The POS Software Blog

The POS Software Blog

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

Latest stories

A self-checkout POS software solution made for local small business retailers

May 7, 2025
4 Min read
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Tower Systems offers innovative self-checkout point-of-sale (POS) software designed to cater specifically to the needs of local small business retailers. This POS software solution empowers these businesses to provide a convenient self-checkout option for their shoppers in various scenarios where it can significantly benefit their operations and customer experience.

There are numerous situations where implementing self-checkout can be advantageous: during peak trading hours, offering a self-service lane can dramatically improve customer throughput, reducing queues and enhancing overall efficiency. Similarly, for businesses operating in larger premises or those wishing to provide service in areas away from the main sales counter, a self-checkout terminal offers a practical and flexible solution for customers purchasing single items or those seeking a quicker transaction.

The Tower Systems self-checkout POS software provides customers with an easy to use experience. They can effortlessly scan their items, proceed to payment, and receive a digital or printed receipt. The system also offers the flexibility for customers to scan their items, save the sale temporarily, and then finalise their purchase at the main counter if they prefer, providing a hybrid approach to the checkout process.

Importantly, the self-checkout POS terminal seamlessly integrates with existing retail operations. All established special prices and catalogue pricing are automatically honoured at the self-service terminal, ensuring price consistency across all sales channels. Furthermore, the self-checkout system offers the same loyalty program facilities that customers can access at the traditional sales counter, allowing them to accrue and redeem rewards regardless of their chosen checkout method.

This powerful software solution is available for a modest per-site monthly rental fee, offering exceptional value and flexibility. Retailers can scale their self-checkout capabilities as needed, as the rental fee remains consistent regardless of the number of self-checkout terminals they operate within a single location.

To facilitate seamless transactions, the software requires integrated EFTPOS  capabilities. You can use Tyro or any of the major banks (through Linkyl cloud), ensuring compatibility with the major banking networks and providing retailers with reliable and secure payment processing options.

Getting started with the Tower Systems self-checkout POS software is easy. Upon initial setup, retailers are guided through an intuitive configuration process that includes the ability to load their own start-up and sale close images, allowing for brand personalisation and a consistent customer experience. Retailers retain complete control over these customisation options.

Please note that the self-checkout computer and stand options are available for separate purchase directly from Tower Systems, ensuring retailers have access to fully compatible and reliable hardware solutions to complement their software investment. This comprehensive offering allows local small business retailers to embrace the benefits of self-checkout and enhance their service delivery.

Here are our answers to frequently asked questions:

Is there a camera? What we have created is self-checkout POS software. It’s not integrated with a camera. We have left the choice of a camera up to each retailer to consider.

Could I run this in a pop-up shop? Yes, you could. All that is needed that the self-checkout is network connected to the main software.

Could I run self-checkout and nothing else? No, you need the base Tower software to manage the back end.

Is there anything that I might want as a retailer that the self-checkout software does not do? It does not do customer quotes or invoicing to a customer.

What if I want to use it for a couple of months of the year only? Easy. Rent it for those months and then suspend the rental costs until it is needed again.

Can I test it to see if it suits? Rental is so cheap it’s costs little to try.

Can I run this on a regular computer? Yes.

The POS screen appears to be in portrait more. Is that all you offer? No, you can run it in landscape as well.

Can I suspend a sale and finish it at my traditional sales counter? Yes, a staff member can suspend the sale so it can be completed at the counter.

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We are helping the local Aussie newsagent transform their business

May 6, 2025
2 Min read
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The local Aussie newsagent is alive and well in towns and cities across Australia. Tower Systems is grateful to serve more than 1,700 of these businesses with newsagent management software.

A newsagent today is not what we may think of when we hear the term newsagent. No, a newsagent today can be a clothing shop, a jeweller, a bike shop, a garden centre, and more. These businesses have evolved, and they continue to evolve to be more relevant than ever, serving their local community in ways not imagines a few years ago.

The local Aussie newsagent is a fighter, in service of their local community, and Tower Systems is proud to serve these businesses.

The purpose of every newsagency / newsagent business is different. The notion of us all being the same and having the same focus is old-school. Years ago, when newsagents were primarily agents, being a hub in the community made sense. Following deregulation and the dilution of the value of being an agent, the commercial value of being a community hub, too, diluted.

What is the future of the local Aussie newsagency? It’s bright for those who look beyond tradition and embrace change.

Tower Systems is helping newsagents transform by providing access to smart newsagency software that has embedded AI tools to help these retailers act with confidence, to see beyond what they see themselves.

Newsagents have moved beyond the traditional: For more than five years, print media products have not been valuable traffic generators for newsagents. While for sure that are people buying the daily paper or their weekly magazines, those shoppers are not the valuable shoppers that make money for newsagents. Indeed, thanks to basket analysis in our Tower Systems software and tracking loyalty offer engagement, magazines especially are the impulse purchase if a shopper has bonus loyalty dollars to spend.

Why plenty of newsagents are thriving.

Many newsagents have transitioned their businesses to sell high end gifts, sought after collectibles and other products people will drive and hour or two to source. We have newsagents doing well with books and others doing well with coffee. Many newsagents have websites that reach people way beyond their local area. Some, too, with websites that have nothing to do with their newsagency businesses.

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Streamlining secondhand goods management for Australian small business retailers

May 6, 2025
3 Min read
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Tower Systems offers comprehensive secondhand goods management facilities as an integral feature within our specialised retail point-of-sale (POS) software.

Initially designed to meet the specific needs of jewellers, the application of these features has broadened considerably, supporting a diverse range of retail channels, including businesses exclusively dealing in secondhand items.

As the secondhand retail landscape has evolved, so too has Tower Systems’ understanding and ability to cater to the nuanced requirements of retailers in this sector.

The secondhand goods management facilities in our POS software simplify and enhance the business processes needed for success with secondhand goods. Through the integration of advanced technology and streamlined procedures, we empower retailers to navigate the complexities of the secondhand market with confidence and efficiency.

