The YORKSHIRE LINEN CO. was started in 1993 in a small shop in Halifax. It carried an enormous range of home linen for such a small shop and soon gained a reputation for quality, service and value for money.
Now, In 2008, YORKSHIRE LINEN CO. carries stock of over 6,000 different product lines and operates from over 30 stores throughout Yorkshire, North East and Liverpool and is one of the largest independent retailers in its field employing over 250 people. The business sources its products from all over the world and due to its extensive buying power is able to bring to its customers up to date ranges of quality products at very competitive prices. A few years ago the first YORKSHIRE LINEN CO. store on Spain’s Costa Blanca was opened in Ciudad Quesada. This was soon followed by a second store opened in Puerto Mazarron on the Costa Calida. Now the Company has 7 stores in Spain and the first store has recently opened on the Algarve in Portugal.
These stores almost exclusively serve the “ex-pat” community as the British see Bedroom and Bathroom linen as fashion accessories for the home, a need and a market that was not previously well served by the local retail network.
To keep up with the pace of its expansion, the YORKSHIRE LINEN CO. needed to replace its aging instore system based on first generation RCS retail software linked to EPROM based Geller tills. The company has a long term relationship with RCS and so turned to them for advice on updating the system. Systems integrator and software provider, Retail Computer Solutions (RCS), recommended upgrading the existing system with the latest RCS POS and Marksman back office software, implemented on a platform of Maxatec field-proven, quality hardware.
RCS installed over 45 EPOS systems across the 39 stores. The “RCS POS” application is the core of the in-store system, while the hardware in each store is Maxatec’s FlexPOS 15″ touchscreen POS terminal with Maxatec MT-150 receipt printer and cash drawer.
Each till has also now been installed with the RCS “Marksman” retail back office application, which importantly gives full visibility of group stock from each sales location.
The company headquarters in Harrogate runs the RCS “Streetwise” head office system which is linked to all tills in all sales outlets and is able to provide a wide range of network wide functionality and detailed management reporting.
The YORKSHIRE LINEN CO. Head office store support which previously helped store staff locate items from stock within the company network has now been able to close on Saturdays and focus more on planning and efficiencies due to the new visibility of all network stock from within the “Marksman” system on each till.
Ross Leventhal, managing director and owner of Yorkshire Linen, commented ‘The RCS solution has enhanced the planning of purchase orders and direct-to-store supplier deliveries as the system provides much more real-time information on fast moving product lines per store, reducing the need for store transfers and centralised large inventory.’
Leventhal continued ‘Where store transfers are required they can now be requested easily and planned more effectively using the company’s small fleet of delivery vehicles.’
The previous till hardware was becoming limited to the business in terms of its lack of flexibility, it was also becoming difficult to service and support. The Maxatec touchscreen based solution is much more user friendly, with bright graphics and a sensitive interface. This hardware will support all of the company’s future expansion plans in terms of additional software functionality and peripherals to be added (chip and pin).
‘The installation and initial experience with the system has been testament to the quality of the product and to Maxatec’s product burn-in and quality procedures,’ said David Boland, managing director of RCS.
As the usage of the system gains momentum and expansion into Europe continues, The Yorkshire Linen Co will implement more of the RCS retail suite features helping stock replenishment, optimisation of minimum stock levels and employee time keeping.
The Yorkshire Linen Co is also considering the installation of Broadband services at store level to provide even more real-time facilities from the system. On-line chip and Pin payments via broadband will enhance both security and the speed of transaction at the till.
RCS are developing more “multi-channel retail” functionality for the system that will enable a more powerful integration with the company’s web-site and e-commerce facilities and would also enable integrated mail-order functions.
Find out more about retail EPOS solutions
RCS provides Retailers the benefit on a ‘One Stop’ Solution for all their retail systems requirements. From the single lane shop to the high street multiple; RCS have the products and skills to add real value to any retail business. Since its formation in 1989, RCS has grown into one of the most recognized suppliers of high quality products and services to the Retail Sector. The Company understands the need for Clients to protect their investment in computer systems. Whilst the Company continues to invest in new and emerging technologies, Clients are always offered an upgrade path should they wish to take advantage of new developments.
For further information about RCS: Tel: +44 (0) 1924 260020 Fax +44 (0) 1924 260389 info@rcs-uk.com www.rcs-uk.com
Maxatec is an ISO 9001:2000 certified, Value Added Supplier of Specialist IT Hardware and Services. Maxatec’s product portfolio includes TPG point of sale printers, NCR POS terminals, Cognitive bar code label printers, Extech portable receipt printers, TSC industrial label printers, Zebex barcode scanners, MMF cash drawers, FlexPOS POS terminals, and Firich (FEC) Touchscreens. Maxatec also offers software and services including NiceLabel label design package, and a wide range of consumables (paper, labels, ribbons), spare parts and in-house and on-site service capabilities. Maxatec also manufactures and distributes a range of small battery backed receipt printers, and panel mount printers and interface boards.
The Maxatec brand is synonymous with high standards of service as well as high performance, high quality products.
For further information about Maxatec: Tel: +44 (0) 161 942 7850 Fax +44 (0) 161 927 7664 info@maxatec-europe.com www.maxatec-europe.com
For Further Information contact: Charlotte Delaforce/ VP Communications charlotte@vp-pr.com 020 8964 0260
Posted by admin 1st March 2008 at 6:14pm
