This guide focuses on helping you find the right
Retail Management and EPOS solution. It will also
make you aware of some of the pitfalls you are
likely to face on your journey
www.lccs.co.uk
sayhello@lccs.co.uk
+ 44 (0) 345 257 0829
The Affiliate Masters Course is an intensive 10-DAY course on becoming a
High-earning affiliate champion.
How? By “building income through content,” the proven, C T P M way!
An affiliate business is one of the easiest ways to get your feet wet in e-business.
You send visitors (i.e., potential customers) to a merchant’s Web site that you are
Representing. If they buy or complete a required action (for example, fill in a
Form), the merchant pays you a commission. No fuss, no muss!
This document discusses strategies for recovering from the failure of an online business. It recommends diversifying your business activities and income streams so that if one stream fails, you have others to fall back on. Specifically, it suggests:
1) Leveraging your existing customer list, skills, and network from the failed business to start a new venture.
2) Researching new business opportunities in related fields that utilize your existing expertise.
3) Developing multiple concurrent business activities or income streams so your overall business is resilient if one stream fails.
This document provides 5 business ideas that could be successful in Malaysia:
1. Food - People will always need to eat, so food businesses like restaurants, catering, etc. can find success.
2. Weddings - Planning and providing services for weddings is a growing industry as people get married.
3. Agriculture - Malaysia has natural resources and government support for agricultural businesses like farming, fishing, etc.
4. E-commerce/Internet - While still developing, online and digital businesses have potential for growth in Malaysia.
5. Services - The services sector is growing in Malaysia, providing opportunities in areas like consulting, training, and IT that don't require large start-up costs
For New Entrepreneurs- Ecommerce BusinessRavi Fotedar
The document provides guidance on finding product ideas to sell online. It outlines eight types of product opportunities, including solving customer pain points, following trends, and utilizing one's own expertise. The document then lists ten places to look for product ideas, such as starting with one's own ideas, local businesses, and trend publications. The goal is to help aspiring entrepreneurs identify viable product options by considering different opportunities and sources of inspiration.
This slideshow offers you 10 top tips for running, growing and protecting your business. The tips have been selected by the Start Up Donut team from the sage customer Top 100 Tips report.
The document discusses omnichannel business transformation and provides guidance on how to successfully manage transformation. It emphasizes that transformation is not about following trends but understanding your audience and how to save them time. It recommends breaking down plans into understandable pieces with a maximum 6 month launch period. It also stresses the importance of having a group of internal and external people with a shared vision to propose projects and provide status updates. Overall, the document provides a 10 step approach to omnichannel transformation focusing on people, processes, platforms and proving new approaches can generate revenue.
Top 10 business mistakes when starting a businesszubeditufail
The document outlines the top 10 mistakes businesses make when starting up. These include not creating a business plan, doing what you love instead of what you're good at, failing to do market research, ignoring competition, not considering your own strengths and weaknesses, misunderstanding what you're actually selling, underestimating startup costs, neglecting marketing, ignoring online marketing opportunities, and trying to do everything yourself without help. Taking the time to avoid these common pitfalls will significantly increase the chances of a new business succeeding.
This document provides tips on how to fail in business. It suggests putting together flawed plans with unattainable steps, copying others' techniques instead of innovating, living in uninspiring places, having the wrong mindset, and doing the wrong things. However, it also acknowledges that having the right habits, location, mindset, techniques and doing the right things could lead to success. The document is intended to be humorous and provides both "tips for failure" and acknowledgement that success is possible with the right approach. It aims to entertain readers rather than provide serious business advice.
The Affiliate Masters Course is an intensive 10-DAY course on becoming a
High-earning affiliate champion.
How? By “building income through content,” the proven, C T P M way!
An affiliate business is one of the easiest ways to get your feet wet in e-business.
You send visitors (i.e., potential customers) to a merchant’s Web site that you are
Representing. If they buy or complete a required action (for example, fill in a
Form), the merchant pays you a commission. No fuss, no muss!
This document discusses strategies for recovering from the failure of an online business. It recommends diversifying your business activities and income streams so that if one stream fails, you have others to fall back on. Specifically, it suggests:
1) Leveraging your existing customer list, skills, and network from the failed business to start a new venture.
2) Researching new business opportunities in related fields that utilize your existing expertise.
3) Developing multiple concurrent business activities or income streams so your overall business is resilient if one stream fails.
This document provides 5 business ideas that could be successful in Malaysia:
1. Food - People will always need to eat, so food businesses like restaurants, catering, etc. can find success.
2. Weddings - Planning and providing services for weddings is a growing industry as people get married.
3. Agriculture - Malaysia has natural resources and government support for agricultural businesses like farming, fishing, etc.
4. E-commerce/Internet - While still developing, online and digital businesses have potential for growth in Malaysia.
5. Services - The services sector is growing in Malaysia, providing opportunities in areas like consulting, training, and IT that don't require large start-up costs
For New Entrepreneurs- Ecommerce BusinessRavi Fotedar
The document provides guidance on finding product ideas to sell online. It outlines eight types of product opportunities, including solving customer pain points, following trends, and utilizing one's own expertise. The document then lists ten places to look for product ideas, such as starting with one's own ideas, local businesses, and trend publications. The goal is to help aspiring entrepreneurs identify viable product options by considering different opportunities and sources of inspiration.
This slideshow offers you 10 top tips for running, growing and protecting your business. The tips have been selected by the Start Up Donut team from the sage customer Top 100 Tips report.
The document discusses omnichannel business transformation and provides guidance on how to successfully manage transformation. It emphasizes that transformation is not about following trends but understanding your audience and how to save them time. It recommends breaking down plans into understandable pieces with a maximum 6 month launch period. It also stresses the importance of having a group of internal and external people with a shared vision to propose projects and provide status updates. Overall, the document provides a 10 step approach to omnichannel transformation focusing on people, processes, platforms and proving new approaches can generate revenue.
Top 10 business mistakes when starting a businesszubeditufail
The document outlines the top 10 mistakes businesses make when starting up. These include not creating a business plan, doing what you love instead of what you're good at, failing to do market research, ignoring competition, not considering your own strengths and weaknesses, misunderstanding what you're actually selling, underestimating startup costs, neglecting marketing, ignoring online marketing opportunities, and trying to do everything yourself without help. Taking the time to avoid these common pitfalls will significantly increase the chances of a new business succeeding.
