NEWS
Making the most of EPOS
For its Retailers who use EPOS systems, Home Hardware has their homepos system which is a central data maintenance service to eliminate as much duplicated work in the individual stores as is possible.
This EPOS friendly data will include product warning levels to assist automatic stock control, age related product warnings, associated sale alerts, for example “would the customer
like batteries with this torch?”, standardised department section and sub-section analysis. They will also be providing best practice reports in a format that Retailers find easy to understand as well as label formats based on product suitability for shelf edge or individual price labels.
Free ecommerce solution for Members
Home Hardware also provides a modern professional ecommerce solution for
its
Retailers at no cost to them. The main objective is to promote footfall in store through
its Click and Collect service to its Retailers. All suitable products on its national promotions and catalogues are available for consumers to purchase. For consumers who prefer home
delivery, they can choose this option whereby Home Hardware will take the payment and dispatch the goods with all the retail profit being distributed to the Retail Member for that area.
Extensive Own Label Range
Home Hardware’s policy on own label products is simple. The products need to match the brand leaders in terms of quality.
This is combined with better margins for the retailers and a saving of between 10% and 20% for the consumer. A win, win
situation. Currently there are over 600 own label products covering DIY, electrical, hardware, plumbing, kitchen, cookware and gardening products.
The plan is to expand this important market sector. In 2016 a separate Own Label catalogue showing full details of the range was launched.
350 Suppliers, Ready to Use
Home Hardware have negotiated with over 350 direct shipment suppliers. This gives members the opportunity to choose from over 300,000 lines across a much broader range of products.
The orders are delivered direct
to store rather than through their distribution centres. Retailers get advantageous terms, reduced admin costs and because all invoicing comes through Home Hardware, one cheque settles all supplier invoices. They have a ‘direct2u’ guide to make selection even easier.
As member Anthony Machin
from Whiting & Son, Wells, said “We have about 10,000 lines and Home Hardware are our main supplier. We use them as a wholesaler and get around £20,000 worth of stock through them per month. Some things we order through Home Hardware, for some things we go direct, but we invoice lots of things through Home Hardware, like Horwood and
Toolbank.
Setting up accounts is easy, because we don’t need to go through all the referencing, and we can open it quickly and get a line of credit”.
It’s Retail Members are at the heartbeat of everything Home Hardware do and they appear to listen, understand and deliver.
Homelink is computer system that allows you to check their stock files by brand or generic name. Having made a selection and chosen the quantity required, an order is then
created, ready for
electronic transfer into their main computer system.
Minutes later an acknowledge-
ment confirms stock availability. The system advises on alternative product suggestions, flags up any special offers and gives Retailers ‘back order’ preference details. It also acts as a sales aid allowing Retailers to run-off product
consumers together with simple product details.
reliable and flexible to use.
“The Homelink desktop app lets you view orders, stock and so on, what’s nice is they do stock updates every day.
If a
customer comes in you can check and say, ‘I can get it for Friday’ or if it’s out of stock you can call Home Hardware and give them a timeframe for when it’ll be in” said Mrs Machin from Whiting & Son, Wells.
images for Homelink is
In addition to Homelink is the Home Hardware B2B website which runs on all major systems and can also be used on mobile devices such as tablets,
to flexibility.
The ordering system is simplicity itself. Retailers can order items from the product browse or product information screens or type in the stock code.
previous orders and print off copies.
It allows you to review Detailed product
information includes a consumer friendly description, product image, full pricing details and technical specifications.
It has also been designed for
use as an in-store sales aid for products not currently stocked and you can print-off quotes for customers to take away. There is an easy to use template to allow you to create promotional flyers and posters. This website is so easy to use as an ordering device, but gives so much more.
give maximum
Increasing Retailers Profit
Gross profit margin is a key factor in the success of any Retail business. Home Hardware are working hard to improve this in two significant ways.
They are negotiating with
suppliers to achieve lower cost prices wherever possible, so that Retailers are able to purchase at the lowest price in the market and it has also started reviewing National Multiple Retailers Pricing to help ensure their Retailers remain competitive whilst maximising their margins.
Home Hardware’s Buying Team are firmly focused on securing the best possible package from suppliers. They are also working on providing retailers with lists of the bestselling products by category as well as identifying “margin master” products where members can purchase a lesser known brand and make an enhanced margin. In several instances, the major Multiple DIY Retailers and Super- markets are often selling at
considerably higher prices than Independents. Whilst Home Hardware is intent on enabling its Retailers to offer competitive prices to consumers, they also help them to monitor prices where possible to maximise gross margins.
Making ordering easy
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