The checkout or front counter is the best and most profitable area to display stock for most clients. Just ask your suppliers where they want their stock. I am sure they will say put it on your checkout counter. 

Because it is so vital the checkout counter is, its design requires careful thought. 

I like these U-shaped checkouts, which offer many benefits compared to traditional straight counter layouts.  

Here is an example.

Here are some advantages of this key selling area

> The checkout line is the best place for impulse sales. Shoppers there have selected items already and are ready to make purchases. U-shaped counters keep more customers in this mindset across multiple queues. This leads to greater impulse sales.

> Maximised Merchandising Display as it has more space around the counters. This extra space allows stores to merchandise more products in the high-traffic checkout zone.

> Increased Queue Capacity as the design will enable customers to line up on three sides rather than just one. This triples the queue capacity plus presents them with many products to consider. 

> Increases impulse buys, as the U-shaped counters provide the perfect space to display high-margin secondary items. Things like batteries, candy, magazines, and phone chargers can catch the eye of waiting shoppers. More open space means more opportunities to entice add-on purchases.

> The U-shaped counters allow supervisors to observe all registers quickly. The layout makes the checkout team more cohesive and coordinated. From both a sales and operations standpoint, U-shaped checkouts maximise productivity. 

> Makes it much easier to put many computer terminals together 

Conclusion

The checkout or front counter is a crucial area for retail businesses to showcase their products and increase sales through impulse sales. It is essential that you carefully plan and design this key selling area to maximise its potential. I think you will find that a U-shaped checkout layout offers several advantages over traditional straight counter designs.

Introduction

Running ͏a shop requires you to keep track of how your business is doing. This can be challen͏ging if you sell products from different suppliers. Base͏d on my own experience, I have found that monitoring suppliers’ performance is ͏very useful.͏ You want ͏to know ͏which ones bring you more sales and profits and which are lagging behind.

One way to do this is to use the “Sales Comparison by Supplier” report in your POS System. This report will show you͏ the actual figures and the͏ changes over time for each supplier. By ͏analysing your suppliers, I ͏have gained valuable insights about my shop based ͏on various criteria such as the number of sales, total value of sales, avera͏ge sale amounts and ͏profit. For example, I have ͏determined which suppliers are unde͏rperforming or overper͏forming. I have also used ͏this re͏port to assess if my suppliers are giving me enough margins to meet my needs.͏

In this article, I will share with you how to use th͏e ͏“Sales Comparison by Supplier” report by walking you through the steps, interpreting it, and th͏en taking action based on͏ it.

How to Access the "Sales Comparison by Supplier" Report

To access the "Sales Comparison by Supplier" report, follow these steps:

It is in the register sales reports; find the report "Sales Comparison by supplier."

Click on it, and you will get this screen.

How to Customise the "Sales Comparison by Supplier" Report

To customise the "Sales Comparison by Supplier" report, follow these steps:

Select a period for the report, let us keep it simple so start with the past 12 months and compare it with the previous 12 months. So leave it AS IS, and run the report. Afterwards, feel free to explore more options as desired.

Screenshot of Customised Sales Comparison by Supplier Report

How to Interpret the "Sales Comparison by Supplier" Report

You have a report of your suppliers that shows you the summary statistics for each supplier. They are based on each criterion you selected and a comparison of how you have been travelling with them. The big ones and those with significant movements in the comparison percentages are fascinating.

Look at the profit figure. Today we are seeing significant downward margin creep. This is an excellent place to see it. The reasons for this downward margin causes appear to be many, and it seems to be both due to changes in customers and suppliers. I will discuss this in another article.

Now rerun this report and compare suppliers based on those that handle similar products. Now compare and contrast these different suppliers based on their performance over time, noting the number of sales and profit.

Conclusion

Now Take Action Based on the "Sales Comparison by Supplier" Report. I would contact underperforming suppliers and communicate to them your concerns. Then I would ask those suppliers that I am doing well with how you can do more with them.

The report is an actionable tip.

Please give it a go and see how it goes.

Introduction

You likely utilise receipt rolls in your shop to generate receipts. The main uses are:

- Providing transaction evidence for customers.

- They are used for personalised messages, discount vouchers, or much of your advertising campaigns.