From the initial purchase or consignment of an item through to its final sale and shop floor management, our software provides precise tracking of each used product, guaranteeing robust data integrity. These facilities are instrumental in assisting retailers to meet their regulatory obligations concerning the tracking of secondhand goods, a particularly significant aspect of today’s business climate. By automating and centralising record-keeping, our specialist POS software saves valuable time for business owners, eliminating the need for cumbersome and potentially error-prone manual processes. This meticulous data integrity proves invaluable, especially in the event of potential disputes or audits.

We understand the critical importance of adhering to regulatory requirements within the secondhand goods sector. To this end, we have taken considerable care to ensure that our secondhand goods facilities meet requirements mandated by authorities such as NSW Police, widely recognised for their advanced standards and provision of integral guidance in this area. Our software is designed to facilitate seamless compliance, providing retailers with peace of mind and reducing the administrative burden associated with regulatory adherence.

Our secondhand goods management features extend beyond basic tracking and reporting. They incorporate tools to assist with valuation, condition assessment, and the management of repairs or refurbishments, catering to the diverse nature of pre-owned merchandise. The system also supports flexible pricing strategies, allowing retailers to implement discounts, markdowns, and special offers as needed to optimise sales and inventory turnover.

By leveraging the secondhand goods management facilities in our POS software, retailers can enhance operational efficiency, improve data accuracy, ensure regulatory compliance, and ultimately drive business growth within this dynamic and increasingly important sector of the retail market. Our commitment to ongoing development and customer collaboration ensures that our software will continue to evolve and adapt to the changing needs of secondhand goods retailers across Australia.

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Artificial Intelligence embedded in POS software helps local small business retailers move smarter, faster

May 5, 2025
2 Min read
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Here at Tower Systems we are seeing Artificial intelligence embedded in POS software help local small business retailers move smarter, faster.

We released our first POS software embedded AI tools in mmid 2022 with our most significant Artificial Intelligence advances released earlier in 2025.

I am shocked at what I can get done in a day now, one retailer told us. This is a game-changer for my shop, another said. I am discovering opportunities I’d have missed previously, another said. I love it, a retailer in their mid seventies said.

The Artificial Intelligence tools now embedded in ur Tower Systems POS software are practical and success outcome focussed for our local small business retail customers. Using them is like choosing the pen you wish to write with, they are everyday tools designed to save time and to get you to the best possible decision for your business.

Leveraging the very latest LLMs from OpenAI and Google, the AI tools in our POS software provide our retailers with options hitherto unavailable.

Our AI POS software empowers retailers to optimise their online presence by generating compelling product names and Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) ready descriptions. They simplify administrative tasks by effortlessly converting PDF supplier invoices into import-ready electronic formats. Retailers can also leverage AI for price comparison, identifying opportunities to improve profitability and stay competitive.

One customer told us recently that they now do in five minutes work that previously took them three hours. This is work they had to do twice a month, delivering a saving a at least six man-hours a money. This is senior staff work that costs $38.00 an hour. The business is saving $228.00 a month or $2,736.00 a year from this one Artificial Intelligence facility alone. That’s real money in the bank for the retailer.

The core advantages of our AI tools are time savings, improved decision quality, and faster decision-making. We are committed to ongoing research and development, with exciting enhancements on the horizon.

We love hearing stories from our customers on how they are benefitting from the AI tools embedded in our POS software and we are excited for the stories that will come as we deliver more in this space.

Helping local small business retailers efficiently run profitable businesses is our goal here.

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Small business retail advice: how to reduce the cost of customer theft in your shop

May 2, 2025
2 Min read
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Theft by customers hurst retail businesses financially and emotionally. Often, it is this second cost point that can har the business more as it can negatively impact on the mindset of business leadership.

Having a plan to mitigate against customer theft is key to reducing the cost on the business. This starts with knowing what is being stolen.

the cost of theft can be seen in your business profit and Loss as well a discrepancies revealed from stock take work. First, understand the problem. next, develop a plan.

  1. Ensure all staff know about the problem.
  2. Spot stock take weekly. Record the number stolen somewhere for staff to see. This sets a target for all.
  3. Place a portable work table near the often stolen products and move most there such as product pricing, invoice checking or other tasks that could be easily done on the shop floor.
  4. Ensure you have camera coverage of the location.
  5. Place the stock so there are no blind spots that make theft easy.
  6. Try other locations and see if theft declines.
  7. Watch the location or stand from outside your business to see how shoppers interact with it.
  8. Act based on your business data.
  9. Involve the police if you get any actionable evidence.

The alternative is you complain about the problem and do nothing and that is not good management. Theft is something to be managed.

Consistent and unaddressed theft can erode the very foundation of a retail business. It can foster an environment of distrust and suspicion among staff, potentially leading to decreased morale and a less positive customer service experience. Implementing a proactive and data-driven strategy, as outlined, not only serves to minimize losses but also cultivates a more secure and confident atmosphere for both employees and honest patrons. This commitment to managing theft demonstrates responsible leadership and contributes to the long-term sustainability and reputation of the business within the community.

We helped a retailer discover regular theft in their shop and develop a plan for reducing this. The benefit in the first year was $20,000 returned to the business bottom line. In their case, people were stealing because they thought no one was noticing. No one was noticing until we said, hey look at this in your business data.

Our POS software can help local small business retailers reduce customer theft.

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Small business retail advice: how to cut employee theft in your shop

May 1, 2025
3 Min read
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Theft in retail businesses presents a persistent challenge, often remaining undetected until long after the event has occurred. This lag in discovery frequently stems from an underestimation of the problem’s prevalence, particularly when considering the possibility of employee theft.

Tower Systems helps local small business retailers detect and deal with employee theft.

Our POS software meticulously tracks alterations to transactions, including deleted items, cancelled sales and more. This valuable data is typically stored within a secure, less obvious section of the software, separate from standard reporting functions.

In roughly one out of every ten instances where we have accessed concealed transactional data for a retailer utilising our POS software, we have uncovered indicators of potentially dishonest activity. By carefully analysing this data in conjunction with supporting evidence such as closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage and employee rosters, patterns of suspicious behaviour and individuals of interest often emerge, sometimes with clear visual confirmation of misappropriated funds.

