Working in the flower business requires juggling lots of tasks like tracking inventory, ringing up sales, and taking custom orders. It can be tricky to manage all these different parts of the shop without the right tools. A florist pos system is a type of technology that combines many store management functions into one handy digital system.
A POS gets its name because it allows processing sales right at the “point of sale”. But a POS can do way more than just checkout too. It can help with other parts of running your flower shop more smoothly and efficiently.
1. Streamline the Checkout Process
One of the main uses of a POS is processing sales transactions quickly and easily. With a POS, clerks can quickly ring up customer purchases, and accept different payment methods like cash, credit cards, or store gift cards. Customers will spend less time waiting in line. The streamlined checkout process will keep customers happy and improve the overall shopping experience at your flower shop. Be sure clerks are well-trained on how to use all the POS features like adding/removing items, splitting payments, issuing refunds, and more. Training will help the checkout process stay smooth and efficient.
2. Manage Inventory More Effectively
A florist software allows you to keep digital records of what products you have in stock and what is selling best. The system tracks each time an item is purchased so you always know exactly how much inventory you have left of each flower, plant, or accessory. You can set up the POS to automatically reorder popular low-stock items. Having accurate inventory records in one place will help you avoid running out of best sellers and make ordering more efficient. Review inventory reports regularly to guide replenishment ordering.
3. Accept More Payment Methods
In addition to cash and credit cards, a POS gives customers the option to pay via mobile payment apps, store gift cards, and loyalty programs. Accepting a variety of payment methods will attract more customers. You can also use the POS to sell and track balances on prepaid gift cards. Just be sure to choose a system that supports the specific payment processors and apps your target customers prefer using like Apple Pay or Android Pay.
4. Improve Customer Service
A POS allows staff to look up customer profiles and previous order histories with just a few taps. Clerks can greet regulars by name and refer to past purchases for suggestions. The system also easily tracks customer points, credits, and special order notes. Improving the personalized service experience builds loyalty among your regular customers. Make the most of these features by training employees to access customer records during each sale.
5. Simplify Store Management Tasks
Managing a flower shop involves many behind-the-scenes tasks like creating staff schedules, tracking sales performance, and pulling reports. A POS system automates and organizes these tasks. Generating sales reports is as simple as a few clicks. You can also use the POS to manage employee time clock functions. Keeping everything in one digital location saves time and makes important stored data easily accessible on any device. Take time to learn how to generate useful management reports from your POS.
6. Accept Custom Orders & Record Customer Details
Does your shop do special custom floral arrangements or event flowers? A POS allows you to easily take custom orders and attach detailed notes, photos, designs, or schematics. The system stores all the specifics for each custom request. Staff can then access prior custom order info when it’s time to fulfill the arrangements. You can also capture important customer profile details like addresses, contact info, and special date reminders which is great for follow-up thank you notes, or save the date cards for future events. Inputting this level of order and contact detail through a POS provides excellent customer service.
7. Issue & Redeem Loyalty Points and Coupons
Rewarding loyal customers is important for business. A POS makes it simple to issue and track loyalty points with each purchase that can be redeemed for future discounts. You can set the system to automatically award points at certain spending levels. The POS also handles all the management of digital or print coupons you issue. Customers will feel appreciated, and coupon/loyalty programs drive repeat sales. Promote programs through mailings and in-store signage so customers understand how to participate.
8. Gain Valuable Business Insights
The data a POS collects about sales, items purchased, payment methods, busiest times, and more provides important business intelligence. Use reporting features to analyze sales trends, item popularity, average order value, and more metrics. These insights help with planning inventory, staffing, and determining when to run special promotions. With the right reporting, a POS puts powerful analytics at your fingertips to optimize business strategy and profitability. Spend time learning all the built-in reports and also ask your POS provider about custom analytics options.
Choosing a full-featured system that supports all your specific business needs and training staff to fully leverage its capabilities ensures you maximize its return on investment. Utilized correctly, a POS Software for Flower shop provides the digital tools to effectively grow your floral business.
If you are ready to start taking advantage of all a POS can offer to help your flower shop run more smoothly and profitably, we highly recommend checking out the Hana Florist POS system.
