Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

Sounds like you have the right approach. You would be wise to start off small and get some runs on the board with small retail prior to committing the resources required to get into the big box world.
As a big box retailer I am always looking to ensure that I am working my store real estate to an optimum level. Your point of sale stand will have to drive sales. Think of it like you are renting space within the big box. You need to make your return on that rent work. That is how the buyer will be evaluating the resources (space) allocated to your pos.

Once you think you have a good execution before you commit to anything get into the buyers office and find out what constraints he has on point of sale display collateral. There will be guidelines and these will no doubt change from retailer to retailer.

Use you size and your "newness" to your advantage by getting into the buying offices and asking for advice. Buying offices are full of egos (I know I have one too) and you will probably find one of the industry wont be able to help themselves and take you under their wing.

Good luck and keep pushing forward. Remember you know more about your product than anyone else.

Alex



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Alex Cochran
The Marketers Mechanic
http://www.alexcochran.com.au

http://www.universaldesignrenovations.com/wordpress

Using Displays are a great way to get your foot in the door with a retailer. Working for various manufacturers of displays, I can tell you that it is the manufacturer that pays for the displays, but amortized into the price of goods. Therefore, the retailer is buying the package. However, using a display can and will increase your sales at the point-of-purchase which of course is a win win situation for you and your customers. The best and most economical way is to pre-sell the displays into the stores prior to manufacturing. Using sell sheets, shows the customer what they are getting and what your artwork will look like in their stores. Most display companies can create and render display designs with your product. Usually then a prototype is produced prior to production. by pre-selling the display, it will give  you a better idea as to the qty to order. This will also send any red flags from the retailer as far as how much space is allowed, etc.

Good Luck and let me know if I can help.

jack

I was looking for an overly simple answer to an overly simple question for someone experienced in working with big box retailers. I want to know if it`s even worth it to begin negotiations with a national retailer. If I`m currently selling my product, (a toy) on the internet for $30 and want to take it to Target, what should I expect that to drop my revenue to (per unit). For sake of argument let`s say my COGS are $5 now so I`m making >80% gross margins from my web site sales now.

the most beautiful POS imho is the ChikPOS one :)

i have to admit with you that there is NOT a lot of VERY good softwrae out there for retailers. a lot of it is BUGGY and it feels like its written so unprofessionally, by people who dont realy have a business bottom line in mind.

first, DONT go for a free/cheap system. You`re wasting your time, and eventually, you`ll crash your system, and have to REWRITE your product databsae (wasting TONS of time)

second, DONT go for a linear system. Go for a graphical oriented system, NOT intuit quickbook, microsoft pos or myob pos.

so your choices are Radiant Systems Aloha, or ChikPOS. The price of ChikPOS means the Aloha system simply SUCKS (it`s double the price, and half the features!)

if you dont believ eme look at the chikpos features:
   1.  Multi-language: Not so much a benefit for English-speaking countries, but say in Hong Kong Disneyland, where tourists are English-speaking, but staff only speak Chinese, dual language support means your staff can communicate with customers more easily.  It takes away the pain of “language problems”.
   2. Superior business reports: Whereas most software will offer “business reports”, “decision-oriented reports” will help a managers make decisions.  It takes away the pain of understanding complex business reports (such as ratios), and tells the manager what to do!
   3. Hardware lock: A lot of very good software is locked to hardware.  As an off-the-shelf product, this supports all general POS hardware.  It takes the pain out of hardware/software compatability.
   4. Terminal prompt: All Personal Computers are GUI’s (graphical user interfaced), so why shouldn’t POS software be?  It takes the pain out of typing, so that staff can work more effectively and efficiently
   5. External monitor support/HD video support: It can now display 1920 x 1080 Full HD Blu-ray quality video.  It takes the pain out of convincing customers your store is up-to-date.  You can also now replace the expensive display pole with similarly priced high definition screens!
   6. XBRL support: Already mandated by the U.S.A Government, this is soon to become an Australian standard too.  This will take the pain out of complying with costly accounting standards.
   7. Online store support: Supports automatic generation of an online store, which thus as a CRM can allow reviews, show top sellers, online brochures, online orders, mass email, club cards.  This will take the pain of “going online”.
   8. Related products: Shows reltaed products.  This will take the pain out of advertisers selling complementary (also known as “networked”) products.
   9. Corporate chat support: Allows employees to find help through chat, rather than using voice-over speaker.  Takes the pain out of distracting other workers, who may not need to know the “shout” information.
  10. Customer information support: Why let customers guess the time whilst in store, and guess the news, of what’s happening in the outside world?  CIS will provide customers with time-critical information such as these.  Takes the pain out of losing customers who are time-bound.

ChikPOS has been fantastic. I`ve had NO problems with it whatsoever.  It`s a Jeremy Shum Invent so its a quality Aussie product too - helping the economy.  The features are also endless... multi-language support, managerial decision making reports, not locked to hardware, fully multi-touch (like iphone), external monitor support, xbrl compliant, auto-generation of online store, can advertise "related products", corporate chat support, show time/date/news on external screen... it`s just top stuff. AND it`s Windows 7 compatible!

Hi beibeijt,

I`ve been selling displays and point-of-sale materials for over 20 years. For the most part the retailer does not participate in the cost of the display. However,  you can build in the cost of the display into your cost of goods and sell it as a total package. It used to be that the retailer cared about your promotional activities to support the launch and to make sure that the product sells. Retailers such as Walmart works with parameters regarding the display, (ie. how much floor space it takes up, the positioning, and the amount of product that needs to sell through. I`ve produced displays for pet care manufacturers and can help  you with this one.

Thanks,

Jack

Hi,
I sued to work in a design firm and it was always the manufacturer the one that paid for the POP and provide it to the reatilers.L

Point of sale payment software enables merchants to collect payments via debit and credit cards instantly when the customer pays instead of waiting to submit credit cards payments at the end of each day. Many POS hardware can be purchased separately as plug-and-play devices from companies such as the POS Guys.

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E-Commerce Online Payment Solutions.

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Its always the product manufacturer who provides you the screen...

but its up to the retailer, what are its requirements...

Pos software 

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