A New POS System By Design

Where do you find unique decorations – you know, the six-foot statues, antique reproductions, lamps, and mirrors? Many professional decorators and home owners turn to Decorators Reserve in Orlando, FL. This retailer specializes in providing off-the-wall and more mainstream decorations for a variety of settings, including restaurants. The company operates a chain of five retail stores, selling items such as home furnishings, framed art, and original oil paintings. A new store will open soon in New York City.

Replacing DOS-Based PCs With All-In-One Terminals
Karl Almond, VP of operations for Decorators Reserve, had been using what he describes as DOS-based, "clone" PCs at the point of sale. The PCs functioned as cash registers and could not track Almond's inventory. A former reseller of Intermec products, Almond realized he needed a new POS system to help him keep pace with his company's growth. Almond contacted Neil Banerjee of Retail Technologies Corp. (RTC) in Kenesaw, GA. This POS VAR company focuses on the specialty retail market. RTC was referred to Almond by ISC, a Jacksonville, FL-based JD Edwards business partner. ISC is implementing a JD Edwards enterprise resource planning (ERP) system for Decorators Reserve.

"The Decorators Reserve catalog prompts many customers to come into the stores," says Banerjee. "However, the store employees could not tell the customers if items were in stock without picking up the phone and calling the central warehouse." RTC's POS solution will be integrated with JD Edwards' ERP system when it is fully implemented later this year. The goal: to make the central warehouse inventory information available at each POS terminal.

RTC is providing Decorators Reserve with POS software and hardware to retrofit 14 registers in the existing stores. The project began with the Decorators Reserve store that recently opened in Dallas. The hardware included CompuRegister terminals from NewBold Corp, RTC's POS software, and Epson receipt printers. Almond chose CompuRegister terminals because they are all-in-one, PC-based systems. The terminals are easily configured to meet his stores' needs. Installation and training totaled three days. RTC will also provide Decorators Reserve with help desk services.

The most challenging aspect of the installation was timing. "We had to have the POS software up and running prior to the JD Edwards installation in June," explains Banerjee. "Integration with JD Edwards is a first for us. Most of our integration has been with customers who have JDA host-based systems."

"The new POS system processes day-to-day transactions and manages inventory," says Almond. The POS software also enables Decorators Reserve to offer its customers a layaway option and special order capability.

VAR Critical To System Success
To date, Almond is pleased with the installation results. He plans to have RTC duplicate the same POS systems in his soon-to-open New York City store. "We are preparing to add online credit verification to the POS systems, as well," notes Almond, who looks forward to a long-term relationship with RTC. "Everybody's business is different, so you need to work with a VAR who understands your business and has significant experience in your marketplace, like RTC. A VAR will help you get the most functionality from your POS system, as well as provide the enhancements for your particular store. A VAR is absolutely necessary."

Questions about this article? E-mail the author at LisaK@corrypub.com.