Specialist kitchenware retailer looks set to double its business using specialist management IT systems
Specialist kitchenware retailer looks set to double its business using specialist management IT systems
Steamer Trading has grown from one store on Alfriston High Street in Sussex to a chain of 27 stores across the South of England today supported by key retail management IT systems.
Fresh from opening two new stores and a transactional website in 2012 and a further five stores in progress for 2013, the company is on target to double in size within five years.
Steamer has used retail management and electronic point-of-sale (EPoS) systems from retail provider Futura at its headquarters in Lewes since 2001, and from just four stores the system has grown with them. “Futura has proven extremely reliable and stable and has easily adapted to our needs as we expand,” explained Ben Phillips, Steamer Trading managing director.
Maximising return on investment
The quality of management information, accuracy of stock control and the ease of use of the PoS system continue to be important factors for the company. But, helping to maintain low overheads is also crucial – and Futura has enabled them to grow without having to multiply head office resources. “During a period of 12 new store openings we’ve only needed to add two staff members at head office,” confirmed Phillips.
The company uses sales information history to streamline store opening processes by enabling the team judges stock requirements based on the size and profile of the new store, compared to the allocation profile of an existing one. Then, using Futura sales data, merchandising managers determine which core stock items will perform best and the presentation quantities needed to place in store and on the shelves. The team can copy across optimum stock levels and, using Futura’s recommended reordering functionality, replenish stores as soon as they reach their minimum stock requirement on any one of 10,000 current stock-keeping units (SKUs).
Steamer carries a high number of stock lines and also use Futura to manage its warehouse stock, while integrating with the PoS. A new link between Futura and the online store also integrates stock allocations to satisfy web orders from instore and updates visibility of current stock levels.
Reporting and financials focus
Future plans include investing in Futura’s business intelligence system Analyser, to improve management information and reporting and to link directly to the accounts system to provide further efficiencies and control.
“Futura’s point of sale does exactly what you want it to do, it’s reliable, quick and it works," added Phillips. "Often it’s the straightforward things that are underestimated. For us, the fact that Futura works well for cashing up, managing stock and transferring stock, and that it does all this beautifully, means it’s a great system to use."
