Tag: POS Scales

Reopening Retail Stores: The Full Guide
As the world begins to recover from COVID-19, business owners everywhere like yourself may be wondering how to move forward. Reopening retail stores is not as straightforward as simply returning to business as usual; the pandemic has forever changed consumers’ shopping habits, as well as their sanitation standards. Read on to discover some key considerations to keep in mind as you plan reopening your retail store.

Reopening Retail Stores: 4 Tips

1. Create a Long-Term Health and Safety Plan

Even as many people become vaccinated against COVID-19, health and safety is a topic that is sure to stay on shoppers’ minds in the future. It’s likely that consumers will be more concerned with how they can to avoid the common cold, the flu, and more, even as COVID-19 becomes less prevalent.

To plan for the changing priorities of your consumers, it’s important to develop a long-term cleaning plan, including which areas will be cleaned, how often, with which supplies, by whom, and how the cleaning procedures will be logged. It’s also important to develop a set of safety protocols for your shoppers and employees, including things like if and when masks should be worn, social distancing guidelines, when sneeze guards should be used, and more.

Certain easy-to-use health and safety products – like the Star Micronics POSShield sneeze guard and antimicrobial covers – are more-or-less “set it and forget it” solutions that can assist you as you prioritize health and safety in the long run.

Health & Safety Solutions Brochure

Discover which solutions can keep your business squeaky clean and help customers feel confident at your brick-and-mortar location.

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2. Assess Your Tech Needs

The pandemic acted as a catalyst in the growth of many tech-centric retail trends including online ordering, curbside pickup, and contactless payments. Not only did these digital trends blow up during the lockdown, but people will likely continue to use and prefer these technologies. For example, did you know that 58% of people in the United States are more likely to use contactless payment methods than they were before the pandemic?

If you haven’t already, it’s time to consider what technology your store needs to adapt to the ongoing digital transformation. A receipt printer that has the capability to automatically print online orders, like the mC-Print3, is key, as well as a label printer like the TSP654IISK which can print liner-free labels to be used for labeling buy-online-pickup-in-store (BOPIS) and curbside pickup orders.

Does a large chunk of your clientele still shop in-store? You may still need a tech refresh. An all-in-one point-of-purchase that combines a receipt printer, cash drawer, device stand, and scanner can be helpful for businesses that are experiencing more contactless payments now as retail stores reopen. And cash-heavy businesses, such as cannabis dispensaries, can consider upgrading to the latest cash drawers which feature added strength and security.

3. Evaluate and Adjust Store Setup

As the digital transformation continues to permeate the retail industry, you may find that your store’s inventory needs adjusted. For example, if you are experiencing more online orders than you previously did, you may need to adjust the ratio of your back-of-store and front-of-store inventory to support that need.

In a similar vein, if your store experiences a large volume of BOPIS orders, that will likely continue, and it is wise to establish a permanent space within the store to be used for storing and delivering those orders.

4. Communicate

Once you’ve updated your health and safety procedures, your point of sale technology, and your store setup, there’s one very important thing left to do: communicate all of these changes to your loyal customers!

They say communication is the most important element of a relationship, and the same applies to business-customer relationships. Be sure to make your shoppers aware of your new hours, online ordering/delivery options, and safety protocols, if applicable.

Some marketing ideas to help deliver your news include:
- Email marketing: Put that email database to use and send some updates to your shoppers letting them know about your news and updates.
- Social media: Adults in the US spend an average of 2 hours and 6 minutes on social media each day. Take advantage of that and be sure to post your latest updates for your loyal followers to see (and share).
- In-store signage: Want to let in-store shoppers know about your “endless aisle” or the measures you’re taking to keep them safe? In-store signs placed near the store entrance and point of sale can drive the message home.
- Receipt marketing: One place that customers are sure to look? Their receipt! Consider using your Star printer to print custom promotions on the bottoms of your receipts (for free).
Star Micronics Solutions for Reopening Retail Stores

