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  • POS Scales: What You Need to Know

    POS Scales: What You Need to Know

    Thinking of adding or replacing a POS scale in your store (or product offering line)? Scales are used in a variety of businesses, including: cannabis (production and dispensaries), grocery/deli, jewelry, yogurt shops, spice shops, pharmacies, candy/chocolate stores, coffee shops that sell beans by the pound, and more. They’re important for shoppers and business owners alike, ensuring the correct amount of goods is being sold – no more, no less – at the correct price.

    There are a couple important things to keep in mind when it comes to POS scales. First, all scales are not created equal – to get the most out of your investment, you need to carefully align your scale to your business use case. And second, you need to have your scale(s) certified, and calibrated and maintained by a certified service company.

    Does that sound daunting? Don’t worry – below we’ll teach you how to choose a POS scale, as well become informed on scale regulations in your state.

    Download Now: Scale Buyer’s Guide

    How to Choose a POS Scale

    Accuracy

    First and foremost, it’s important to choose a scale that aligns with the product that will be measured. The below scales offer an option for nearly any business:

    • The mG-S322: This scale is accurate down to the hundredth of a gram, and is used in highly sensitive realms, like pharmacy and cannabis. Included with the scale is a windshield for even the most demanding scientific environments. It is legal to use in all states where cannabis is legal.
    • The mG-S1501: This scale is really the jack of all trades. It’s a versatile scale which measures down to the tenth of a gram, and also has four other units of measure. If you’re not sure which unit you will be measuring, this scale can adapt. Also, it is legal in some states for cannabis but it can only measure in certain amounts of weight.
    • The mG-S8200: In the market for grocery, deli, or frozen yogurt? This is your scale! The mG-S8200 is a conventional scale that can weigh goods up to 18 pounds, but can also measure down to the gram.
    The Star mG POS Scales Series
    The Star mG-Scales Series

    Connectivity

    Next thing to consider? Connectivity options. Look for a scale that comes with multiple interfaces, like serial, USB-B, and Bluetooth BLE (all three of Star’s scales come with all of these options). For legacy POS, make sure a serial interface is also present (again, Star’s scales have that).

    Having a variety of connectivity options all on the same scale is important because you know you won’t need to replace the scale anytime soon, and you can maximize your return on investment (ROI). Running a legacy POS but want to move toward a more modern POS? Having a serial interface can help you easily swap your old scale out without purchasing any other hardware. Plan on moving to a tablet-based Bluetooth connection in the future? Your scale is ready whenever you are, and BLE can provide you with a low-energy portable option.

    Software Support 

    Next on your checklist is software support. A good rule of thumb is to make sure your scale supports Windows, iOS, and Android. Having this support helps you prepare for the future of retail, where everyone uses a tablet instead of a PC. And you guessed it: all three of Star’s scales support all three software.

    Power Options

    When it comes to power, you need to ask yourself, “Where will my scale be used?” A traditional power supply is great for traditional brick-and-mortar stores, with standard POS.

    However, it’s a good idea to choose a scale that also comes with a battery option, like Star’s. A battery-operated scale is a great choice for farmer’s markets, food trucks, and more, because while typically businesses need to bring a generator to power their POS, with a battery-operated scale they no longer need to. Some extra benefits that a battery-operated scale can offer is a clean, wire-free footprint, and the ability for software to still work even in the case of a power outage.

    Important POS Scale Regulations

    State-Specific Regulations

    Now on to the fun important stuff. It’s extremely important to remember that nearly every state requires a State Certified Technician do scale installation, calibration, and registration.

    So how do you get started? First thing’s first: contact your local Weights and Measures office to get information and first steps on how to get your scale ready for use legally.

    State requirements can range from only getting the scale inspected after installation, to requiring you to file a request to have a certified installer come to your store to calibrate and lock your scale, followed by a Weights and Measures employee coming to examine the scale and issue a one-year seal (if it passes the examination). In those cases, if the scale fails the examination, a technician must return, redo the process, and then the scale must be re-examined. Long story short, do not try this yourself – be sure to choose a trusted technician! Our Scales Support webpage can help you find a nationwide partner.