This document provides tips on how to fail in business. It suggests putting together flawed plans with unattainable steps, copying others' techniques instead of innovating, living in uninspiring places, having the wrong mindset, and doing the wrong things. However, it also acknowledges that having the right habits, location, mindset, techniques and doing the right things could lead to success. The document is intended to be humorous and provides both "tips for failure" and acknowledgement that success is possible with the right approach. It aims to entertain readers rather than provide serious business advice.
3 Ways to Keep Your Business from Dying | Affinity Agency LennyRichardson1
When it comes to Digital Marketing, there are 3 specific techniques that all businesses should be using to stay alive. Read this free eBook to find out the 3 techniques.
This document discusses the challenges of selling digital information products online. It notes that while information is easy and inexpensive to produce, and can be immediately delivered, there are also challenges. Specifically, it is difficult to convince people of the value of digital information since they cannot browse it first. Products also need to be priced appropriately to balance value and conversion rates. Sellers face issues with refund demands if the information does not deliver value as promised. Finally, sellers need a strong affiliate sales team to promote their products. The document introduces the "$7 Secrets method" which claims to address these challenges in a better way to make earning a living through online information products easier.
this is a very good example of a POB sba I have gain a grade one (1) this will help you to gain that as well.... you can ask me for help on facebook @ dwayne the new version
Explosive cutting edge internet marketing techniques that are sure to skyrocket your online sales. Four key success online marketing, and shortcuts to affiliate marketing success. Also includes a special package that enables you to earn money over and over simply by testing apps for free and getting paid.
How the hospitality industry will make a comeback from coronavirus Sophie Cross
When the doors open again in XX weeks (insert number depending on your current optimism level), the market will be a completely different place than it was at the beginning of 2020.
If you haven’t opted to stay open you need to assume that your business may still have to rely on a different model when you do. Some of your competitors won’t reopen. The ones who do will be fighting to up their game and become more affordable. Customers will be changed people. They will have new priorities, lighter pockets and be digitally dependent. You will have to learn how to fulfil their greatest desires all over again.
Here are my predictions in a free downloadable pdf. guide for what the future of hospitality looks like and what the clientele will be craving when the lockdown is lifted.
PREDICTIONS FOR THE FUTURE OF HOSPITALITY
1. Social distancing will last for a long time
2. Help make up for the lost time
3. Communication is the answer
4. Be the hub of your community
5. Health and hygiene rule
6. Prime locations will change
7. No place for technophobes
8. Continue the kindness to the environment
9. Serve up some soul
- Alfred Lin provides a brief background on his career prior to joining Zappos, including founding Venture Frogs and investing in Tellme Networks and Zappos.com.
- Zappos was founded in 1999 and has grown to 1400 employees across its Las Vegas and Kentucky locations. It focuses on providing the best online shopping experience through fast shipping, free returns, and excellent customer service.
- Zappos prides itself on delivering happiness to both customers and employees. It emphasizes building a positive culture through its 10 core values like delivering wow through service, embracing change, and being passionate.
Ecommerce opportunities exist for more types of businesses and organizations than traditionally thought. While large retailers like Amazon may come to mind for ecommerce, the document argues that local businesses, nonprofits, manufacturers, restaurants and others can also benefit from ecommerce. For local businesses, ecommerce allows them to reach a global customer base while still serving local customers. Nonprofits can use ecommerce to make donations easier through online forms and payment options. The document provides examples and guidance on how different types of organizations can create and sell digital or physical products online.
This document provides tips and strategies for running a successful eCommerce business. It discusses the importance of strategic launches, compelling offers, getting media attention, keeping costs low, and outsourcing order fulfillment. It also covers writing effective product descriptions, search engine optimization, developing quality content, and maintaining an online presence where customers engage. The overall message is that non-obvious factors like customer support, tone of voice, focus, and availability impact whether customers complete purchases. Ongoing optimization of marketing, costs, and operations is important for eCommerce success.
This document provides tips and strategies for running a successful eCommerce business. It discusses the importance of strategic launches, compelling offers, getting media attention, keeping costs low, and outsourcing order fulfillment. It also covers writing effective product descriptions, search engine optimization, developing quality content, and maintaining an online presence where customers engage. The overall message is that non-obvious factors like customer support, tone of voice, focus, and availability impact whether customers complete purchases. Ongoing optimization of marketing, costs, and operations is important for eCommerce success.
The document discusses how business owners can improve cash flow through their websites. It suggests that many business websites only function as brochures and are not fully utilized to generate revenue. Creating and selling digital products related to one's expertise, such as reports or tutorials, is an easy way to earn additional income through the website. Selling information products for around $10 each could bring in over $1000 per month. The document encourages business owners to consider what knowledge they could share in a way that helps clients, increases cash flow, and takes little time or money to create.
My name is George Patience. I worked for four failed businesses in four years and contained in this manual are what I learned. This, is a collection on why businesses fail.
The document discusses why so many internet startups fail and how to avoid failure. It states that over 90% of internet startups fail within the first 120 days due to people entering the field without proper preparation, knowledge, or understanding that success requires hard work over long periods of time. It provides tips for entrepreneurs such as having a solid business plan, not expecting get-rich-quick results, and understanding that running a successful online business requires treating it like a real business.
- Why Do So Many Internet Startups Fail Today?
- The Cornerstones of Successful Internet Entrepreneurship
- The Key to Continuous Growth and Expansion
- The Razor Edge Difference Between Work and Deals
- It’s Your Call Now: Take Action!
'The world we have created is a product of our thinking; it cannot be changed without changing our thinking’.
Read why Einstein hit the nail on head for today’s cx innovators by downloading Start Being Lean, our guide to what Lean – the model driving success at Zara, Uniqlo and Mercadona – teaches us about creating brilliant, simple and relevant customer experiences.
Start Learning here.
The document discusses businesses that can be started for under $500. It lists 45 potential business ideas ranging from accounting services to zumba instruction that require minimal start-up costs. Many of the businesses can be operated out of the home and provide services like computer tutoring, house sitting, pet sitting, errand running, and more. The document encourages readers to consider their skills, interests, and community needs when choosing a business to start with low initial investment.