Star Micronics has what it takes to make retailers stand out – today and in the future. We proudly provide end-to-end retail POS solutions that are compatible with today’s top applications. Star’s wide variety of retail POS hardware and systems solutions for the modern retailer include:
- Receipt printers
- Ticket/label printers
- Portable printers for mobile sales, curbside payments, and line-busting
- Sneeze guards
- Antimicrobial covers
- NTEP-certified scales
- Check readers and endorsers
- Self-service kiosk printers
- Value-added cloud marketing services
- And more!
Recommended Small Business Bundle:

mPOP®

Printer – cash drawer – scanner – device stand
Available with Flat Bill cash management
Compatible with iOS, Android, and Windows

POSShield

Portable plexiglass sneeze guard
Limits the spread of germs
No countertop mounting or drilled required

Antimicrobial covers*

Reduce the transfer of germs on high-touch surfaces
Designed for use on door handles, checkout counters, and more
Thoroughly tested, EPA-registered, latex-free

Ready for a reopening refresh?

Browse Star’s Retail Solution
April 20, 2021
5 Reasons You Need a Cannabis Dispensary POS System
The cannabis industry is flourishing. With recent legalizations, including New York, it is without a doubt that the market will see countless new dispensaries opening their doors in the near future. Whether you already operate a dispensary or are looking to open one, read on to learn what to look for a in a dispensary point of sale (POS) system and why they’re so important.

What to Look for in a Dispensary POS System

First, let’s dive into a quick list of must-have dispensary POS system technologies. POS systems have several components, but they don’t need to be complicated. One way to make it easy? Choose a POS supplier (like Star Micronics) that can provide all necessary hardware and has integrations with industry-leading dispensary POS software companies. Essential dispensary POS system components include:
- Receipt printer: Receipt printers are of utmost importance to dispensaries. Proof of legal purchase is essential – and there’s no better way to provide it than with a receipt. Additionally, it’s important to note that depending on your region, receipts must also contain other information, like store name and address, product category/name, and appropriate tax codes/identifiers.
- Label printer: Another printer that’s important to have on hand is a label printer. Labels are integral for seed-to-sale tracking, a key requirement in cannabis regulatory models. This process tracks plants and their byproducts from planting all the way through to the plant’s sale.
- Cash drawer: Currently, the majority of dispensary transactions are cash. Why? According to FindLaw.com, “Even though dispensaries supplying recreational or medical marijuana may be perfectly licensed and legal under state law, federal law still classifies marijuana as a Schedule 1 drug and considers marijuana businesses illegal. The banking system is regulated by federal law, so banks risk charges of aiding and abetting a federal crime or money laundering if they choose to do business with marijuana-related ventures.” That being said, a durable and high-volume cash drawer is key.
- Scale: One of the most critical elements of a dispensary POS system is the scale. When it comes to scales, there are a few things to keep in mind. First, the scale must be legal to use in your state and NTEP-certified. This certification ensures that the scales are charging the correct amount for the product being weighed. Another great feature to look for is a scale that is integrated directly into the POS as direct integration can reduce the risk of human error in data entry.
- Accessories: There is a plethora of dispensary POS system accessories that can take your business to the next level, including: scanners to increase the speed of transactions and convenience of scanning, an LED customer display so shoppers can easily see item prices and the transaction total, and a tablet stand and enclosure that features hidden cable management and matches the rest of the dispensary POS system aesthetic.
- Software: At the heart of a successful dispensary POS system is the right software. Like we discussed earlier, it’s key to make sure that your software is integrated with all of your POS hardware. Additionally, some software features to look for are built-in ID scanning and age verification, loyalty programs, on-demand product information, alternative payment acceptance, offline mode, inventory management, analytics and reporting, and more.
How Resellers Can Cash in on Cannabis Point of Sale

The cannabis industry has become one of the fastest growing markets. Here’s how resellers can take advantage.