    Registration

    In most states, registration with the Weights and Measures office needs to be done by a certified company. This registration usually expires each year, and gives the Weights and Measures office permission to come and test the scale without notice. If the scale fails the test the store can be fined, so be sure to use a certified company for all of your scale registration, calibration, and maintenance needs.

    Calibration

    Again, in the vast majority of cases, calibration should be completed by a certified company. Not only will choosing a certified company give you peace of mind, it can also save you serious money. To legally calibrate the scale, extremely precise weights, called F1 Class weights, must be used. These weights can cost nearly $5,000 and need to be kept in a special box with records of usage, maintenance, and more. Why go through the hassle of owning the weights yourself when a service company already has them?

    Maintenance

    For proper maintenance, a service company should be used once a year to ensure that the scale is still properly calibrated. Hiring a service company for maintenance gives store owners ease of mind that everything is working properly.

    Star’s NTEP Certification

    Star is proud to offer NTEP-certified scales – which means all three of our scales are legal for trade. In fact, when the scales were first released, Star was the first company to meet the new 2019 NTEP certification! Again, be sure that whatever scale you choose is NTEP-certified, or else it is not legal for trade.

    How to Start Planning Your POS Scale Project

    Ready to jump into your scale project? It’s best to start planning as soon as possible, so you know what process lies ahead. As a quick summary:

    • Choose a scale with the accuracy you need,
    • Choose a scale with future-proof connectivity options,
    • Choose a scale with flexible power options,
    • And be sure to stay compliant with your state’s requirements by working with a certified service company to register, calibrate, and maintain your scale.

    Visit Star’s Scales Support webpage to browse certified nationwide partners, as well as state-specific requirements.



    POS Scales

  • Halloween Spending: How Much Do Consumers Spend?

    Halloween Spending: How Much Do Consumers Spend?

    It’s unmistakable: the leaves are turning, spooky décor is popping up in front yards, and you can’t seem to avoid retail displays piled high with bags of candy. That’s right, it’s almost Halloween!

    You have probably done some Halloween marketing for your retail store (or your retail customer’s store) in the past, but have you ever wondered just how popular the holiday really is? How much do consumers spend, and on which products? An even better question is, how do you go about promoting your Halloween message and doing your best to ensure you won’t be “ghosted” by shoppers?

    Let’s take a look at Halloween spending this year – here are some fascinating Halloween spending statistics from the National Retail Federation (NRF):

    • Shoppers say they will spend an average of $86.27 this Halloween
    • 35% cite online search as the top source of inspiration
    • 29 million people plan to dress their pets in costume
    • 68% plan to celebrate Halloween this year
    • Top spending categories are as follows:
      • $3.2 billion on costumes
      • $2.6 billion on candy
      • $390 million on greeting cards
    • 69% of consumers hand out candy
    • 49% decorate their home
    • 44% carve a pumpkin
    • 32% throw or attend a Halloween party
    • 29% take their children trick-or-treating
    • 22% visit a haunted house
    • 37% planned to start Halloween shopping before October

    How to Take Advantage of All That Halloween Spending

    Halloween will get a lot spookier if you don’t take advantage of all the holiday has to offer for your retail store (or for your retail customers)!

    To help grow sales and customer engagement this Halloween, Star has made it easier than ever to promote ghoulishly good sales and product lines. With PromoPRNT, retailers (or those acting on their behalf) can create custom promotions that print directly on the bottom of the receipt. These promotions can serve as a coupon, funnel shoppers toward an e-commerce site, and more.

    Learn more about PromoPRNT

    To get you started, the Star team has created the following Halloween templates, which are now available in the PromoPRNT Promotion Builder dashboard:



    PromoPRNT

  • How a Paper Receipt Benefits ROI and the Customer Experience

    How a Paper Receipt Benefits ROI and the Customer Experience

    This is the second part of “Keep the Receipt,” a five-part blog series about the various advantages paper receipts offer to businesses and consumers, and why you should elect to choose to offer – and accept – paper receipts.

    Welcome to the next part of our Keep the Receipt blog series, where we’ll explore the ways that a paper receipt benefits a business’s return on investment (ROI), as well as its customer experience. During a time when options abound for consumers when it comes to retailers and restaurants, it’s important to not only boost cost efficiency, but also optimize the experience customers have from the moment they enter the door, up until the transaction is completed. Read on to discover how paper receipts can help you achieve all of that – and more.