This document outlines the agenda for a morning business seminar focused on getting more done, selling more, and having more fun. The seminar will provide practical productivity tips, frameworks for sales and engagement, and emphasize the importance of bringing more personality and celebration into business. Attendees will learn about key challenges for 2021 like increased competition and changing customer demands. The goal is for attendees to leave feeling motivated to focus on these three areas to grow their business in the coming year.
Tonight’s Federal Budget cuts are at risk of stifling innovation for many Australian businesses. Cuts include a reduction in R&D Tax credits and the abolition of Commercialisation Australia and the Innovation Research Fund.
In the wake of tonight’s budget announcement, here are three ways to innovate when budgets are tight.
In this presentation I share what I learned the first 3 years starting my business. About entrepreneurship, saas, startup, products, software, bootstrapping and so on.
NEW OPPORTUNITIES VIA - MARKETING INNOVATIONPointvoucher
This document provides an overview of marketing innovation from the perspective of Nicolai Elmqvist, CEO of the creative digital agency Konstellation. Some key points:
- Konstellation's core products are marketing innovation and brand activation. Marketing innovation involves creating new products, services, or experiences using media and technology in novel ways.
- Marketing innovation supports a company's core business and is meant as an additive way to achieve strong results and business goals, not as a new line of business. It can grow into something bigger if successful.
- Examples of successful marketing innovations are provided, like Danske Bank's MobilePay payment service and a campaign by Fridge Raiders chips targeting gamers.
-
Getting Information To Make Your Work From Home Business A Successtrsgrtbuys
Getting Information To Make Your Work From Home Business A Success provides tips for running a successful home business. It advises maintaining a professional appearance, informing customers about out of stock items, having a clear business objective and goals, setting reasonable daily goals, tracking all business expenses, ensuring the business fits smoothly with family life, having family support, promoting the business through word of mouth and business cards, and being honest about expectations for the business. Using these tips can help any work from home business succeed.
It’s no secret that the marketing landscape is growing increasingly complex, with numerous channels, privacy regulations, signal loss, and more. One of the biggest problems facing marketers today is that they’re experiencing data deluge and data drought simultaneously.
Bliss Point by Tinuti addresses these challenges by providing a single, user-friendly platform for measuring what marketers previously struggled to measure. With Bliss Point, you can move beyond simply validating past actions and instead use measurement to guide real-time decision-making on what should happen next.
Join our product experts for a live demonstration of Bliss Point. Discover how it can empower your brand with the tools and insights needed to optimize each channel, across your entire media mix, and your overall brand performance.
3 Ways to Keep Your Business from Dying | Affinity Agency LennyRichardson1
When it comes to Digital Marketing, there are 3 specific techniques that all businesses should be using to stay alive. Read this free eBook to find out the 3 techniques.
This document discusses the challenges of selling digital information products online. It notes that while information is easy and inexpensive to produce, and can be immediately delivered, there are also challenges. Specifically, it is difficult to convince people of the value of digital information since they cannot browse it first. Products also need to be priced appropriately to balance value and conversion rates. Sellers face issues with refund demands if the information does not deliver value as promised. Finally, sellers need a strong affiliate sales team to promote their products. The document introduces the "$7 Secrets method" which claims to address these challenges in a better way to make earning a living through online information products easier.
this is a very good example of a POB sba I have gain a grade one (1) this will help you to gain that as well.... you can ask me for help on facebook @ dwayne the new version
Explosive cutting edge internet marketing techniques that are sure to skyrocket your online sales. Four key success online marketing, and shortcuts to affiliate marketing success. Also includes a special package that enables you to earn money over and over simply by testing apps for free and getting paid.
How the hospitality industry will make a comeback from coronavirus Sophie Cross
When the doors open again in XX weeks (insert number depending on your current optimism level), the market will be a completely different place than it was at the beginning of 2020.
If you haven’t opted to stay open you need to assume that your business may still have to rely on a different model when you do. Some of your competitors won’t reopen. The ones who do will be fighting to up their game and become more affordable. Customers will be changed people. They will have new priorities, lighter pockets and be digitally dependent. You will have to learn how to fulfil their greatest desires all over again.
Here are my predictions in a free downloadable pdf. guide for what the future of hospitality looks like and what the clientele will be craving when the lockdown is lifted.
PREDICTIONS FOR THE FUTURE OF HOSPITALITY
1. Social distancing will last for a long time
2. Help make up for the lost time
3. Communication is the answer
4. Be the hub of your community
5. Health and hygiene rule
6. Prime locations will change
7. No place for technophobes
8. Continue the kindness to the environment
9. Serve up some soul
- Alfred Lin provides a brief background on his career prior to joining Zappos, including founding Venture Frogs and investing in Tellme Networks and Zappos.com.
- Zappos was founded in 1999 and has grown to 1400 employees across its Las Vegas and Kentucky locations. It focuses on providing the best online shopping experience through fast shipping, free returns, and excellent customer service.
- Zappos prides itself on delivering happiness to both customers and employees. It emphasizes building a positive culture through its 10 core values like delivering wow through service, embracing change, and being passionate.
Ecommerce opportunities exist for more types of businesses and organizations than traditionally thought. While large retailers like Amazon may come to mind for ecommerce, the document argues that local businesses, nonprofits, manufacturers, restaurants and others can also benefit from ecommerce. For local businesses, ecommerce allows them to reach a global customer base while still serving local customers. Nonprofits can use ecommerce to make donations easier through online forms and payment options. The document provides examples and guidance on how different types of organizations can create and sell digital or physical products online.
This document provides tips and strategies for running a successful eCommerce business. It discusses the importance of strategic launches, compelling offers, getting media attention, keeping costs low, and outsourcing order fulfillment. It also covers writing effective product descriptions, search engine optimization, developing quality content, and maintaining an online presence where customers engage. The overall message is that non-obvious factors like customer support, tone of voice, focus, and availability impact whether customers complete purchases. Ongoing optimization of marketing, costs, and operations is important for eCommerce success.