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5 Benefits of a Dispensary POS System

So now that you know what needs to be included in your dispensary POS setup, why exactly is all of this important? Here are 5 major benefits of a dispensary POS system:
1. Compliance: Compliance is, of course, absolutely critical for dispensaries. POS systems can help not only provide necessary proof of purchase, but can manage inventory and age and ID verification as well. Common compliance violations include failing to report inventory, patient purchase limits, sales to minors, and inadequate delivery documentation. These violations are severe and can result in notice to comply, citation for violation, interim suspension, or revocation of license.
2. Accuracy: Keeping product secure from seed to sale, and ensuring you’re selling the exact amount you think you are, is important. POS label printing solutions can aid in accurate seed-to-sale tracking, and an NTEP-certified scale complete with a windshield means you’re charging exactly the right amount for the product you’re selling.
3. Online Ordering: Did you know that cannabis delivery soared during the pandemic, and that change is likely here to stay? The right POS software will be capable of ecommerce and delivery, and will be integrated with a complete line of POS hardware. With the right POS system, staying up-to-date on digital trends is a piece of cake.
4. Future-Proof Integration: Speaking of being future-proof, choosing the right dispensary POS software and hardware means no matter where the market goes in terms of ecommerce or payments – as national banking eventually opens its doors to the industry – your POS system will already be prepared to handle it all.
5. Marketing: As the market explodes and competition becomes fiercer, marketing is key – and your dispensary POS system can help. Opt for a POS software that includes loyalty programs, gift cards, and marketing tools like email campaigns and social media integration. Your POS hardware can help too – with PromoPRNT, you can print custom promotions on the bottom of your Star Micronics receipts and labels for free.
The Proper Dispensary POS System is Important – Now and in the Future

In summary, while an ideal dispensary POS system has many parts, including software and hardware like receipt and label printers, cash drawers, scales, and more, deploying the best solution doesn’t need to be complicated. By choosing the right POS dispensary system suppliers you can start taking advantage of the many benefits a proper system offers, like compliance, accuracy, future-proofed technology and integrations, and built-in marketing benefits.

Star Micronics has the POS technology your dispensary needs to thrive today and in the future.

Download Cannabis Brochure
April 15, 2021
2021 Cannabis Industry Predictions

As legalization expands to new regions and more products hit the market, the cannabis industry is booming. In a market that seems to experience major updates every week, what cannabis industry predictions are there for 2021? Read on to review what happened in the market last year and to expect to see this year.

The 2020 Cannabis Market

The cannabis market saw a lot of growth in 2020. In fact, US national cannabis sales increased 67% in 2020, the industry was worth $61 billion, and support for legal marijuana rose to an all-time high of 68%.

The cannabis customer base is also changing and growing– according to Eaze, the gender divide that used to exist is disappearing (especially in the baby boomer age group) and last year, nearly half of customers were female (compared to just 38% in 2018).

Legalization-wise, during the 2020 election Arizona voted to legalize recreational usage, Montana and New Jersey voted to legalize adult usage, and South Dakota voted in favor of medical and recreational usage.

2021 Cannabis Industry Predictions

1. More Legalization

The legalization of cannabis has become increasingly widespread, and that trend will continue in 2021.

According to Marijuana Moment, the states that are most likely to legalize recreational marijuana usage this year include Connecticut, New Mexico, New York, Rhode Island, and Virginia.

Additional states are experiencing a buildup of momentum, but legalization is a bit less likely due to remaining opposition from some top leaders. These states include Delaware, Maryland, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.

In terms of medical usage of cannabis, a few states are slated to legalize this year, including Alabama, Kentucky, and South Carolina.

Source: Business Insider

2. Increased Sales

Related to increased legalization, one major cannabis industry prediction is increased sales. Did you know that on July 4, 2020 alone, more than $400 million worth of cannabis was sold? According to Linchpin SEO, the market has the potential to grow as much as $130 million per year in the near future.

Another contributing factor to the predicted increased sales is the fact that more and more businesses are selling cannabis products, and in particular, products containing cannabidiol (CBD). According to The Motley Fool,

“What Wall Street and investors seem to find most attractive about the rise of CBD is that it may appeal to consumers who might otherwise want nothing to do with the cannabis industry. Since CBD-based products typically contain no traces of, or minute amounts of, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the cannabinoid that gets a user high, consumers on the medical and recreational side of the equation tend to be more willing to try CBD-based products.”

