How retail pos software can improve your business:

How Retail Pos Software Can Improve Your Business:

If controlling and managing your retail business is driving you to the point of despair then you need to think about installing a pos software solution to help you keep control of your business and keep your overheads to a minimum.

From the simple things such as a barcode system that can speed up the checkout process to powerful administrative tools for reporting and stock control. There are plenty of ways that can help your business achieve its goals without creating more work for you.

The ultimate solution for your business is one that provides helpful assistance and answers without increasing overheads. The solutions that you seek should make your job much easier, and enable you to get tasks done faster and effortlessly.

A professional retail POS software package will allow you to quickly and effectively take control of your business.

Pos software has many benefits and can greatly speed up the process of enter new items into your stock files, set ordering levels, set price levels for product items. Additionally it will also be much easier to change pricing on an item by item or by group sale prices, set item discounts, provide discount loyalty cards and even coupons all controlled from your retail POS software.

If you have a need to continuously update prices when you are running special promotions you have a lot of problems to deal with, typically looking at all of your options, you could either relabel all of the items, or you could just make signs and hope that your staff follow the new pricing, but this is often risky.

Retail POS software is much better since it removes all of the mistakes and guesswork that is involved in a special pricing promotion. By monitoring your sales using pos software full reporting module will give you a better understanding of your customers preferences and allow a better understanding of stock requirements.

One of the biggest areas where businesses are always looking for improvement is in stock control and record keeping. Using a good pos management software for your business can keep track of how many items you are selling, which are most the popular, including breaking down the results by color and size and even determining precisely when your business is getting the most business from customers.

All of this information makes it a lot easier to appropriately stock your store, as well as ensure you have the staff on hand to handle the business. Using a computer system with retail POS software ensures that you have everything you need right at your fingertips.

Overall benefits that retail software will bring are 10 fold.

There is no reason to feel as if your business is controlling you, a good set of business software will help you to regain complete control over your entire business and will be very instrumental in making sure you know exactly what is going on with your business in terms of stock levels, sales levels and even how successful a promotion is immediately.

This control is a vital asset that no retail store should be without and makes absolute sense to any business wishing to succeed that you will absolutely love for your business.

Interaction is where the outdated idea of mass marketing, advertising together with

Interaction is Where the Outdated Idea of Mass Marketing, Advertising Together With

… Broadcast Media, finally bite the dust!

Because no longer is the Marketing message, «We want your money». To day the Marketing message has to be «We want your opinions».

Because the moment you put that into real practice you can have everything you’ve always wanted, sales, customer relationships and also Brand loyalty.

And the next time you hear those words «Let’s research it» remember that research works against the very thing you desperately need in your Marketing efforts, creativity and risk taking, both crucially necessary to the successful development of your products or services.

However replacing research with interaction changes all the opportunities to successful marketing. «Yes», you can say,» «Interactive Events will create my new products»

However at the moment Big Business is not making the correct decisions regarding interaction. Maybe some people within these organisations know and understand what’s happening out there in consumer land. But the dreadful fact is that giving their voice to such statements would, more probably, seriously damage their career growth!

These days I search everywhere for the headline «Interactive Communication is a winning combination for all…The Client…The Media…and last but by no means least…your customer»!

It never appears.

Interactive Communication finally allows the revolution to commence. The revolution against one-size fits all advertising; the bland all-knowing corporate voice, the lack lustre politicians busily furnishing their own nests…from our money.

The fact of the matter is your customers, you, me and everybody else, do not trust business. We find it highly insulting to be treated this way and we mistrust you in numbers far greater than you or your advertising/marketing people allow for.

Dialogue, two-way conversations, would start to change these hostile attitudes. You really do need to commence interactive events – right now. And you can do so in existing media.

Before I go on, I must emphasise that on no account let your Advertising Agency tempt you into spending big bucks on the Web.

Already the Advertising-as-Usual crowd is pouring billions into the Web, however be warned, as they said in the «Cluetrain Manifesto», «So you advertise on the Internet…so what»?

