The days of cash registers and black-box credit card terminals being sufficient for both small retail businesses are long gone.  Since the popularity and convenience of personal computers, most retail stores are beginning to take advantage of specialized PC’s for sales and inventory management. These specialized PC’s are equipped with a cash drawer, credit card swipe terminal, bar code scanner, receipt printer, check reader, and sometimes other extras, like touch screen monitors or LCD.

Point of Sale (POS) systems are used widely throughout the retail and restaurant industries. POS systems are an efficient way for business owners to keep track of cash flow, foodor stock  inventory, track sales, and simplify the daunting task of bookkeeping.  POS systems are categorized into two main types of systems: Hard or soft goods Retail ; and Hospitality (restaurants and hotels). POS systems offer advanced accuracy as scanning is much more precise and time efficient than punching in a sticker price, or relying on a cashier to remember the cost of items.  Another advantage of the POS system is the ability to manage inventory.  POS will analyze sales patterns and flag items for a reorder.

 The point of sale system opens up a new world of data for businesses that a mere cash register never could. A computerized POS system can provide detailed sales reports and allows you to analyze sales in a multitude of ways. Sales can be assessed by store (if you have more than one), by cashier or sales clerk, by time frame, by promotion, or by SKU or item sold. A POS system will assist the inventory manager to calculate how much product to order with improved timing, help your head chef calculate how many heads of lettuce will be needed next week and take holidays into account.

 The specialized features found in POS equipment are designed to enhance and optimize business operations.  POS systems will not only benefit business owner and managers, it will also make a more enjoyable shopping experience for patrons and customers.

 1. Customers dislike waiting in long checkout lines. POS equipment lessens the amount of time that patrons must spend waiting to check out. 

 2.  Customers love rewards! Point of sale systems enables businesses to offer customer loyalty reward programs. Research proves that consumers love these programs and are likely to do return business where they are members of loyalty programs. POS equipment manages these types of programs. The “Points” card program is an example of this type of program.

 3. POS systems enable you to view sales reports in real-time so you can see up to date information of what products are selling.  This feature allows a business to accommodate their customers purchase preferences and sock the business with the most popular products.

 4. POS eliminates errors on customer receipts.  Shoppers become frustrated when they find errors on their receipt.  Point of Sale systems helps to eliminate these negative situations with the customers.

  5. The ability to track customers buying habits and personal preferences of customers allows you to cater to your customers shopping needs. This personal touch that is enabled by a Point of Sale system could never be accomplished by a cash register.

 In business, keeping satisfied customers is the name of the game. Point of Sale systems will help your business increase your customer satisfaction. Point of sale systems will offer your business an efficient way to improve and enhance your business profitability, while making book work and taking inventory easier and more efficient.

In today’s age of the Internet, people communicate with loved ones, research things they need for their studies or play games over the internet. Most people find the Internet extremely useful when they’re searching for information about a particular product or service since the Internet is known for being full of information. This saves a person time and money in their quest for knowledge since all that information is within the reach of their fingertips.

Buying and selling products and services is a part of life. The Internet is no different. People now use the Internet to market and sell their products. At the same time, some people also use the Internet to compare the different products that are available out in the market. This is what people refer to as “e-commerce.”
People who are new to the field of e-commerce often wonder how to pay for something that has been bought over the Internet. There are many types of payment processors available for a person to use.
Debit Processing is a way of transferring money from the buyer’s bank account to the seller’s bank account. This type of payment processing is not commonly used in e-commerce since it requires the buyer and the seller to be face-to-face with each other in order to complete the transaction. Nevertheless it is still a type of payment processing that is found in most stores today.

The seller simply has to swipe the buyer’s bank account into the terminal, type in the total amount the buyer is purchasing, and then give the terminal to the buyer in order for them to enter their personal identification number (PIN). After doing so, two copies of the receipt are printed out by the machine. Two copies are necessary so that the buyer and the seller both have copies of the receipt as proof of the transaction.

Credit card processing is a popular type of payment processing. This occurs when a buyer uses his/her credit card in paying the seller of a product or service. This can be done face-to-face or with no personal appearance. An example of a transaction in which no personal appearance is required is when someone is buying something over the Internet. When a face-to-face transaction occurs (e.g. in a store) the buyer pays via credit card and leaves the store with the product in hand. After 1-2 days, the seller is paid by the credit card processor of the business. The credit card processor, in turn, is paid after 30 days by the buyer’s credit card company. The customer’s credit card company is in charge of billing and collecting payment from the buyer.