Here is our experience with our clients with such receipt rolls.

We do have some alternatives to using your receipt rolls.

-Emailed receipts are another option for those looking to provide customers with receipts while saving trees. Additionally, the email addresses can be used for marketing.

-Digital receipts, which can be sent online. Digital receipts allow more features than paper, making them popular among many modern businesses.

How to Choose the Right Receipt Rolls

If you're considering receipt rolls for your business, consider this purchasing.

- Think about what kind of printer you have - this will determine which types of receipt roll you can use. In particular, check the width.

- Another vital factor to bear in mind is the length of the paper roll, the longer the length, the better.

- Higher-quality paper looks better, stores better, has better strength and gives fewer paper jams.

- Prices can vary, so comparing prices among different suppliers is worth it. Look out for discounts or bulk deals that could save you money in the long run.

- Before buying in bulk, buy a roll to test out first and see if you like these rolls first.

Preprinted rolls

These come with customized logos or watermarks to make your shop look professional. It can also safeguard against fraud.

How to Store Receipt Rolls

Receipt rolls use thermal paper, so keep your receipt rolls in a cool, dry, and dark place, away from direct sunlight or heat sources.

Many people put them on the shelves to sell as well as store. Why not? They have to have them, so they try to do business.

It's essential to keep them in their original packaging or a sealed plastic bag until you use them.

Conclusion

Receipt rolls are essential for businesses that must provide customers with transaction evidence. But, not all receipt rolls are the same, and you need to consider several factors before buying them.

Actionable tips

- Consider why you need receipts. Some alternatives can often be used.

- Before buying, check your receipt printer's specifications, particularly its width.

-The longer the roll, the better.

-Better quality rolls make your receipts look better and help you work more efficiently.

-Check prices from different providers.

-Before buying in bulk, buy a single roll to test it.

-To give your shop a more professional appearance and increase your protection against fraud, you might want to use rolls preprinted and personalized with logos or watermarks.

-Receipt rolls must be stored in a cool, dry, dark area not exposed to heat or direct sunlight.

-Keep receipt rolls in their packing or seal them for security against residue, dampness, and residue.

-Assuming you have extra receipt rolls, you can show them on the stands for clients to buy. As well as providing storage, it may generate revenue.

We hope you found this blog post informative and helpful. Please share your experiences, questions, or feedback on receipt rolls.

In your shop, it is vital to ensure that everyone that uses your POS Software has their unique (ID) and that they use it. This practice makes people accountable and helps keep track of who did what.

Sharing logins is NOT to be permitted.

This makes tracking what people are doing easier. Do this, and you can examine quicker errors and discrepancies and search for suspicious behaviour.

We had a situation last week where something went wrong with a transaction a few months ago. The shop owner had no idea who did it as the ID is used by many people in the shop.

Another example was that our client's evidence was rejected in court because the employee used an ID considered a generic code, rendering the evidence inconclusive. This unfortunate incident highlights the importance of adhering to the policy requiring employees to be issued individual IDs.

Conclusion

Please make everyone that uses your POS Software have and uses their ID.

Executive Summary:

> Everyone in the shop which uses the POS software needs a unique ID.

> Sharing logins must be wholly disallowed.

> Individual IDs simplify error detection and suspicious behaviour investigation, enabling activity tracking and raising accountability.

The National Disability Insurance Scheme, with its runaway costs, has brought disability into the public eye again. 

Now have you recognised the significance of accessible retail and the necessity of meeting the requirements of people with disabilities? Nearly 4.4 million Australians, or 18.5% of the population, reported having a disability, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics. 

Over the years, I have noticed that the retail industry has done much for individuals with handicaps. Still, here is a question for you: are you sufficiently meeting the requirements of some of our most vulnerable citizens?

Why it matters, here are some points. 

> Its the right thing to do 

We have a moral responsibility to ensure everyone has as full access to public life, no matter what their abilities or disabilities are.

> These people make up a large number of consumers. 

People with disabilities are more likely to shop in stores that are accessible. The fact is that they often bring their loved ones along. 

> If you do not make reasonable steps, what message are you sending?

It communicates something specific about your business. That you are insensitive or uncaring as you do not provide customers with disabilities with reasonable accommodations. 