If you think you are wasting money on Advertising-as-Usual be very careful. The Internet, possibly, is a bigger waste of money than Advertising-as-Usual, and, as we all know, right now that is one Mother of a huge waste of money!

«Why?» you may ask «has it all changed from the safe secure way of marketing in the past».

Simply put, Advertising-as-Usual, together with its handmaiden Broadcasting-as-Usual have treated us with too much contempt.

According to a recent article in the Times, TV executives commonly think of viewers’ phone revenue as «moron tax».

And this attitude of utter contempt pervades the executives of advertising and Broadcast-as-Usual, and expresses itself in all the offerings of a rip-off culture, from government to TV companies.

And bear in mind that Advertising-as-Usual and Broadcast-as-Usual hold Clients in great contempt as well. They rejoice in removing large chunks of your Marketing Budgets, to then waste them in rip-off ventures that only worsen the publics’ contempt for you…so in effect they are spending your money to get you into a ever worsening situation.

Trust is a must have asset. You now must harness interactive communication to get the trust, and results, because if you don’t somebody else will and they, in turn, will drive you out of business.

Trust based relationship lies between the extremes of command and control and empowerment in business.

Interactive marketing communication, using existing media, is a practical way of reaching out and building up a powerful relationship, and trust, with every single person you need to make your business successful.

How to ensure a seamless change of ownership in business

How To Ensure A Seamless Change Of Ownership In Business

So you have completed your due diligence, talked to all your advisers and professional consultants, taken all the steps necessary to value a business, lined up your financing and taken the plunge. What should you do with your new baby to ensure that you get through the critical stage of transition and make sure that you survive and prosper?

You will already know quite a lot about the business and its requirements before you take control of the keys. You should have spent many a long hour in preparation and have drawn up your own comprehensive plan already. This is one of the essential prerequisites when you plan to own a business. They say that when you move a house plant from one position to another, it goes into shock. The same analogy can be used when it comes to the business, and you will need to ensure you minimize the «shock».

The first point that you’ve got to remember is that you’ll need to keep all your attention on your goals. Now, probably more than ever, it is essential that you’re not distracted and that you allocate as much time as is humanly possible to this new enterprise.

Wherever possible, have the previous owner add some much-needed stability by staying around for a predetermined period of time. He or she can act as an advisor and can be seen (but maybe not heard as much) by clients, customers, employees and vendors. Try not to make any sweeping changes, as clients and employees may react unfavorably. If you make small changes, make sure that you view the results before you progress to make others.

Take the time to meet all the key players — your employees and your vendors. Create a one-on-one, personal relationship with your staff right from the start. Maintaining employee morale at the outset is vitally important and make sure that you establish a positive mode of communication. Try to get in touch with every vendor, if you’re able to, and do whatever you can to establish a positive relationship with these important players.

The previous owner and employees represent a wealth of information and you should make sure that you gather this data before you consider implementing new procedures. You may be in charge, but you are still «the new kid on the block» around here, so make sure that your decisions are based on a solid footing.

Don’t be tempted to throw out any procedures, especially record-keeping and bookkeeping. You need to be able to compare where you are now and where you are going in the future, with previous results. You will not be able to make informed decisions otherwise.

Your customers, who sustain the business, are familiar with being dealt with in a particular way. By all means, review the customer relationship policies and procedures, but don’t be tempted to make any wholesale changes. Your goal is to keep those customers at all costs and to make sure that they are happy during the transition.

You may now own a business in an unfamiliar industry. It is important to get to know the ins and outs of the industry as quickly as possible. Familiarize yourself with the technology, software, programs, procedures and how to handle potential problems in the future.

Establishing goodwill is one of the main objectives at this point. When you purchase business assets, one of the key elements is this goodwill and whilst somewhat intangible, it is very valuable. Consider doing something for all your key players — clients, employees and vendors. Give some kind of an introductory special offer, of some significance, to your clients. Think of an enhancement that you can offer your employees, maybe some improved working conditions or an upgrade to their terms of service.

