Category: Solutions & Use Cases

Labor Day is here – and consumers are looking to celebrate! Millions of people plan on hitting the beach, going to a BBQ, taking advantage of Labor Day sales, and more. In fact, take a look at the below Labor Day statistics provided by McNutt & Partners, some of which may surprise you:

• Labor Day competes with the 4th of July and Memorial Day in terms of barbecue consumption. According to umbel.com, more beef is consumed on Memorial Day than any other day of the year, and Labor Day and 4th of July generally tie for second place. Roughly 40 percent of Americans plan to barbecue over Labor Day weekend.
• And go to the movies. The top-grossing movie of all time to open on Labor Day weekend was Halloween in 2007, according to Box Office Mojo. The movie grossed nearly $30.6 million on its opening weekend. Halloween is trailed in the rankings by The Possession (2012) and Transporter 2(2005).
• Others go shopping. A survey of Labor Day consumers showed that the average American will spend approximately $150 during Labor Day weekend shopping. The largest percentage of consumers said it would shop for school supplies (28 percent) followed by clothes (22 percent) and electronics (18 percent).

Star and Labor Day

Let your customers know what you have going on for Labor Day, by simply using your Star receipt printer*! Print customized promotions automatically on your receipts – when and where you want them to – with Star Micronics PromoPRNT. And with PromoPRNT’s cloud-based dashboard, can create and schedule custom promotions for all your stores from one central location. Your receipts, your promotions, your way.

Labor Day Promotion Templates – Ready to Use!

The below Labor Day marketing promotion templates are live in the PromoPRNT dashboard and ready for you to use. Simply customize to your store, and get printing!

PromoPRNT | Quick How To Video

Contact us today to learn more about how PromoPRNT can help you not just promote your seasonal specials, but onboard customers to loyalty programs, drive them to your social media accounts, and more.

^{*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.}

It’s not what you would expect. The very last group of people you’d imagine would prefer shopping in-person does just that. True digital natives, they grew up in the digital age, and are connected to a device for multiple hours per day.

Who are they? They’re Gen Z, and they love physical retail! In fact, according to a study conducted by IBM and the National Retail Federation, 98% said they prefer to shop in brick-and-mortar stores.

So why does Gen Z, or the generation of people born between 1996 and 2010, love physical retail? Let’s take a deep dive into what drives them to appreciate the in-store experience more than other generations and how today’s businesses can successfully engage with them.

Why Gen Z Loves Brick-and-Mortar Retail

In-Person Shopping

First and foremost, according to the HRC Retail Advisory, Gen Z loves the in-person aspect of shopping at a mall or retail store. There’s something special about interacting with a brand in-person that online shopping just cannot do.

To leverage this unique advantage, focus on providing appealing store design as well as top-notch, personalized customer service – but only when your Gen Z shoppers want it (more on this point later).

Being Rewarded

HRC also provided some interesting information about Gen Z and reward/loyalty programs.

According to the Advisory, “Gen Zers want and demand reward experiences, with instant feedback and satisfaction especially important.” Keep your shoppers coming back for more by offering more.

The Merge of Physical and Digital

Let’s not forget that Gen Z still loves their smartphones, but what sets them apart is that they look to retailers to merge the physical with the digital.

According to MediaPost, Gen Z looks for retail shopping to be supported by mobile technology so that they can browse a shoe aisle in-store and instantly receive a mobile coupon for said footwear. In other words, “To Gen Z, retail and ecommerce shopping isn’t an ‘us vs. them’ scenario; rather, the two complement each other and accentuate the shopping experience.”

How to Cater to Gen Z

Support Self-Service

While they love being in the store, Gen Zers actually prefer to be left alone while they shop. In fact, a study conducted by Oracle NetSuite, Wakefield Research, and The Retail Doctor found that 42% of Gen Zers become annoyed by increased interactions with retail associates (versus millennials, Gen X, and baby boomers, who report feeling welcomed with more interaction).

Enable your Gen Z shoppers to shop within their comfort zone by incorporating self-service technologies, like AI- and VR-enabled apps (79% of retail executives feel the use of these would lead to increased sales), and self-service kiosk technology. It’s also important to provide a strong Wi-Fi connection so customers can successfully bridge the gap between physical and digital without any hiccups or headache.