> Problems with the law In Australia. 

There are several laws and regulations to protect the rights of people with disabilities. They state that you must make reasonable adjustments to meet the requirements of customers with disabilities and ensure that your products and services are accessible to those with disabilities. 

> Injury Prevention in Your Store as a result of a Lack of Proper Infrastructure 

Suppose someone with disabilities gets injured in your store due to inadequate infrastructure. 

Here is my personal example 

In a large shopping centre, an older adult fell. The centre manager came down immediately. He then talked nicely to the woman. He gave her a free drink. He ordered her a chair. Then had his staff help her with it. He then had a security guard escort her to the centre. Then he announced that when she returned, she would contact his office immediately, and he would ensure she would be escorted. 

The newsagents I talked to told me he could not see the centre manager. He never talks to him. This woman got centre manager immediately.

What can we do?

There are a few ideas.

> Providing clear signage is another easy way to make your store more accessible.

Your signs should be at a height that is comfortable for wheelchair users and so easy for them to read. 

> Customers who use wheelchairs or mobility aids should have access if possible.

The entrance, shop and point-of-sale aisle should be wide enough to accommodate these devices.

> Train your staff to offer help.

Your staff should be prepared to give help to clients' inabilities, such as assisting them with tracking down an item or conveying their purchases to the vehicle. 

Conclusion:

Retailers need to consider that their products and services are accessible to all customers, including those with disabilities, by making reasonable adjustments.

Executive summary:

> People with disability comprise about 4.4 million Australians or 18.5% of the population.
> Retailers need to consider making their stores accessible to people with disabilities.
> Some measures can be taken immediately at little cost.
 

Introduction

Selling greeting cards are a profitable business opportunity for retailers as they have high sales and margins. 

Greeting cards are considered the department in the shop that can be the fastest and best improved by monitoring by POS Software. Improvements, when done, are often immediate.

The problem now is that most of the greeting card management today in most stores is done by the sales representatives of the card companies. These people are notorious for making decisions that maximise their companies, not the retailer. This is because, in the past, managing this department was extremely difficult using manual methods as there were too many greeting card lines, but it is easy with POS Software designed to do so. Today by utilising POS Software, you can rapidly and effectively see which cards are selling well and which do not.

Now, what you can do - the action plan!

Your POS Software is tracking the cards sold. Most of you have the data inside your computer now. You can use that to make informed decisions about your greeting card stand.

Review your top-selling report by quantity and the last 12 months. Set up an arbitrary minimum sales number.

Say you want to find now your slow-moving stock that you are holding. This is a quick step by step way of doing just that.

Go to reports and select stock, see the red arrow on the image here.

Now enter in the criteria you require.

Where it is brown is the date range, I suggest starting with a year, but it's also good with three months.

Where it is blue, enter the minimum sales figure from the top-selling report.

Where it is purple is where you specify the greeting card department.

You then get a detailed report showing the value of the stock holdings and the amount moved in this period. I think many of you may get shocked by its value.

Further analysis

> Now analyse your cards by category using your sales data. See which categories are selling well and which do not. This information will help you decide which categories to expand and which to contract.

> Review greeting card sales by their position on the stand to see where your cards are selling well. Your best-selling cards should be in the best places. What you are trying to do is place the cards to maximise sales.

> To identify seasonal patterns, retailers should also keep an eye on trends in sales over time by categories. These patterns can to used to maximise profitability.

> Now compare your greeting sales data to previous periods. You can see how your greeting card stand performs by comparing sales data to prior periods.

> Your sales reports can also help you identify your price points in the greeting card. Using it, you can quickly determine the prices for cards your customers are willing to pay.

Quantities on Hand

If your stock levels are incorrect, you must consider a stocktake to proceed.

Retailers should track inventory levels to avoid overstocking and increased storage costs. It is common in your storage area to find cards just sitting there.

Set up a monitoring schedule.

Set up a regular schedule to watch your card sales and stock information. It takes little time to do this once you are set up.

Conclusion

Using your POS software sales data analysis can be a more lucrative department.

