Thursday, December 2, 2010

Automated reporting to your mobile devices.



Did you know that VRP has the capability to send the output of customized reports to your email or sms enabled cell phone?

It's just one of hundreds of fully customizable features Visual Retail Plus is capable of .
With RpScheduler, you can enjoy the freedom to leave the office while maintaining the information stream based on whatever data you need, whenever you need it. Working in conjunction with rpQuery, you can decide what data is most helpful to you, and when you want it sent.

For example: You have several stores and you are in dire need of a vacation, but you still need to track your sales on a daily basis. Instead of interrupting your relaxation and having multiple managers check in, you can automate VRP to send you the Daily MultiZ Report at 8pm nightly to your cell phone. Every store's daily totals available to be checked at your leasure.

Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Point of Sales Systems Maximize Business

Our point of sales systems can handle larger amounts of customers and sales. This is essential during times like the holiday season. As the number of shoppers increase, a point of sales system is the best system to rely on to maximize the productivity of your business. A POS software system will allow your company to process all of the increased sales, regardless of the method of payments. Customers hate to wait in long lines, with a POS software system on your side; your business can move people in and out of line quickly and efficiently.

Point of sales systems are essential for any store, which sees an increase in business during the holiday season. A POS software system will help pinpoint your company’s inventory needs. There are few easier ways to lose a customer, than by not having the necessary inventory to meet their demands. Utilizing point of sales systems ensures that you know exactly what to order and how large of an order you need to make. In the same vain, a POS software system can make sure that your business is not left with an abundance of a product, which was overstocked, because of a faulty inventory system.

Often, during the holiday season stores are forced to hire extra help. We all like to look for the best in people, but having point of sales systems will maximize your security, and reduce employee fraud. When you aren’t completely sure of the background of the extra help you hire, having a POS software system, which will keep your business safe could prove to be invaluable.

Other than security purposes, a POS software system can handle multiple stores and can handle keeping information, for multiple stores. Also, a POS software system, can handle all sorts of sales from shoes, to hardware, apparel, to computers. Whatever, your business sells and whatever, the quantity of your sales will be, our POS software system will get the job done better, than any other system.

Monday, November 29, 2010

Keep your Customers by Utilizing Loyalty Incentives

Have your marketing attempts been less than helpful when trying to increase your customer count? Before you attempt to gain new customers, focus on pleasing and maintaining your current customers. You can do this by implementing a customer loyalty incentive program through your POS system.

Customer loyalty incentive programs are designed to maintain and build a business’s customer base. Most incentive programs offer customers special discounts and offers the more frequently they shop. By implementing an incentive program your customers will have more reason to visit your business and will be more willing to give you their personal information such as their home and e-mail addresses.

If a customer is more than satisfied with your business and programs then they will most likely rave about your business to their friends. That is the best and most effective form of advertising, word-of-mouth. Now your new incentive program has not only helped you maintain your current customer, but also helped you gain a few more.

Your POS system will handle all of your customer information, which includes any personal information, purchase history etc. This will ultimately increase customer satisfaction and efficiency. You will be able to handle all your customer accounts by a click of a button. With an easy to use system and new marketing angle, your customer count has the potential to go through the roof!

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Five Reasons to Implement a Touch Screen Cash Register

The season of shopping is upon us! If you don’t have a touch screen cash register, you may want to ask for one as a gift this holiday season. A touch screen cash register is a component of a point-of-sale system. The POS system is computer software and hardware that records sales as they happen and offers a variety of record keeping options and functions. Read five reasons why this should be on your holiday list.

Sales are great ways to get ongoing and new customers into your store. Often, retailers mark down special items to facilitate interest and the success of the sale. It can be chaotic to remember items which have been marked down and recording sales prices against regular prices. Your touch screen cash register can automate the process of markdowns in an accurate fashion.

In discussing sales and promotions, how will you know such events were a success? You have to go back and see how much money was made on discounted items as well as the entire store as a whole. A touch screen cash register and its POS components pinpoint the impact of specifically-marked items and help you project successes of similar, future events.

Many business owners feel an emerging sense of anxiety due to the mere mention of being absent from the store during operation. A touch screen cash register offers a variety of options, so owners can still monitor vital sales statistics despite being physically absent from the store.

How well do you manage your employees’ time while on the job? Do you often find yourself asking employees to address menial tasks such as price checking and reconciling the cash register? A touch screen cash register and associated software can handle such clerical tasks; employee time is now free to address other tasks such as helping customers and inspiring sales.

