NGA Releases Results of Independent Grocers Economic Impact Study

The National Grocers Association (NGA) released the results of a study on the impact of independent grocers on America's economy. This groundbreaking research provides a clear picture of the key role independent grocers play at the national, state, and congressional district level.

 

The research was conducted by John Dunham and Associates, an economic and government relations research firm based out of New York. The report provides information independent grocers and wholesalers sales, jobs created, wages paid, and federal and state taxes paid. The study also measures the indirect impact and ripple effect of the independent channel on other industries. 

 Significant takeaways of the report include:

• 20,884 stores are operated by independent supermarket companies in every congressional district of the United States.
• Independent grocers are responsible for $129.5 billion in annual sales.
• Independent grocers employ 944,200 people, and pay over $30 billion in wages each year.
• An additional 569,380 jobs are created through re-spending of those wages or companies which support the supermarket industry.
• Independent supermarkets and their employees contribute $13.25 billion in taxes to the federal government, which is 1.73% of the total taxes collected at the federal level.
• An additional $13.98 billion in taxes are paid by the industry at the state and local level.

 

In total, independent grocers account for close to 1% of the total US economy, as determined by GDP.  NGA will use the study to spread the message to suppliers, partners in the industry, and on Capitol Hill that independent grocers are an important part of our nation's economy and that their issues should be heard.

 

To view the full results of the study, including national, state, and congressional district results as well as methodology, visit www.GrocersImpactAmerica.com

How To Embrace Show Rooming

Show rooming is a term used when consumers browse the items at a brick-and-mortar store then compare prices online.  With the ever increasing usage of smart phones, consumers are utilizing comparison shopping apps to search for the best price.  Unless brick-and-mortar retailers can compete with online prices for the same product, they will lose the sale.  This trend of savvy consumers’ use of the traditional retailers as their showroom to touch and feel a product is only going to increase.  The dilemma for retailers is whether to combat this trend or find the way to take advantage of the technology.  It is impossible and unwise trying to prevent shoppers from using technology.  Therefore, the best way to combat show rooming is to embrace this trend by taking advantage of it.

 

Retailers should bring the best of online shopping into the store and can do this by providing shoppers with intera  Retailers should also embrace omni channel, which means creating a seamless experience across all store channels and touch points.  This method makes the web, mobile and in-store experience congruent for shoppers.  The use of these technologies can empower the store personnel and be a powerful sales tool by employees.  Some suggest that face-to-face customer approach can create a forced-selling feeling, while the shoulder-to-shoulder approach with these technologies could foster a collaborative effort, as if the staff is helping the customers buy.

 

Retailers should embrace the trend of show rooming to help reduce perceived wait time, increase engagement throughout the sales process, and empower customers to make quicker, better informed decisions. 

Datalogic Gryphon General Purpose Handheld

The Gryphon™ series represents the premium line of Datalogic ADC’s general purpose handheld data collection products and offers the richest feature set among
the general purpose products.  Featuring Bluetooth® Wireless Technology, the Gryphon GBT4100 readers eliminate the need for cables that limit operator movement and create safety concerns in the workplace.  The reader can also transmit data to the host through its base station as well as to any commercial or embedded Bluetooth® v2.0 compliant device. Datalogic’s unique 2-position cradle provides multiple features for the user.  When in the ‘up’ position, this imager can be used as a hands-free or presentation style reader. 

With the Scan-While-Charging feature, there is never any concern about depleted or dead batteries, ensuring constant up-time for increased productivity.

 

The Gryphon GBT4100 reader’s batch mode capability allows more than 1200 bar codes to be stored in the memory.  Combined with a 33,000 scans per charge Lithium-Ion battery, these two features create unlimited mobility and reliable data collection when out-of-range.

 

Datalogic’s exclusive patented ‘Green Spot’ for good-read feedback helps to improve productivity in noisy environments or in situations where silence is required.  When using the product with the cradle at a 45° position, the Green Spot can work as an aiming system to aid in positioning the bar code for quick and intuitive reading.  Standard multi-interface capabilities include USB, RS-232, Keyboard Wedge and Wand Emulation for the GBT4130 models.  IBM interface models include IBM 46XX, USB and RS-232 Emulation for the GBT4110 models.

 

Reprinted from the Datalogic ADC Web

Motivate Employees

The ability to motivate employees is one of the greatest skills a business leader can possess.  With the help of great team leaders you can build the culture in your business, but also create a passionate, hard-working team that is as committed to growing and improving your company as you are.  Here are some ways to boost morale in your business:

 

Be generous with praise - Everyone desires praise and it’s one of the easiest things to give. Plus, praise can go a lot farther than you think; praise every improvement that you see your team members make.  Once you’re comfortable delivering praise one-on-one to an employee, try praising them in front of others.

Make your ideas theirs - Instead of telling people what you want done; ask them in a way that will make them feel like they came up with the idea. “I’d like you to do it this way” turns into “Do you think it’s a good idea if we do it this way?”