While we will not divulge the specific keystroke patterns that can signal fraudulent activity – information that has been rigorously tested and accepted in court proceedings where we have people who have served as expert witnesses for the prosecution – we urge retailers to actively engage with the theft detection and mitigation capabilities embedded within their POS systems. Take the time to understand these features and integrate them into your operational practices. Importantly, maintain discretion regarding your monitoring activities.

A common, yet potentially counterproductive, approach some retailers adopt is to implement stringent system lockdowns, aiming to minimise opportunities for theft. While the intention is understandable, individuals determined to steal will often find ways to circumvent these restrictions. Furthermore, excessively restrictive measures can inadvertently complicate the very detection processes you need in place.

Instead of creating an overly fortified environment, we advise against excessive POS software restrictions. Granting employees reasonable access while diligently monitoring their activity – guided by your POS software provider’s recommendations on leveraging the system’s data – offers a more effective strategy for identifying potential issues.

The financial consequences of undetected employee theft can be substantial. In our experience, the cost of individual theft cases has ranged from $5,000 to a staggering $245,000. In each of these instances, the proactive utilisation of the hidden data tools we have described could have facilitated earlier detection, thereby significantly mitigating the financial and emotional toll on the business and those associated with it.

Thank you for taking the time to read this. It is often the case that the topic of theft only gains traction when its impact is felt personally. However, by proactively engaging with the tools at your disposal, you can take meaningful steps to protect your business and your livelihood.

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Small business retail advice: the best place to manage your inventory data and retail business settings

April 30, 2025
2 Min read
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The needs of a physical shop are different to the needs of an online business and the best place to manage the settings for your physical shop are in software designed to manage your physical shop.

Smart POS software links seamlessly with any of the awesome website solutions out there. The POS software manages the shop, its inventory and its physical shop management settings and it leaves the specialist web software to manage online sales – feeding data both ways thanks to integration.

To try and run your physical shop with software designed for running a website could, we think, result in a cumbersome solution that costs time and results in other impediments to the business.

Trying to force a website-centric system to handle the intricacies of a brick-and-mortar store is like trying to fit a square peg in a round hole. You’d likely end up with a clunky, inefficient setup that adds unnecessary complexity to your daily operations. Think of it this way: a chef needs specialized kitchen tools, not just a Swiss Army knife, to create culinary masterpieces. Similarly, a physical retailer needs purpose-built POS software to truly thrive.

We have been serving brick and mortar shops for decades with software that has evolved to serve the changing nature of physical retail. We’ve also served physical shops with online stores too. The needs of the two types of retail can have similarities. In our experience, the settings are different as is the workflow and other aspects of business operation.

Choosing software made for your needs, your specific tarp of customer interface: physical, online or a mix of both will deliver a more efficient and valuable outcome for your business. We serve physical and online and this is another thing that makes Tower Systems a useful partner.

By selecting software tailored to your specific customer interface – whether it’s the tangible experience of a physical store, the digital realm of online sales, or a seamless blend of both – you’re setting your business up for greater efficiency and ultimately, more value. It’s about having the right tools for the right job, allowing you to focus on what you do best: serving your customers.

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We are grateful for mums in local small business retail

April 29, 2025
1 Min read
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As you’re out shopping for Mother’s Day, it’s likely you’ll encounter a mum working in or running a shop, juggling work, the business, family, home and more. Plenty of mums we see in local retail are mentors to others in their business. Plenty are champions in their local community. See them. Celebrate them. Appreciate them. #Local #SmallBusiness #retail #grateful

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Small business retail advice: be sure to understand the total cost of POS software

April 29, 2025
2 Min read
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The software of the software you choose for your retail; business is the cost of renting access to the software as well as any mandatory costs associated with the software.

Some software companies make it hard to understand the total cost of using their software. They are clever at how they dress up their data.

Take a nameless POS software company. Their monthly rental for a small shop is $200 a month. They require you to use their payments platform at a cost of 1.6% of all transactions. A business doing $500,000 a year using this software has a total cost of ownership of $2,400.00 + $8,000 =$10,400.00 $10,400.00.

That same small retail business using Tower Systems and a price competitive payments gateway would pay $2,800.00 for the software and $4,500.00 for payments, making a total cost $7,300.00.

That’s a saving of $3,100.00 in one year alone on the cost of the software and the payments processing.

If you add in enhanced functionality that supports better productivity and a more useful focus on profitability we can make a case for benefits of more than $50,000 to the bottom line.

Our point here is to note that it is vital for any retailer to understand the cost of ownership of the software they are considering as there are big differences in the costs, especially when comparing with businesses that require you to use a payments platform connected to their software. Oh they will pitch productivity gains and other good-sounding benefits. the thing is, these benefits are available outside their business.

Take your time. Do your research. get the numbers in writing. Compare, and compare again.

Slick marketing can cover many sins, including a higher cost for your business.

Here at Tower Systems our approach to pricing is transparent. The choice you make about payments is 100% yours to make, meaning you can shop the market for the best deal for you.

Look beyond the sticker price; ongoing expenses and limitations imposed by a software provider can significantly impact your bottom line. By forcing you into their payment ecosystem, some companies effectively create a captive market, limiting your ability to secure more competitive processing fees. This lack of transparency and control can erode your profit margins over time, making it crucial to look beyond the surface-level monthly subscription and delve into the complete cost structure, including any mandatory integrations or transaction-based charges.

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Small business retail advice: specialty software matters to specialty retailers

April 28, 2025
3 Min read
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One thing to love about local small retail businesses is their focus on being specialists, being focussed on a product or service niche. People are more likely to trust a specialty retailer for ethic rout, their uniqueness, their specialisation.

It stands to reason that the needs of specialty retailers are best met by software designed for eerie area of expertise.

Jewellers benefit from software designed for jewellers. Big shop businesses benefit from software made for bike shops. Bookshops benefit from software made for bookshops. Produce businesses benefit from software made for produce businesses. Garden centres benefit from software made for garden centres.