One of the best things about purchasing a touch screen cash register and associated POS software is the extras. A small business owner may slowly but surely spend a lot of money on separate-but-necessary software. A POS system offers a lot in a single package such as add-ons for employee payroll and time tracking as well as customer preference databases.

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Retail Software Makes Holiday Shopping Easier

With Christmas right around the corner, almost all retail stores are having special deals and sales to reel customers in. Because every store does this same thing every year, it is important that your store stands out from the rest. Having a good point of sale system is a fantastic way to go about this, and will almost guarantee that customers will flock to your store. When people are shopping, especially during the holiday season, stress can pile high. You want to be able to walk into a store, find what you want and get out of there without any complications. However, this can sometimes be a lot to ask for.

Having a good point of sale software system will take away the hassle of checking out, as well as locating where everything is in the store. This computer software organizes everything that is offered to customers and helps you find what they are looking for. Because people are constantly on the go anymore, this helps out drastically in their process. Going into stores that are not organized and don’t have up to date systems or software, may turn out to be a bit more aggravating than stores that do. It pays to have outlets like this so that the chance of customers coming back into your store is greater.

Don’t let the holiday shopping season stress you out. The easier you can make this overwhelming time, the better and if the stores can help out in anyway then you’ve hit the jackpot. Look into getting this new and improved software for your company and see how your customer traffic flow changes for the better!

Friday, November 5, 2010

Utilize proper point of sales systems to help eliminate employee theft

It is an unfortunate fact that one in every three employees in a company commits some sort of act of theft. The sheer volume of crime that occurs within these businesses leads to losses of profit ranging in the billions of dollars every year. Having proper point of sales systems within your business establishment can help significantly reduce the occurrences of employee theft and help monitor day to day transactions, inventory flow and other information critical to keeping on top of your business. This still does not answer the question of why this happens and what steps can be taken aside from protecting your business assets.
If your retail business has not invested in a POS cash drawer or other technology that allows you to keep track of every detail in your store, it may be time to move forward with that step. If you are still relying on hand receipts and outmoded ways of inventory tracking, you may not come across a theft until a month after it happens. This is especially sobering for small businesses, as the economy is hard enough on them already, and these thefts quickly add up and eat into their profit margin. A POS software system could quickly be implemented into your business, so that you will be able to monitor and efficiently bring your company to success. Store inventory management is a critical component of any business, such as sales, profit margin, etc. And last but not least, make sure you hire quality employees, so that you do not have to fear or worry that one of them is stealing company products.

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

It’s The Holiday Season Rush To Retail

With the holiday season approaching at a rapid speed, people who work in retail have a lot on their plates. Retail stores do a booming business to begin with, so when the holiday season gets underway, you can only imagine the chaos that takes place. Places like Sears, Macy’s, Boscov’s, Target, and Kohls are just a few of the retail stores that people will be flocking to, if they haven’t already. Commercials, ads in newspapers and magazines, and signs hung up around their stores are a few ways that these retail outlets inform people of their upcoming holiday sales and special deals.

Retail is a great way to shop. Department stores have anything you could possibly want and there are constant sales on almost all the items in these stores. The closer you get to the holiday season, the more the items are discounted. Retail stores sell an array of products from clothes, shoes, purses, food, flowers/plants, jewelry, hats, liquor and much more. Retail is any store that sells something out to the public and makes a profit off of it. Needless to say, these big, retail, department stores are not hurting for business.

Shopping in retail during this time of the year is one of the most hectic experiences you will ever be a part of. One of the biggest days, if not the biggest day, for retail shopping is Black Friday. This is the Friday after Thanksgiving when most people go out and do all their Christmas shopping. You can either attempt to throw yourself into the mess of this popular Friday tradition, or you can save yourself the aggravation and wait until December hits. Another big deal for retail shopping is the day after Christmas. This is the day where people will return the Christmas gifts they didn’t like and purchase the items they do. Of course there are certain days throughout the year when retail shopping is at its peak; however, it is always in demand and will continue to appeal to all people.

The Advantages of Having a Point of Sale Computer for Your Business

Technology has changed the world in ways that could not have been imagined by previous generations. Computers have had such an impact on all of our daily lives; it is sometimes hard to remember how society survived without them. In the same way it is hard to remember what we would do without computers, after using our state of the art point of sale programs, it will be difficult to imagine doing business without their aid.

