arrivals.
  2. Click on Open Invoice.
  3. Click on Desktop on the left and double-click on the file.
    The Import Supplier Invoice File screen will appear. Select the supplier from the drop-down box.
  4. Click on the drop-down arrow next to tools and click on Change Template File Settings.
  5. Select the supplier again from the drop-down box and click OK. If the supplier is not visible, click on Cancel to access the Invoice File Template Setup screen.

Configuring the Invoice File Template

The settings will need to be configured from the bottom-up. The settings on this screen will direct Retailer to use the appropriate information from the file. 

  1. In the Invoice File Layout section, click on the yellow file icon.
  2. Navigate to the file’s location and double-click on the file.
  3. This will provide a preview of the file’s contents at the bottom.
  4. In the Validation Settings section:
    • Set the Date Format to DD/MM/YYYY.
    • Tick Field Enclosed With Quote.
  5. The the top of the screen, tick This File is Comma Delimited.
  6. Enter the appropriate Column and/or Row values according to the file preview screen below. If you click on any field in the preview, it will show you it’s position in the Cell Value box.
  7. Click Save and Close.

Importing and Arriving the Invoice

  1. Back in the Import Supplier Invoice File screen, click on Import.
  2. The screen will flash and you can then click on Close.
  3. The Select Invoices to Import screen will appear.
  4. Click on the invoice to import and:
    • Click on View to see a preview of the invoice to check the information.
    • Click on Delete to remove the invoice.
    • Click on OK to begin arriving the invoice.

Why Australian made and supported POS software is more useful for Australian retailers than software from an overseas company

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Local small business retailers are spoilt for choice when it comes to POS software. There are many software packages out there from which to choose. Plenty of these software packages are from overseas companies, companies with massive customer bases, companies with staff located in low labour cost countries.

Tower Systems is an Australian POS software company. Of course we pitch shop local. Shop local is good for the local Australian economy, it is good for us and our families. It is good for the families of those who work in local Australian retail.

If there is Aussie made and supported POS software that suits your type of business, go with that ahead of any software from an offshore company. The Aussie economy will thank you.

There are other reasons to choose software from a local POS software company:

Local support. They understand your situation better than someone in a cubicle in a low labour cost country given a couple of Aussie keywords to put about.

Local software. Local Aussie retail businesses do have local needs. A local Aussie POS software company is more likely to serve these in their software than an offshore software company with many times more customers.

Local understanding. Local real business is local. If being local is an important point of difference you will want to use software that understands the value of local and can help you leverage local.

Local connections. Local retail does not live in a vacuum. You have banking, supplier, community group and other connections. Local POS software is more likely to help you with these important local connections that software from offshore.

Tax. We suspect a local Aussie POS software company will pay more from every dollar they make in tax in Australia than any offshore POS software company. Tax paid in Australia to Australian governments funds local Aussie schools, hospitals, roads and education. It matters to us.

Australian made and supported POS software is more useful for Australian retailers than software from an overseas company because it serves the Australian community better and that should matter to anyone in local retail. It is what being local is all a bout after all.

The ABC recently ran a news story talking down the local Aussie newsagency, we think they failed to research

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ABC News recently ran a story suggesting the future of the local Australian newsagency was in trouble because it had not kept up with the times. We know of many local Aussie newsagencies that have kept up and are more relevant today than any time in their past.

This video showcases a few of these awesome local businesses, shops that look nothing like the old Aussie Newsagency.

These newsagencies offer products outside of what the old Aussie newsagency carried. Gifts feature along with clothing, handbags, gourmet cooking items and more. These are businesses serving a diverse mix of shoppers – far away from lottery, newspaper and magazine customers.

Smart newsagents started transforming their businesses 20 years ago. Moving into gifts, homewares, toys and more – attracting new shoppers and selling products at margins four and five times more than newspapers.

The easiest local newsagency to transform today is one in a small country town. This setting presents opportunity, and I am glad to say that many newsagents have embraced it.

This is the story ABC News should be covering, a story of a channel navigating extraordinary change with plenty of local retailers, local newsagents, evolving their businesses to be relevant, vibrate and valuable.

We made the video because we know a picture is worth more than a thousand words. This video is worth thousands of words showing off transformed local Aussie newsagencies that aren’t newsagencies in the historic sense of that label.

While news outlets and suppliers consider newsagents a channel, newsagents are not a channel and have not been for many years. You can’t go into a newsagency expecting they will have what you want if your expectation is rooted in decades ago.

We don’t think the shingle matters. What matters is what shoppers feel when they enter a retail businesses. If they step into a shop that nurtures a feeling of comfort and happiness and offers them a treasure hunt retail experience they will tell others, and they will come back. The shingle above the door is irrelevant.

Tower Systems is a small business focussed POS software company developing, and supporting POS software for niche specialty retailers, like newsagents.

We are grateful to serve close to 1,800 newsagencies with our industry-standard newsagency software.

Free Insights Dashboard in Tower Systems small business POS software helps local retailers thrive

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The Insights Dashboard in our Tower Systems POS software for small business retailers instantly displays business performance insights and retailer will find valuable.

There is no report to run. No work to collate and interpret data. The insights are there, immediately, answering 6 key business questions:

1. What’s working?
2. What’s not working?
3. What am I missing out on?
4. Is theft an issue?
5. What sells with what?
6. When am I busiest?

This new video is a discussion between our CEO, COO and a senior customer service specialist. It’s a training video we made for our customers and shared free.

Seeing where you are making money, losing money, missing opportunities, experiencing theft and more can be easy money in the bank for any retailer. Packaging these insights in this way help time-poor retailers have better control over their business.

We also talk about EFTPOS surcharges in retail and show how any retailer can apply an EFTPOS surcharge in their POS software for immediate effect. Importantly, we go into the why, explaining the decision making of some retailers.

In our POS software, retailers can apply an EFTPOS surcharge as a percentage, a fixed amount or auto-calculated based on the specific card presented by the customer. Best of all, the calculations are done quickly and seamlessly at the sales processing time.

Using our POS software, charging and EFTPOS surcharge is easy. We are proud to not charge our POS software customers based on transactions they do in their business.

By providing retailers with flexibility on EFTPOS surcharging we give retailers complete control. It’s their business after all.

These two topics – charging an EFTPOS surcharges and using the Insights dashboard are part of another in our series of customer service videos through which we seek to add value to our relationship with our small business retailer customers.

The two topics in this one video speak to our focus as a POS software company: helping small business retailers make better business decisions sooner and helping them run more valuable and reliable retail businesses.

Tower Systems is a small business focussed POS software company developing, and supporting POS software for niche specialty retailers. Jewellers, garden centres, bike shops, toy shops, produce businesses, farm supply businesses, fishing shops, pet shops, charity businesses, landscape gardening businesses, antique shops, sewing shops, haberdashery businesses, newsagents and more benefit from this software.

Find out more at www.towersystems.com.au

Our pricing is transparent: https://www.towersystems.com.au/pricing

Call 1300 662 957 or email sales@towersystems.com.au

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