    Paper Receipt Benefits | Return on Investment

    At the end of the day, businesses need to communicate with shoppers to inform them of transaction details, promotions, return policies, and more. That need is not going away, so the question becomes, what’s the most effective and cost-efficient way to share that necessary information?

    Email services can cost hundreds or thousands of dollars a year, while direct mail can cost nearly $1.00 per piece! Receipts, on the other hand, are extremely cost-effective. Printing 1,000 receipts costs only approximately $1.50 – that’s just $0.0015 per receipt!

    With a laundry list of expenses including rent, utilities, wages, POS hardware, commerce software, payment processing, and more, saving on regular expenses like receipts and marketing communications can make a big difference for businesses of all sizes.

    The receipt is also a very cost-efficient and effective marketing medium. Don’t miss our next Keep the Receipt blog post, where we’ll explore marketing advantages of paper receipts.

    Another less obvious way that receipts boost ROI is by increasing the efficiency of the checkout process. When a business chooses to offer paper receipts, no customer contact information needs to be collected at the point of purchase, meaning the transaction can completed in mere seconds. Speeding up long lines and serving more customers, faster? Sounds like a win to us!

    Paper Receipt Benefits | A Smoother Customer Experience

    Simply put, if you don’t provide your customers with a positive experience, chances are they will begin to spend their money elsewhere. While building an optimal customer experience is a multifaceted endeavor, offering paper receipts is an easy way to help create a more reliable, comfortable experience for shoppers. Here are three major reasons why:

    • No Need for a Digital Device: Smartphones are great, but putting all your eggs in one basket and only offering digital POS services can be problematic. For starters, according to Pew Research, 19% of Americans don’t own a smartphone. Offering paper receipts is a surefire way to navigate that digital divide and avoid leaving out a significant portion of the population.
    • Fewer Junk Emails: A whopping 281 billion emails were sent and received worldwide per day in 2018. And while 99% of consumers check their mail every day, that doesn’t mean they open every single one of the emails they receive, especially when it comes to retail emails. That being said, it’s becoming increasingly easy for consumers to misplace their digital receipts, which can cause a headache when going to return or exchange an item, budget the purchase, and more.
    • A Consistent, Reliable Format: Having a smartphone doesn’t necessarily mean a smooth digital experience: retail stores are built of concrete, brick, and steel, which can block signals and create wireless dead zones. For customers, this poor wireless service can mean difficulty retrieving promotions, proof of purchase, return policies, and more. And even in the midst of a digital transformation, consumers are used to receiving a paper receipt. There’s no question of where to find transaction, promotion, and return policy information when it’s all on a printed receipt safely tucked away in a wallet, not lost in an email inbox. Avoid all of the digital risk by choosing paper receipts (which can include promotions)!

    Are you a business owner? Do you find paper receipts valuable, even in a digital age? Let us know in the comments!

    Be sure to tune into our future Keep the Receipt blogs, which will take a deep dive into even more topics like marketing advantages, bookkeeping/informational benefits, and sustainable features of Star receipts.



    Download our FREE eBook, “The Value of Receipts: Printed and Digital,” now!

  • Long Live the Coupon [Infographic]

    Long Live the Coupon [Infographic]

    Retail trends come and go, but what’s one thing that’s consistently popular with consumers? Coupons!

    In a nutshell, coupons are powerful because they entice shoppers of all types to buy. While everyone loves a good deal, you might be surprised to know that a whopping 90% of affluent customers use coupons – they’re not just for those on a strict budget! And coupons are popular across industries, from retail to restaurants, and everything in between.

    Learn more about the enduring prevalence of the paper coupon in our coupon infographic below:

    Coupon-Infographic

    Discover Why You Shouldn’t Underestimate Coupons as a Promotional Tool



    Download eBook

  • Small Business Fall Marketing Ideas to Boost Sales

    Small Business Fall Marketing Ideas to Boost Sales

    Grab your sweater and pumpkin spice latte, because fall is in the air! Consumers love fall-related products and events, and who can blame them? The season’s crisp, sunny days are perfect for fall festivals, apple picking, and munching (and sipping) away on cozy treats.