This document provides tips and strategies for running a successful eCommerce business. It discusses the importance of strategic launches, compelling offers, getting media attention, keeping costs low, and outsourcing order fulfillment. It also covers writing effective product descriptions, search engine optimization, developing quality content, and maintaining an online presence where customers engage. The overall message is that non-obvious factors like customer support, tone of voice, focus, and availability impact whether customers complete purchases. Ongoing optimization of marketing, costs, and operations is important for eCommerce success.
The document discusses how business owners can improve cash flow through their websites. It suggests that many business websites only function as brochures and are not fully utilized to generate revenue. Creating and selling digital products related to one's expertise, such as reports or tutorials, is an easy way to earn additional income through the website. Selling information products for around $10 each could bring in over $1000 per month. The document encourages business owners to consider what knowledge they could share in a way that helps clients, increases cash flow, and takes little time or money to create.
My name is George Patience. I worked for four failed businesses in four years and contained in this manual are what I learned. This, is a collection on why businesses fail.
The document discusses why so many internet startups fail and how to avoid failure. It states that over 90% of internet startups fail within the first 120 days due to people entering the field without proper preparation, knowledge, or understanding that success requires hard work over long periods of time. It provides tips for entrepreneurs such as having a solid business plan, not expecting get-rich-quick results, and understanding that running a successful online business requires treating it like a real business.
- Why Do So Many Internet Startups Fail Today?
- The Cornerstones of Successful Internet Entrepreneurship
- The Key to Continuous Growth and Expansion
- The Razor Edge Difference Between Work and Deals
- It’s Your Call Now: Take Action!
'The world we have created is a product of our thinking; it cannot be changed without changing our thinking’.
Read why Einstein hit the nail on head for today’s cx innovators by downloading Start Being Lean, our guide to what Lean – the model driving success at Zara, Uniqlo and Mercadona – teaches us about creating brilliant, simple and relevant customer experiences.
Start Learning here.
The document discusses businesses that can be started for under $500. It lists 45 potential business ideas ranging from accounting services to zumba instruction that require minimal start-up costs. Many of the businesses can be operated out of the home and provide services like computer tutoring, house sitting, pet sitting, errand running, and more. The document encourages readers to consider their skills, interests, and community needs when choosing a business to start with low initial investment.
This document outlines the agenda for a morning business seminar focused on getting more done, selling more, and having more fun. The seminar will provide practical productivity tips, frameworks for sales and engagement, and emphasize the importance of bringing more personality and celebration into business. Attendees will learn about key challenges for 2021 like increased competition and changing customer demands. The goal is for attendees to leave feeling motivated to focus on these three areas to grow their business in the coming year.
Tonight’s Federal Budget cuts are at risk of stifling innovation for many Australian businesses. Cuts include a reduction in R&D Tax credits and the abolition of Commercialisation Australia and the Innovation Research Fund.
In the wake of tonight’s budget announcement, here are three ways to innovate when budgets are tight.
In this presentation I share what I learned the first 3 years starting my business. About entrepreneurship, saas, startup, products, software, bootstrapping and so on.
NEW OPPORTUNITIES VIA - MARKETING INNOVATIONPointvoucher
This document provides an overview of marketing innovation from the perspective of Nicolai Elmqvist, CEO of the creative digital agency Konstellation. Some key points:
- Konstellation's core products are marketing innovation and brand activation. Marketing innovation involves creating new products, services, or experiences using media and technology in novel ways.
- Marketing innovation supports a company's core business and is meant as an additive way to achieve strong results and business goals, not as a new line of business. It can grow into something bigger if successful.
- Examples of successful marketing innovations are provided, like Danske Bank's MobilePay payment service and a campaign by Fridge Raiders chips targeting gamers.
-
Getting Information To Make Your Work From Home Business A Successtrsgrtbuys
Getting Information To Make Your Work From Home Business A Success provides tips for running a successful home business. It advises maintaining a professional appearance, informing customers about out of stock items, having a clear business objective and goals, setting reasonable daily goals, tracking all business expenses, ensuring the business fits smoothly with family life, having family support, promoting the business through word of mouth and business cards, and being honest about expectations for the business. Using these tips can help any work from home business succeed.
Similar to EPOS Solution For Retailers - Untangle the Spaghetti - Lakeland Computers (20)
It’s no secret that the marketing landscape is growing increasingly complex, with numerous channels, privacy regulations, signal loss, and more. One of the biggest problems facing marketers today is that they’re experiencing data deluge and data drought simultaneously.
Bliss Point by Tinuti addresses these challenges by providing a single, user-friendly platform for measuring what marketers previously struggled to measure. With Bliss Point, you can move beyond simply validating past actions and instead use measurement to guide real-time decision-making on what should happen next.
Join our product experts for a live demonstration of Bliss Point. Discover how it can empower your brand with the tools and insights needed to optimize each channel, across your entire media mix, and your overall brand performance.
EPOS Solution For Retailers - Untangle the Spaghetti - Lakeland Computers
1. Getting
Systems
Right
Starting a new food business is tough.
This guide focuses on helping you find the right
Retail Management and EPOS solution. It will also
make you aware of some of the pitfalls you are
likely to face on your journey.
WEBSITE
www.lccs.co.uk
sayhello@lccs.co.uk
CONTACT
+ 44 (0) 345 257 0829
OFFICES
Irvinestown, Co. Fermanagh. N. Ireland
Welbeck Estate, Nottinghamshire. England
SOCIAL
www.twitter.com/lccsltd
blog.lccs.co.uk
plus.google.com/+lakelandcomputersuk
linkedin.com/company/lakeland-computers
www.lccs.co.uk
EUREKA
Academy
3. Content
About Us 5
So Much To Think About 7
EPOS 8
Chip & Pin / Contactless 10
Back Office Software 12
Labelling 14
Scales 16
I.T. Infrastructure 18
Here For You 20
5. SYSTEMS GUIDE FOR NEW FOOD BUSINESSES
5
big deal for everyone in our business
and it's what keeps us focused on who
we are and where we're going.
We are now privileged to look after
hundreds of truly outstanding food
retailers across the United Kingdom
and Ireland; many of whom are
nationally award-winning. Weirdly
enough I still remember when some of
these started out on a simple stall in a
garage... the same, years on, are now
celebrated as being the best in the UK.
#proud for all you Twitter followers
out there!