PC and Internet processing is also a type of processing which involves the use of credit cards. This type of processing is done without requiring the buyer and the seller to be face-to-face with each other for this transaction. The processing of these credit cards is done on the secure servers of the seller’s credit card processor.

A non-automated way of processing credit card payments of this kind of transaction is when the buyer completes the required contact and credit card information on the seller’s website. Once the seller receives the information, a sales representative of the business will call the buyer to confirm the order. Once the order has been confirmed, the representative will continue to manually complete the transaction over the business’s computer, which has Internet access while continuing to speak with the buyer over the telephone in case a need for additional information comes along.

E-commerce or website processing is a type of payment processing employed by those engaged in e-commerce. It is similar to PC and Internet processing except that there is no need for a sales representative. This is due to the fact that the seller’s website is directly connected to the credit card processor’s system so that the transaction goes through automatically.

Phone authorization is done when an employee at the counter calls their credit card processor via any phone or mobile phone. The person simply has to dial the number provided by the credit card processor, input their the store merchant ID number, the total amount purchased, the card’s number, and the card’s expiration date. If the card is over its credit limit then the system will automatically tell the seller that the transaction cannot go through or the system will return an approval code for the merchant.

When considering your POS options, there is a new choice you have to make: whether to use a traditional or a web-based point of sale software system. Wait a minute, an Internet-based POS system? What is it and how can it help your business? A web-based POS system runs on your Internet browser and is hosted by the vendor. In contrast, a standard POS system runs the software on your server.

So why should you shift to an online point of sale software system? First, vital data is stored on your vendor’s computer, Is your data more secure than if it was archived on your server? Some will argue that your data is protected and you don’t need to spend money on creating backups of your records or software. The host is also responsible for conducting maintenance tasks such as upgrades, backups and re-configurations, freeing up you or your staff for other tasks.

Second, you save money on both hardware and software. You don’t need to install any programs on your computers since all the software is on the vendor’s server. Web-based POS software also has lower hardware requirements than standard systems. You can run it on any computer that has an Internet connection.

Web-based point of sale software is also cheaper since you only need to pay a monthly subscription fee for its use rather than having to buy or lease an entire package of hardware and software components. The subscription also includes technical support, updates and maintenance.

If you have multiple stores to monitor, an online system allows you to access the data from all the stores. In a standard POS system, the data would be stored on the server of the individual stores and would still have to be collated. Web-based POS means you can access your data from any computer that has an Internet connection, hence it can easily be displayed off-site for conferences and trade shows.

Online POS can also help improve customer service by providing data on their preferences. For example, a certain item could be popular at a particular branch as opposed to other branches. The program would provide a signal that more of that item should be kept on inventory at that store. Also, if a customer is looking for an item that is not available at your branch, you could either direct him to another branch that has the good in stock or order it for him if he is willing to wait.

Web-based POS is also more secure than traditional systems. If your computer is attacked by a virus or breached by a hacker, your data is still secure. You merely have to bring in a new unit and connect it to the Internet and you’re in business again. Remember that the data is not stored on your computer but on the vendor’s server.

Of course, this doesn’t mean that you should totally ignore security precautions. You should still follow basic safety measures such as turning on your computer’s firewall, limiting access to the system, using anti-virus programs and most of all, never storing sensitive information such as customer’s credit card numbers on your computer.

So, it seems that web-based point of sale software is ideal for your needs. Of course, you should go for it but not before exploring all of your options and then deciding which system will generate the most profits and cost savings for your business.

Firearms have always been a multi-million dollar industry in America, but lately business has been booming. Shooting ranges and gun stores have recently reported a surge in gun sales over fears that the Obama administration will introduce harsh new laws restricting gun ownership, as well as concerns that the ongoing US economic recession will fuel a crime wave.

This reaction should not be surprising given the fact that the Second Amendment of the US Constitution protects the right to keep and bear arms. This has been one of the most contentious provisions in the US charter, which pro-gun advocates have used to fight off attempts to impose gun control even in the face of an increasing number of firearms-related violence incidents.

The sudden increase in demand has seen many gun dealers experiencing inventory shortages of both firearms and ammunition. It has also raised the question of how they can monitor their stocks. Fortunately, programmers have been aware of these needs and have long been meeting them by creating various types of gun software to help dealers, collectors and law enforcement personnel keep track of their guns. 

These software packages monitor dealers’ and collectors’ inventories by creating databases of important information such as model, make, price, serial number as well as photos of the gun itself. The software also allows users to generate reports for the use of insurance companies and the police in case the collection is stolen or damaged. Other packages also include a feature that will allow users to store data on the reloads of every firearm.

