News

New York & Company makes traffic investment
New York & Company has devised an interesting sweepstakes-based approach to ensure customers are lined up when its stores open at 6 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day.

The operator of more than 500 stores said the first 200 shoppers to enter its stores beginning at 6 p.m. on Thanksgiving will be entered to win $100,000 in the company’s first ever Win Big in New York sweepstakes. In addition to the $100,000 grand prize winner, each store will also have one $500 prize winner.
Survey: 73% to use their mobile devices for holiday shopping
Chicago -- A majority (54%) of shoppers said they would shop both online and in-store this holiday season, according to a survey by Retale, a location-based mobile platform. Twenty-four percent said they planned to shop in brick-and-mortar stores only, and 22% said online only. The survey uncovered a number of differences among Android and Apple users, which accounted for 89% of those surveyed:

One System, Many Channels

Evolution is a constant process of change. Tracking not only what is happening now but what will happen next is a difficult and fluid process. Yet if anyone is in a position to accurately gauge the current and future direction of POS technology, it is Greg Buzek, president of global research and advisory firm IHL Group. According to Buzek, POS evolution currently points in the directions of omnichannel and mobile.
KFC Franchisee Achieves Winning POS touch

Kentucky Fried Chicken franchisee Weaver Enterprises Ltd. is using Toshiba SurePOS 500 POS hardware and software, including touchscreen terminals, to meet corporate software standards and improve the checkout experience. Working with business partner Tolt Solutions, Weaver selected Toshiba’s SurePOS 500 and SureMark printer as the core of the new POS solution.

Using the Toshiba SurePOS 500’s spill-resistant, infrared touchscreen terminal and running Compris POS software, Weaver has increased employee productivity and reduced customer wait time.
Academy plans a happy Thanksgiving

Academy Sports and Outdoors' 186 locations won’t be open Thanksgiving Day, but the retailer does have other operational and promotional strategies planned including a 5 a.m.Black Friday opening.

The $4 billion retailer said it was continuing its longstanding practice of not opening on Thanksgiving Day. Instead, leading up to Thanksgiving Academy plans to provide customers access to shop its Black Friday deals early through three major sales events – Early Access, Black Friday Starts Now, and Black Friday.
Smoothie King ‘Smooths’ Operations with Tablet-Based POS

In a move to streamline operations at its 700-plus locations, Smoothie King Franchises Inc. is rolling out Revel Systems’ iPad POS solution across its entire store network. The company said it selected the Revel platform for its scalability, speed and user-friendly technology.
Tech Guest Viewpoint: How to Drive Grocery Sales in a Consumer World

By Kent Smith, Galleria RTS Well-stocked shelves and falling sales is a dilemma faced by many retailers today. New technology advancements such as mobile discount apps are the latest threat to grocery retail sales. Many people simply complete their grocery shopping from the convenience of their own home.
Fresh food joins Overstock offering

The farmers market has gone digital at Overstock.com where the discount online retailer has launched home delivery of locally sourced product.

Overstock.com launched the new Farmers Market section of its site to offer home delivery of seasonal, healthy food, grown and produced in close proximity to shoppers, according to the company.
Fresh Thyme Farmers Market Takes Root in the Midwest

A new specialty grocer — Fresh Thyme Farmers Market — has big plans for the Midwest. With industry veteran Chris Sherrell at the helm (and an investment interest from Meijer Inc.), the start-up emphasizes natural and organic foods and produce, much of it locally sourced, at value prices in a convenient neighborhood-store format.
The Evolution of the POS