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).

 

Last Reminder on Windows 7 End of Life

If you happen to still be using Windows 7 on your point of sale computers, it is important to note that all support for Windows 7 will end on January 14th, 2020. What does this mean? Basically, you will be using an un-supported operating system and will most likely need to upgrade to Windows 10 (and may need to upgrade your computers as well).  Reasons for this include the following:

• Being non-PCI compliant
• Being vulnerable to virus and malware attacks (potential loss and/or compromise of data)
• POS software may no longer be supported if using Windows 7
• Peripherals like receipt printers, payment terminals, scales, customer displays, etc may no longer be supported
• Your point of sale Partner/VAR/Dealer/Reseller will no longer assist you
• You may not be able to use integrated payment terminals 

You may want to take this opportunity to evaluate which point of sale software program to use and see if it is time to make a switch to newer point of sale software as you will likely already be investing in new computers. Keep in mind that the only way to by-pass this would be to use stand alone payment terminals and computers that have no internet access.

Questions or need some advice? Please contact me at kevinantosh@gmail.com or 208-340-5632.

Are you a retailer in the path of Hurricane Dorian? What you need to do with your POS system

No matter what point of sale system you have, some general advice regarding what you should be doing with your point of sale system. All of you are in my prayers for safety and guidance over the coming days. Aside from the items listed below, please take steps to protect yourself and family first.

1. Make sure that all of your data has been backed up online or to a device that you can take with you (like a flash drive or removable drive). Back up the data multiple ways if possible
2. If you are using a cloud based POS system like Cloud Retailer - backups are done automatically for you and are safe at a secure facility 1000+ miles away from Florida.
3. Batch and close out the pos system
4. Close out of all your software
5. Power down all hardware
6. Power down all related equipment like surge/power strips, routers, payment terminals, etc
7. Ensure that you have documentation (like receipts and invoices) and pictures of all your technology equipment for insurance purposes
8. Ensure that you have any cd’s or dvd’s that came with the hardware and software
9. As time permits, and as needed, document how all the cables are connected via pictures or even different colored twist ties attached to each of the cables
10. Disconnect all technology equipment and related documentation, and move above the water line or to a secure offsite location (be sure to move carefully and store in a way not to cause damage)

Be sure to contact your point of sale partner/dealer/reseller for assistance as needed with any of the above items

Taking the above steps will help protect your point of sale system and related data.

If any of us at RITE can be of assistance, please call us at 888-267-7483. You can also reach me directly at 208-340-5632.

Are you a retailer in the path of Hurricane Florence? What you need to do with your pos system

No matter what point of sale system you have, some general advice regarding what you should be doing with your point of sale system. All of you are in my prayers for safety and guidance over the coming days. Aside from the items listed below, please take steps to protect yourself and family first.

1. Make sure that all of your data has been backed up online or to a device that you can take with you (like a flash drive or removable drive). Back up the data multiple ways if possible
2. Batch and close out the pos system
3. Close out of all your software
4. Power down all hardware
5. Power down all related equipment like surge/power strips, routers, payment terminals, etc
6. Ensure that you have documentation (like receipts and invoices) and pictures of all your technology equipment for insurance purposes
7. Ensure that you have any cd’s or dvd’s that came with the hardware and software
8. As time permits, and as needed, document how all the cables are connected via pictures or even different colored twist ties attached to each of the cables
9. Disconnect all technology equipment and move above the water line or to an offsite location (be sure to move carefully and store in a way not to cause damage)

Be sure to contact your point of sale partner/dealer/reseller for assistance as needed with any of the above items

Hopefully Florence will turn north and move away from land. Taking the above steps will help protect your point of sale system and related data.

If any of us at RITE can be of assistance, please call us at 888-267-7483.

Yummy Times at Garden Gate Candy!

I have been neglecting my duties related to showcasing some of the businesses that I worked with recently. Earlier this week I (and the support team at RITE) had a great time helping Garden Gate Candy upgrade to the most recent version of the Microsoft RMS point of sale software as well as installing the Card Defender EMV/Chip Card add-on for Microsoft.

What an awesome - and well known business!  They are very popular both locally and nationally and are open only open for a limited time each year. You can see how this family run business has established themselves as a must shop place from the end of October to Christmas Eve. I look forward to working with the family for many years to come!

I'm going to try and post information about at least one business that I help each month and try to include pictures of the equipment as well as details about the technology used and the business itself. For now, I'm sending $80 worth of treats from Garden Gate Candy back to our main office in Minnesota.

Another Update for former DirectPOS Customers

Since it has been just over four months since DirectPOS in Boise, ID, Spokane, WA and Salt Lake City, UT closed their doors - a few updates to pass along.

• Cash register sales, service, & supplies are still being handled by Ada Cash register in Boise: 208-407-2202.
• No company with a local office presence is taking care of NextPOS/Aldelo customers or  retail point of sale customers. I am still in conversations with two companies that might be interested in establishing a local office presence in the areas formally served by DirectPOS but it might not be until April 2014 before any final decisions are made.
• Hopes are fading as well for Micro's customers based on the phone conversations that I have had with former DirectPOS customers (best bet would be to contact Micro's directly to see if there is a Micro's dealer in Portland or Seattle that can assist you).
• I am reaching out to some local restaurant point of sale companies to see if they can assist existing, new or upgrading restaurant point of sale users in the states of Idaho, Oregon, Washington, Montana,  Wyoming, and Utah.