Inventory gun software is also making it easier to buy a gun. Before a buyer can purchase a weapon in the US, he or she has to undergo a criminal background check. To help make this process easier, some software designers have crafted inventory programs that can also link to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System. This would enable dealers to easily check to see if a buyer has a criminal record.

The boom in gun sales has also fueled growth in related industries such as firing ranges. If you are a gun instructor who wants to monitor the scores of your students, there is also software available that will allow you to do just that. This software will allow you to create an easily searchable database of firearms scores. Other packages allow users to compile reports such as annual summaries of scores per employees and lists to top scorers.

If you want to join the bandwagon by becoming a dealer, you can also buy gun software packages that can make the process easier. This software takes you through the process of getting your Federal Firearms License so you can become a gun dealer.  It will also provide you with printable copies of all the necessary forms as well as a software module for maintaining an inventory of your gun collection. You can also access online help if you need it.

These gun software packages have brought together gun buffs and computer users, two groups that would seem to have little in common. But with their many useful features and user-friendly interfaces even the most Neanderthal gun nut would see the need to move into the digital age.

POSitive Firearms Manager!

Positive software company has released, Firearms Manager for the gun store dealers,  this is a customized version of PRM (Positive Retail Manager) Pos Software for gun stores.

POSitive Firearms Manager with include ”bound book” section for the initial release and use the software created by the ATF to handle the electronic 4473 form. Our research has shown that this solution should be more than adequate for our target customers. Unlike othe gun software Our firearms software will include the full capabilities of PRM will be available, so PFM will be one of the most modern and flexible POS solutions available to gun stores.

POSitive Retail Manager is a sophisticated yet intuitive point-of-sale system built around Microsoft’s SQL, a robust and scalable database. SQL allows PRM to work with many popular third-party programs, such as Crystal Reports. Track customers and inventory, create invoices and purchases orders, print AR statements and process Accounts Payables, even manage a complete internet web store all from within POSitive Retail Manager!

 PRM contains many features designed to save you time and improve your business processes, including:

• Touch Screen support is built-in, including a full-featuresdTouch Screen editor
• Advanced Search rapidly finds customers and inventory when creating invoices
• Category Defaults make entering new inventory significantly faster than other POS systems
• Use Store Divisions to further refine your sales reports (for example, you might have a Retail Division and a Landscaping Division)
• Data can be exported to a variety formats
• Clerks can be trained within minutes to ring up an invoice and take tender

Magnolia Pool supply, Inc. has choosen Mdtcs to supply and support its franchisees with Positive Retail Manager pos software and hardware.  The company currently uses positive retail manager (PRM) for its (10) company owned stores.

POSitive Retail Manager is a sophisticated yet intuitive point-of-sale system built around Microsoft’s SQL, a robust and scalable database. SQL allows PRM to work with many popular third-party programs, such as Crystal Reports. Track customers and inventory, create invoices and purchases orders, print AR statements and process Accounts Payables, even manage a complete internet web store all from within POSitive Retail Manager!

 PRM contains many features designed to save you time and improve your business processes, including:

 Touch Screen support is built-in, including a full-featuresdTouch Screen editor

• Advanced Search rapidly finds customers and inventory when creating invoices
• Category Defaults make entering new inventory significantly faster than other POS systems
• Use Store Divisions to further refine your sales reports (for example, you might have a Retail Division and a Landscaping Division)
• Data can be exported to a variety formats
• Clerks can be trained within minutes to ring up an invoice and take tender

 POSitive can grow as your business grows. Adding additional stores? Enhanced Multi-Site functionality provides the Master site access to all data from all sites, using data replication. Need to create a report not found in POSitive?  You can create customized reports with Crystal Reports.  Need to create your own e-commerce web site? Sign up for POSitive Commerce and control your entire web site from within PRM.

Aimi gun software was designed for the gun shop owner in mind, It includes everything that a gun shop requires for firearms sales and need to operate their businesses.

These features are included with no additional costs.

e-4473 built-in (electronic form 4473).

FBI-NICS Instant Check With Only A Click Of A Button.

Muli-Sales form built-in.

NFA-Forms 1,2,3,4,5,6,6A,6I,6II,9,10,11 built-in.

eTransfer – Dealer to Dealer network.

Biometrics Features.

Never Lose Your Inventory With Our back-up System.

Keeps 3 FFL Boundbook in a single environment.