You can see where we are going with this.

If you want plants for your local garden a local garden centre will be more helpful than a general retail shop that sells all manner of things.

We understand and appreciate the value of the specialist.

The same is true of software.

Anyone can say they have software for this or that type of business. Only some software companies actually make software for some specialty retail channels. Take jewellers. Right now, at the time of writing this post, Tower Systems is the only company developing software in Australia for Aussie jewellers. And, yes, Aussie jewellers have unique needs, needs serves by our specialty jeweller POS software.

Specialist retail software made for your type of business is more likely to help more in the running of your business, assisting productivity and nurturing profitability.

Generic software can only go so far. It is certainly unlikely to help you shine a light on the specialty nature of your business, what makes you unique.

If being a specialty retailer matters to you, taker a moment to consider software made for your type of business.

This laser focus on specific industries allows Tower Systems to build in features and functionalities that directly address the unique challenges and opportunities within each of the retail channels we serve. For instance, a point-of-sale system designed for a jeweller might include features for managing valuations, custom orders, and intricate inventory tracking of precious metals and gemstones – functionalities that would be irrelevant and cumbersome in software designed for a bookstore. By catering to these niche requirements, specialist software empowers small retail businesses to operate more efficiently, serve their customers better, and ultimately leverage their unique expertise for greater success.

If you are a specialty retailer, we’d love to see if we can serve your needs.

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POS software made for equestrian businesses

April 26, 2025
2 Min read
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Australian made. Australian supported.

Here’s what our equestrian POS software offers:

Feed Management:
– Bag feed into smaller packs with accurate stock tracking.
– Track bulk material purchases, mixing, and packaging of your own products.
– Sell by weight, including fractions.

Sales & Customer Management:
– Streamlined quote and invoice management for accuracy and efficiency.
– Provide local produce care information to enhance customer experience.
– Flexible trade pricing profiles.
– Professional customer account management.
– Customisable pricing profiles based on customer types.
– Detailed tracking of colour, size, and style variations.
– Informative, customisable receipts.
– Pre-order and special order management.
– Powerful loyalty programs.

Inventory & Ordering:
– Seasonal reordering for efficient stock management.
– Weatherproof label printing.
– Electronic supplier invoice support to reduce errors.
– International barcode database lookup for quick product addition.
– Logistics & Delivery:
– Dispatch management tools for efficient delivery, including multi-truck and multi-delivery support.
– Integration with Allotrac for advanced dispatch management.

Marketing & Customer Engagement:
– Loyalty marketing to build lasting customer relationships.
– Free integration with FindIt.com.au to drive local shopper traffic.
– Flexible Selling & Integrations:
– Flexible selling options: by weight, length, and fractions.
– Portable “sell anywhere” solution.
– Integration with Shopify, WooCommerce, BigCommerce, Xero, and more.
– Shopper self-checkout option.
– Digital receipts via Slyp.

AI Enhancements:
– ChatGPT and Google Gemini AI integration for product descriptions, blog posts, and price comparisons.
– Auto background removal for product photos, suitable for online platforms.
– Additional Features:

Our software is designed for local, independent equestrian businesses. We are committed to helping local businesses thrive.

Key Benefits:
– Save time on daily tasks.
– Increase sales and profitability.
– Enhance customer relationships.
– Streamline inventory and logistics.

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

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How to choose the right POS software for your specialty retail business

April 24, 2025
3 Min read
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Choosing the right Point of Sale (POS) software is a pivotal decision for any independent, small retail business. A well-suited system can significantly boost your business’s worth and success, whereas a poor choice can be costly.

While this advice is from us and we are a POS software company, it is advice that will stand up to professional and independent scrutiny.

To make a well-informed decision, it’s crucial to carefully think about your business’s unique aspects.

  • Specialisation: If your business caters to a specific niche, look for POS software designed for similar businesses, software that serves your needs.
  • Local focus: If supporting local businesses is important to you, consider POS solutions developed and supported locally. Talking to people who understand your local situation is helpful.
  • Training. be sure to understand the cost of training for professional training by the software company is key to you leveraging the best value from the software.
  • Expertise: To establish yourself as a local expert, your POS system should enable efficient and consistent service, and the leveraging of your expertise.
  • Services: If you offer repair or maintenance services, your software should handle these functions, and save you time.
  • Product bundling: For businesses selling bundled items, the POS system must effectively manage these configurations, helping you to differentiate through what you sell.
  • Customer retention: If you operate in a tourist area, loyalty programs can be vital for maximising repeat business – they need to be the type of loyalty encouragement your shoppers will love.
  • Product weight: If you sell products by weight, your POS system should have this capability, especially selling in fractions.

By carefully considering these factors, you can pinpoint the specific features and capabilities needed in your ideal POS software.

It’s important to remember that while price is a consideration, it shouldn’t be the only deciding factor. Just as you’d advise customers against compromising quality for price, the same applies to POS software. Investing in a higher-quality system initially can lead to significant long-term savings and advantages.

To make comparisons easier, think about the weekly cost of the software rather than just the upfront investment. This approach gives a more accurate picture of value for money, taking into account support services and software functionality.

If you’re unsure about a particular software package, it’s wise to explore other options. It’s better to pass on a system that doesn’t fully meet your needs than to deal with ongoing frustrations. However, be prepared to adjust some of your business processes to align with your chosen software.

Once you’ve implemented a system, it’s crucial to follow the software provider’s advice and make full use of the training provided. Embracing suggested changes to your business processes can optimise how well the system works for you.

Accurate data is essential for successful POS software use. Put in place strict data entry procedures to ensure reliable information for making decisions.

Building a strong relationship with your software provider can benefit both parties. Sharing feedback and suggestions can contribute to the ongoing development and improvement of the software.

By using your POS system to automate tasks, you can free up valuable time for strategic planning and engaging with customers.

Implementing new software can be challenging. Focus on the long-term benefits of increased efficiency and satisfaction once you’ve mastered the system.