Create Convenience

It’s important to remember that many members of Gen Z came of age and began spending money when two-day delivery policies were common, so they value and have high expectations when it comes to convenience, a recent Morning Consult study To accommodate these expectations, be sure to offer convenient options like buy online/pick up in store, buy online/return in store, and more.

Boost Branding

Gen Z spends over 4 hours per day on their smartphones. Are you capturing their attention online? To best appeal to them digitally, it’s a good idea to be active on social media and create content in an appealing format that targets their specific interests.

A good rule of thumb is to create content that’s easy to digest in just one glance, uses language that Gen Z uses (like emoji), and that’s highly shareable. Video is also a great idea – nearly half of Gen Z visits YouTube daily! Be sure to research which platforms to invest your time and money on – Instagram and Snapchat are more popular with Gen Z than Facebook, for example.

Looking to drive your shoppers to your social media accounts? A great way to do just that is by promoting your social accounts on your receipts, which customers are sure to see. Another great branding opportunity that’s sure to please is a loyalty program, which can also be promoted on receipts and feeds into the desire for Gen Z to receive perks, as well as connect the digital and physical retail realms.

In summary, keep these things in mind when it comes to Gen Z shoppers:

They value a convenient shopping experience that seamlessly merges physical and digital retail by incorporating mobile coupons and tailored social media messaging. They also prefer to shop at their own pace, in their own way. When it comes to this generation, it’s all about the omnichannel retail experience!

It’s that time of year again. Summer is flying by and there’s one big thing on parents’, kids’, and retailers’ minds: SCHOOL! There’s no denying that the back to school season is profitable – with millions of students returning to the classroom in the coming weeks, there’s a huge opportunity for retailers everywhere to promote special sales for this season.

Back to School Sales Statistics

Curious just how valuable the back to school season is? Check out the below statistics provided by the National Retail Federation (NRF), which has been conducting annual surveys since 2003 to discover how American families shop for apparel, supplies, and more for the upcoming school year.

3 Easy, Ready-to-Use Back to School Marketing Ideas

Now that you know just how much families are spending on back to school items, it’s time to market your business’s seasonal sales.

To get you started, we’ve created three promotions in PromoPRNT that are ready for you to customize and start printing on your receipts – in mere minutes. Haven’t used PromoPRNT before? No problem! PromoPRNT is Star’s value-added, cloud-based marketing tool that enables you to print promotions from templates on receipts, boosting customer retention and engagement – all for free!^* Click here to learn more about and get started with PromoPRNT.

1. Back to School Sale (General)

2. Back to School Teacher Sale

3. School Lunch Supply Sale

Ready to get started? Click here to learn more about/register for PromoPRNT!

^{*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.}

Banking has changed quite a bit over the past few years, as mobile technologies rise and questions about financial security and data breaches are headline news. According to a survey completed by TD Bank, more than 50% of their customers are using online banking for normal transactions like deposits and transfers. But for more detailed banking information or financial products, people still prefer to do it the old-fashioned way and visit their local branch.For customers who want to visit the branch for routine transactions, many institutions have myriad options for them. Full-service assistance, drive-thrus, and self-service kiosks are usually available, but online banking customers may be most comfortable using the bank kiosk.

Market research shows that implementing a self-service kiosk means a better customer service for patrons. One published study found that when given the option, 89% of 1,000 people surveyed would “sometimes” or “always” choose a self-service kiosk over a full-service option. These kiosks are typically easy to use and engage people while they are making a purchase. In turn, stores, restaurants, airports, banks, and hospitality venues can reduce their payroll, boost profits, and provide a high level of customer service with less staff.

If you’re considering installing bank kiosks, consider these three things:

1. Customer Experience

Bank kiosks can facilitate a better customer service experience through a user-friendly interface that helps reinforce your brand. Banking at the kiosk means it’s just the customer and the machine; there is no line backing up behind them. People have a few extra minutes to read about new products and services at their own pace and find something that piques their interest.

