Mar/Apr 19 - ChannelVision Magazine

L et’s face it, the channel can be somewhat stifling. It’s easy to box yourself in selling certain so- lutions and overlook lucrative opportu- nities when they are sitting right under your nose – such as when grabbing a coffee at your local bodega. During the last few years small, independent grocery stores have been experiencing a steady decline in sales, as customers are increasingly migrat- ing to online services, as well as large chain supermarkets offering lower prices, broader selections and now automated kiosks. The most recent study from the National Grocers Association found that sales were down for 50.7 percent of the 139 independent grocers sur- veyed. The survey also showed that same-store sales for 2017 dipped by 0.6 percent. Fortunately, grocers have a pow- erful ally in National Retail Solutions (NRS), which has created a robust point of sale (POS) platform specifi- cally designed to help independent retailers boost sales and gain new customers. The NRS POS solution offers a remote web portal and mobile app, which makes it easy for store owners to run advertisements and promotions, as well as manage store operations. The POS terminal provides mer- chants with tools to control costs, optimize inventory and process trans- actions more efficiently. Owners also benefit from daily reports that help determine which items are selling the most, and when it’s time to restock cer- tain products. For agents, distributors and referral partners that target, or would like to tar- get, the independent retail vertical, NRS offers an enticing partner program, said Diana Stern, senior director of marketing and sales support at NRS. “The NRS point of sale system is a robust piece of equipment with a pow- erful software interface,” said Stern. “It’s also ex- traordinarily easy to sell. We offer uncapped poten- tial and residual income opportunities from both the POS and its integrated mer- chant services platform.” NRS requires no financial outlay for agents, the company says. Plus, NRS provides training and support to help drive sales. Partners are assigned a relationship manager who will guide them through training and provide one-on-one support. The POS ecosystem offers partners and agents multiple opportunities over assorted revenue stream pipelines – not just commissions on the point of sale itself but also residual commissions on monthly recurring service fees, as well as credit card processing and merchant services. The solution retails for $1,299, al- though the company occasionally runs bundled promotions, which include the dual-facing screen POS unit, printer, scanner and cash drawer. An optional scale, which integrates seamlessly, is sold separately for an additional fee. The monthly license and service fee is $19.95. This fee covers customer support, software license and license usage, software updates and market- ing and promotional materials. It also covers repair or replacements for barcode scanners, cash drawers and receipt printers, as deemed neces- sary by reasonable wear and tear, per the terms delineated in the signed contract. NRS offers self-installation with a $100 rebate, or the company will send an installer out to the location to set up and train employees how to use it. NRS also is committed to growth and innovation. According to Stern, NRS regularly releases system updates. “We are constantly improving our product as a need arises, for example, adding a panic button which opens the cash drawer and simultaneously gives merchants the ability to silently alert local authorities; a built in POS customer-facing camera that may be integrated with the panic button, plus beacon technology and a consumer app for easy ordering.” The company also has introduced a fresh salad partner program for bo- dega and convenience stores, and is in the process of launching NRS PAY, a credit card processing service. o channel management Retail Play to Pay NRS offers partners a foot into independent retail doors By Gerald Baldino NRS point of sale bundle 102 Channel Vision | March - April, 2019