You know what I think is petty cool? The fact that you can use discounts and coupons on the fly in SP-1.
Posted in Marketing, Uncategorized Tagged with: discounting, marketing
Coupons and Discounts – sounds easy, but do you know the difference and why having both makes SP-1 more powerful?
First let’s talk about the differences between the two:
Discounts: A discount in SP-1 is a dollar or percent off a ticket or item. The advantage is that it is a little more generic. For example, you could have a $1.00 off the ticket, 10% off a ticket or 15% discount off one line item on the ticket. All of these discounts are able to be set by the menu group, group size or specialty. The great thing with a discount is that it is very flexible and allows for multiple controls. Discounts can be security coded so they are only available when authorized.
Some sample discounts are: employee, fire department, senior citizen etc. You can also use these to track problems and mistakes. For example, setup a mismade order, dropped item, returned item, comped etc. This is a great way to track what is happening in the store.
Lastly, don’t forget that you can assign a discount to a customers delivery file or to their gift and reward card!
C0upons: Coupons operate a little differently. A coupon is more specific than the discounts. For instance, you can bundle items with coupons. If you offer a large pizza with two toppings, breadsticks and a 2 liter of soda for a specific price a coupon is the way to go. You can even set the price so each item is accounted for in the reporting. Another example is to have a coupon that sets the specific modifiers allowed. So, you might have a 16oz Latte with two extra flavor shots allowed. The coupon would only then work on that size etc.
Remember that all coupons and discounts can be day and time specific!
Contact us at:
Mike Spence
SelbySoft
800-454-4434
Sales@SelbySoft.com
WWW.SelbySoft.com
8326 Woodland Ave. E
Puyallup Wa 98371
Posted in Marketing, Order Entry, Uncategorized Tagged with: coupons, discounts, marketing
Do you ever bill customers for product? If so, did you know that SP-1 has an extensive billing system built into the software. Last week I was talking to a customer that did not know we did this! So. . . .
In SP-1 you can specify per customer if they are allowed to run an account tab. Once this is selected, you will have an account payment button and an account charge button appear.
If you are near a number of businesses, schools etc – this can be a great method of picking up more business. Setup the account so that when that business orders, you can just bill them!
Once someone orders and you are on the ticket complete screen, simply hit account button to
add the total to their account bill. SP-1 will track this for you. One suggestion: In the remarks, enter the ticket number / name of the person running the account. This makes it easier to answer the account billing questions.
Now the business owes you money. The next step in this is the run the billing report and billing cycle. In the reports, you will see all the options for this. SP-1 will even run a bill that can be printed and then folded and put in a windowed envelope. This makes life easier as far as sending the bills.
Once the check comes in, look up the customer and select the account payment button. Apply the payment and you are done!
Hopefully this brief introduction to accounts helps you understand how to use this to capture some of more of your customers business. While these factories and schools like to place big orders, we also know that the accountant and bookkeepers at these places like easy billing systems!
Contact us at:
SelbySoft
Mike Spence
800-454-4434
Sales@SelbySoft.com
WWW.SelbySoft.com
8326 Woodland Ave. E
Puyallup Wa 98371
Posted in Order Entry, POS Features, Reporting, Uncategorized Tagged with: accounts, customers, marketing, reporting
A little different topic this time on the blog. Recently we have seen a big upswing in people that are asking about how to use SP-1 to help drive more business through the store. Part of this is through the strong gift card program and with the holidays around the corner it’s time to start thinking about this.
Are you using gift cards? If not, you are missing out on one of the best ways to increase sales and cash flow. Also, if you are using them, let’s make sure it’s not by just plopping them on the counter and expecting them to sell themselves!
First let’s define what we are talking about. . . A plastic card (with no swipe fees or monthly fees when used with SP-1) that can be used in different ways:
1) Traditional gift – I buy it and give it away.
2) Prepaid – I buy and continue to keep it charged for my own use.
3) Rewards – The same card can be used to keep a buy 10 get 1 free or other promotion.
4) Customer Discount card – When the card is used a discount is automatically applied.
This is ALL the same card. So first, this card is a great marketing opportunity for you – it’s a “billboard” in the customers pocket.
So what can be done with these to help you make more money? Let’s skip the usual arguments (although they are valid) about how people spend more with a gift card than cash and what percent of cards are lost. We know that the gift cards are a good idea – the question is how to move them.
Here are some ideas that we have had over the years to move gift cards and boost sales.
1) Instant gratification: “Hi, would you like that drink free?” or “Would you like to have that sandwich / pizza 1/2 off?”; “would you like some free breadsticks with that order?”. Once the customer answers yes – tell them they only need to buy a $25 gift card for that. The little chain store that cuts my hair has a deal that if I buy a $50 gift card I get a free haircut – I do it every couple months.
2) This one is a little obvious but I’ll mention it anyway: Buy a $25 gift card and pay only $20!
3) Friend cards: Give your employees or even customers small dollar amount gift cards to use as a promotion. They could be $1 -$3 each. Tell them this is to hand out to their Friends.
4) Discount or VIP Cards: Purchase a large enough gift card and receive a discount for the rest
of the year. This discount could be worked many ways – only on certain days, certain items, certain order types etc. If someone buys a $100 / $250 / $500 gift card is it worth a 10% / 20% discount?
5) Traditional rewards system: Buy 10 get 1 free.
6) Non-Traditional rewards: Every dollar you spend you get a point. Once you accumulate enough points, you get free or discounted product. I.E. at 50 points you get 25% off next order or a free appetizer / pastry.
So there you are – a half dozen ways to start off the marketing kick on gift and loyalty cards. There are more! If you have a great idea on this – let me know and I’ll spread the word.
Contact us at:
SelbySoft
Mike Spence
800-454-4434
Sales@SelbySoft.com
WWW.SelbySoft.com
8326 Woodland Ave. E
Puyallup Wa 98371
Posted in Gift Cards, Reporting, Uncategorized Tagged with: gift cards, marketing, reporting
Quick addendum to the Tips on Gift Card Blog – Jim @ Campus Pizza suggested that we remind people that you can see your gift card balances by running the Internal Gift Card Report under Customer under Reports! This will show you total outstanding gift card balances by card!
Thanks Jim!
Contact us at:
Mike Spence
SelbySoft
800-454-4434
Sales@SelbySoft.com
WWW.SelbySoft.com
8326 Woodland Ave. E
Puyallup Wa 98371
Posted in Gift Cards, Marketing, Uncategorized Tagged with: gift cards, marketing