Former customers of DirectPOS, as well as anyone with point of sale related questions, are welcomed to contact me via email at kevinantosh@gmail.com or via cell at 208-340-5632 (business hours - mountain time). I do not represent any point of sale companies so you know that I can provide some impartial and honest advice.

Point of Sale Systems for Franchises

Some thoughts from my Point of Sale Technology workshop presentation specific to franchise concepts:

• Many retailers/restaurants sell their retail concept as a franchise
  For $100,000 to $250,000+, someone can purchase everything they need to open a retail store/restaurant with support and guidance from a franchise HQ

• Many are including point of sale systems within the franchise fee
• Keeps the franchisee honest when it comes to paying royalty fees
• Provides varying level of controls over product pricing
• Allows for a level of consistency between franchise locations

• Examples include Other Mothers, Scales ‘N Tails, Wild Birds Unlimited, Pro Image Sports

• Above applies to restaurants as well

 As a reminder, I am not currently affiliated with any point of sale companies or manufactures but have 14 years of experience working with retail, restaurant, and museum point of sale solutions. You can reach me at 208-340-5632 (business hours - mountain time) or kevinantosh@gmail.com if you have any point of sale related questions.

Meet for 20 Minutes - Get 2 Free Pit Side Tickets to Firebird Raceway in Eagle, ID

6/10/2013 Update: this offer is also open to existing Boise, ID retail stores already using a cash register or computer-based point of sale system from DirectPOS/Ada Cash Register/RVP Business Systems.  You just need to schedule a 20 minute system review (we meet to talk in general about how you are currently using your system) before June 14th to qualify for the tickets.


OK - I have three pairs of Pit Side tickets to the June 22nd Fox Hunt Gold Cup race at Firebird Raceway in Eagle, ID.

Want one pair of tickets for free?  Here's how:

The first three specialty retail stores who set an appointment with me will receive the tickets.  Here are the qualifications:

• Must be the owner of a specialty retail store in the greater Boise, ID area
• Must be currently using a cash register 
• Your annual gross sales must be at least $500,000 annually

Note that this is not a sales appointment, this is just 20 minutes of general conversation about your business to see if a point of sale system would even make sense.

Harbortouch is not Free

Update September, 15th 2014. No one wants to be locked in to a contract. Read more about my experiences with HarborTouch and the true cost of HarborTouch by visiting this more recent post by clicking here.

Update June 13th, 2013 - Thanks to the comments on this blog post, conversations with Harbortouch users, and conversations with Harbortouch, I am now an approved Harbortouch reseller.  You can read more by clicking here.  I will be keeping everyone informed on how the first series of installations go.

I've talked about this in the past but a recent recruitment letter from Harbortouch reminded me that I should remind you that there is no such thing as a free point of sale system. If Harbortouch is truly shipping over 1000 point of sale systems each month (which is what the letter stated), then there are a lot of small business owners who are either willing to put up with higher merchant services fees or just don't have budget to purchase, lease or or finance a point of sale system.

What do I mean by "put up with higher merchant services fees"?  The letter from Harbortouch states that the dealer will double their average monthly residual (this is the amount that your merchant services salesperson makes off of your credit card processing fees).  The letter also states that higher margins are possible as well.

The most likely scenario is that Harbortouch simply charges more in credit card (merchant services) fees.  It may not sound like much but even a 1/2% difference can mean that the business owner is paying $2,500 more per year in credit card (merchant services) fees. $12,500 over the course of five years (typical minimal lifespan for a point of sale system) is not free.  In fact, with point of sale systems running around $3,000 - $8,000, $12,500 is much higher that what you should be paying.

Still convinced that Harbortouch is a good deal?  They also pay the person selling each system up to a $500 commission (source: Harbourtouch dealer ad March 2013).  I wonder who actually ends up pay for that commission?

Are you in the US and in need of no cost retail point of sale advice? I'm happy to help and can be reached on my cell at 208-340-5632 (mountain time) or via email at kevinantosh@gmail.com.

Undercover Boss and O'Neills Clothing Point of Sale System

I watched the O'Neills Clothing episode of Undercover Boss the other night. One segment of the show featured 'problems' that an employee was having with their point of sale system.  With these types of shows it is tough to know what has been edited or staged for the show but the problem boiled down to the warehouse scanner requiring the enter key to be pressed after each product was scanned.

The warehouse barcode scanner appeared to be a wireless Symbol or MetroLogic/Honeywell.  These wireless barcode scanners can be programmed to emulate a carriage return (same as if you pressed the enter key on the computers keyboard) after each item is scanner.

Not sure if this is a classic "not knowing the capabilities of your point of sale system moment" or an "edited for reality TV" moment. I will be contacting O'Neills Clothing to make sure that the problem was resolved (I'm assuming it was since this episode was likely filmed several months ago).

Are you in the US and in need of no cost retail point of sale advice? I'm happy to help and can be reached on my cell at 208-340-5632 (mountain time) or via email at kevinantosh@gmail.com.