There are few retail or food service industries more fast-moving than your local coffee shop. Unless you’re running an aggressively hipster establishment — the kind that specializes in hand-crafting the perfect, gourmet latte with fresh-squeezed almond milk that assures its clientele the result is worth the wait — the name of the game for most […]
Ahh, the gift card. That classic capitalistic invention that makes every recipient say “Thanks?” Why give cash when you can give something that works exactly like cash…but only at one business (if you remember to bring it at all)? But, in all seriousness, gift cards are an extremely valuable and important aspect for small businesses. […]
There are a lot of reason why ShopKeep is among our most recommended point of sale systems for small businesses. This product remains one of the more affordable options on the market while giving you a wide variety of features to help your retail or restaurant establishment function efficiently. Chances are, if you’ve decided to […]
When you scan or insert your debit or credit card at the mall or your local convenience store, you probably don’t put a lot of thought into what type of machine is reading and processing your payment. And really, why should you? To consumers, they’re all pretty much the same (except for maybe those machines […]
We don’t typically think about what happens in the moments after we swipe our debit and/or credit cards. More often than not, we simply run or insert our card into the credit card machine and hope that the cashier doesn’t use the next few moments to initiate small talk. The number in our checking account […]
Not every POS software program is suitable for every industry. If you’re running a retail business, you’re going to suffer from a system that’s designed for a foodservice environment. Not only will you be inundated with tools you don’t need (like table-mapping and check-splitting), but you’ll sorely lack the features that could make or break […]
iPads: “They’re not just a way for tourists to awkwardly take photos anymore!” (That is just one of the hundreds of rejected slogans I’ve pitched to Apple over the years, but I’m still optimistic. One of these days, I’ll hit the sweet spot and retire on the marketing royalties.) In all seriousness, the iPad has been […]
The restaurant industry is a hectic environment with a ton of moving parts. From taking orders to printing tickets to splitting checks, every function needs to work seamlessly if you’re to maximize your sales potential — and stay alive. Studies show that nearly 60% of restaurants close after three years, so choosing the right point […]
Full disclosure: I have no dog in the Android vs. Apple turf wars that threaten to tear us apart. I have an Android phone and a Chromebook, but my wife owns an iPhone and a MacBook. Somehow, despite being unequally yoked, we have made things work. I respect her desire for functionality and user-friendliness. She […]
Who doesn’t love stuff for free? If you’re raising your hand right now, not only do you look silly, but you’re also a liar. Go to any major sporting event that features America’s greatest contribution to society — the t-shirt cannon — and you’ll see just how much people love free crap. That said, as […]