In summary, remember that you now own a business which is dynamic. You have to give a great deal of your attention to the critical early days and make sure that you grow the business and strive to reach your highest goals.

I lost my job on april fools day

I Lost My Job On April Fools Day

Yes, on April Fool’s day this past year, my boss came up to me and stated that my job was no longer needed. I was greatly shocked, especially after nearly 20 years of loyal service to a company where I thought retirement would be the only reason to leave.

I came down to reality quickly realizing that in a few short sentences, I was no longer able to support my family, provide shelter, pay bills and look forward to my retirement. I was very depressed as one can imagine. The drive home at 10 AM was not at all common; it felt out of place just as the whole morning had come to pass.

The realization that I had enough savings to secure about 60 days of support for all our financial needs was falling short. For years there were always people coming up, and stating «Mike you need to get ready for any emergencies». The thought was passing, but I had worked devoted to a company that seemed to have no end, so what would ever happen. I had more than enough life insurance to take hold incases of death, yet now, how was I going to even pay the premium? WOW, what an eye opener for a reality check. My wife was home, she was off on Monday’s. Her normal routine was to what she has done for our 25 years of marriage, house chores, groceries, and take care of her matters at hand.

I opened the door, walked in and she stood in the kitchen. She obviously was curious why I was home? The words came out «I was just fired». She quietly went into the living room and I could tell she was upset. Tears came to my eyes as well as hers, and we talked together. We had no solutions; the same questions came up from my wife, as that had just passed thru my mind on the 30 minute drive home from my employ.

In depression, many things came up in my mind. I could end my life, that would provide for my wife and kids, yet that would be cheating myself, and those who did care and love me. No, I would not take a cheap route out of my situation. It took about a week to get my thoughts cleared enough to really focus on how I would pull out of this temporary set back in my life.

I found and updated my resume, forwarded it electronically to literally hundreds of job sites. In fact, I considered sending out résumé’s out of state that would take me away from my family just so I could provide. There were no hits; emails were full of spam type offers that were not related to what I needed to provide for my family.

There were other options, which one was where could I go to work from home and make an income that would supplement or even surpass my earning from past employ? Yet, could I do this type of work, I had no experience, no knowledge with Internet Business. I started typing on word search thru the internet. I had literally hundreds of hits, sure was going to take some time to wade thru them, yet was determined to find a niche for making money.

It took about 2 weeks and had narrowed my search to one company. EDC came up several times as the choice. The program was easy to afford (3-levels of entry), even though my income savings were very limited I had to make the commitment. I went with EDC Gold. I had enough savings for approximately 2.5 months on a conservative note. When my mentor called, I committed to him what my plan was to be. I asked him several times, if this was a business that would bring in success, and more importantly income for my family. I was assured that yes, there was no reason that failure would come into the game plan unless I strayed from the step by step guidelines on how to market the business. I believed him, and I still do. The only reason I could fail is if I stop what I am doing.

It is a matter of what type of sacrifice will it take to do this, I in essence was going to be the Pig, who provided the bacon for breakfast. The chicken will also give, yet the egg. I dove head on into EDC. There is no way that I was going to fail. I wanted to in time, to be able to go into work and just leave after 20 plus years, and give no excuse/reason.

The business EDC Gold could be worked from home at my own hours, and the potential was great! Since my youth, I watched my Dad and how he provided, and sure it may have been tough on him at times, we always had food, and shelter. I was going to survive, I was going to continue to provide everything that my family deserved and that was that.

I made the choice. I went to an EDC Registration site, signed in and all started so very fast. I did not know anything about Internet Marketing period. The concept was completely foreign, as if trying to understand and write a language that I had no idea what it meant. EDC had promises in writing in more than one area about support, and step by step guidance, and more of the same. I went with my gut instinct that I was going to make everyone at EDC come through on that promise. Guess what, they did everything as promised. I received 3 websites, tools, software, capture pages, email response, online training, and so much more, even online live support Monday thru Fridays.