If you own or work for a small to medium retail chain, than you know the importance of keeping stock of your inventory. We are dedicated to making the process of checking your inventory as easy as possible, so your business can thrive. The hassle of tracking inventory from store to store is eliminated by using our point of sale systems.

Almost, immediately after any one of your products is sold, other branches of your retail chain will be made aware of the sale, as will the manufactures that provide your product. Our point of sales systems makes keeping stock of inventory and the many jobs that come with it a breeze. For those who have worked in a business without this technology, they realize how time consuming doing inventory without the help of point of sale programs can be.

Our point of sale systems will save your small or medium retail chain both time and money. Learn right away which products need to be ordered in higher qualities and what products should come in more of a limited supply. After purchasing our point of sale systems you will see productivity rise, because business is operating smoother. To learn more about our point of sale systems try our free demo, to see the wonderful benefits our technology provides.

Friday, October 29, 2010

Fashion Through The Ages

Clothing is such a large part of retail these days. You can’t even go into the mall anymore without passing five clothing stores in a row. Aside from the technological gadget stores, the mall has transformed into a large building filled with clothes and shoes. However, this is not necessarily a bad thing. People love clothes and love being able to shop for new, alternative ways to dress and present themselves. Over the years, there have been many different style changes that have taken place with clothing. In the 1950s, poodle skirts, petticoats and abstract shapes were popular among people. Also, trousers for women were becoming more and more accepted in society.

In the 1960s, women started wearing miniskirts, leather boots and fake eyelashes to brighten up their appearance. Men started wearing velvet trousers and high collared jackets. They also began to wear their hair long. By the mid-1960s bright, acid colors started to come into play and by the end of the 60s, the hippie era started. Long hair, floor length dresses and an overall, all-natural look was very common among people during this time. The 1970s brought along disco fashion which included hot pants, spandex, gaudy jewelry and animal prints. Bell bottoms, flared jeans, loon pants and denim jeans with frayed edges took over the fashion industry. Platform shoes were also a big hit, as were clogs.

Then came the 80s where people struggled to find an identity. Men had longer hair then women did and wore tight leather pants with short, sleeveless shirts. Women wore off-shoulder shirts with legwarmers or tight stonewashed jeans. High tops, parachute pants, neon colors and thick belts were also very common in the 80s. The 90s were full of baggy clothing for men and women. Colorful, baggy denim pants were all the rage and overalls took over the closets of many teenagers. Also, ‘chunky’ was a great way to describe the shoes in the 90s. Platform sneakers, combat boots and shoes with rubber soles resided on the feet of society in the 90s.

Today, all these styles are coming back in one form or another. It’s not even abnormal to see some people combine styles, from different eras, into one personal style. Fashion is what people make it and it will forever be changing for as long as the world is here.

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

VRP launches new, user enabled website.



www.VisualRetailPlus.com

Just in case you havent noticed, VRP is proud to announce that we have launched a newly redesigned website.
It's been around for a little while already, but not everyone is aware of it's new features.
For those of you thinking about installing VRP in your retail location, there is a wealth of information available to help you make the right choice.
For those veterans who have had VRP for a while, the new website puts more control of your account into your hands in order to enrich our relationship with you.

Call today to get a login and password, and you'll be able to enjoy these fine features:

- Check up on your hours in the support bank
- Review the call log for your company at any given time. Track what your employees are calling about.
- View your licenses to see what is available, and when they expire.
- Access to the latest upgrade of the program for new features and bug fixes.
- See the list of available support files that you may need. From whitepages to 3rd party Drivers, this spot has them all!
- Browse the VRP File Directory, maybe there is a module you have that needs replacing?
- Open a trouble ticket via the web. You can enter your own calls into our Tech Queue from just about anywhere yourself. Describe your unique problem with your own words, and have it put directly into our call log.

By putting you in control of your own account, we can be sure you always have access to your information.
While you're there, join us on Facebook and Twitter for updates, news, deals, coupons, and giveaways.

Monday, October 4, 2010

Advantages of Software-based POS

A good point of sale system can improve a business exponentially. Alongside of increasing sales, a good point of sale system can help business owners make better financial decisions and provide first-class customer service. However, choosing the best POS system for your business isn’t always easy. Often times, the first step is deciding whether you want a software-based POS system or a web-based POS system.