To my knowledge, as I write this, we
remain the only business of our kind
(at least in the UK or Ireland) that
focuses entirely on this sector. No
chemists, no plumbing supplies, just
independent food retailers and we
think that gives us a unique insight
into how we can make YOUR life
easier.
I hope this guide offers you useful
insights into what to look (out) for
when choosing your systems.
Good luck on your journey; keep calm,
remember the passion that got you
here, surround yourself with good
people and all will be well.
Lakeland Computers:
Since 1997
It's a massive deal that people trust Eureka™
to look
after their livelihood and that of generations to come
When I started this business from my
mother and father's kitchen table I
never dreamt for one second that my
journey would afford me the privilege
of working with some of the most
amazing people in the food industry.
Passionate, sincere, hard working and
dedicated are just some of the words
I use to describe our customers, many
of whom have now become dear
friends and part of our Eureka™
'family'.
My background is in the crazy world
of technology first and foremost whilst
the folks we work with tend to shun
that in favour of ploughing a field
or rearing the best beef you've ever
tasted. We meet in the middle though;
as we share in our love of good food
and in our appreciation of what it took
to produce, prepare and make ready
for the table.
That said there is of course the matter
of running our respective businesses.
With the odd exception, most of our
customers have ploughed their own
money (and sometimes the bank's
money) into an enterprise to either
sustain their existing way of life or to
create something new that they can
hand on to their son(s) or daughter(s)
in years to come.
We REALLY get the responsibility that
comes with this. Real people, real
families and they've chosen us to help
steer them through. That's a seriously
"Focusing on this
sector gives us a
unique understanding
of the challenges
being faced."
Nigel Bogle, Founder & CEO
Lakeland Computers
6. When implementing your EPOS & Backoffice systems you should leave around 12 weeks to get
everything properly sorted. Any less and you'll run the risk of opening with half a system in place.
So you've made the decision to invest your hard earned cash into a food retail enterprise. There are so many plates spinning
that you're already getting dizzy... Location, right product mix, branding, website, staff, equipment... Gin & Tonic please!
Even for the most modest of retail empires you're going to need some sort of systems to help you keep track of what's going
on. Once you've your 'hard landscape' in place (i.e. building, refrigeration, etc.) You'll be investing a fair amount of capital
in your products and knowing where it's working and where it's possibly not is going to prove key to the health of your all
important margins and ultimately to the success of your business.
The essential elements to consider are detailed over the next few pages and are worth serious thought if you want to stand
the best chance of getting things off to a good start.
Untangle the
Spaghetti
7. SYSTEMS GUIDE FOR NEW FOOD BUSINESSES
7
So much to think about:
So little time!
In (very) simple terms this is the
equipment that usually sits on your
counter at the point where your
customers pay for their basket items.
There are lots of options here but a
SERIOUS word of caution: All systems
are NOT created equally and you
should take time to seek out a solution
that has your type of business very
much at the heart of its design.
Paying by card has long since been
common place in retail stores. This is
one area where you can help reduce
queueing time at the till and improve
customer experience.
At the time of writing the current limit
on contactless payments is £30 and
ApplePay and AndroidPay are fast
making in-roads. A must these days
given cash is becoming more rare.
This is very much the 'meat &
potatoes' (excuse the pun!) of the
system. Usually comes as part of an
overall solution with the tills and it is
essential that you choose a provider
that understands both your type of
business and the sort of reporting
information that is useful to those
running it.
Modular is best; You won't use all the
functionality right from the start.
EPOS TILLS CHIP & PIN / CONTACTLESS BACKOFFICE SOFTWARE
Shelf edge ticketing, veg displays,
those little stickers to put on small
batches of Mrs Miggins' homemade
strawberry jam, labels for your own
tray bakes, breads... the list goes on.
It takes more time than you might
think to get your artwork agreed and
ensure you've those all important
allergens identified and nutritional
information ready to put in the right
place to keep on the right side of the
law.
Another essential piece of kit for
any farm shop. cheesemonger, deli,
butcher, fishmonger or simply anyone
who needs to weigh 'stuff'.
** Be wary of using these as full blown
tills though unless you're a butcher
or cheesemonger. It's not what they
were primarily designed for and access
to key transactional data can be
awkward in certain cases leaving you
questioning the investment.
Get this right and you'll save yourself
a whole heap of pain! Hire someone
who knows how to install network
cabling properly and can terminate it
properly at a network switch which
is capable of handling the amount of
data being transmitted.
** Word to the wise... if you're
planning to operate a cafe or coffee
shop... keep the public WiFi on a
separate system to that of your
shop.!!!
LABELLING WEIGHING SCALES IT INFRASTRUCTURE
Getting some combination of the following elements wrong in any business will cause problems certainly but in a new
business particularly it can be a major contributor to high levels of serious anxiety and stress; all at a time when every penny
counts, where you're still trying to find your feet and at a stage when time is a luxury you simply don't have.
8.
The purchase that has caused the most headaches
has been our Epos system. I wish I'd done more
research before buying
You will have ONE budget for EPOS; spend it on the wrong system and you'll
be living with your mistake for years. Getting your finances back into the black,
once open, has got to be a priority. Cheap is rarely 'Cheerful'. - Nigel Bogle, Founder & CEO
Lakeland Computers
SYSTEMS GUIDE FOR NEW FOOD BUSINESSES
8
EPOS:
Generic or Sector Specific
?
?
?
CUSTOMER LOYALTY
Enhance that all important customer
experience with a scheme that delivers
INTELLIGENT VOUCHERS
Surprise, inform and retail clever by
offering your customers added value
PROMOTIONS
Set them up and watch the magic
happen live on the shop floor
MARKETING INTEGRATION
Simple, clear, yet hugely powerful
ways to look at buying habits
NUTRITIONAL / ALLERGENS
Know what goes into what you sell?
Let your systems take away the pain
HOSPITALITY INTEGRATION
Shop first, eat later or the other way
around. Whatever suits your style!
The answer to this is best summed
up by Ebony Harding from Harringay
Local Store, London in her interview
with Lynda Searby from Fine Food
Digest in 2016.
Ebony had purchased a solution from
EPOS Now but says, "It hasn't been
right for us..."
