A linen retailer based predominantly in the north of England carries stock of over 6,000 different product lines and operates from over 30 stores throughout the north of the country. The business sources its products from all over the world and due to its extensive buying power is able to bring to its customers up to date ranges of quality products at very competitive prices.

A few years ago the first store on Spain's Costa Blanca was opened, and this was soon followed by a second store on the Costa Calida. There are now more than 5 stores in Spain and the company is branching out in Portugal.

These stores almost exclusively serve the "ex-pat" community as the British see bedroom and bathroom linen as fashion accessories for the home, a need and a market that was not previously well served by the local retail network.

To keep up with the pace of its expansion, the retailer needed to replace its aging instore system based on first generation retail software linked to old style cash tills. The company has a long term relationship with a systems integrator and software provider and so turned to them for advice on updating the system. The systems integrator and software provider recommended upgrading the existing system with the latest POS and back office software, implemented on a platform of field-proven, quality hardware.

Over 45 EPOS systems were installed across the 39 stores. The POS application is the core of the in-store system, while the hardware in each store is a 15" touchscreen POS terminal with a receipt printer and cash drawer.

Each till has also now been installed with retail back office application, which importantly gives full visibility of group stock from each sales location.

The company headquarters run the head office system which is linked to all tills in all sales outlets and is able to provide a wide range of network wide functionality and detailed management reporting.

Business benefits

The head office store support which previously helped store staff locate items from stock within the company network has now been able to close on Saturdays and focus more on planning and efficiencies due to the new visibility of all network stock from within the new system on each till.

This solution has enhanced the planning of purchase orders and direct-to-store supplier deliveries as the system provides much more real-time information on fast moving product lines per store, reducing the need for store transfers and centralised large inventory. Where store transfers are required they can now be requested easily and planned more effectively using the company's small fleet of delivery vehicles.

The previous till hardware was becoming limited to the business in terms of its lack of flexibility, it was also becoming difficult to service and support. The touchscreen based solution is much more user friendly, with bright graphics and a sensitive interface. This hardware will support all of the company's future expansion plans in terms of additional software functionality and peripherals to be added (chip and pin).

Future Developments- Expanding into Europe

As the usage of the system gains momentum and expansion into Europe continues, the retailer will implement more of the retail suite features helping stock replenishment, optimisation of minimum stock levels and employee time keeping.

The company is also considering the installation of Broadband services at store level to provide even more real-time facilities from the system. On-line chip and Pin payments via broadband will enhance both security and the speed of transaction at the till.