UPDATED!!!OLCC RFP Is Out for a New ERP System for All Liquor Stores in Oregon

Update 12/6/2023: The bid has been re-released on https://oregonbuys.gov/bso/ (registration required). They still require the use of Elevon for all merchant services due to the state contract.

 

UPDATE 6/2/2023: The OLCC just let me know that they have officially cancelled the RFP!!! No details on what this means for the future of Oregon Liquor Store POS Systems.

 Bid Notification is out on the OregonBuys website. Look for OLCC Distilled Spirits Supply Chain RFP.  You must be a registered vendor/supplier to see the RFP and respond.

I am responding to the RFP by personal invitation given multiple existing relationships with liquor stores all across Oregon who would love to see the Cloud Retailer liquor store point of sale software in their stores.

New POS system for all liquor stores in Oregon?

Update 2/7/2023: Bid Notification is out on the OregonBuys website. Look for OLCC Distilled Spirits Supply Chain RFP.  You must be a registered vendor/supplier to see the RFP and respond.

 

 I have had multiple requests from liquor stores in the state of Oregon to provide an update regarding the OLCC's search for a new POS system.

I do not work for the OLCC but have been in communication with the OLCC. I also have met in person or online with multiple liquor stores in Oregon.

If you have any questions or insights, please contact me at 208-340-5632 or kevinantosh@gmail.com

What is Floor Pricing? How to setup Microsoft RMS for Floor Pricing

 The Oregon Liquor Control Commission recently passed a motion that all liquor stores in Oregon adhere to what is called "Floor Pricing". This got me thinking that not everyone knows what floor pricing is.

Basically, floor pricing is the minimum price that you can sell a product at to a customer. This is useful for not selling products below cost or below a minimum sell price set by a supplier, vendor, or manufacture.

As a retailer, you may also want to set floor or minimum sell prices to ensure that your staff does not sell a product for too low of a price (eg: minimum margin that you want to make or a popular product that should not be discounted).

Each point of sale software program is different, but here is a video showing how you set floor pricing in the Microsoft Dynamics RMS point of sale software

 

Any questions? Please contact me at kevinantosh@gmail.com or 208-340-5632.

Standardized POS System for Oregon Liquor Stores?

 This was sent to me via email:

"The State of Oregon, acting by and through the Oregon Liquor Control Commission, (“Agency”), is issuing this Request for Information for a Point-of-Sale (POS) software for the Distilled Spirits Supply Chain to assist the Agency’s future buy decision. The desirable solution will merge computer hardware, software and peripheral equipment with improved operating practices for managing inventory for our liquor agent’s throughout the State of Oregon. The solution will increase accuracy and improve flexibility and responsiveness through real-time liquor inventory management and revenue capture."

Basically, they are soliciting information from POS vendors for a possible standard point of sale system to be used at all of the 280+ agency liquor stores in the state of Oregon.

If you are a liquor retailer, what are your thought on this? Are you OK with being told what POS system you must use in your store by a state agency? 

I'm curious to know! Please comment on this post or contact me at kevinantosh@gmail.com

The results will be shared in a future blog post (less any personal information so there is no chance of retaliation).

 

Point of Sale Software Options for Liquor Stores in Oregon

I've spent several weeks in Oregon over the last few months helping retailers find the best point of sale system for their store and found there to be some confusion about which POS software programs are available to liquor store retailers in Oregon.

After meeting with several liquor retailers as well as multiple calls and emails with the OLCC (Oregon Liquor Control Commission), I was given the impression that KMDS (Kelly Myers Data Systems)  POS was the only approved option for liquor store retailers in Oregon.

This is not true as the Cloud Retailer POS software is also available in Oregon. Here are some comparisons between KMDS and Cloud Retailer:

Similarities

• Both are designed for liquor retailers
• Both are approved by the OLCC
• Both are in use by multiple liquor stores in Oregon
• Both provide OLCC specific reporting

Pro Cloud Retailer

• Integrated processing (no errors due to manual double entry on payment terminals)

Pro KMDS

• Based in Oregon and well established user base

Note about Point of Sale Software Programs:

I did not include Retail Management Hero or NCR CounterPoint in the comparisons as I was focused on just liquor store specific POS software programs that included OLCC reporting integration. I have not come across any liquor stores in Oregon that use RMS, NCR Counterpoint, Vend, Bindo, Clover, etc.

If you are a liquor store retailer in the state of Oregon, I would encourage you to look at both Cloud Retailer and KMDS.