Never criticize or correct - Try an indirect approach to get people to improve, learn from their mistakes, and fix them.  Ask, “Was that the best way to approach the problem? Why not?  Do you have any ideas on what you could have done differently?”  That way you’re having a conversation and talking through solutions, not pointing a finger.

Give recognition and small rewards - These two things come in many forms: Recognize someone in a company meeting for what they have accomplished. Run contests or internal games and keep track of the results on a whiteboard that everyone can see.  Tangible awards that don’t break the bank can work too.  Try things like dinner, trophies, spa services, and plaques.

Share the rewards—and the pain.  When your company does well, celebrate. This is the best time to let everyone know that you’re thankful for their hard work.  Go out of your way to show how far you will go when people help your company succeed.  If there are disappointments, share those too.  If you expect high performance, your team deserves to know where the company stands.  Be honest and transparent!

Radcliffe Great Valu - Mertztown, PA

Radcliffe Great Valu recently upgraded their retail store system to the STCR Store Management Suite. The system change was part of a larger plan to revamp the store. 

This initial phase was well received by the store personnel.  Mike Radcliffe indicated they are enjoying the new functionality from friendliness of the point of sale, the simplicity of the back office operations to scale management being driven by back office price changes.  The transition went very smooth, with cashier’s finding it very easy to pick up.  Manager’s experienced the same smooth transition with the common user interface design used across the entire platform.

Front End Printers

One of the most critical components on your front end is the customer receipt printer. A properly functioning printer gives your customer a clear record of what they have purchased, where they have purchased from, as well as any promotional messages you want them to receive. The IBM 4610 printer is designed to handle the demands of your business, giving years of reliable service.

You can ensure the print quality on your machines by following some of the easy cleaning recommendations from IBM. Clean the printer cover with a soft cloth and warm soapy water. Apply the soap to the cloth, not directly to the printer.  Do not use abrasive materials or harsh chemicals such as ammonia or chlorine. The thermal and check printing heads can be cleaned by gently wiping them with cotton swabs soaked in isopropyl alcohol. Check the paper loading area for build up of dust and miscellaneous debris.

If you do have a situation where the printer will not function correctly, here are a couple of troubleshooting ideas. 

If the printer has no power:  check the printer cable.  Verify that the printer cable is plugged into the printer as well as the register; additionally, power off the register before restoring any connections. 

If the paper advances but the receipt is blank:  check to see if the paper roll is inserted right-side up. 

Document Insert Station is not printing: Verify that there are no obstructions where the check is inserted. Verify the ribbon is not in need of replacement.

 

The printer-ready light is flashing: Ensure that the paper and ribbon doors are closed. Re-insert the paper roll, and advance a small length of paper.

When the printer does require service make sure to note the serial number on the unit. This can be found either on the front or just inside the check flipper area.  Remember to check your printer supply levels periodically. Using the best quality paper and ribbons will ensure premium print quality. Call STCR 800-776-6576 for your supply order today!

Datalogic Fixed Mount Area Imager Bar Code Reader

The Gryphon™ 4000 series represents the premium level of data collection devices from Datalogic ADC.  Using advanced imaging technology, the Gryphon™ GFS4400 2D fixed mount bar code
reader provides a complete self-contained solution for OEM use into self-service kiosks, price verifiers and ticket readers applications.  Designed for easy integration, the Gryphon GFS4400 2D module provides a ‘plug-and-play’ solution for system designers.  Constructed using high-impact resin to withstand repeated cleanings with solvents and disinfectant solutions, the sealed enclosure meets industrial standards against water and particulates to provide dependable scanning performance.  The GFS4400 2D OEM module features outstanding near-field reading, a wide angle field-of-view, high motion tolerance, snappy reading, and also offers excellent performance on decoding poor or damaged bar codes.

As with all Gryphon readers, the GFS4400 reader offers good-read visual confirmation with Datalogic’s patented ‘Green Spot’ technology.  User comfort is maximized with the GFS4400 OEM module’s steady, deep red illumination light.  Easier on the eyes than competitive products with flicker illumination, the highly visible 4-Dot aimer defines a precise reading zone and reduces accidental reads.  The aimer’s center cross provides a locator for targeted scanning in a multiple bar code environment.  The GFS4400 OEM module provides snappy reading performance on all common 1D and 2D codes as well as postal, stacked and composite codes like PDF417.  For mobile marketing or ticketing applications, this imager also offers excellent performance when reading bar codes from mobile devices. 

 

The GFS4400 OEM module eliminates the need for separate equipment with signature capture and document scanning capabilities.  The GFS4400 OEM module supports several modes that can be used as a trigger.  This module has the ability to automatically sense objects and trigger itself.  A continuous scan mode captures data whenever a bar code passes into its field-of-view. The reader can also be triggered remotely through software commands or via hardware input from programmable logic controller (PLC) or sensor.  The GFS4400 OEM module supports an RS-232 serial interface, a USB HID Keyboard and a USB COM interface.  Available in two models, the GFS4450-9 model supports an RS-232 serial interface, or the GFS4470 features a USB interface.

Reprinted from Datalogic ADC Web