Ultimately, the POS software you choose should reflect your business’s identity. Invest time in careful consideration to select a system that aligns with your goals and helps your business grow.

Here at Tower Systems we make POS software for local specialty retailers.

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Let’s talk smart shopper loyalty and POS software for small business retail

April 24, 2025
2 Min read
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Here at Tower Systems we offer a range of loyalty options to our POS software customers. Last week we got together to talk shopping and loyalty and why we as shoppers make the decisions we make. It was a terrific discussion on how everyday shoppers view loyalty programs, especially those that require you to sign up.

This is an authentic, unscripted discussion about shopping and how different loyalty program approaches may nurture different responses.

Are loyalty programs worth the hassle? Join Tash, Justin, Tim, Gavin, and Mark as they spill the beans on what makes them sign up (or run away!). From frustrating spam to the appeal of instant discounts, this video reveals honest shopper opinions. Find out what truly drives repeat business.

The conversation kicks off with a common frustration: the deluge of spam often following a loyalty sign-up. Tash voices this concern, arguing that a simple percentage discount often isn’t worth the subsequent inbox clutter. What resonates more? Tangible value, like a specific dollar amount voucher for a future purchase. However, the effectiveness hinges on clarity; retailers must ensure these vouchers are easily noticed and understood.

Simplicity and perceived value emerge as key themes. Tash praises a straightforward pub loyalty program usable across numerous locations, contrasting it with programs that feel overly complicated or offer negligible rewards. The power of immediate gratification is also highlighted, with Justin preferring instant vouchers over accumulating points for later use. This preference is backed by data mentioned in the discussion, suggesting a significant redemption rate (19%) for discount vouchers, effectively driving repeat business, a point reinforced by Tim’s positive experience at a garden center.

The discussion also touches upon different consumer strategies, like Gavin’s wife using a dedicated email address for promotional offers, and the retailers’ perspective, acknowledging vouchers as potent tools for engagement. Yet, barriers remain, such as cumbersome in-store sign-up processes that deter shoppers like Tash. The video even explores modern twists, concluding with a look at a loyalty app employing a multi-level marketing approach by rewarding users for referrals.

Tower Systems is an authentic POS software company focussed on delivering tools retailers benefit from and opportunities their customers will love.

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Software for health food shops

April 23, 2025
2 Min read
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This POS software for health food shops and wholefoods shops offers facilities that serve the needs of these businesses well.

From shopper loyalty to catalogue pricing management to serving produce use information, to scare integration to selling fractional quantities, this software helps local health foods shops provide professional service.

This is specialty retail POS software made for specialty retailers in the health foods and whole foods space.

Creating your own products, like muesli, made from other products, can be tracked and managed through this locally made POS software.

Developed locally for local health food shops and whole foods shops, this POS software continues to evolve thanks to the support and advice from those in existing businesses using it. We are grateful for their help in maintaining wonderful POS software for these businesses.

here’s what you can rely on:

  • Easy and accurate selling.
  • Money making business insights.
  • Time saving roster links.
  • Peace of mind theft mitigation.
  • Awesome supplier links.
  • Sales winning loyalty tools.
  • Easy bundling of products for more sales.
  • Club and group pricing.
  • Community group pricing.
  • Easy repeat business.
  • Personal training.

We get some common questions abut our software for health foods and whole foods shops:

  • Do you have health food shops using the software today? Yes.
  • Can I set an age check on age restricted items? Yes.
  • Can I presell? Yes.
  • Can I run BOGO pricing, buy 1 get 1 or similar? Yes.
  • Does the software let me manage time-based catalogue pricing? Yes.
  • Can I sell gift cards for my business? Yes.
  • Is there a loyalty facility guiding infrequent shoppers to spend? Yes.
  • Does the software let me buy in bulk and break to retail packs? Yes.
  • Can you reach out to customers based on past purchases? Yes.
  • Does the system handle account customers? Yes.
  • I sell clothing, can I manage this by colour, size and style? Yes.

If you run a health foods or whole foods business and are considering software for your business, talk with us. We may be a good fit. If we think we are not a good fit we will absolutely let you know and wish you all the best in your search.

Using this POS software, local and independent health food shops and whole foods businesses can track inventory, manage sales, handle special orders, manage products that are combined in-store to create other products, provide care instructions, offer local specific advice with consistency and more.

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Aussie software made for fishing bait and tackle businesses and outdoors businesses

April 22, 2025
3 Min read
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Fishing bait and tackle businesses and outdoors businesses have similar needs when it comes to software, and their needs often go way beyond traditional POS software, basic POS software. For these businesses to serve their customer well, they need software made for them, specialty retail POS software.

This is what we do here at Tower Systems, we make POS software for specialty retailers. We go way beyond basic POS, we delve into specialty needs like age checking, selling by weight or measure and using fractions, handling rental and taking care of repairs management – to name some of the specialty facilities in our fishing and outdoors shop software.

Handling subscriptions or recurring billing is easy. If you rent something, this handles it for you.

Selling by weight (yes, it’s scale integrated) and fractions is easy too, as is selling bundle packs like a rod, reel and net, for example.

Selling to club members at a special price is easy. You can also easily use the software to raise funds for the club, attracting members of the club to shop with your business. This club facility helps you pitch to local clubs, to connect with more of their members.

Best of all, you can easily share local fishing tips, leveraging your knowledge to differentiate your business. selling you can be a game changer in terms of differentiation.

Our software for fishing and outdoors shops aims to help you run a more successful, valuable and enjoyable business. It helps you streamline workflow, eliminate some manual processes and make better business decisions, sooner.

There is no EFTPOS or transaction related fee, just a monthly software rental fee. You choose the EFTPOS that you prefer – we don’t lock you into anything.

And, you can run this software on as many computers in your shop as you want for no extra cost.