In our experience this story is all too
common for businesses in the food
sector starting out. To be fair it's
often a case of: "You don't know what
you don't know" and at the time of
purchase you're probably thinking...
well... it's a till... how different can
From the outset you're going to be faced with lots of choice on EPOS but where is your money
best invested? In a cheap out of the box solution or something that's more food-focused?
these things be after all? The answer
to that question in this sector is...
VERY.
When you purchase you may not use
all the EPOS 'bells and whistles' from
day one but you should ensure you at
least have the beginnings of an idea
as to the where you're headed in your
business model.
Customer loyalty schemes, Gift
Vouchers, Discount Vouchers, Timed
Promotions, Account Customers?,
Integration with marketing
campaigns, KPI analysis, Allergen &
Nutritional Information are just some
things which you'll come to rely on
and which just don't come with a
cheap out of the box solution usually.
- Ebony Harding, Harringay Local Store, London
Fine Food Digest: March 2016
9. SYSTEMS GUIDE FOR NEW FOOD BUSINESSES
9
BEST PRACTICES
There is no substitute for a demonstration of the solution on offer. Talk to your peers in the sector, what has their
experience been like? Visit Exhibitions. Dream of WILD SUCCESS for YOUR business and find out which system is
being used by businesses recognised for THEIR greatness. Great Businesses Use Great Systems.
• Start looking for EPOS as early as possible and get it sorted as quickly as you reasonably can. You will inevitably want to
integrate it with your POS counters and everything like electrics, broadband and networking will all revolve around this.
• Do your homework... Establish who has real credibility in the sector. Start to recognise gaps in solution offerings alongside
your requirements and the fog will begin to lift. (No dedicated hospitality module? No integration with POS?) Make sure
you have a clear vision of the experience you want to deliver to your customer and make sure your chosen system fits that
model.
• Avoid generic (off the shelf) solutions. They will inevitably be cheaper but we've rarely seen them deliver in this sector.
• Talk to, or better still join, groups like FARMA (National Farmers' Retail & Markets Association) or The Guild of Fine
Food. They have been setup to help you and aside from the social interaction and willingness amongst members to share
their experience they are a central hub for support resources, training and advice on changes in legislation affecting your
type of business.
RESOURCES
FARMA: http://www.farma.org.uk
(Milly Stokes / Michael Mack)
GUILD OF FINE FOOD: https://gff.co.uk
(John Farrand / Jilly Stitch)
RETAIL READY: https://gff.co.uk/training/retail-ready
(Jilly Stitch / Charlie Turnbull / Georgina Mason)
ACADEMY OF CHEESE: http://academyofcheese.org
(Paxton & Whitfield / Turnbulls / Quickes)
Held annually at the NEC this show is a must-visit for any
food retailer. Loads of new products and a chance to meet
the people behind the scenes and hear their story.
http://www.farmshopanddelishow.co.uk
Hosted each year in the Olympia exhibition centre this
is another show well worth visiting. The Great Taste
Awards are also held over the course of the event.
http://www.specialityandfinefoodfairs.co.uk
FARM SHOP & DELI (BIRMINGHAM) SPECIALITY FINE FOOD FAIR (LONDON)
10. SYSTEMS GUIDE FOR NEW FOOD BUSINESSES
10
There are a number of providers
for chip and pin payment services.
(Payment Sense, Verifone, Ingenico
and YesPay to name a few).
Service provision usually entitles you
to the pinpads or PEDs (Pin Entry
Device) as they are often referred to
alongside the business of carrying the
customer's card payment from their
account into yours via an authorising
bank.
Contract terms can vary and is directly
between you and the payment
provider; a 48-month contract is not
uncommon.
If there are issues during payment
processing then these are usually
handled by either your payment
provider directly or in conjunction
with your EPOS supplier depending
on the nature of the issue being
experienced.
Next day swap out cover is often
available for faulty PEDs and worth
consideration if you are reliant on
taking customer payments on a single
terminal without a viable alternative
should the device fail.
Note: Leave plenty of time for getting
a Merchant Number sorted from
your bank and for the completion of
your application. This can sometimes
take a number of weeks to complete
depending on your provider and needs
to be monitored to ensure you are
ready to go when you open.
The choice of payment options available to consumers today has never been greater. Customers
will increasingly expect you to offer these innovative ways to pay for goods and services. So be
prepared and get on the right side of the curve from the off.
Chip & Pin / Contactless:
Payment Options
Cheques are all but gone, cash appears
to be on its way out so what's left?
Well... credit cards certainly and with
the increased trust being placed in
mobile payments we recommend that
you spend some time thinking about
your ideal customer type.
Who are they? How much are they
likely to spend on average, given your
type of business, and how can you make
their life simpler by offering payment
methods that they will want to use
instinctively?
If your average basket spend is likely
to be on the large side (i.e. > £30) then
maybe contactless isn't appropriate just
yet but chip and pin certainly will be.
If, however, you're a coffee shop or offer
food to go then offering these payment
methods might help make the difference
from buying lunch at yours or popping
to the local Starbucks.
11. SYSTEMS GUIDE FOR NEW FOOD BUSINESSES
11
BEST PRACTICES
• Your preferred EPOS provider should guide you on the most appropriate provider for your business. Decide how many
terminals you think you'll need, consider the costs and get your application underway as soon as possible.
• Typically the terminals will be pole-mounted at your counter so make sure whoever is designing your counters has
factored this into their design. These things are pretty common these days; it shouldn't be a problem but worth checking.
• Some terminals require additional network ports to be provided at the counter. Ask your EPOS provider for advice on
whether this applies to you and your circumstances.
• "Haggle"... The payment providers are in a competitive market place just like you so see what you can do in respect of
keeping your contract term as low as possible to suit your own circumstances at least at the start until you get established.
• Speak to FARMA and The Guild of Fine Food. They can usually help members by providing reduced transaction processing
fees from merchant providers like Streamline and Elavon.
Offering these types of services for your customers should be an essential part of your offering in the current retail
climate.
By facilitating a faster way for customers to get through the till point you will increase satisfaction and improve
their experience; not just for those customers at the checkout at the time but fast payment keeps queues to a
minimum especially at manically busy periods like Christmas.
It's all about the experience.