Furthermore in 2019, CBD sales grew 71.3% in the natural channel alone to $91 million in sales, and sales grew an impressive 872% in the mainstream channel. Mainstream adoption is largely due to the 2018 Farm Bill which made it so that hemp is no longer a “controlled substance,” helping risk-averse retailers embrace selling hemp-derived CBD topicals. Many specialty retailers now carry CBD products, as well as larger chains like CVS, Walgreens, Rite Aid, Ulta Beauty, GNC, Urban Outfitters, Whole Foods, Target, and more.

3. A Broader Product Offering

Veryvell CBD sparkling water by Molson Coors (source: The Denver Post)

One cannabis industry prediction is that the number of types of cannabis products available on the market will increase substantially. On one hand, it’s likely that new strains will be created, and on another hand, particular products are projected to become more popular and readily available. For example, Molson Coors has already created a CBD-infused sparkling water to sell in Colorado. The drink, called Veryvell, contains zero calories and zero sugar and is available in three flavors: Focus (grapefruit tarragon), Mind & Body (strawberry hibiscus), and Unwind (blueberry lavender). On the edible front, it’s predicted that the variety of products available will increase.

How Resellers Can Cash in on Cannabis Point of Sale

The cannabis industry has become one of the fastest growing markets. Here’s how resellers can take advantage.

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4. Diverse Customers

As time passes, the cannabis consumer base grows more diverse. Linchpin SEO predicts that there will soon be more older and female customers, as well as a greater mix of both recreational and medicinal cannabis users.

If you’re curious about the current breakdown of cannabis users by age, check out the below chart from Flowhub:

5. New Use Cases

During a time when cleanliness is on the forefront of many people’s minds, who could have guessed that cannabis could potentially be used as a health and safety product? According to the US National Library of Medicine and National Institutes of Health,

“Several cannabinoids have been found to have potent antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive pathogens such as MRSA isolates. Endocannabinoids have also been shown to be effective in eradicating biofilms.”

This is just one example of a new use case for cannabis and as legalization and research efforts continue, it’s predicted that even more will arise.

6. Banking and Finance Updates

One major cannabis industry growing pain that has remained is the issue of banking. However, changes could be made on that front this year. According to TRYM,

“All eyes are on the United States Senate this coming year. Many believe they will finally pass legislation to grant legal cannabis businesses access to banking and financing services. The cannabis industry’s ‘Essential’ designation is ironic when many have to lug around bags of cash, putting them into vulnerable and dangerous situations.

Opening up banking services alone will make a huge impact on the legal marijuana industry as a whole. Investment would flow in more, valuations might increase, and most importantly, marijuana business transactions will become much easier.

A cannabis company could seek bridge loans from the bank rather than taking hard money loans which come at increased risk and high interest rates. In the expanding legal marijuana industry, scaling is important to maintain market share. But scaling requires an injection of money that operators may not have.

The ability to turn to banks for traditional financing would help organizations of all sizes grow their business in the legal marijuana industry.”

As the cannabis industry continues to boom, are you searching for compliant, secure, and easy-to-integrate cannabis POS solutions? Star has what you’re looking for.

Explore Star Cannabis Solutions

March 23, 2021
How to Set Retailers Up for Success with a Technology Upgrade
Retail technology is always on the up-and-up, and in order to stay relevant retailers need to prioritize taking advantage of the latest retail technology innovations. As a reseller, it’s equally important for you to act as your retail customers’ trusted advisor and serve as a one-stop, solution-selling shop. Your customers expect their solutions to be reliable, come from one place, and have an easy installation process. So, what is the best way to set your retailers up for success by providing a technology upgrade? Read on to find out.

Assess Their Current Technology Landscape

First and foremost, it’s important to look at your retailer’s existing technology landscape. Take inventory of the different technologies they are currently utilizing.

Most importantly, don’t assume the path they want to take with their technology upgrade. Arguably the most important aspect of being a trusted advisor is simply listening. Ask your customer what they’d like to improve and fully understand their priorities before you propose a solution. Do they want to take advantage of online ordering? Do they want to change the look and feel of their point of sale (POS)? Do they want to leverage mobile payments for line-busting and curbside pickups?

Next, when you feel confident that you have fully identified the customer’s technology upgrade wish list, start thinking about how you can help them make their wishes become reality. If you identify additional areas for improvement based on your industry experience, let the customer know but do not force the sale.