We’re often asked questions about what the software does. Here are some of those questions, and our answers:

  • Can I set an age check on age restricted items?
  • Can I run BOGO pricing, buy 1 get 1 or similar?
  • Does the software let me manage time-based catalogue pricing?
  • Can I sell gift cards for my business?
  • Is there a loyalty facility guiding infrequent shoppers to spend?
  • Does the software let me buy in bulk and break to retail packs?
  • Can you reach out to customers based on past purchases?
  • Does the system handle account customers?
  • I sell clothing, can I manage this by colour, size and style?

If you run a fishing bait and tackle shop or an outdoors shop, take a look at what we offer. We’d love to answer your questions and personally demonstrate the software to you.

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Enhance your firearms dealership with tailored Australian POS software

April 21, 2025
4 Min read
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For firearms dealers across Australia, managing the unique requirements of the industry demands specialised tools. Many local businesses, both large and small, are already using our locally developed and supported Point of Sale (POS) firearms dealer software to streamline their operations. This system manages in-store sales and integrates seamlessly with online platforms, particularly through our robust Big Commerce integration, to manage product data efficiently.

Our software is designed with the specific needs of Australian firearms dealers in mind, offering a comprehensive suite of features and benefits:

Compliance and Record Keeping:

  • Age Verification: Implement mandatory age checks for relevant purchases directly through the system.
  • Serial Number Tracking: Maintain meticulous records with integrated serial number tracking for items sold, offering multiple methods to suit your workflow.
  • Permit to Acquire (PTA): The software includes functionality to handle PTA data gathering requirements.
  • Secure Information: Option to load and store a photo of a customer’s driver’s licence on file.
  • Clear Receipts: Generate separate receipts for firearms and accessories, ensuring clarity for customers and records.

Enhanced Inventory and Sales Management:

  • Real-Time Tracking: Maintain accurate stock levels with real-time inventory updates.
  • Automated Alerts: Set automated reorder level alerts to prevent stockouts.
  • Efficient Product Addition: Easily add new products using barcode scanning and online information retrieval.
  • Variant Management: Effectively handle product variants, crucial for accessories.
  • Flexible Pricing: Implement varied pricing options for different customer segments, including club pricing profiles.
  • Accurate Sales: Sell items accurately by weight or measure, accommodating whole numbers or fractions.
  • Bundled Items: Offer bundled products, making direct price comparisons more difficult for competitors.
  • Special Orders: Easily manage unique, one-off customer orders.
  • AI Assistance: Leverage AI-powered generation for product descriptions.

Streamlined Operations and Customer Experience:

  • Recurring Billing: Simplify billing for locker rentals or other subscription-based services with automated recurring and subscription billing features.
  • Locker Rental Tracking: Specifically track the rental of locker space.
  • Automated Notifications: Send automated SMS notifications to customers when firearms are ready for collection.
  • Efficient Checkout: Provide a smooth checkout process with integrated EFTPOS capabilities.
  • Personalised Service: Utilise customer profiles and purchase history to offer tailored service.
  • Detailed Information: Display detailed product information and images on receipts and online.
  • Loyalty Program: Implement a shopper loyalty program specifically designed to be effective for your type of business.
  • Sales Tracking: Monitor individual staff performance by tracking who sold what.
  • Knowledge Sharing: Utilise structured opportunities within the software to pass on valuable product knowledge.

Developed and Supported Locally:

We are proud that this software is Australian-made and supported. Our development is continually refined thanks to valuable input from our community of firearms dealers, ensuring it remains up-to-date and relevant to your business needs.

Common Questions Answered:

  • Are you Australian based? Yes.
  • Do you make your software? Yes.
  • How do I contact your help desk? By phone or email. Our help desk team is based in Australia, with one member located in New Zealand.
  • When can I contact you for help? Weekdays: 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM AEST. Urgent after-hours support is available 24/7.
  • Can I run the software in the cloud? Yes.
  • Can I run the software on my desktop? Yes.
  • Can I backup to the cloud? Yes.
  • How long am I locked in with software rental? There is no lock-in contract.
  • Can I set the software to force an age check by product purchased? Yes.
  • Can I load photo of a customer’s driver’s licence to have on file? Yes.
  • Does the software track product serial numbers? Yes, multiple methods are available.
  • Can I handle permit to acquire? Yes.

This locally developed POS solution provides the specialised features required for the compliant and efficient operation of an Australian firearms dealership.

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The smart way to do a stocktake in your local retail business

April 19, 2025
2 Min read
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The days of using a stocktaker to count stock for your end of financial year stocktake are well and truly over. Smart POS software makes it easy. Smarter POS software makes it faster and even easier. That’s what we offer here at Tower Systems with our POS software for local specialty retailers.

Retailer Roam is a portable POS software solution that can run on your iPhone, iPad or any Android device. It truly is portable POS software.

Retailers can use Retailer Roam to sell from anywhere. It’s perfect for the local market, selling or the road or at a pop-up shop.

Best of all, Retailer Roam offers a live stocktake facility. Use it to update sock on hand data in real time, quickly, easily, accurately.

Using Retailer Roam will help retailers ease the burden of the stocktake and eliminate the cost of using a professional stocktaker.

Retailers can use Retailer Roam to do a full stocktake or part of a store stocktake. It’s easy to use and ideal for shop staff engagement.

This video is one of our training videos. Its;s been made for businesses already using our software. We share it here to show you how to setup to use Retailer Roam for stocktaking and to demonstrate more generally the quality of training we provide.

This video explains how to perform stock takes using Retailer Roam, highlighting its ability to sync data live back to Retailer, which allows for more up-to-date quantity on hand tracking. The video covers starting a stock take, navigating the interface, using search and barcode scanning, explaining scan modes, demonstrating item counting, syncing data, and finishing the process.

We have found short videos like this one to be useful to retailers in training team members.

Every retail business does stocktakes. Our goal with Retailer Roam is to help you save time and improve outcome accuracy.

Tower Systems is grateful to its local small retail business customers for their engagement and helping us to make better POS software that helps local retailers thrive. Their engagement during the software development and testing processes help us create better products.

