| Gift and card shop owners need to be careful | | | | Special orders. Imaging having a system which |
| when considering a computer system for their | | | | sends your customers a text message advising if |
| business. While some computer companies claim | | | | an item ordered in specially has arrived. This |
| to have software suited to gift and card shops, | | | | saves you time and ensures the customer if |
| few actually do. | | | | reminded to collect the item. |
| Just as you would not go to a general practitioner | | | | Basket analysis. Knowing what customers are |
| for specialist medical advice, gift and card shop | | | | buying with what helps you analyse your business |
| owners ought to be wary of buying from a | | | | beyond raw sales success. For example, if you sell |
| general computer business. | | | | a range of glassware it may be that one item, |
| While software programs like MYOB and Quicken | | | | not the top seller, is sold more often with other |
| may handle general aspects of the business, they | | | | items and thereby is more 'efficient' for the |
| will most likely not link to card companies, provide | | | | business. While strong single sales are good, sales |
| industry specific reporting or handle other aspects | | | | with multiple items are more valuable for a gift |
| unique to your business. | | | | shop as it boosts the margin per sale. Good |
| The card company link is important since close to | | | | basket analysis tools can be gold in the hands of a |
| 20 card companies in Australia now provide | | | | goof business operator. |
| electronic invoices and receive returns data | | | | Fast Seller Tracking. It is challenging to watch |
| electronically - saving considerable time in-store. | | | | every item in the shop. Fast Seller tools do this |
| Australian card companies have this year agreed | | | | for you and alert the owner when an item is |
| on common card categories - making it easier for | | | | moving faster than in the past or faster than |
| specialist card and gift shop software to report | | | | other items in the category. Knowing this allows |
| on card sales where more than one supplier is | | | | the business to respond and use this traffic to |
| involved. | | | | build other sales. |
| Another area where specialist gift shop software | | | | Employee sales tracking. Knowing who sold what |
| will help is with the tracking of boxes. For example | | | | and when allows the business to pay incentives |
| - imagine a computer system which tells you | | | | for success. Major retailers use commissions very |
| where the box for an item you have just sold is | | | | effectively to get employees from behind the |
| located. No more searching drawers or shelves in | | | | counter and into the body of the shop guiding |
| the back room. A specialist gift shop software | | | | customers to purchase. |
| package will tell you where the box is instantly | | | | Analysing sales. Unlike other retailers, gift shops |
| and save your time for customer service. | | | | are individual businesses, often carrying items |
| Specialist gift shop point of sale software can do | | | | which are one off. Sales therefore need to be |
| more than track boxes or track your sales. It can | | | | coded so that the owner can track the |
| drive the business on many fronts - increasing | | | | department, category and supplier equally with |
| sales, reducing costs and enhancing the sale value | | | | the individual items. This enables buying to be |
| of the business. | | | | within the successful categories if not the exact |
| Good software will also help you operate in your | | | | same item. Armed with this information at trade |
| individual way - many gift shop owners have | | | | shows helps nurture better buying. |
| expressed that they do not want to become a | | | | Ratios. Good business starts with good |
| clone business since if they wanted that they | | | | measurement and good measurement is all about |
| would have bought a McDonalds franchise. | | | | ratios - return on floor space, return on |
| Gift shop owners ought to consider specialist gift | | | | investment and stock turn. While a gift shop may |
| shop facilities when considering the best IT | | | | look attractive and have friendly staff, if the |
| solution for their business. For example, consider | | | | stock is not turning the business will fail.. |
| these facilities: | | | | Good gift shop software can make or break any |
| Rewarding Customers. With the fuel and other | | | | business. This is why gift and card shop owners |
| loyalty programs around today it is important for | | | | need to ensure that the software they choose is |
| a gift shop to have a loyalty offer. The best | | | | suited to their business. Settling for a general |
| loyalty offers are those which bring people back | | | | software program may cost less in the short |
| to your shop to accrue rewards which can then | | | | term but the saving may be false if it does not |
| be spent in store. Good gift shop software will | | | | help the business grow. |
| track customer purchases and allow you to build a | | | | Remember, Caveat emptor. |
| reward system which builds your business. | | | | |