bake - June 2013 - 24

processing company, we would get our statements at

instance, you might notice that your cookies are actually

the end of the month and honestly, we did not under-

most popular in late morning rather than in the after-

stand what we were paying for.” he says. “They would

noon, despite merchandising efforts. As a result, you

have a credit card fee, a usage fee, a monthly fee. It

can re-adjust your merchandising strategy to embrace

was so convoluted. As a small business, we just like it

the most popular hour of sales of your cookie category.

straight and easy.”

In addition, this is not limited to a broad category. These
analytics can be as speciﬁc as individual items available

Jeanette says switching to Square was a pretty

in the bakery.

obvious solution to their POS dilemma. Easing the
transaction process and allowing merchants to

Tablet POS Systems: Merchant-focused

strengthen their relationship with customers, Square

ShopKeep is a perfect example of a POS system

is a prime example of how advanced POS systems

that is highly focused on the day-to-day concerns

that pair smartphones and tablets with cashiers are

of merchants, offering stats, analytics, and features

able to enhance the shopping experience.

that are tremendously valuable to members of the
food-service industry. It’s an easy-to-use and ﬂex-

Signing up for Square is a simple process. Users

ible point-of-sale solution used by more than

receive a free secure card reader in the mail that

3,000 locations to manage inventory, customers,

will attach to the earphone jack of an iPhone or

and facilitate transactions, all from an iPad. In addi-

iPad. The setup requires downloading the free

tion, the subscription-based service includes unlim-

Square Register app and then linking to your busi-

ited seven-days-a-week customer care by phone,

ADVERTISEMENT
ness’ bank account. Swiped

email and online chat, ensuring its customers are

payments are deposited to

never in the dark and always able to get the help

your bank account within one

they need promptly.

to two business days.
“We have a dashboard app that runs on iPhone and
Analytics

Android phones. The app allows the managers to see

Sales analytics are also available

their sales in real-time on their phones. The numbers

in around one to two business

are simple, but having that right in your pocket,

days with Square. The real-

so you can always check those sales, no matter

time turnaround on these stats

where you are, gives you so much power to under-

allows merchants to consider

stand things like staffing or ingredients,” says Jason

which days drive the most sales,

Richelson, founder and CEO of ShopKeep. “It gives

what time of day most sales are

you accessibility to those simple numbers right in

made, and when certain prod-

your pocket.

ucts are selling the most. With
this valuable information, business owners are able

“We are 110% focused on the merchant. We track time

to completely re-evaluate their sales schedule and

clocks, inventory, food costing, ingredient tracking,

merchandising strategy. “Our sales are so constant,

sales reporting, we have a QuickBooks add-on.

that I literally see it the next day. It’s enormously

Basically, all the things you need to run your store,”

valuable, just for me to keep up on quarterly

Richelson says. “We’re an open platform, so we want

taxes or things like that,” Burgett says. “I’m not

people to build extensions onto ShopKeep to help

waiting for a credit card statement to come in the

retailers choose speciﬁc functions that we maybe

mail or extra paper work for me to deal with. It’s

don’t handle.”

right there.”
Another thing to keep in mind is that a tablet POS
Being able to keep an accurate and timely pulse

system like ShopKeep is able to advance with updates

on the sales at your bakery is crucial to developing

and extensions to more accurately cater to the needs

management and merchandising strategies. For

of each user.

24 < JUN 2013 | bakemag.com
http://www.bakemag.com
bake - June 2013

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