    But just how popular is fall? Hint: VERY, and whether you own a small business or resell point of sale solutions to small businesses, you should absolutely pay attention to the season’s trends. Below is some information to demonstrate just how prevalent fall-related items and events are (even before fall even begins):

    • In 2017, pumpkin-flavored product sales represented approximately $286 million in the United States alone.
    • Furthermore, there is a Facebook group dedicated to the return of the Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte – with over 34,000 members!
    • Seasonal beers – including pumpkin beer – represents about 16% of total craft beer sales.
    • According to Ted Roumanis from brand development and qualitative market research firm Positive, fall marketing can start well before fall: “Yes, we’re in the middle of summer, but there hasn’t really been anything to talk about from a seasonal marketing perspective since July 4th and Memorial Day.”
    • And one popular junk food-focused Instagram influencer says, “It feels like fall seasonal products appear earlier and earlier each year because there is no official start date to the season. With winter seasonal products, for example, there is a hard start date the day after Halloween. While fall officially starts in late September, there is a large gap between when summer seasonal products debut (around May) and the official start of fall, so companies fill that gap by offering fall products earlier.”

    Get Started with Fall Marketing

    So now you know how much your customers crave all things fall, how can you start marketing in that space? Lucky for you, it’s incredibly easy!

    Whether you’re featuring a special fall sale, pumpkin-related anything, or a fun-packed autumnal event, you can promote all of it – for free – using a Star receipt printer!  With PromoPRNT, you can build custom promotions from templates that are featured right on the bottom of receipts, where shoppers are sure to see them.

    Click here to learn more or sign up for PromoPRNT.

    To get you started with your fall marketing, we have created the below templates that are now available for customization in PromoPRNT:

    Fall-Sale-e1574806154745

    Pumpkin-Spice-e1574806171645

    Fall-Festival-e1574806189579

    Looking for some more fall inspiration for your PromoPRNT designs? Here are some additional fall marketing ideas from Square:

    • Launch an Instagram photo contest
    • Hold a special sale where shoppers receive a discount when bringing in canned and other non-perishable food items to donate to a food pantry
    • Attend a fall festival as a vendor
    • Celebrate new holidays (in addition to Pumpkin Spice Appreciation Day featured above), like “Sweater Weather Saturday”



    PromoPRNT

  • 4 Reasons Why You Should Keep Your Receipt

    4 Reasons Why You Should Keep Your Receipt

    This is the first part of “Keep the Receipt,” a five-part blog series about the various advantages paper receipts offer to businesses and consumers, and why you should elect to choose to offer – and accept – paper receipts.

    There’s no denying it. The world is going digital. But does it make sense to digitize everything?

    In our latest blog series, “Keep the Receipt,” we will discuss the myriad of advantages a paper receipt can offer over an emailed one. These benefits range from higher return on investment (ROI) for a business, to bookkeeping benefits for consumers, and everything in between. Don’t just take it from us; in a recent survey, 68% of US consumers said they would rather receive a physical receipt.

    While this blog post will give you a brief overview of the different reasons why to keep the receipt, check back for future blog posts that will dive deeper into each benefit.

    So, without further ado, here are the four reasons why you should keep your receipt:

    1. Return on Investment and User Experience

    The ROI when it comes to a paper receipt versus an email receipt is irrefutable. In the next post of our series, we will explore the different ways paper receipts can save businesses a real chunk of change – let’s just say the numbers are eye-opening. Did you know the cost to print a receipt is just fractions of a penny? When compared to direct mail, which can cost between 30 cents to over $10 per person, you can see how easily the savings can stack up.

    Our second blog post will also explore how paper receipts offer a smoother, more reliable user experience for shoppers. When you choose to provide paper receipts, you’re helping your shoppers receive fewer junk emails, as well as making it easier to retrieve promotions.

    2. Marketing Advantages

    One of the great advantages of a paper receipt is that it’s a valuable marketing opportunity for businesses. Our third blog post will discuss the various marketing features a paper receipt can provide, including its ability to successfully deliver messaging to nearly every single shopper, as well as its potential to onboard customers to loyalty programs and grow a retailer’s social media following.

    We’ll also discuss the value of printed promotions. For example, did you know that consumers still prefer print over digital coupons?