Executive Summary:

> Greeting cards are a lucrative business opportunity for retailers due to their high margins and sales.
> POS software that monitors sales of greeting cards may result in immediate sales increases.
> Retailers frequently rely on management from card companies' sales representatives, who may not put the retailer's interests first.
>Greeting card sales can be effectively managed, and data-driven insights for decision-making can be provided by POS software.
>Top-selling cards can be reviewed, sales can be analyzed by category and location, seasonal patterns can be found, sales data can be compared to previous periods, and the best price points can be found using POS software.
>Additionally, retailers can avoid overstocking and storage costs by monitoring inventory levels and establishing a monitoring schedule.
>Retailers can increase their greeting card department's profitability by using sales data analysis in point-of-sale software.

Today transactions have become more convenient, and various payment methods have made our lives easier. However, with convenience comes the risk of errors and fraud. Therefore, it is vital to be careful and vigilant regarding financial transactions.

Recently, a client of ours sold a few thousand dollars of goods. The people needed help figuring out what to get, so they put the goods on order and left the shop. A few hours later, they rang up, said it was going ahead, and asked for the payment details. Soon my client received a copy of the receipt for the cheque deposited at the bank. Then the people rang up to ask to pick the goods up immediately.

I will not go into the details, but the cheque bounced. 

This can be a frustrating experience for anyone.

There are many reasons why a cheque can bounce; some that I have come across were: 

> Drawer needed more funds.
> There are errors on the cheque
> The account was closed
>  The person put a stop order on the cheque.

Many of you can add more points.

If you want to know how careful you must be, I once had a cheque bounce from a government department. I went to the department accounts personally and was told they could do nothing and that I would need to notify them in writing. 

Conclusion

Exercising caution and taking the necessary precautions are essential when processing financial transactions. It is best to wait for bank clearance before releasing the goods or transferring ownership because releasing them before then can be risky.

They say that a bounced cheque can teach a businessman a valuable lesson about the risks and challenges of running a business.

It can be frustrating when software issues arise and you believe you need help. So then people call our technical support.

Now that people contact us can be frustrating if they do not provide information to identify them. If we cannot contact someone, how can we assist them?

Here's an illustration from yesterday.

We will notify you by email that we believe your issue has been resolved and are closing the matter. If the problem is still present, you can reopen it then and there.

Additionally, we ask that you rate our support on a scale from 0 (worst) to 10 (best) so it's anonymous. 

Here the person gave a score of 0 because the problem still needed to be fixed. Okay, but who are they? How do we help them? If it is you, please get in touch with us right now.

What we required

To prevent this from happening, please include the following information when reporting a support issue to us:

>Please state which organisation on your behalf you are contacting us.

> Provide us with the contact name of the person handling the situation on your end.

>Please give us your phone number or email address so we can contact you in case we don't already have it.

>Describe your problem so we can select the best person to help you. Don't worry about providing too much information, either. I have never encountered a situation in which knowing more was a problem.

The Need for Faster Internet Speed

Nowadays, the internet is a necessary component of nearly every business. You must select an internet that is both fast and dependable if you want your business to operate as smoothly as possible.

NBN vs mobile

More people are getting faster internet as the switch from copper to fibre continues. Yet, despite improvements, Australian speeds are still average.

Many people cannot get NBN; some, amazingly, are in big cities. We assist these individuals with mobile data via 4G and 5G, with varying degrees of success. In most cases, mobile internet costs are higher. Nor are they dependable. Something goes wrong with the tower, and they die. Often the problem can only be fixed once the ISP support team is working. What is fustrating is that your ISP usually has to go to the Telstra or Optus Tower support team; this sometimes means the internet is down for a day. Another issue is that current usage, traffic and rain impact speed.

Some advantages of speed and dependability

Since many services you use today are connected to the internet, you can only serve your customers if you have access to the internet. I've had clients whose EFTPOS failed, forcing them to turn away customers. The internet is required for many software packages to function. You can only use them if there is the internet.

It doesn't take a rocket scientist to realize that the faster you work, the more you can do. It is a waste of time to wait for the internet. It is time-consuming and stressful; Despite your readiness, you cannot work.

Slow speeds are detrimental.

