Case Study - The Quilt Shop - Vend and Xero

Alison and Sharon wanted their systems to be as well designed as their dream store. They use a Vend + Xero integration, with wireless iPad, printer and scanner technology.

For a new store in Eltham, a simple to use POS was their goal.

ABOUT THE CLIENT

The quilt shop is a local business in leafy Eltham. Committed to providing not just a quilt shop, but a whole feel good experience. The Quilt Shop will be a place where you can just pop in and say hi or stay for a cuppa and a slice of cake. They sell fabric, kits, patterns and supplies. The store is beautifully presented. The instore experience is throughly enjoyable for customers.

THE CHALLENGES

The Quiltshop wanted the countertop to be uncluttered and stylish.

The biggest challenge was the fact that the inventory needed to be sold in portions. Fabric is measured (and priced) by the metre. Therefore any POS system such as Vend needed to be able to sell items in part.

The integration needed to be seamless and help them manage the complex inventory. With thousands of different product lines, hundreds of ranges, and dozens of Brands. All with ease of use.

Other challenges during our planning meeting identified that they needed inventory management.
Suppliers sent incorrect items or only part shipped purchase orders frequently.

THE SOLUTION

The first thing we did to ensure ease of use was the combination of Xero and Vend. We created a beautiful physical guide, tailored to their business and processes. From how to do sales, refunds, inventory counts, to even how to post COGS into Xero. This printed guide was also provided as an ebook and loaded into their ibooks on the store iPad.

The Hardware visible to the customer is an iPad Air mounted on a studio proper base. All the other items, wireless scanner, wireless printer, and cash drawer are tucked away out of sight. This kept Sharon happy with the finished custom countertop.

The Quiltshop collects customer details as part of a VIP loyalty program. Part of the appeal of Vend was the creation of promotions not relying on discounting.

Part receipting purchase orders and viewing outstanding items has made Alison's role easier. Alison had been doing an amazing job keeping track of inventory shipments with a colour coded highlighter system. Vend now saves Alison time (and highlighters).

Pictured is the 70 page printed guide created by Bramble and Briar. Used for training and as a reference.

Vend and Xero has automated much of the accounting processes. Business admin can be managed all during business hours - no matter how busy it is instore.

Yet if Sharon and Alison need to take time out to be at home, they still have the flexibility to log into the system any time, any place.