Provide the Right Solution for Them

Once you have mapped out your retailer’s priorities and have agreed on their technology upgrade roadmap, it’s time to get busy providing the right solution. Keep in mind that a complete and proper technology upgrade is multi-faceted and not “one size fits all.” A full retail technology solution keeps your customer’s priorities in mind at all times, and includes things like:

POS Software

Be sure to propose a modern POS software that is capable of online ordering, can provide detailed sales and marketing data, includes loyalty program functionality, and more.

POS Hardware

Next, consider what POS hardware the customer needs. To provide a simple user experience, remember to propose receipt printers and other POS hardware that is already integrated with industry-leading retail POS software and features connectivity options that accommodate your retailer’s business. Even better, some printers include technology to take your retailer’s POS to the next level, like Star Micronics SteadyLAN® which enables devices of all kinds (iOS, Android, Windows, and Mac) to receive stable WLAN connection and power delivery, all through one cable.

When proposing POS hardware, don’t forget the accessories! Sleek, modern, and future-proof POS accessories can really help to tie the customer’s POS together, both visually and functionally. Important POS accessories include simple yet stylish tablet stands that can accommodate a variety of tablets, extra-strong cash drawers that come in a variety of colors to match the rest of the POS, NTEP-certified scales, 1D and 2D scanners, customer displays, and especially in the new normal, sneeze guards to protect both retail staff and shoppers.

Online Ordering Technology

Online ordering is here, and it’s here to stay. When considering POS software and hardware options be sure to propose choices that include online ordering functionality. When it comes to POS hardware, you can provide a “two birds, one stone” solution by proposing a receipt printer that comes equipped with built-in online ordering technology like the Star Micronics mC-Print3. The mC-Print3 includes CloudPRNT technology which enables the printer to directly fetch and print online orders with no need for any additional POS hardware within the store.

Modern Payment Solutions

Shoppers are no longer satisfied by paying in traditional ways and this shift in the way consumers pay will continue. Account for this in your retailer’s technology upgrade by proposing contactless payment terminals, mobile payment methods for line-busting and curbside pickup orders, and more. Don’t forget: when in doubt, ask what your customer needs and wants.

Self-Service Kiosks

Self-service kiosks are another trend that is steadily growing. In the retail industry, kiosks can be used by shoppers for looking up product details, pricing, inventory, and gift registries. They can also be used by shoppers to pay for their order, or even by job candidates for the job application process.

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

Provide Ongoing Support

As a reseller, your job should not be over once the technology upgrade sale is made. Be sure you don’t leave your customers out to dry by regularly checking in with them and partnering with POS software and hardware companies that provide quality customer and technical support, like online help centers, web chat support, and a telephone hotline.

Star Micronics Retail POS Solutions

Star Micronics is proud to offer a complete retail POS hardware upgrade offering, including:

Receipt printers with built-in tablet POS connectivity and online ordering technology

Tablet stands featuring universal VESA mounting and clean cable management

NTEP-certified retail scales

Portable printers for line-busting and curbside pickups

A full range of self-service kiosk printers

A variety of accessories like sneeze guards, customer displays, scanners, etc.

And more

Furthermore, Star Micronics hardware is integrated with the retail industry’s top POS software providers and has a dedicated technical support team and online help center, helping you become a true one-stop shop reseller.

Ready to learn more? Click here to learn more about Star Micronics’ retail POS solutions.

Star Micronics Product Catalog

Explore POS printers, label printers, kiosk solutions, and accessories for retail, restaurant, self-service, and more.

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December 10, 2020
Star Micronics Introduces a New Extended Platter for the mG-S8200 Scale

Star Micronics, a leading manufacturer of mobile, point of sale (POS), and customer engagement technologies, is pleased to announce the new Extended Platter for the mG-S8200. The platter will be a simple addition that will allow Star to provide a wider range of support to those who are currently using the mG-S8200 and need additional platter space.