Check Your Speed

A quick speed test can help determine if your current connection is adequate for your needs. A broadband download speed of 40 Mbps (megabits per second) is the minimum standard quoted for modern businesses. But to get a complete picture of its performance, you must test your speed at various times throughout the day. Many people have speed problems at some times of the day.

A good speed test and comparisons are available here

Fixing Slow Internet Speed

There are many reasons why your internet speed could be faster. If you see the numbers above and think it's slow, you should talk to your ISP to see if it's a problem with your ISP or your plan.

In other instances, it might be an issue on your end, a lousy modem, a broken network, a bad connection, etc.

Conclusion

It is crucial to get the best internet possible in today's world. Businesses today need access to fast and dependable internet.

Why Data-Driven Retailers Can Be so successful

Introduction

I often meet big, small, and everything between retailers as part of my job. Besides frequently having big egos, large retailers operate in results-oriented and data-driven environments.

From personal experience, do yourself a favour and never overestimate a person's intelligence with a budget of tens of millions of dollars,

Where do they succeed? Well, large corporations often replace decision-makers if they fail, even when it is not their fault. I remember one marketing executive who told me he was the third marketing manager in his organisation in the past year. Data measure them. Why can you not use data?

Research

Experts are consulted before they begin working on an idea; They use experts while carrying out the idea, and if they abandon the idea, they also use experts. Almost all is planned and monitored in their stores and marketing. I have some excellent suggestions for you:

> Take a look at a few big retailers your business can relate to.
> Look what they did
> Take notes on what you find interesting.
> Come back to see if you can use it yourself.

You will gain many insights and copying costs you nothing.

Measuring the effect of improving.

You now have an excellent reporting system in your POS software so that you can measure it as well; in fact, it is superior to most majors. Partly because I always take notes after I visit majors, and if I like something, I put it in your POS software.

Let us start with the following:

Suppose your shop sells your customers $150,000 worth of crafts in a department. If the cost of the items for sale is 50% or $75,000, your gross profit is $75,000.

Real-time Data Tracking and Analysis Using data.

Now, let's see what you can do with only minor adjustments. You try to improve by 1% by buying more of what people are buying. Do not underestimate modern retail analytics.

By using A/B testing and monitoring in your shop, you should get an additional 1% increase.

Professional loyalty program

Introduce a professional loyalty program into the shop. It is free in your POS Software in the CRM so that you can personalise your customer's shopping experience. Personalize product recommendations, targeted promotions, and even in-store experiences with its help. It should be good for another 1%.

Sales are now up by 3%

Inventory management

Since you use your reports to buy better, you should enhance your inventory management to get better margins by a 1%.

Your supply chain efficiency improves as you order in smaller lots using AI that optimises your stock holdings. As a result, you cut back on purchases and buy fewer things that don't sell, which reduces your margin by another 1%.

Result

Sales are now $150,000 plus 3% = $154,500

Cost of sales is now $154,500 less 2% = $$74,160

Our gross profit in this one department is now $80,340 or 7% higher, and all we have done is work at 1% by simply using the data and systems you have.

You can do this for each department, and I have not even discussed dead stock, shop theft reduction here, etc.

Conclusion

Being a data-driven retailer today is essential today. Make good decisions with the tools you have at your disposal.

Data-driven retailing is the way of the future.

How to Check Your Items, No Longer On Sale, but Marked Down

The problem

Today many of you currently have items with discounts for the Christmas season that are still marked down on the label; however, this sale has ended. It can be challenging to ensure that you have found all these markdown items. As such, you risk

>either selling those items at the wrong price

>or arguing with a customer about why you are not honouring that price on the label.

Shoppers use this popular technique to get bargains, looking for items wrongly marked. Bargain sites frequently mention such shops with wrongly marked merchandise.

To stop this, you must identify those items and change their prices on the label to avoid this problem.

Most stores have to go through their inventory and physically check whether all the items are still on sale, a very time-consuming task, but you have a better way.

Finding Out-of-Sale Items

You can run a unique report from your point-of-sale system showing all the off-sale items. Check these items off; doing this will save time and money.

Go to the stock system > Select Sales Promotion here.

Select reports (marked with Green)

Now select the dates marked with the black arrows, and you'll see a report of all items with a sales price change in this period. Next comes a list of all items affected for you to investigate

Conclusion

Doing this can ensure that you are selling your items at the correct prices and avoid confusion and pricing errors over items going off sale.