    3. Informational Benefits

    At the end of the day, a receipt communicates information from a business to a shopper. While the above blog post dives into the marketing side of this, our fourth blog will explore the informational benefits paper receipts have. Receipts can help business owners and shoppers alike keep track of:

    • Itemized purchase information,
    • Return policy details,
    • Correct tip amounts,
    • And much more.
    4. Sustainability

    We understand that one of the biggest selling points of an emailed receipt is that it can be more environmentally friendly. That may be true when comparing an emailed receipt to a traditional paper receipt that is coated with BPA (Bisphenol A), a controversial chemical. However, in our fifth and final blog post, we’ll explore the reasons Star receipts are eco-friendlier than others on the market, including:

    • Being BPA-free,
    • Featuring recyclable packaging,
    • Including paper reduction technologies,
    • And more!

    Be sure to tune into our future Keep the Receipt blogs, which will take a deeper dive into these topics.

    Don’t miss out on our upcoming Keep the Receipt blogs, subscribe to the Star blog! On desktop, you will find a subscription form on the right side of this page; on mobile, you will find it in the footer of this page.



    Download our FREE eBook, “The Value of Receipts: Printed and Digital,” now!

  • 3 Reasons Why Star Cash Drawers are the Perfect MMF VAL-u Line Replacement

    3 Reasons Why Star Cash Drawers are the Perfect MMF VAL-u Line Replacement

    If you’re looking for MMF VAL-u Line® replacement cash drawers, you’ve come to the right place. Star Micronics is so much more than a printer company, and cash drawers are an integral part of our product line.

    Our Value Series cash drawers, including the CD3-1313 and CD3-1616, are the ideal replacement for MMF VAL-u Line cash drawers for a variety of reasons: they are an exact replacement for the VAL-u Line drawers, they work with both Star and Epson printers, and they’re feature-packed and ready to pair with your point of sale (POS).

    Here are the 3 reasons Star’s Value Series cash drawers are the ideal MMF VAL-u Line replacement:

    1. Exact Replacement for VAL-u Line Cash Drawers

    Simply put, the Star CD3 Value Series cash drawers are the perfect replace for the VAL-u Line because they are the exact replacement for the VAL-u Line! That’s right: our CD3-1313 and CD3-1616 have exactly the same features and looks as the VAL-u Line. You won’t be able to notice any difference! Can’t get a better replacement than that, can you?

    2. Works with Both Star and Epson Printers

    Although Star manufacturers printers, we understand that not everyone who is looking for a cash drawer necessarily uses a Star printer, as well. For that reason, our CD3 Value Series cash drawers work with both Star and Epson printers.

    3. Feature-Packed and Ready to Pair with Your POS

    On top of all of the VAL-u Line features you know and love – which our Value Series has to a T – Star cash drawers also offers the below features:

    • Available in black or white coated finish to match your existing POS (white finish includes drawer front, as well)
    • Bottom exit cables included
    • Ideal for either standard amount of cash capacity, or high-volume cash capacity

    Meet Your New Cash Drawer

    CD3-1313

    HiRez-IMG_9969-e1574806067107

    • 13 x 13 standard size
    • Cost-effective
    • Exact replacement of MMF VAL-u Line
    • Durable steel construction and black or white coated finish
    • Printer driven interface with bottom exit cable (cable included) – works with Star and Epson clone printers
    • Dual media slots

    Learn More About the CD3-1313

    CD3-1616

    IMG_8024-e1574806085931

    • 16 x 16 robust size
    • Robust storage, high volume
    • Exact replacement of MMF VAL-u Line
    • Durable steel construction and black or white coated finish
    • Printer driven interface with bottom exit cable (cable included) – works with Star and Epson clone printers
    • Dual media slots

    Learn More About the CD3-1616

    Star / MMF Comparison ChartCash-Drawer-Matrix-e1574806106742

    Star also proudly offers the Choice Series and Max Series cash drawer lines. Click here to browse all Star cash drawers.



    Cash Drawers

  • WebPRNT vs. CloudPRNT: What’s the Difference?

    WebPRNT vs. CloudPRNT: What’s the Difference?

    When designing a software product, whether it be a point of sale (POS), online ordering, or reservation system (or more), deciding which printing mechanism technologies to use is very important. Star is happy to help, and offers solutions for both web-based POS and cloud-based POS (WebPRNT and CloudPRNT, respectively). While both technologies enable printing from a server (local or cloud-based), there are many differences between the two, and specific use cases for each.