The lightweight platter measures 8.5” x 9” (WxL), with a stainless-steel finish. It is easy to install or reposition, as it simply gets placed on top of the original platter, with pegs to keep the extended platter in place. Fit for the mG-S8200, the extended platter will allow retailers such as yogurt shops, produce stands, or candy shops to measure more items at one time, helping to make the entire transaction a quicker and smoother process.

The NTEP certified mG-S8200 is ideal for large capacity measurements. With the ability to measure substances up to 8200g or 18lb, this scale is ideal for retailers that are offering heavier weighted items, or may need to weigh multiple items at once. Designed for modern retail, the POS scale is compatible with Windows, Android, and iOS, and features interfaces including Bluetooth, USB, and serial.

“Star released our mG-Scales with the intention of providing full point of sale solution to any retail market,” says Michael Hanson, Executive Vice President of Star Micronics. “We are now releasing the extended platter to help larger retailers complete weighted transactions with complete accuracy and ease.”

December 7, 2020
4 Ways to Tell that It’s Time for a Retail Technology Upgrade

As a retail business owner, you are busy and your plate is full of responsibilities. From managing inventory to recruiting staff, you have a lot of tasks to juggle and one of the last things on your mind might be your point of sale (POS) technology. So, how exactly do you know when it’s time for a retail technology upgrade? Read on to explore four common ways to determine when it’s time to refresh that tech.

1. You’re Not Online

Did you know that online shopping started all the way back in the mid-1990s? According to Money Magazine,

“Toward the end of 1994, Money magazine published a story about the sharp rise in consumers shopping from home. That year, some 98 million consumers made $60 billion worth of purchases from home, nearly all of it through phone orders prompted by mail catalogues and TV shopping channels. Another home-shopping option had suddenly arrived on the scene that year, too–an “on-line shopping service [that] requires a PC or Macintosh that’s equipped with a modem.” The article explained how such curious services worked:

‘For ordering, many of the “computer stores” offer shoppers an 800 telephone number to call. Others are set up so a shopper can click on a box next to the desired gift, type in payment information and the shipping address and then hit a “Submit Order” button. Some companies even let shoppers pick out the wrapping paper via computer.’”

Obviously, online ordering has come a long way since 1994 – and the COVID-19 pandemic kicked the trend into high gear. It’s simply not an option to not be online anymore. According to Zoovu.com, Target’s digital sales increased by 275% in April 2020 alone, and there has been a 500% rise in curbside pickup year-over-year. This trend extends past large retail chains; people understand the hardships many small businesses have faced during this unprecedented time and are looking to support their local mom-and-pops during the new normal.

If you aren’t online yet, don’t panic. There is a chance your current POS software provider offers e-commerce capabilities, and if they don’t, set aside some time to research an affordable and easy-to-use solution. From a POS hardware perspective, establishing an online store can be easier than you think. Certain online ordering printers, like the Star Micronics mC-Print3, are equipped with retail technology enabling the printer to automatically and directly retrieve orders from your online store. What does this mean for you? No extra tablet to purchase and install in your store and no additional timely training for your staff.

2. Your Marketing is Lackluster

Another task that can easily slip through the cracks for small business owners who wear multiple hats is marketing. While it may sound daunting, if you are equipped with the right retail technology, marketing can be easy.

From a software perspective, many POS software providers offer integrated, easy-to-view sales and marketing data right in their dashboards. These analytics can be used for sales reporting, loyalty programs, email marketing, and much more.

From the hardware end of things, did you know that with the right receipt printer, you can print promotions on your receipts for free? These promotions can easily and quickly be customized to communicate upcoming sales, your social media accounts, now hiring messaging, and more. You can design and schedule the promotions from anywhere using a simple online-based dashboard – even if you have multiple store locations.

3. Your Customers Can’t Pay the Way They Want To

The days of traditional cash and credit/debit card transactions are over. The COVID-19 pandemic has launched the retail world into a new way of doing things, and consumers demand modern payment methods that either reduce or eliminate contact with common surfaces and other people.

Is your store set up to accept contactless payments? Contactless payments – or the processing of transactions via the tap or close placement of a credit/debit card, smartphone, or smart watch – are growing in popularity as a safer and more efficient way to make purchases.