RESOURCES
PAYMENT SENSE: http://www.paymentsense.co.uk
12. SYSTEMS GUIDE FOR NEW FOOD BUSINESSES
12
Back Office Software:
The Engine Room
STOCK CONTROL
Simply put... "If you can't measure it, you can't manage it" and this is acutely true in
the context of stock control in YOUR type of business.
Getting your margins right is absolutely key and directly linked to keeping your
business going. This is helped by keeping an eye on your costs, minimizing
unnecessary waste and ordering on the basis of real numbers and not a 'gut'
feeling.
Throw in the fact that a lot of your offering will have a shelf life and that you're
probably not going to have an empty refrigerated warehouse waiting to store tons
and tons of stock and you'll quickly reach the conclusion that you're going to need
a reliable system to help you through the madness!
FINANCIAL REPORTING & BUSINESS ANALYSIS
Up until the time when you run your first report the whole process has been about
feeding information into your system.
A good reporting module is a must; it's that simple.
It must present relevant information in a straight forward, readable way so folks
who aren't management accountants (i.e. most of us!) can make sense of what's
going on in the business.
Common reports to look out for (Z-Read Analysis, Product Performance, Gross
Margins, VAT Report, Top X Sellers, Best Customers, Promotion Analysis)
Software that's been designed with your type of business in mind means you've already got a
whole bunch of people on your team. Folks whose job description is all about making your life
easier by staying in tune with the needs of the sector, changes in legislation and bringing you the
most up to date innovations as and when your business is ready for them.
Note: The back office is very much more that just stock control and reporting but these are two of the most important
aspects. Given your size, business model and budget you may well be considering things like: Integration with your website,
links to your accounts package, marketing tools, customer account management, customer loyalty and more.
If you'd like information on these types of module just drop us a line to: sayhello@lccs.co.uk and we'll be happy to advise.
13. SYSTEMS GUIDE FOR NEW FOOD BUSINESSES
13
BEST PRACTICES
• Make sure you understand the difference between MARGIN and MARKUP. If unsure then speak to your accountant or
better still to a peer in the industry for advice on where you can ramp margins up and where you are going to struggle to
make much.
• Try to work with software vendors that offer 'operational' support alongside their main hardware and software offering.
N.B. This is NOT training (that should be provided by everyone) this IS usually about providing one-to-one coaching about
the best ways to achieve your goals in the context of reporting or stock management.
• Invest in a handheld terminal or at the very least rent one periodically to help with your stock takes. Don't try to stock take
when the shop is trading if you want anything remotely resembling an accurate figure!
• Spot check random products every day so managing stock is a 'rolling' thing. This way your figures are always there or
thereabouts and it is less likely to get unwieldy.
• Don't under estimate the human resources required to manage full stock control (i.e placing formal purchase orders,
processing goods in, managing discrepancies, credit notes, recording wastage, adjusting costs, monitoring margins)
- Some people don't implement full stock control at the start and do what they can given the people and time available
and grow from there. If that's where you are at then don't beat yourself up... you're in good company... do try to keep this
moving on though as soon as you can... it's worth it in the long run. Don't lose sight of the fact that there's a lot of capital
tied up in that stuff on your shelves and in your stock room.
• Go and spend some time working in an established business and see how things are done there. This type of insight is
invaluable and highly recommended.
• Ask to be put in touch with other friendly retailers willing to share the knowledge. In our experience the people in this
sector are all too happy to help providing you're not opening up just down the road from them.
• Look at implementing some sort of 'traffic-light' system to keep an eye on stock going out of date.
• If you have a cafe or coffee shop attached to your business then add value to stock that may be unsuitable for sale directly
in the shop by turning it into salads, quiche, bread pudding... your options are endless here!
Having internal stock management systems is one thing; ensuring that everyone in the business follows them can be
a challenge. One trick is to make it so easy to do things like recording wastage that your team don't have any hoops
left to jump through and it simply gets done as a matter of course.
Good systems make for happier staff and ultimately you get what you want... genuine insight into what's going on in
your business so you can adjust course as necessary.
14. SYSTEMS GUIDE FOR NEW FOOD BUSINESSES
14
Labelling
YOUR BRIEF
Submit your ideas /
designs along with any stipulations
about required or conditional content.
PROJECT PROPOSAL
You'll get a quote for all relevant elements and if any
recommendations have been made they will be
discussed at this stage with you.
(e.g. different adhesive given product is to be stored in a chiller)
DESIGN CONCEPT
Supplier takes the details & assesses
what is required before discussing
the particulars with the printers.
APPROVE AND ORDER
Providing you're happy then the
order is placed and delivered in
the quantity required.
Easy to overlook but vital in getting your message across; even more so now with government legislation demanding you make
customers aware of allergens and nutritional information in the products you produce and retail.
You might think labels are straight forward until you try to sort them yourself... different sizes, varnishes, pantones, cutting
plates, rotations, adhesives... are you ready for a lie down yet?
Having access to a vendor who can be your one-stop-shop for this will save you time, money and a whole heap of hassle.
Typically the process should look something like this.
TIME MANAGEMENT
As the months roll in it'll become
more apparent how little time
you have to look after all the
elements of your business
personally in any 24 hr period.
Being able to hand things like this
off to a trusted supplier will give
you peace of mind and some of
your day back!
15. SYSTEMS GUIDE FOR NEW FOOD BUSINESSES
15
GetYourMessageAcross
Loud&Clear..!
BARCODE LABELS
Invaluable if you're working with small
producers. You can create the labels
in advance, give them to your supplier
and have the products pre-labelled by
the time they arrive in-store.
SHELF EDGE TICKETS
Clear, effective shelf edge ticketing
is one of the first chances you get to
get your product's story across. These
should be quick to produce and be
consistent right across your shop.
PRODUCT / SCALE LABELS
Multi-purpose labels which you
produce in the quantitites you need
when you require. Use for labelling
cheese, charcuterie or pre-made
soups, stews, jams, chutneys and much
more.
COUNTER LABELS
Typically seen on stands or in front of
trays of produce or cheese in a serve-
over counter. Usually more surface
area is available to get your message
across (i.e. Awards, allergens, etc)
16. Talk to existing business owners in your
sector about their experience.
On-going support is going to be key to
making sure your scale equipment is properly
maintained and experiences can vary.