For businesses that want to produce receipts of high quality using their POS software quickly, thermal receipt printers are the most popular option.

They function by applying heat to the thermal paper from the printhead. This triggers a chemical reaction on the thermal paper's heat-sensitive layer.

People frequently encounter this issue: they insert a new roll of paper, and the paper moves, but nothing prints.

Don't worry if you're experiencing this issue because there are a few common causes.

Please follow the steps below.

FAQ

> You may have pulled the wires or loosened the connections of the wires.

Solution: Verify that every wire and cable is connected correctly.

> Examine the receipt paper roll; you may have brought the wrong one.

Solution: There is no "one size fits all," so the roll may need to be returned. It is essential to select the appropriate paper roll. Contact our support team if you need help with what to use. They can help you choose the best paper for your needs.

Low-quality paper rolls can damage or build up dirt inside your printer, a related issue. Make sure to distinguish cheap from low-quality; I've seen low-quality sold as expensive.

> The roll might have been inserted from behind, so the paper is fed upside down due to this.

Solution: 

 1. Make sure the right side of the paper is facing up when you open the printer.

2. If not, take out the roll of paper.

3. Reload it after you've turned it over.

> The printer may be jammed if these solutions do not resolve the issue.

Solution: Remove the printer's power and try resetting it. Although resetting a printer may delete the document you are trying to print, our POS software allows you to reprint the receipt without losing any data.

> It's possible that the printer itself is the issue.

Solution: Unfortunately, printers are mechanical gadgets. They eventually fail, like any mechanical device. Parts can slack off.

1. First, entirely cutting off the printer's power.

2. Clean the printer by opening it up. Use a dry rag; If you have to use a liquid, only use a small amount and then dry it off.

3. The printer be assembled

4. Only then should the power be turned on and tested once more.

If it still does not print, you may need a new one or professional help to fix it.

Conclusion

A thermal printer's age does not necessarily determine how long it will last. A printer's lifespan is largely determined by how well it is used and maintained. A printer may fail sooner than anticipated if it is frequently used and improperly maintained. On the other hand, a printer may continue to function correctly for longer if it is well-maintained. It is essential to adhere to the usage and maintenance instructions if you want your printer to last as long as possible. This could mean cleaning the printer regularly, replacing worn parts, and using the right kind of paper to get the most out of your printer and extend its lifespan. 

Customers Return their Purchases to your shop

There is currently an avalanche of customer returns.

Although I have not seen any Australian figures in the US, studies by the National Retail Federation, the largest retail trade association in the world, indicated that 10.6% of all retail sales in the United States were returned in 2020. Roughly 5.9% were found to be fraudulent, which was the most troubling. 

There were, I am sure, more fraudulent claims than 5.9%. Almost every retailer I know has a story about fake receipts or returned goods for which they were not purchased.

Common reasons for returns and some ideas:

Unwanted presents

Presents bought by people who don't want them are a big problem, especially around this time of year. 

Try offering something else.

Change of Mind

Customers often buy something, decide it's too complicated for them, or don't want it and return it.

Legally, you are not required to refund here; yet it is frequently difficult to enforce your rights there.

A product that is damaged or defective.

One worrying aspect of the situation is that many retailers occasionally sell defective goods at significantly reduced prices. They concede that they are imperfect and thus sell it with no guarantees and ASIS. Legally, I don't think this is right. If you do it frequently, consider looking into this situation. 

Agency problems

Incorrect product received

If you are the agent for the item, this frequently occurs; try contacting the supplier to ensure that the correct product is sent. You may also have a claim against the supplier if this is not your fault; you have done everything right, it is not your fault the wrong goods were sent.

Put procedures in place to reduce this issue in the future and prevent this from happening again.

To late

Another example is when a customer needed something immediately, but it never showed up, so they went elsewhere and did not need it anymore.

In the future, attempt and make a method where you can supply your clients with precise delivery info about the specific time for delivery.

Fraud

A well-known example is "Wardrobing", which occurs when a customer purchases an item to return it after a brief period of use. It is difficult to stop this fraudulent practice.

You must have proper procedures for handling returns.