    Below, we explore the basic differences between the two technologies, when to use each, and which Star products feature these technologies. If you have any further questions, please contact us and a member of our team will assist you.

    Important Note: All current CloudPRNT-capable printers also support WebPRNT.

    Click here to download a full comparison document.

    All About WebPRNTWebPRNT-General-Diagram-e1574805991783

     

    To support customers building web-based POS applications, Star developed WebPRNT, which provides a multi-platform solution to print directly from various devices including PCs and tablets via a web browser.

    To use, simply embed JavaScript samples from Star’s SDK package into your HTML file, and you can control your Star printer. WebPRNT is the perfect solution for web developers.

    Pros

    • WebPRNT SDK is JavaScript-based and is very familiar to web developers
    • Supports a wide variety of printers including Bluetooth printers by using WebPRNT Browser
    • Once initially coded, WebPRNT can run anywhere with a browser

    Cons

    • Users must know the printer’s IP address
    • Need to set up an SSL certificate

    WebPRNT is available on Star’s mC-Print3, mC-Print2, TSP654II, TSP743II, TSP847II, and SP742. Click here to learn more.

     



    Download WebPRNT Spec Sheet

    Exploring CloudPRNTCloudPRNT-General-Diagram-1-e1574806010723

    CloudPRNT is a technology that enables printing directly from a server, usually in the cloud. This device-agnostic method of printing separates the printing technology from the device triggering the print job, making it perfect for web-based software solutions where there is no device on the same network as the printer (and many other scenarios).

    Here’s an example of how CloudPRNT works: By integrating CloudPRNT, a web-based POS solution could generate print jobs seamlessly and without a print dialog from any browser, on any device, running any operating system since the print job is coming straight from the cloud. Online ordering and bring your own device (BYOD) solutions are also a perfect match for CloudPRNT since the device triggering the print job doesn’t have to be on the same network or connected directly to the printer.

    Another benefit of CloudPRNT is that it simplifies print job queue management since it allows management to occur centrally on the server instead of on each individual device. This makes for a robust print management solution in environments with multiple printers such as restaurants.

    Last but not least, CloudPRNT printers periodically poll the server with its status looking for new print jobs rather than pushing the print job from the cloud to the printer. This means that the user doesn’t have to worry about the IP address of the printer, making for easier hardware management and support. The user also does not need to manage SSL certificates on the printer as is required with WebPRNT when printing from secure sites.

    Pros

    • CloudPRNT protocol is platform- and programming language-agnostic
    • The printer and the person initiating printing can be in different physical locations (remote printing)
    • REST-based architecture
    • No need to set up SSL certificates
    • All communication is done through one unified URL

    Cons

    • Requires a reliable internet connection
    • Cannot print when network/internet is down

    CloudPRNT is available on Star’s mC-Print3, mC-Print2, TSP654II, SP742, TSP743II, and TSP847II. Click here to learn more.

     



    Download CloudPRNT Spec Sheet

     



    Contact Star Integration Now

  • 3 Easy Omnichannel Retail Strategies

    3 Easy Omnichannel Retail Strategies

    The term omnichannel retail has been making headlines recently, but what exactly is it? According to Shopify,

    “Omnichannel retail doesn’t require you to be everywhere, just everywhere your customers are. This distinction is what separates top-performing enterprises from the rest.

    Omnichannel retailing is a fully-integrated approach to commerce, providing shoppers a unified experience across all channels or touchpoints.

    True omnichannel shopping goes beyond brick-and-mortar locations to mobile-browsing, online marketplaces, social media, and wherever your users browse online through retargeting ads.”

    Why You Need an Omnichannel Strategy

    Creating an all-encompassing experience for your shoppers is of utmost importance. Three common and effective methods of delivering an omnichannel dynamic are retail loyalty programs, customer surveys, and online reviews.