One of the first, and probably most obvious, advantages of a software-based POS system is that you don’t need an internet connection. This can make a world of difference. Without the need for an internet connection, point of sale terminals can be placed anywhere in the store. Furthermore, you can use any hardware that is compatible with your software-based POS system. And, software systems are easy to set up and use.

One of the many pitfalls associated with web-based POS systems are the startup and monthly fees. With software-based POS systems, you don’t get that. At Visual Retail Plus, you get everything you need for a superior point of sale system in one package, at one price.

Thursday, September 23, 2010

On The Importance of Retail Inventory Management

Retail inventory management is inescapably connected to operating a successful shop. The process involves not only tracking how much inventory is sold, but what items are and are not popular with customers. An efficient system can dramatically improve costs and conversion rates. It is difficult for most shops to devote human resources to the meticulous task of retail inventory management, so retail POS solutions are offered by many suppliers.

In essence, a POS system is a record keeper. Once a product is sold, it needs to be recorded in order for the store to compensate for extra stock. A POS system can involve a barcode system, which aids in instantaneously recording a sale and needs of stock compensation. This makes the retail inventory management data consistently up-to-date.

Retail POS solutions deliver robust reports helping management make wise decisions for the business. It is important to know what specific items are most popular with customers as well as those that are not making the business money. In addition, hosting discounts and sales is definitely a way to attract large numbers of customers; a POS system can help with special sales and promotions.

It is important to keep inventory fresh and inviting to customers. Retail POS solutions aid in rotating stock according to its age. A POS system can serve as a prompt to employees who can then create an attractive visual display featuring key products.

A POS system can play a supporting role in ordering, shipping, receiving, tracking, storage, and more. A business’ success is often contingent on close bookkeeping and proper management. Many small businesses can leverage good POS systems in order to compete with the ordered, streamlined system of large retail chains.

Monday, September 20, 2010

Is POS Software Right For Your Company?

Visual Retail Plus is a point of sales systems that is very easy to use and to incorporate into your business. It can dramatically improve your business and overall progress of it. On Visual Retail Plus’ Demo page, there is an informative video that shows you how to work the POS system and all of the perks that comes along with it. Some of those perks include keeping track of your inventory so you always know how many of each item you have stocked. It is also helpful that employees can use handheld devices to track inventory and properly catalog in-store products. Another beneficial aspect is that this software allows you to keep a record of what each customer’s item preference is. This puts you on more of a personal level with your buyers.

Having this type of software will also allow you to keep in contact with customers via email. For those people who are not technologically enabled, do not worry. This POS software can be learned by anyone, as it is very user-friendly. Refer to Visual Retail Plus’ Demo page to learn more of the specifics on what this software is all about. They are very precise with what they offer, and make it as clear as possible for their customers. Take some time to watch their video and read their facts on this POS sales system, and see if it is what’s best for you and your company.

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Reel Customers In With Catchy Displays

When people step foot into an area with a lot of stores and shops, there is one thing we all subconsciously do – window shop. Strolling up and down the street looking in all the stores windows allows us to determine what stores we want to go into and what ones we want to stay away from. This is why window dressing or visual merchandising is so crucial to retail stores. People know right away if they want to come in and look around just by what they see in the window.

Visual merchandising is key to improving your sales and has been extremely effective for over 100 years. When it comes to clothing and accessories, visual merchandising is especially useful when showing potential customers what that item of clothing might look like on them. Putting a mannequin in your shop window allows on-lookers to view what you have in stock to purchase. It is also important to group items that look well together. This shows the customer exactly what it will look like on them, giving them a clearer picture of the overall purchase.

If you have a shop that does exceedingly well with pulling in people through visual merchandising, it would be beneficial to have some sort of store management software. This will allow you to manage the sales you make in an easy and organized way. Window shopping is something everyone does, whether they’re aware of it or not. That being said, make sure your store front is impeccable and showcases your best items in the best ways.

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

The Longevity Of Retail

Retail stores are all over the place, attracting people to come in and give them their money. Retailing consists of the sale of goods or merchandise from a fixed location, such as a department store, boutique or kiosk, or by mail, for direct consumption by the purchaser. Examples of some retail stores would be Macy’s, Target, Wawa, Home Depot and grocery stores. Retail is any place that sells a product out to a consumer.