Print Bar Codes.

Print Customer Mailing labels.

Network on multi-computers.

Lost/Stolen form built-in.

List to online Auctions in seconds.

Destroyed firearms report built-in

Safe back-up system.

Restore Database in seconds.

Assign access rights.

Assign Users.

Print Reports.

Export Database.

Serve up to 10 computers.

Manage all functions remotely.

Update/change inventory.

Built-in SMART Technology for workstation.

Track all transactions.

Built on a large business Database.

Fast Invoicing with an interface that’s easy to learn and use.

Handle Layaways and Special Orders with one button conversion to Invoices.

Real-time inventory stock tracking, with the ability to track backorders.

Automatically create an Order List based on minimum stock levels.

Assign Promotional Pricing to inventory by date, grouped by Department, Category, or Item.

Assign unlimited multiple vendors per item, track different costs per vendor.

Supports multiple SKUs per item.

Customize stock tracking with User Defined Fields.

Integrated Accounting with Checkbook, GL Journal, Accounts Payable and Accounts Receivable.

Track Customer Purchases, Pending Work, Special Orders.

E-mail Marketing allows you to create targeted e-mail lists based on products sold or other criteria.

Employee management with Security Lockouts and time card reporting.

Flexible payment methods, including Cash, Checks, Integrated Credit Card Processing, Gift Cards, Accounts Receivable.

Full cycle Purchase Order generation and receiving.

Hundreds of built in reports, including Profit reports, Price Lists, and Sales tax.

Security Camera Interface (Optional) with transaction detail overlay.

Full Service and repair tracking for firearms or other service items.

Track Returns to Vendors with complete RMA tracking.

Integrated Label Designer for printing inventory labels and shelf tags

Customize 40 column or full page receipts with built-in forms editor.

E-mail purchase orders or invoices using built-in HTML e-mail.

E-commerce-run your website through your eStore Application in real time.

This is the most advanced gun software for FFL Dealers and gun shop owners that includes an integrated, ATF approved, compliance solution that handles all required forms electronically. Coloseum Software has been in the forefront when it comes to gun software.

gun-software

AIMI eBOOK is an advanced firearms inventory software solution. FBI-NICS instant check with only a click of a button. Picture inventory of firearms. Electronic signatures. Find any firearm in seconds. Built-in video tutorials. Never lose your inventory with our back-up system. 4473 built in. Print bar codes. Print customer mailing labels. List to online auctions is seconds.

Aimi eBook gun inventory software will replace your manual BOUND BOOK inventory system with the most state of the art software. e-form 4473 built in(electronic form 4473). The first Paperless e-4473.

The Advanced Inventory Management Intelligence (AIMI) is the most powerful software ever designed by Coloseum Software. Linked directly to NICS (National Instant Criminal Background Check System) our software delivers accurate and high-speed performance that is essential for every FFL dealer.

This is the most user friendly software available, with  help included! Gun software for gun owners, collectors, dealers, etc.  Great for all Gun lovers.

AIMI eBOOK runs in – Windows 2000/XP and VISTA. Built on a powerful database platform, you can use AIMI for BATF Bound Book Tracking and Inventory Management System without loss of data. Because you are linked to NICS you can confirm each sale and customer instantly and cuts your processing time by 87% ( from 27 minutes to 8 minutes)

Features :

• FBI-NICS Instant Check With Only A Click Of A Button.
• Picture Inventory Of Firearms.
• Electronic Signatures.
• Find Any Firearm In Seconds.
• Easy To Use.
• How To Use Lessons Built It.
• Never Lose Your Inventory With Our back-up System.
• 4473 Built in.
• Print Bar Codes.
• Print Customer Mailing labels.
• Network on multi-computers.
• Free Tech Support (online only for AIMI eBOOK Lite).
• List to online Auctions is seconds.
• And Much, Much More!

Aimi eStore is an integrated pos software with coloseum software Aimi eBook.

AIMI eBOOK is an advanced firearms inventory software solution. FBI-NICS instant check with only a click of a button. Picture inventory of firearms. Electronic signatures. Find any firearm in seconds. Built-in video tutorials. Never lose your inventory with our back-up system. 4473 built in. Print bar codes. Print customer mailing labels. List to online auctions is seconds.

Aimi eBook Lite has all the same functions of the PRO version. The Lite version is designed for a single computer store. This version is not designed for a mutli-computers store. You can upgrade in the future. Show the Government you are a serious firearms business with the most advanced software on the market. Change the way you do business today.