    1. Retail Loyalty Programs: Simply put, a retail loyalty program is a marketing program designed to motivate customers to continue to shop at/use the services providing by a given business. Common features of loyalty programs are personalized rewards, integrated social media actions, referral marketing, a game-like structure with levels and badges, and special coupons. Did you know …
      • 87% of shoppers reported that they want brands to have loyalty programs
      • 3 out of 4 Americans have at least one retail loyalty card
      • 84% of loyalty program members are likely to choose the program retailer over its competitor
      • 71% feel their loyalty programs deliver benefits that are important to them
    2. Customer Surveys: Implementing an online survey is an easy way to gain valuable feedback from your customers. What better way to improve your business strategy than receiving honest feedback from the ones who matter the most, your clientele? (Looking for some guidance on what questions to include? Browse 16 excellent customer survey examples.) Did you know …
      • For every customer who complains to a business, 26 other customers don’t voice their feelings – and you need that valuable information!
      • 95% of customers share bad experiences with others – get ahead of this and address the issue with the customer directly before the negative experience spreads to potential customers
      • 81% of companies who are able to deliver customer experience excellence outperform their competition
      • Resolve a complaint in the customer’s favor and they will do business with you again 70% of the time
    3. Online Reviews: Digital transformation is here, and a large portion of today’s consumers browse online reviews of businesses before choosing where to shop, dine out, and more. Your online reputation is important to draw in new business. In fact, did you know …
      • 97% of people read reviews for local businesses
      • 91% of 18-34-year-olds trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations
      • 68% of consumers will leave a review if asked
      • A one-star increase in Yelp rating leads to a 5-9% increase in revenue

    How to Onboard Customers

    So now that you know the basic pieces to the omnichannel puzzle, how do you go about actually getting your customers to engage? To effectively grow your retail loyalty program, customer survey results, and online reputation, you must raise awareness … and that’s where PromoPRNT comes in.

    With PromoPRNT, you can create custom on-receipt promotions (for free) that are delivered directly into the shopper’s hand via your Star printer. These promotions prompt customers to sign up for a loyalty program, provide feedback, and/or write a review. A whopping 78% of businesses say their customers don’t have a smooth brand experience across channels – be a business that does and stand out!

    And guess what? It’s very easy to get started! We’ve created three omnichannel templates for you to use, which are now available to customize in the PromoPRNT dashboard:

    Loyalty-Program-PromoPRNT-e1574805918143

    Customer-Survey-PromoPRNT-e1574805936420

    Online-Review-PromoPRNT-e1574805955994

    *Windows PC users can use their existing thermal printer, others may need to update printer model. Call 1 (800) 782-7636 extension 2 for details or visit www.promoprnt.com for more details.



    PromoPRNT

  • 6 Compelling Reasons Developers Should Choose the StarPRNT SDK

    6 Compelling Reasons Developers Should Choose the StarPRNT SDK

    Constantly evolving technology requirements and the need to stay competitive is enough to keep any programming and development staff busy 24/7. But instead of forcing you to write pages of new code to integrate your products or systems with Star Micronics printers, we’ve created StarPRNT SDK, a software developer kit that eliminates additional complexity in a way that is unmatched by competitors’ solutions. StarPRNT SDK reduces development time, costs and eliminates the need to study different programming manuals and write pages of code for full-feature support.

    The StarPRNT SDK was developed to facilitate the integration of any Star product by making the process as seamless as possible. StarPRNT SDK gives developers all the tools they need at their fingertips to integrate Star’s printer lineup with your application  without the heavy workload. In short: Every Star Micronics printer, One software development kit.

    Learn more about the SDK now in our free eBook.

    There are six specific advantages the StarPRNT SDK has over software development kits that are offered by competitors:

    1. Support every Star Micronics product
    2. Built to be developer-friendly
    3. No need to worry about printer commands
    4. Additional support for Star Micronics’ peripherals
    5. Provides flexibility with programming language
    6. Star Micronics provides development support with the SDK through the Software Partner Program

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    Work with a Company that Supports Your Business

    Designed with the needs of software developers in mind, the Star Micronics’ StarPRNT SDK gives you all of the tools you need to integrate your software with Star’s line of printers and peripherals — moreover, we give you the tools to help the process run more smoothly and cost-effectively so you can improve the bottom line.

    Star provides you with a line of industry-leading products including printers and POS peripherals and an SDK that makes it easy to develop software that enables your customers to use our products in ways that are most beneficial to them.

    And Star adds the value of support from our development and marketing teams to ensure your partnership with us is profitable.



    Contact Star Integration Now