A "retailer" buys goods or products in large quantities from manufacturers, either directly or through a wholesaler, and then sells smaller quantities to the paying customer. Retailers are at the end of the supply chain. Manufacturers see the process of retailing as a necessary part of their overall distribution strategy as it helps get their products out to a wider range of people. The term "retailer" is also applied where a service provider services the needs of a large number of individuals.

Retail comes from the French word ‘retailler’ which refers to "cutting off, clip and divide" in terms of tailoring, back in the 1300’s. There are very few stores anymore that are not retail stores. Check out some of the retail store near you as there is always a wide range of products to browse through.

Monday, August 30, 2010

Staying One Step Ahead of the Competition!

Visual Retail Plus is the top POS Company that stays constantly ahead of the curve. Check out some of our new August updates!

Purchase Order On-Screen Pictures - If a picture exists for a product while in PO editing, the picture is displayed when the line that has the product ID is selected.

Gift receipt note - New setup section Gift receipt note indicates whether the note attached to a receipt will be printed also on a gift receipt. Defaults to "N", requires running table validation.

Bracketed Discount Enhanced - In addition to the existing bracketed discount, now you can specify if the discount percent is for the bracket itself or for the entire sale total has reached the top bracket. Look in setup for "DiscountBracket"

Change Price in Matrix II - When the change price transaction type is selected, a windows is displayed with the option to change the price to selected cells using direction (left, right, up or down) similar to the option previously existed in the Old Matrix I.

Different POS systems vary depending on type and quality of features. However, picking Visual Retail Plus as your POS Company guarantees you the most up to date POS technology!

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Thinking outside the Box


Visual Retail Plus made a name for itself, originally, as a solution for shoe stores. But, of course, we had much larger ambitions than taking the shoe industry by storm. By working closely with a variety of retailers, analyzing their needs, and solidifying their concerns, Virtual Retail Plus has evolved to encompass numerous vertical markets.

When most people hear the word “retail” their minds typically tend to drift towards clothing stores, sporting goods stores, convenience stores, etc. However, as point of sales systems evolve, more and more markets are taking advantage of the numerous benefits a top-quality point of sales system has to offer. So, if you’re considering upgrading your point of sales system but don’t know if your business could use it, we wanted to inspire you with a few not-so-typical businesses that are jumping onboard.

• Pharmacies
• Online Shopping Websites
• Nursing Homes
• Hotels
• Restaurants

Point of sales is nothing more than what it sounds like—it’s the point when a good or service is sold. However, since the birth of commerce, point of sale systems have gone through some makeovers to enhance the experience for both consumers and business owners. So, don’t be shy about inquiring about the potential benefits you can receive for a top point of sales system.

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Store Management Solution

It’s the weekend at a local retail store and the weekend rush is in full force. Lines are backed up, customers are complaining, the employees are cranky, and management is struggling to keep everyone happy.

For the customers, a quick errand turns into a long waiting game complete with boredom and growing impatience. The cashiers become frustrated because items are not coming up at the right price or there’s a problem with a customer’s refund or coupon. And the only person with the solution to these problems is the one manager on duty, who is running around looking for barcodes, finding prices, fumbling with old receipts, and trying to keep up with the rising demands.

Managing retail is stressful, demanding, and all around exhausting. There is a constant need to make orders, control inventory, and let’s not forget the demand of customer service. One great way to relive the stress of retail is by implementing a Point of Sale Software system in the store. POS systems, like the Visual Retail Plus, offer a small to medium retail chains a way to manage their stores in orderly, structured, and a simple manner.

Visual retail plus works as Windows POS software that is compatible with Windows XP, Vista, and Windows 7. They offer the latest and fastest way to process credit and debit card transactions using Chase Paymentech’s Net Connect high-speed processing solution.

Visual Retail Plus point of sale software can also be used to manage multiple store’s in different locations. Visual Retail Plus allows each location to work off a local database, so the main headquarters’ is always up to date on each of the store’s information, without interfering with communication lines. Such information able to be shared store to store through this application are sales and inventory stats. There is also no restriction on the number of store locations able to be managed through this POS software.

This software allows stores to create purchase orders, receive merchandise, distribute to other stores, create shipping manifests, change prices, print barcode tags and labels, create multiple UPCs per item, change and maintain size scales, weights, shipping charges, categorize of the inventory, create "open to buy" budget figures and more.

Not every POS system offers the same features and may have different strengths. So, make sure you evaluate your own business and what applications would be more beneficial for you before you go POS shopping, and don’t forget to consider Visual Retail Plus as your first choice!