Opportunity to fix the problem

If you handle returns professionally, customers may have a positive impression of your business and be more likely to shop with you again. If you mess up, you could lose them forever so returns can be a chance to provide better customer service, offer more products or services, and interact with them. Even if it doesn't help this time, it might result in better future results.

Having a clear return policy

A simple return procedure would be ideal if you had a clear return policy. I advise posting a sign outlining your shop's policy somewhere.

Examine item

Well, it looks like the item is coming back; you better check what you are getting, so examine the product for any indications of abuse or damage.

Make sure the receipt is authentic.

Nowadays, it is all too easy to produce forged receipts and confirming the time and location of an item transaction should be simple with your POS system. 

Also, I am aware of instances in which individuals have retrieved old receipts from trash cans in shopping centres. Then entered a store, grabbed the item and requested a refund at the counter. The receipt is valid here, but it's fraud. 

The only solution here is that you have a high-quality security camera.  

Payment procedure

Ensure that the method of payment is the one refunded. If they paid using VISA, you refund with VISA. If they paid with EFTPOS, you refund them with EFTPOS, and so on.

If you don't, one of the risks here is known as a double chargeback. A person who paid with VISA receives a cash refund and then files a refund claim with VISA. You must then show that you paid in cash.

Also, record the customer's identity before issuing a cash refund. I'd ask them to sign as well.

Conclusion

Managing retail returns is crucial because they can affect customer satisfaction and loyalty. Customers today expect fast, free, and easy returns. Even though retail returns can be costly, a poor returns experience can decrease customer loyalty. Time and money can be saved, customer loyalty can be increased, and opportunities for engagement and upselling can be created by effectively managing the return.

Are you in the market for a new point-of-sale (POS) computer screen?

If so, look at the latest models of POS monitors here. See, they are lower. 

Why do you ask?

Being lower, they have a lower centre of gravity so, making your POS computer screen more stable and less prone to falling over.

Consider this

Imagine someone accidentally bumps into the counter. Without a stable POS computer screen, it's easy for the screen to tip over and so suffer damage. Not only is this frustrating for you, but it can also disrupt business operations and lead to costly repairs.

A POS computer screen with a lower centre of gravity is less likely to tip over in the event of accidental bumps. This is because the lower centre of gravity increases the support base, making it harder for the screen to tip over. 

This is why many current POS monitors are built low and squat. 

Another advantage is that as these are also less likely to wobble or move around, they help reduce eye strain and improve overall comfort, as an unstable monitor can cause your eyes to constantly readjust to the changing position, leading to fatigue and discomfort. Conversely, a sturdy monitor will stay in place, allowing you to maintain a consistent focus and reduce the strain on your eyes.

This can also help improve your posture. It can lead to neck and back pain if you constantly reach or lean forward to see a wobbly monitor. 

In summary, they can positively impact your ergonomics, helping you feel more comfortable and reducing strain on your eyes and body while using the device.

Work tip

Ensuring your POS computer screen is securely fastened to the surface to prevent accidental tipping.

Now we are in the post-Christmas period (Boxing day). Many now need to move Christmas items, such as holiday decorations, that they need to clear out after the holiday season while they still have value.

The market is there; for example, Commonwealth Bank research shows that 42 per cent of Australians plan to shop the Boxing Day sales this year, up from 39 per cent who said they shopped last year.

Australians enjoy shopping for deals and discounts. They see a post-Christmas sale as an excellent opportunity to find bargains on items they may have missed during the holiday season.

Besides, we have to move what are now low-selling items out of the strategic locations to make room for new products. So let's move it to a place where they sell, as that stuff will muck up cash flow, as it will be sitting in the shop for a year now. Then it will be a year old. Besides, the reality is that these items' market value has dropped. As these items are not in high demand now, a post-Christmas sale can be an excellent opportunity to move them, generating extra revenue.

Now while you are looking at clearing out the Christmas stock, why not add the stuff in the shop that is not selling? It is easy. Here is how.

Do you have some slow-moving stock items?

Maybe you can reduce their space to make more room for your profitable products too?

Firstly let us find the items that are the slow movers

Go to Register reports > Stock > Slow moving Stock lines

Now call it up here

As you can see, I have been looking at the stationery department for over twelve months for anything I have sold for less than $100 and am now stocking something.

