10 Pieces of Equipment Required When You Open a Dollar Store

It's hard to believe just how much equipment isPOS computer (If you choose to purchase such a
required to prepare, open and then operate a retailsystem.) there are so many other daily, weekly and
store. While much is determined by the size of themonthly tasks that are made easy with a computer.
store, just as much is dependent on the sales volume5) Printer/Fax Machine. If you have a computer you'll
you achieve. For example, a store with many squareneed a printer. You'll also find there will be incoming
feet of sales floor area that is targeted to achievefaxes from vendors and others regularly. Why not just
only 2-3 inventory turns per year will see freightpurchase a multi-function machine to handle both?
coming in at a fairly steady pace. A smaller store6) Phone System. That's right; you'll need at least a
working to achieve 5-6 inventory turns on the otherbasic phone system when you open a dollar store.
hand, will see a continual inflow of merchandise at aYou'll have phones at the cash registers, in your office,
fairly quick pace. In this article I present 10 pieces ofand possibly other locations such as the stock room.
equipment required when you open a dollar store.You can plan on multiple lines to handle incoming calls,
1) Cash Registers. A real necessity when you open acheck approval, and credit card authorization, for online
dollar store! The problem is there are so many tocomputer access, and other tasks.
choose from. Be sure you don't buy a basic model7) Pricing Guns and Pricing Machines. Every store
that can't do the work you need done. If you chooseneeds manual pricing guns. These simple to use tools
not to have a POS system, then you are counting onmake pricing incoming merchandise and changing
getting sales by-department data and so much moreprices on existing inventory effortless. As the size of
from your cash registers. Take the time to becomeyour store increases, seriously examine purchasing a
thoroughly familiar with all of the functions and thepricing machine. In a matter of seconds you can price
operation in general before your store opens. Don'thundred of price labels for incoming merchandise.
wait until there is a line of unhappy customers waiting8) Hand Truck. Every store no matter how big or small
to pay running from the front to the back of your storeneeds a hand truck. In fact you'll find the low
to discover no-one knows how to load receipt tape ininvestment in this one piece of equipment pays for
an empty cash register.itself over and over.
2) Check Approval Machine. If you decide to accept9) Merchandise Stocking Carts. There are a variety of
checks, you'll probably decide to complete some kindoptions, but it is very easy to receive freight and
of electronic approval process. In some cases checkimmediately place it onto stocking carts. Then the carts
approval machines can be replaced by your cashcan be pushed to the appropriate location on the sales
register or POS machine.floor for easy stocking.
3) Credit Card Machine. If you open a dollar store you10) Pallet Jack. If you open a dollar store that is doing
likely plan to accept credit cards. Then there will be aany volume at all, you'll want a pallet jack to help move
stand alone credit card machine - unless your cashincoming freight around. At the very least you'll move
register or POS system has this function embeddedpallets from the freight dock or landing into the
and is just waiting for you to put it to use.receiving area. Once again this is a back-saving devise
4) Computer. Inventory management, merchandisethat only costs a few hundred dollars. Its money well
ordering, generating schedules and so much more willspent! For bigger stores, invest in a forklift - you'll be
depend on your computer. While some of theseglad you did!
functions can be completed as reports from yourTo your dollar store business success!