2. Security Features

Don’t leave anyone’s financial information up for grabs. Banking kiosks should protect customers’ privacy just as well as an actual employee, so this hardware should be equipped with extra protection including:

• Physical privacy screen: People shouldn’t be able to see the kiosk screen unless they are standing directly in front of it. Privacy screens help protect people’s financial information from prying eyes.
• Physical and digital keys: A banking kiosk should require two keys to access the head and base for added security so it can’t be opened by just anyone.
• Proximity detectors: Kiosks should be equipped with special sensors that can tell when a customer is approaching or departing. If a person leaves before logging off, the kiosk will automatically end the session.

3. Software Security

Investing in kiosk hardware with the security options listed above is important, but don’t forget the software. Software security helps protect your customers from data breaches and fraud.

• EMV-compliant card reader: Look for a kiosk equipped with a card reader that is EMV-compliant. Merchants and institutions using non-EMV-compliant devices are held responsible for fraud.
• PCI-compliant PIN pad: PCI standards require secure processing for card transactions, so be sure to ask if your equipment is PCI-compliant.
• Core platform integration: Bank kiosks should integrate directly with the bank’s core platform so it’s like visiting a teller and more secure than stopping by the ATM.

Bank kiosks are the preferred method for many customers who want to take a few extra minutes to review their account balances or skip the line because they’re pressed for time. A self-service kiosk serves a very specific purpose, but kiosks used in financial institutions need enhanced security features and PCI and EMV compliance to protect their customers’ sensitive information from fraud. Bank kiosks are a great way to generate interest in new financial products, eliminate wait times, and reach customers who want an omnichannel experience.

Free Self-Service Kiosk Resources

The future of many industries lies with self-service solutions. That’s why Star Micronics is offering free online ordering resources for resellers and software developers who are helping customers future-proof their businesses with self-service solutions.

Visit Self-Service Toolbox

Star’s Bank Kiosk Solutions

Thermal self-service kiosk printing is a Star Micronics specialty! Star Micronics is proud to offer a full range of kiosk printers in a variety of paper sizes (2”, 3”, and 4”) with compact or modular footprints and multiple optional accessories like bezels, presenters, large paper roll holders, and more.

SK1-311

• 3″
• Compact and lightweight
• Full and partial cut (command selectable)
• Easy to integrate

SK1-211

• 2″
• Modular design for easy integration
• High-speed printing: 200mm/s
• Available with and without presenter and front paper loading

Have kiosk questions?

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Star Micronics answers the call for a reliable, modern and customizable method of alerting kitchen staff to incoming orders

Somerset, NJ – July 24, 2019 – Star Micronics, a leading global manufacturer of mobile, point of sale (POS), and customer engagement technologies, is pleased to announce the arrival of the mC-Sound, an evolved model of the standard kitchen buzzer.

The new mC-Sound can be easily installed into the mC-Print3 kitchen and receipt printer, and is designed to further enhance the printer’s functionality by offering an ideal way to alert staff of incoming orders, even in the busiest, high-decibel kitchen environments.

The buzzer provides a high level of information, including order type, order source, and order urgency level. The distinguished sounds allow kitchen staff to instantly understand what is being ordered, if it is coming from in-house or a specific online ordering application, and what priority it is. Users can choose from a variety of sound types and volumes, and ISVs can assign individual sounds to different order types and playback sounds sent from a host device.

Capable of more customization than ever before, the mC-Sound comes pre-loaded with 16 sounds, and also allows for users to upload or record their own custom message.

The next-level buzzer is complete with a blue LED which illuminates during sound playback for an added visual notification, yet it features an unobtrusive design that blends in with the printer when not in use. The mC-Sound easily fastens on the outer surface of the printer, but can also be hidden within the printer itself for a smaller footprint without sacrificing sound quality.

“We wanted to address the issues of low sound quality, complex installation, and lack of various sounds that the optional BU01 buzzer had,” commented Christophe Naasz, the Director of Business Development at Star Micronics. “The mC-Sound offers the perfect solution to meet the needs of the industry and further improve the performance of the mC-Print3. Now kitchen staff can understand what food is being ordered, and from where – all from a single sound.”