Now out pops a report, in this case, of 81 pages of detailed information on all the items that match this condition. In this case, we have almost $80,000 worth of worthless stock.

Now check them out, pull out what you do not want to keep and put them in your Boxing Day sales area.

A post-Christmas sale can be an excellent way for retailers to generate revenue and improve their cash flow.

If you lease software and/or equipment, now is an excellent time to review your rental agreement to ensure you only pay for what you need and use. You often have equipment or software you no longer use because your business no longer requires them. Consider returning it to the supplier or terminating your rental agreement. You can often save money by avoiding unnecessary rent.

If you have any questions or concerns about your rental agreement, it is best to contact the supplier directly for more information. They should be able to provide you with the guidance and assistance you need to review your lease. This may involve comparing the costs and features of different rental options to find one that fits your needs and budget. When returning equipment or terminating a rental agreement, follow the supplier's instructions and procedures strictly. If you are returning a device, please keep a record of the return or cancellation for your records.

Of course, please contact our accounts departments if you have any queries about our rentals.

Checklist to keep your business running smoothly during the busy holiday season:

1) It's essential to ensure your computers and network are functioning before the holiday season to help your business handle the increased workload. If you are taking the computer out of storage, check that they are working and can connect to your network. If you find any issues, you should address them now to avoid potential disruptions.

2) Additionally, it's a good idea to stock up on printer ink and paper to stay supplied during the busy holiday season.

3) Ensure you have enough supplies of EFTPOS machine paper. It's always better to have a little extra on hand in case. It will be challenging to get them in real-time soon.

Taking such steps ensures that your business is prepared to handle the increased workload during the holiday season.

In a judgment against RI Advice Group Pty Ltd, the federal court ruled that this user had several unsatisfactory procedures in its system. So it failed to have

1) Up-to-date antivirus software
2) Adequate system backups
3) Adequate email filtering or quarantining
4) Poor password practices.

And that these inadequacies in its cybersecurity risk management led to cyber incidents. You can read up about it above.

Yesterday, one of our clients got an SMS message about an unpaid bill with a dangerous link. It looked genuine and legitimate. So he pressed it then the fun started.

If something doesn’t look or ‘feel’ right about a website or link, don’t click the link. If you feel that you must go to the link, this google site has proven over the years, for me, a good way of testing the link first. Virus Total is an online service that analyzes suspicious files and websites to detect malware and malicious content using many antivirus engines and website scanners.

Copy the website link and paste it into the virus total, and it will give you a detailed score. If it shows anything, please do not click the link.

Two points about using it.

1) Check the date. When it checked the link, if it is a few hours old, then press the arrow to recheck on the top right.
2) Even if the site is computer-wise safe from viruses and malware does not mean you can trust it.

Here is how you can analyze your computer's speed and performance. What happens is that over time, computers in continuous use slow down. This is because
1) Software tends to improve over time. It gets better but more extensive and complex, requiring a better computer. 
2) Software developers make their software for modern computers
3) You get more information on your machine, so processing takes longer.
4) It just seems slower, as other computers are getting faster.

It can help to take everything off, reset the computer and put everything back on. It is a lot of work so only some people want to do this.

Here is a quick and professional way to determine how your computer stacks up in the modern world. The software we use is *performance test*. You can get a free copy here. It does take a while to run, so let it rip and do something else.

The score you will get looks like this.

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Now the lower the figure in Percentile, the worse the score. This computer is pretty ordinary. It is in the bottom 13%, or if you prefer to think of it like this, 87% of computers tested are better than it. So as you can see, it is way in the low range.

You want to test all your computers and move the fastest ones to where you need the speed. We call this game musical chairs.

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Many retailers are using lockable glass displays. These are clear retail display cases that can be locked with a key but showcase their products so customers can see them. This means shoppers would need a staff member if they want to handle the item. It is a frequent means used to secure costly stock.

This is how you mark the item you want to be treated securely. Go to stock maintenance and then catalogue; you will see a list of several specialised item categories. (See below) Tick secure.

There are plenty of other options marked, and I suggest you review them, too, as they may be helpful.