It was after 2 weeks of no employment I was offered a lower job position at the same company that just removed me from my prior position. This position was better than nothing, even though it was a humbling experience to say the least. I was a supervisor, delegated over 40 employees at one point, now I was greeting customers as they walked into the place of business. The loss of pay was nearly $30k a year less, Wow. I still worked with the same people whom I used to be a Supervisor.

The 20-30 minute drive home now is not so bad now. I get home about 7 PM, after leaving for work at 7 AM, and eat. Then, it is off to start up my computer; I then go through a routine that I apply for generating traffic to my web site. I place ads, market research, and send emails till about 11:30 PM every night. The weekends are full days, doing the same routine as my week day stuff, but more research, more ad submitting and more emails. All in all I put in about 20 hours plus per week, yet do not get tired of this type of work for some reason?

It has been nearly 4 months since I have registered with EDC. I have learned more about marketing, and making websites, and directing traffic to my website than I ever thought I would know. I was hoping when I paid to sign up, that I would have thousands of internet dollars in my bank account within a few weeks as I have been told that some people have, yet not in my case as of date. It takes time to understand Internet Marketing, for me, I am still learning. Yet, the training, support that is given to me is incredible.

Yet, in fact, in past 4 months thru Aweber, I have 180 signed opted in registered people who are looking for supplement income. Also, in same time also, I have 53 people who registered as my down line with EDC «WOW». The money will come, if all sign in paid, will be lots of $$$’s in commission to me and my family. I put a counter on my website, and in past 120 days have had over 4800 visits to my site. I am amazed, and even if there are no immediate sales, I have learned that there is a way to survive even if one has no experience in a certain field like the internet. However, I feel being consistent on a daily routine bases will bring business in which in turn will help my family.

The owners of EDC, and my mentor all promised success if you follow their way to make this program work. I do thank Craig and Michael, and Shay for having this opportunity to learn, and earn with their proven business plan.

Thanks for allowing me to share with you my story.

Michael B. Amos

How to choose the right commercial lender and the right commercial loan

How to Choose the Right Commercial Lender and the Right Commercial Loan

Ask the lender to give you five to five references, so you can evaluate their experience and background. If permitted, contact the references for feedback to see if they are satisfied with the lender.

Does the lender offer a wide range of financing options? Is financing accessible?

Check if the lender offers a range of financing options / loan packages that serve your present as well as your future needs. You may need a simple loan arrangement now, but can the lender support the future needs of your business? Accessibility in acquiring the funds right when your business needs them is important.

How well does the lender know your industry?

Lenders who know your industry will generally know the needs, capabilities and potential of your business, and they are in a better position to give you a suitable loan package. They can also see the total picture and recognize temporary limitations against your business’ potential.

Choosing The Right Loan

Once you have narrowed down your list of potential lenders, you can evaluate their financing options to determine which is most suitable for your business and for your needs.

Term Loans

These are the most common loan types that are used for general purposes such as working capital, expansions, purchases and acquisitions. Term loans are used to support your straightforward needs for additional funds, which are to be used for clear and specific purposes. These loans will allow you to acquire large sums over long periods which are to be paid monthly or as in the case of short-term loans, smaller amounts that are paid in full at the end of the term.

Credit Lines

These types of loans are more flexible as they allow you to draw additional funds whenever the need for additional cash arises. Interest rates for credit lines are based on the outstanding loan balance. Different lenders offer many variations of credit line type loans – you must evaluate each credit line carefully and determine which will fit your needs without being too costly.

Factoring

Another not so common option for smaller companies is factoring or receivables financing. Factoring allows you to «sell» your invoices so that you can have the funds immediately. If your business has active but slow paying accounts, factoring may be very useful.

Meeting your needs

If you have taken necessary measures and the time to properly evaluate potential lenders and their loan packages, you will be able to choose the right commercial lender and the right commercial loan to meet not only your current needs, but the future needs of your business.

Find Commercial Loans using our free Commercial Loan Application to compare rates and submit your information to multiple commercial lenders. We have over 300 commercial real estate lenders, business and construction lenders as well as private equity groups waiting to help you. Best of all, GlobalBX is FREE!

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