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Retail business advice: being unique attracts shoppers in-store and online regardless of your business size

April 17, 2025
3 Min read
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In his 1960 book Reality in Advertising, Rosser Reeves, a respected US advertising executive, introduced the world to the concept of the unique selling proposition, or USP for short.

Reeves defined the USP in an advertising context:

  1. Each advertisement must make a proposition to the consumer: buy this product, and you will get this benefit.
  2. The proposition must be one that the competition either cannot or doesn’t
  3. The proposition must be so strong that it changes consumer behaviour.

In the 1960s and 1970s, the concept of a USP evolved from being essential to advertising to being essential to business. Finding your business USP was considered mission-critical to businesses, especially retailers. Businesses drifted, however, and forgot about the importance of a USP.

Jack Trout tells us in his aptly titled book Differentiate or Die that a USP is mission-critical in business.

Differentiate or die. There is no doubt about the call to action in the title and no doubt about the consequences of inaction.

Yet many retailers, for the most part, have remained still in the face of an onslaught of competition.

Retail is tough today. There are fewer differences between competitors. Retailers are surrounded by competition, and it grows by the day. Yet many have remained still and have done nothing.

Smart retailers are reacquainting themselves with the writings of Reeves and Trout and learning about the mission-critical imperative of having a USP.

Differentiation could be service, product, location or a combination of these. Differentiation will most likely not be price, as anyone can easily match this.

Price is, after all, the last line of defence in any business battle. That said, there are some major price-focused success stories—Wal-Mart in the US and Bunnings in Australia, for example. This is rare in an independent retail situation.

To develop your USP, engage with your employees and other stakeholders. Take your time. Determine what you and your business stand for. Following open and honest discussion and debate, the USP, around which everyone in the business can willingly congregate, will emerge.

A good USP will not require an advertising campaign to communicate. It will become obvious through actions and decisions. By living the USP in every facet of the business, you will soon be seen as unique by shoppers, and this can drive excellent word of mouth and success for the business.

Here at Tower Systems we leverage our practical retail shop floor experience to provide advice and support for local small business retailers beyond our POS software.

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Retail business advice: rules for a strong foundation on which to build your shop

April 16, 2025
3 Min read
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Every retail business needs rules—rules everyone working in the shop is asked to follow; rules to guide behaviour.

Businesses without rules can function okay until that one time when someone behaves in a way that is unacceptable.

Here are some suggested rules that we have used in our shops over the years. They include some rules that we have seen others use successfully in their local small business retail settings:

  1. Customers come first. Please treat them with respect. Appreciate them.
  2. We value your opinion. If you think there is something we should stock that will sell, please tell us. If you think we’re making a mistake in running the business, please tell us. If you see a colleague misbehaving towards a work colleague, please tell us. If you see theft, please tell us.
  3. This is a safe place. Thank you for helping us ensure that.
  4. No staff members are permitted to serve themselves, ever. If you do purchase from the business, purchase from the customer side.
  5. Any staff discount is not to be added to already discounted items unless a manager agrees.
  6. If you want to buy something, you don’t take it off the shelf until you’re ready to pay for the item. NO setting items aside.
  7. You’re not permitted to buy something on a staff discount for someone else.
  8. No personal mobile phones at the counter.
  9. No reading behind the counter.
  10. No bags at the counter.
  11. Don’t sit behind the counter.
  12. When a sale is over, complete the sale. Shut the cash drawer. Don’t leave a completed sale on the screen.
  13. Only a manager is permitted to remove money from the register during trading.
  14. Never put anything aside for someone who calls, unless you know them and they are a regular shopper.
  15. The computers in the business are not to be used for personal use unless approved by the owner or manager.
  16. This is a retail business. Customers are our only source of revenue. Greet them with a smile. Thank them for shopping with you when they leave. This means that the shop floor is the hub of our operation. Your focus on the shop floor and our customers helps the business, and this helps you.
  17. If there is anything we can do to help you enjoy working here more, please let us know.

Take a moment to consider your own rules.

Here at Tower Systems we leverage our own retail experience to help our customers, all local retailers, to run valuable ands enjoyable businesses.

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Retail business advice: Tips for dealing with being in a small country town with a declining population

April 15, 2025
2 Min read
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If you are in a small country town with a declining population we have some tips for you.

Make more babies, and fast!

Okay, seriously, since you have no control over the population growth of the town, you need to work on that which you can control—you need to work on the reach of your business.

Yes, this means reaching shoppers online. This is the easiest way to combat the challenge of a declining population within the reach of your physical shop.

As cliché as it’s, if the population cannot get to your shop, take your shop to the population.

I have seen a shop in a small town do two-thirds of its revenue online and thrive as a result.

Being online is more critical than ever. It is the best way to attract new shoppers, leverage existing inventory, retail space and labour as well as top plot a fresh and profitable path forward for the business.

Tower Systems has team of skilled Shopify web developers, all working from in Victoria. This matters since many web developers actually outsource development to offshore businesses.

Tower offers a one stop shop service whereby we offer specialty retail POS software and beautiful Shopify websites connected to this POS software. The connection is safe, fast and seamless. The Shopify websites we develop are made specifically for each retailer customer, to their needs, meeting their requirements, populated with data that is collated through the integrated POS software.

Being a Shopify website developer and a POS software developer in the one business and being Australian based business positions Tower well to serve the needs of local Australian retailers. Being so engaged with the newsagency channel is a reason Tower has helped so many newsagents attract new shoppers through their websites.

The Tower Systems Shopify website development for small business retailers is done on a fixed price basis.

By embracing e-commerce and leveraging Tower Systems’ newsagency and web development expertise, newsagents can unlock a world of new opportunities. From seamless website integration to a focus on targeted customer acquisition, Tower Systems empowers newsagents to thrive in the digital age.

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Retail business advice: Nine one-percenters: easy things you can do for sure wins in retail

April 14, 2025
2 Min read
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One-percenters are small things—easy, small things you can do for a win in any retail business.

