Here’s some quick advice related to wireless.

If you are running a retail store, don’t use wireless. A wired network should always work better than a wireless network. Either do it yourself or hire a professional to install your wiring. It is always faster and more reliable.

If you live in a house or apartment and don’t want to go through the expense of adding wires, wireless could work just fine for you. Most people don’t mind the expense of adding wires, but many people don’t want to start patching up holes in walls and ceilings that were used to snake the wires through your house.

The disadvantage to using wireless in a retail store is that wireless is not always 100% efficient. When you are using a point-of-sale system, information is constantly and rapidly flowing between your server and your checkout register. Your lighting and other machinery that you use in your business may interfere with wireless data transmission cutting down on your efficiency and messing up your checkout functions. It is just not a good idea.

I do know that some retail stores run properly using a wireless system. It’s not impossible, but not recommended.

The latest wireless version is called Wireless N. The older technology was called Wireless G. If you are currently using a Wireless G system, you will find that adding a Wireless N router will greatly improve your wireless usage (even if your computer or laptop is using a Wireless G technology). I just upgraded to a Netgear Wireless G router in my home. It is far superior to my older Wireless G technology. I have two Wireless G computers that access the Wireless N router They are far more reliable and faster than the access using my older Wireless G router. … and, my wireless N laptop works unbelievably fast.

In short, it’s probably time to upgrade to a Wireless N router. For about $100, it will dramatically increase your wireless speed and reliability.

If you own a retail store, stick with your wired technology. If you must use wirelss, try adding a Wireless N Router and see how it works with your point-of-sale system. Write to me and let me know how it works out.

Turn Your Restaurant Into A More Profitable Business

There are lots of tips in the September issue of Restaurant Startup & Growth magazine. Although I don’t own a restaurant, I eat in them and write about them. For $39.95 per year, this magazine can give you ideas to become more profitable each and every month.

This month, I enjoyed the article titled “Do You Want Fries With That?”

It’s all about upselling and it is equally important to retail stores and restaurants and the delivery is very important.

Do you want dessert? Your customer can easily answer no. As an owner or manager, you need to train your employees to do a little better.

I’m sure you feel like something sweet now: let me tell you about our Famous pies.

See the difference in feeling and delivery. By asking a customer, “Do you want dessert?”, you are making it just too easy for the customer to turn it down.

In the second instance, you are not asking a question. You are letting your customers know that you have Famous pies. You are letting them know what you have. You are giving them a more thoughtful offer which takes more thinking to turn down.

How can anyone turn down your restaurant’s Famous pie? After all, you can’t get it anywhere else, You had better try it now and see why it is famous.

You need to figure out what works best in your business. I suppose you need to figure out how to HYPE your products and train your people to deliver the commend and let it do the marketing. It is more than asking, “Do you want dessert?”

Another interesting and valid piece of advice for restaurant owners is to use 13 four-week accounting periods a year instead of 12 monthly statements. Since many restaurants (45% to 60% of all restaurants) do most of their sales on two days of the week (normally Friday and Saturday), having monthly reports that end on a weekday may unfairly skew your profits and loses especially in comparison to previous years. Four-week reporting periods usually make sense in a restaurant environment especially for comparability reports and inventory planning.

The magazine is $39.95 per year. Complete access to the website including a subscription is $99 per year. You can also sign up for a free issue and FREE weekly restaurant tips. Go to:

http://restaurantowner.com/

Contacting pcAmerica

pcAmerica

One Blue Hill Plaza

Second Floor

Box 1546

Pearl River NY 10965

JOIN OUR BLOG!  www.talkpos.com

Follow us on Twitter:  pcAmerica

Toll Free 1-800-PC-AMERICA or 1-800-722-6374

Local Number 1-845-920-0800

Fax Number 1-845-920-0880

Tech Support Number 1-845-920-0888

C.E.O. David J. Gosman (djg@pcamerica.com)

President Richard F. Rotbard (rotbard@pcamerica.com)

Newsletter Editor Howard Y. Gosman (hgosman@pcamerica.com)

Your PC America Account Managers: 

Dan Steyskal X288 (dsteyskal@pcamerica.com)

Ken May X226 (kensmay@pcamerica.com)

Martin Sheridan X227 (msheridan@pcamerica.com)

Ralph Frascone X279 (rfrascone@pcamerica.com)

Robert Purdy X280 (rpurdy@pcamerica.com)

Ryan Christman X225 (ryan@pcamerica.com)

Sam Kahan X223 (skahan@pcamerica.com)

Tony Scarpa X224 (tscarpa@pcamerica.com)

For more information on Cash Register Express, Asset Management Software, Portable and Wireless Point of Sale, barcode readers, cash drawers and receipt printers, call PC America at 1-800-PC-AMERICA or 1-800-722-6374 or 1-845-920-0800. You may also purchase directly on the internet at www.pcamerica.com or email PC America at newsletter@pcamerica.com.

You are receiving this email because you either own Cash Register Express or you have contacted PC America and requested information about Cash Register Express. If you wish to be removed from our email newsletter list, please email your removal request to newsletter@pcamerica.com or write to PC America, One Blue Hill Plaza, Second Floor, Box 1546, Pearl River NY 10965.