On February 4th, the Canadian Mint stopped circulating the penny to financial institutions, marking the beginning of the end of the penny in Canada. Retailers have also been encouraged to send back any pennies that they currently have on hand. Although the penny is only valued at 1 cent, it costs 1.5 cents to produce in Canada. While it will save the government $11 million a year, how will businesses handle no longer having pennies? With the nickel now being the lowest coin currency, how will they handle a bill that suggests they give 3 cents back on cash transactions?

Thankfully, on March 1st, pcAmerica is releasing a version of their software that supports a cash rounding functionality for Canada. Cash Register Express™ (CRE), a retail point of sale (POS) system that helps increase efficiency and accuracy, lower operating costs, and helps you manage your inventory and Restaurant Pro Express™ (RPE), a touch screen restaurant POS system that provides fast operation, accurate order taking and detailed reports with an easy-to-use interface will both allow staff members to easily enter the transaction amount and round to the nearest nickel, dime or dollar. For example, if the cash transaction total is $1.03, CRE™ and RPE™ will swiftly bring that total to $1.05, eliminating the need to pay with a penny.

Canada isn’t alone. They followed Sweden, the Philippines, Australia, Brazil, Mexico, and Hong Kong as countries that have gotten rid of the penny. Politicians in the United States have also discussed the possibility of eliminating the penny because it currently costs 2.4 cents to produce. If the U.S. chooses to end circulation of the penny also, companies with Cash Register Express™ or Restaurant Pro Express™ will be well-equipped for the new normal.

To learn more about pcAmerica products, visit www.pcamerica.com.

Who doesn’t love self-service? Everyone has grumbled at grocery stores about slow service, but now you can scan and check out your own groceries, or place your own order and skip the line at restaurants. It’s amazing how much time people can save by just doing things themselves.

Despite our new found self-reliance, many shoppers still consider “customer service” on a face-to-face level, interacting with store employees when making purchasing decisions. Some may feel that eCommerce and online web stores are less personal and the service element is lacking.

But is that true? Not if you ask the companies who run the top-ranked websites for customer service like Amazon, Zappos, Overstock or L.L. Bean. These companies have been ranked by consumers in the top 10 customer service in a 2011 study conducted the National Retail Foundation.
How can you help distinguish your web store with a high level of customer service without the personal interaction?

Proper training: If customer service is important in your store, make sure it is on your website as well. Train employees that work on eCommerce transactions to give online customers the same level of attention they would provide in-store. When customers call or email with complaints, encourage staff to help them find a hassle-free solution, whether it’s walking them through some troubleshooting, offering a small discount or sending a customer a free shipping label to make a return. If price matching is done in the store, make sure your eCommerce department has this ability as well.

Have the answers: It’s not cost efficient to have customers calling in all day long with questions about products, store policies or to get other information. It’s important to maintain a comprehensive, detailed “Frequently Asked Questions” section on your site. Be sure to address the most common inquiries—such as payment and returns, sizing charts or troubleshooting information– and update this section frequently.

Make it easy to find you: If the FAQ doesn’t help the customer, make sure they can get in touch with a live person, whether it’s via web chat, email or phone. This information should be easy to find and also give the hours that representatives are available.

pcAmerica’s new e-commerce interface, powered by NitroSell is available in the latest version of Cash Register Express™. Please contact your pcAmerica representative at 1-800-722-6374 for more information about how you can integrate e-commerce with your retail store.

In an article titled, “My Social Network is Your Showroom,” pcAmerica CEO David Gosman discussed show-rooming, QR codes and social networking. In the December 2012 issue of connect Magazine, Gosman explained how retailers are utilizing show-rooming and the information from QR codes on their social networking sites.

Show-rooming is a new phenomenon where consumers view a product in a store but then buy from another company online because of pricing, stock levels or convenience. During this year’s holiday season, Target® placed QR codes on shelf tags next to their top-20 toys. Consumers were then able to scan the QR code with their smart phone, order right from the device and have it shipped for free right to their home.