SYSTEMS GUIDE FOR NEW FOOD BUSINESSES
16
Scales:
Weighing Up The Options
Counter scales, packaging scales,
checkout scales... bathroom scales...
(only joking on that last one!) The fact
is that this is another area where you
need to be careful when spending your
money. Choose wisely; the best way
to do that is to be clear up-front on
the use(s) to which you are going to
put these pieces of equipment.
In terms of manufacturer you should
stick to the two big players, Avery
Berkel or Bizerba. There are other
options yes but in our humble opinion
you are best served with a solution
that's tried and tested in your sector
and these two are about as good as it
gets.
On a counter situation you'll need
scales to weigh and label product
before it is scanned at your till.
Labelling should have all the required
allergen info. in bold to make sure you
comply with the law and increasingly
you will need to show nutritional
information along-side this.
There are lots of options, colour
displays, customer displays and the
like. Make sure you get the basics first
then spend what your budget allows.
Make sure your computer system
is capable of updating product
information on the scale from the back
office otherwise it'll not be long before
you'll be tearing your hair out having
to do it all manually!
Also, decide if you are the type of
business that wants/needs to use the
scales for production of customer
orders. This may limit your options
and not all scales communicate this
type of data to the back office easily
for the production of invoices /
delivery notes.
Whilst scales do have the ability
to operate as tills we wouldn't
recommend you go down this route
unless you have to. i.e. You are a
butcher.
This is mainly due to the fact that
these pieces of kit have been designed
first and foremost to be fantastic
weighing machines.
They are usually behind the curve on
the other EPOS-type functionality
such as customer loyalty integration,
intelligent vouchers, complex
promotions and other things you
should be making the most use of
if you have the option. This will be
determined by your type of business
though and you may not have much
choice if space is an issue.
You usually get some basic software
with your scales to help with product
maintenance and whilst this is fine for
very simple operations you should be
looking to a seamless integration with
your chosen EPOS vendor. It is very
rare these days to find a provider that
doesn't link their systems to either
Avery Berkel or Bizerba.
Finally... don't use scales in a
hospitality environment...! It may seem
like an obvious thing to say but we've
seen folks do this more times than
we care to say and 100% of the time I
ask myself... why on earth?? They are
excellent at weighing... Stick to that.
It's a fairly sure thing to say that if you're opening a deli, cheese shop, farm shop or the like that
you are going to want to weigh 'stuff'. As with tills... there are a lot of options and they all look
very similar. You need to be clear on what exactly you are planning to use them for.
17. AVERY
BIZERBA
SYSTEMS GUIDE FOR NEW FOOD BUSINESSES
17
Trust Me Does
It Work..!
BEST PRACTICES
• Write down a list of all the functions you think
you'll need to use scales in your business for:
e.g.
- Weighing at counters (meat, fish, cheese, etc.);
- Weighing in-store (vegetables, cereals, etc.);
- Weighing at the point of sale (Fruit, etc.);
- Pre-packing goods;
- Customer Order fulfillment.
• Get a demo from both manufacturers to be sure of
your options and encourage a good price from each.
• Ensure your chosen scale and EPOS combination
will deliver on your requirements.
• Talk to other users of the same scale/
manufacturer. Find out about on-going support and
costs.
• Try to keep scales, slicers and weighing equipment
generally under the one manufacturer 'roof' for
compatibility and ease of support.
RESOURCES
AVERY BERKEL: http://www.averyberkel.com/en-gb
BIZERBA: http://www.bizerba.co.uk
18. Never EVER allow members of the public
to access the internet on the same wireless
connection as your business network.
Aside from the security risk you may find that
your tills weirdly start to slow down during
busy lunch times!! (Thanks YouTube!)
SYSTEMS GUIDE FOR NEW FOOD BUSINESSES
18
I.T. Infrastructure:
The Right Foundation
With everyone being a so-called IT expert these days you'll have no end of folks stepping up to
'sort' this for you. Our advice... get a dedicated IT company in to install and configure this for you;
you'll be glad you did. Your network needs to be robust and reliable; your business is going to be
depending on it all day every day after all so best get it right first time around.
In simple terms your computer
network carries information from one
part of your business to another.
This might be to facilitate: surfing
the Internet, online banking, making
sure tills work, running reports,
accounts, printing, scanning, labelling
and on... and on... and on... In short
your network IS your computer
infrastructure and it needs to work
reliably.
Usually this is achieved by network
cables (CAT 5 or 6: CAT is short for
Category) being installed by a qualified
person from various points in your
building to a network 'switch' (bit
like a junction box where all ends
meet). As a result devices are able to
communicate with one another.
You may also have wireless network
access which is handy for allowing
devices to talk to one another if
you're on the shop floor or to allow
customers to browse the net whilst in
your shop / cafe. Word to the wise
though... In the case of customers
browsing... do make sure that if you're
allowing customers to have free WiFi
in your business that this is handled
on a separate network from your
main business network otherwise you
may suffer from children trying to
download the entire Toy Story back
catalog whilst in your shop and things
will just grind to a halt.
When having a wired network installed
a common question to be asked is...
"How many network points do you
want/need?" These are the actual
sockets on the wall where you'll plug
network-enabled devices into. Our
top tip is decide where you want them
located, how many you need to install
and install more than you need by
about half as many again at least.
They are fairly cheap to install and it is
always advisable to make sure you've
plenty of spare capacity for all those
tills, credit card machines and printers
you'll collect over the years.
You should also invest in a separate
computer or small server to run your
tills from and let it be dedicated to
that purpose.
It's an added luxury yes but it means
your tills will run without issue and
you'll not have to fight for disk space
when a manager comes back from
holidays and decides to upload all
their holiday snaps onto your work
machines!
20. Whether you're just starting out or changing things around for the better we hope this guide has
been of help to you.
There's a lot of subject matter to cover and whilst we've covered the essentials here you may still have more questions.
If that is the case we're happy to advise; if you have queries on other things like customer loyalty schemes, gift vouchers,
customer marketing, website integration, discount vouchers or anything frankly in relation to systems in your business then
we'd love to hear from you and see if we can't lend a helping hand or free advice.
Good luck with everything; we wish you all the very best for now and into the foreseeable future.
From All @ Lakeland Computers
We're
Here for You