  1. Check off invoices and price new stock on the shop floor, located to disrupt shopper traffic, so customers notice you doing it, and they can look at the new products. Pricing is part of in-store entertainment.
  2. Never be out of stock of popular products. Use your software to predict sales, and order so you don’t sell out. We know from inventory / sales data that most retailers are out of stock of popular items 10% of the time and more.
  3. Write the value of dead stock somewhere where all staff see it. Dead stock is stock that is not selling. The criterion for dead stock varies by business type. Update the value weekly for a whole business focus on reducing this. Dead stock has no benefit to any business.
  4. Place two or three products at the counter for impulse purchase. Change them weekly unless they are selling well.
  5. Have at least one product at the counter that people can touch, feel or taste if appropriate. Physically interacting with a product gets them closer to purchasing.
  6. Change your front window display every week. The goal is to stop passers-by and have them notice you. If you don’t have a front window, change the front 2 metres of your shop every week.
  7. Use social media to share knowledge and have fun. Show who you’re. Entertain.
  8. Have a staff ‘product of the week’ in a good position, with a handwritten note from the staff member explaining the why.
  9. Make sure the shop is happy, with good music, good smells, happy staff and fun product engagement opportunities.

Create your own list of one-percenters for your business—the easy wins that anyone can do at any time to improve the success of the business. The best one-percenters for your shop will depend your own situation, your own opportunities. Be sure to update the list regularly to keep it fresh and reflecting the season.

We are grateful to have local retail experience that produces us with practical ideas that can help local retailers thrive. Our retail experience is something that adds value to the POS software relationship we have with our customers.

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POS software for local independent clothing and fashion shops

April 13, 2025
3 Min read
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Our POS software for fashion shops is made for local independent retailers, small retailers, local retailers. This software helps these specialty shops track stock, serve customers, make good business decisions and thrive.

Best of all, our clothing shop software helps these local small businesses compete.

In store as well as online, this Aussie made and supported software helps these local businesses pitch their differences, play to their strengths.

You can rely on this software and Tower Systems for:

  • Offering a loyalty solution fashion shoppers love.
  • Tracking inventory by colour, size and style.
  • Track brand performance.
  • Reduce out of stocks.
  • Reduce the cost of dead stock.
  • Uncover employee theft.
  • Easy and accurate selling.
  • Money making business insights.
  • Time saving supplier links.
  • Easy managing by colour, size & style.
  • Seasonal insights guide decisions.
  • Time saving roster integrations.
  • Trusted theft mitigation tools.
  • Personal training.

Our POS software for fashion businesses is strong. It continues to evolve as we work with more retailers to lean into changes as they emerge in the marketplace.

This fashion shop software by Tower Systems serves the unique needs of fashion and apparel businesses. It offers a comprehensive set of features aimed at simplifying operations, managing inventory effectively, and enhancing customer relationships.

Key capabilities:

  • Stock Management with Variants: Easily handle diverse product lines with variations in color, size, and style, ensuring accurate stock levels for each specific attribute.
  • Loyalty Programs: Implement and manage customer loyalty programs to encourage repeat business and build lasting customer relationships.
  • Lay-by Options: Offer customers the flexibility of lay-by payment plans.
  • Integrated Payments: Facilitate smooth transactions with integrations for various payment systems.
  • AI Product Descriptions: Use artificial intelligence to generate engaging and informative product descriptions for your merchandise.
  • Barcode Scanning: Quickly and accurately add new inventory items using barcode scanners.
  • Efficient Point of Sale (POS): Process sales transactions with ease, add items to the sale, and associate purchases with specific customers.
  • Customer Relationship Management (CRM): Build detailed customer profiles to personalize marketing efforts and provide tailored service.
  • Comprehensive Stock Control: Maintain optimal inventory levels, track stock movements, and manage purchase orders efficiently.
  • Marketing Tools: Leverage integrated marketing features to promote your products and drive sales through various channels.
  • Image Editing Functionality: Perform basic image editing tasks, such as removing backgrounds from product photos.

Pricing and support:

The software is offered at a monthly subscription rate, which includes licenses for unlimited users within a single location. This subscription also encompasses local support, ensuring assistance is available whenever needed. Fashion retailers benefit from continuous software enhancements and updates, keeping the system current with the latest features and functionalities. The software also supports integration with e-commerce platforms, enabling seamless online sales operations.

We are grateful to serve thousands of retailers in Australia and New Zealand. To see if we might be able to goof fit for your business please email sales@towersystems.com.au.

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The best gift shop in Perth?

April 13, 2025
2 Min read
T

Olivis & Grace in Mount Lawley, Perth is, we think, the best gift shop in Perth. Okay, we are biased, they are a customer, and we created their website.  The thing is, Olivia & Grace and a wonderful and ever-changing fist shop. We were last there a few weeks ago and it is an inspiring local small business transformation story.

A year ago, we got to talk with the owner about what they had done already up to then:

What was a newsagency is now an inspiring local gift shop that people will travel hours to visit, and shop.

We think it’s the best gift shop in Perth.

Matt bought a traditional newsagency shop in late 2020. It was his first retail business. He knew he wanted to reinvent the business, to be relevant and appealing.

In less than 4 years Matt with his family and team have transformed the business into a thriving and loved local shop in Mount Lawley 10 minutes out of Perth.

While it’s called Mount Lawley News, this shop is not a newsagency, not what you think of as a newsagency. It’s a gift shop, a fun place to shop, somewhere you’re likely to find a gift for just about any occasion.

As Matt shares in this video, he embraces the opportunities of change, and he shows that even though the shop has been transformed, he’s not done. What he has created online through the website as well as on social media is fresh, engaging, and successful.

We are grateful to Matt for the opportunity to find out more. Be sure to check out their website: http://www.oliviaandgrace.com.au.

Helping local retailers thrive is in our DNA here at Tower Systems. Small local retail is at the heart of local communities. Our software can reveal opportunities and help local retailers transform their businesses based on data, evidence, as to the path they can take ahead.

Our specialty retail POS software offers insights specie to your business, insights based on your data, insights that lay a solid path for decision making. We back our software with retail experience and the ability to help you interpret data results revealed by our POS software.

We’re not your usual software company.

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