Since people love “getting a deal,” and many people share those deals on Facebook and other social networking sites, consumers can scan the QR code and instantly share it on their Facebook wall. This feature allows their friends to know exactly what they’d be getting and how they can get the same exact deal.

Read the full article here.

In the November 2012 issue of RSPA’s connect Magazine, pcAmerica CEO David Gosman spoke on the topic of “showrooming” and how it can help and hurt retailers. Showrooming is the act of examining an item in-store and then price-shopping it online. It has been an eye-opener for many brick and mortar retailers as they have been forced to rethink how they engage their customers in-store.

With new technology from Red Laser, customers can scan a product and can instantly view product price, availability, promotions, related products and services, and even the local store’s open-box store levels to give them a lower priced option. Red Laser can also use store loyalty card numbers to further personalize the experience. Armed with this new technology, retailers can dramatically change the conversations happening inside of their stores.

Read the full article in connect Magazine here.

pcAmerica CEO David Gosman attended the Retail Solutions Providers Association’s (RSPA) 2013 INSPIRE Leadership Summit from January 20-23. The invite-only summit took place at the Santa Barbara Beach and Golf Resort in Curacao.

“RSPA Inspire is an important industry event that attracts some of the most influential executives in the retail industry,” said Mr. Gosman. “I had a great time attending and hearing more about the latest trends and upcoming developments.”

In 2011, pcAmerica was named a RSPA Certified Retail Technology Provider. This certification recognizes the company for ethical and fair practices and for standing behind the products and services it sells and supports.

The RSPA is the only association dedicated to the retail technology industry. Its members include resellers, distributors, hardware manufacturers, software developers, consultants and service providers who bring retail technology solutions to the marketplace.

A recent Morgan Stanley study estimates that by 2016, eCommerce transactions will exceed $1 trillion worldwide. eMarketer.com notes that the number of online shoppers in the US alone will climb to 175 million in the same year.

There’s billions to be made, so it’s important to review your online store, make sure it’s up-to-date and get ready for some serious shopping.

Make it easy to spend money: A well-designed, attractive site that is easy to navigate and make purchases ensures that customers will complete the sale. The longer it takes for a shopper to add an item to their cart and pay for their purchases, the more likely it is that they will change their mind and leave the page without completing the transaction.

Include as many product details as you can: People who are purchasing an item on your site may or may not have used it before or even seen it in person. Without holding the item in their hands, trying it on or checking its measurements, shoppers have to rely on the information on your site to help them decide whether to make a purchase.

It’s imperative to include a description of each item, with as much information as you can, including measurements (especially important for artwork or furniture), materials and shipping weight. Multiple images of the product from all different angles also help shoppers make informed decisions and decrease the likelihood of returns.

Don’t hide your return policy: Keep your customers happy by being upfront—literally—with your store rules and return policy. It should be easy to find information about making returns, including time limits, refund tender and relevant shipping charges.

pcAmerica’s new e-commerce interface, powered by NitroSell is available in the latest version of Cash Register Express™. Please contact your pcAmerica representative at 1-800-722-6374 for more information about how you can integrate e-commerce with your retail store.

News about polar ice caps melting faster than originally estimated, a heavy smog cover over Los Angeles and Beijing and a new brand of super-storms, possibly spurred by environmental changes, have sounded alarms around the world.

The environment is starting to show serious signs of wear and tear, and many restaurants and retailers have begun to consider how they can go green to appeal to a new brand of eco-conscious consumers while reducing their own carbon footprint.

Entire companies have been built on producing stylish reusable bags for shoppers to bring to the store. Rewarding patrons who bring their own bags—trendy or not–with a monetary discount, usually 5 or 10 cents per bag, will go a long way towards reducing the amount of plastic waste a store produces. Shoppers will appreciate the discount, while more reusable bags mean lower supply costs for the store.

There are several other easy changes your business can make to reduce the strain on the power grid. Turn off computers when they are not in use, Consider installing sensor lighting in bathrooms that will turn on and off in a designated amount of time. Even asking customers at quick service restaurants to sort their trash into separate bins for recycling is better than sending everything to the landfill.

Emailed receipts are another way a store or restaurant can cut costs and waste. The more digital receipts businesses issue, the less receipt paper it needs to purchase. Each year, 9.6 million trees are cut down to produce receipt paper. In addition, the thermal paper that receipts are printed on cannot be recycled because it is heavily treated with chemicals.

A digital receipt is a huge bonus for shoppers. People are rarely able to keep track of all the receipts they receive, but these proofs of purchase are often required to make a return. Returns are less frustrating for shoppers who are able to locate the receipt in their email, and the ability to make hassle-free returns moves customer service lines faster and increases the chance that people will shop at the store again.

Please contact your account manager at pcAmerica at 1-800-722-6374 to find out how you can start issuing digital receipts.

If 2012 was the year of mobility in retail and restaurants, then 2013—even though we’re less than a month in—is quickly shaping up to be the year of eCommerce. If you haven’t thought about incorporating eCommerce into your operations, here are a few things to think about:

Attract customers anytime, anywhere

A web store is not bound by geographic limits, so shoppers can find your store through online searches and make purchases. Your online store is open 24 hours every day of the year, so you can make a sale in the middle of the night, when you’re on vacation or even while you’re sleeping.

Comparison shopping is easy

Your web store can list detailed information about each product and allow users to post customer reviews. Shoppers can learn about the pros and cons of their potential purchases and more effectively evaluate all of the possibilities.

Upsell without pressure

Online shoppers are not in a hurry, bound by time constraints or other distractions. They have plenty of time to look at each item, read about it and compare prices. This extra time gives stores the chance to upsell items by grouping products into categories such as “customers that bought product X also purchased….” Or “you may also like…” People can spend more time on your page without feeling pressured by employees, allowing them to shop for additional items.

pcAmerica’s new e-commerce interface, powered by NitroSell is available in the latest version of Cash Register Express™. Please contact your pcAmerica representative at 1-800-722-6374 for more information about how you can integrate e-commerce with your retail store.

Your time is valuable and work takes a lot of it, so it’s no surprise that “spend more time with friends and family” is one of the top ten New Year’s resolutions people make each year. If your resolution to devote more time to your life outside of work is already starting to look like it’s in jeopardy, it’s time to start looking for solutions.

Payroll eats a lot of time—and if you have ever spent days off working on payroll or had to cancel plans to do paperwork, it’s time to make some changes. pcAmerica’s new integrated payroll solution, available in its point of sale software packages, Cash Register Express™, Restaurant Pro Express™ and Cash Register Express™-Fuel Edition, reduce the amount of time spent working on payroll by gathering information directly from the point of sale database.

Manual time sheets and schedules can be discarded, as the POS system includes a time clock function that allows employees to clock in and out, accurately tracking their attendance, hours worked and paid/unpaid breaks. At the end of a pay period, owners and managers can review and submit this information directly from the POS system to Payroll City, which provides full-service, comprehensive payroll processing nationwide.

pcAmerica’s new payroll interface is available in the latest version of its point of sale software. A low monthly rate includes all payroll calculations, direct deposit and state and federal quarterly tax filings. For more information, please contact a pcAmerica representative at 1-800-722-6374.

pcAmerica products will be on display at the National Retail Federation’s (NRF) 102^nd Annual Convention at the Jacob K. Javits Convention in New York City from January 13^th-January 16^th. Known as “Retail’s BIG Show,” the annual NRF Convention is an event where the retail community gathers each year to network with peers and learn about new technologies impacting the retail industry.

Restaurant Pro Express™ and Cash Register Express™ will be featured in various booths at the show including Hewlett-Packard (#1617), Dell (#1741), Posiflex (1275), and ELO (436). Restaurant Pro Express™ is a touch screen restaurant point of sale system that provides fast operation, accurate order taking and detailed reports with an easy-to-use interface.  Cash Register Express™ helps increase efficiency and accuracy in the retail environment.

To learn more about pcAmerica’s products, visit www.pcamerica.com.