If you are looking to implement contactless payments, rest assured the process can be quite simple. Most banks not only offer contactless credit and debit cards, but also the terminals that are required for processing contactless transactions. These terminals have a contactless payment symbol on them showing customers that contactless payment methods are accepted. You may also tell your customers that you accept contactless payments in person, through social media or email marketing, by placing a sign at the point of sale, and through receipt marketing.

4. You Have a Dated Aesthetic

They say looks aren’t everything, but when it comes to retail technology, aesthetic makes a big difference. You might be used to seeing your POS hardware every day but try to take a look at it with a fresh set of eyes. Does it look clunky? Does it match the environment of the rest of your store? Does it complement the personality and vision you have in mind for your business?

If you find that your POS hardware looks a bit outdated and takes up too much space, it’s time to consider a refresh. In terms of style, POS hardware has come a long way in recent years. Tablet POS systems are now the norm, and not only provide a modern, clean appeal, but can provide an even better customer experience as well with features like tilting tablet stands that can be used to capture customer signatures. There are options on the market for modern-looking printers, cash drawers, scales, and more, too.

mCollection: Changing the Face of Retail

Whether just a couple parts of your retail technology environment need an upgrade, or you’re looking for a complete overhaul, the Star Micronics mCollection has you covered. A true one-stop shop, the mCollection includes receipt printers built for online ordering, tablet stands featuring clean cable management, stylish and durable cash drawers, and a full range of accessories like scanners, customer displays, and more.

Designed with ease-of-use in mind, the mCollection is integrated with the retail industry’s top POS software providers, like Shopify, PredictSpring, Square, Vend, and more.

Learn more about mCollection

Star Micronics has what it takes to modernize your small business.

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October 8, 2020
Star Micronics and Marijuana Software to Offer a Simple E-Commerce Solution for Cannabis

OMMPOS adds an online ordering plugin for cannabis dispensary customers using Star Micronics mC-Print3 with CloudPRNT

Somerset, NJ – July 8, 2020 – Star Micronics, a leading manufacturer of mobile, point of sale (POS), and customer engagement technologies, is proud to announce that OMMPOS.COM from Marijuana Software, LLC has certified a number of Star Micronics hardware peripherals to support their POS software and online ordering solution for cannabis dispensaries. OMMPOS supports Star’s mC-Print3 receipt printer, TSP743II label printer, Star’s CD3 Value Series of cash drawers, and mG-Scales, to offer the full hardware and software POS solution to their cannabis dispensary customers. OMMPOS has decided to expand their offering even further to help their customers during the COVID-19 outbreak by offering a simple solution for online ordering.

OMMPOS is offering their new online ordering feature for cannabis dispensaries at $15 per month, and $1 per order, making it a cost effective and competitive solution in the market. The online ordering plugin offers an API that allows current OMMPOS customers to transfer their current menu in their POS to their new e-commerce website seamlessly, using templates to custom brand their website with their own domain name. The API also allows cannabis dispensaries using other POS software to use the OMMPOS online ordering feature. The solution is compatible with WordPress and Wix for full website customization.

When OMMPOS users set up their e-commerce website, customers can then place their order for pick-up or delivery through that site. When customers place their order, the order gets sent to Star’s mC-Print3 receipt printer using CloudPRNT. CloudPRNT will work with the OMMPOS software to store and create print jobs, and communicate status with the printer. The store owner or service providers do not need to maintain an SSL certificate for this CloudPRNT printers since the printer communicates with the server as a client.

“We are excited to be able to offer this powerful, easy-to-use solution for online ordering. It used to take a lot of technical know how to set up a website shopping cart, and until now it has been very difficult for dispensaries to keep the inventory on their website accurate,” says Raja Afrika, Co-Founder of Marijuana Software, LLC. “Now, with our push button solution, anyone can instantly add a shopping cart to their existing website or use our instant website option if they don’t already have one. Our online ordering solutions supports delivery and curbside pickup as well as online payments with CanPay.”

July 8, 2020
Star Spotlight – NRF 2020 Edition: eMobilePOS
NRFis a wonderful show for multiple reasons – it’s where over 40,000 retail industry professionals gather to share ideas, build partnerships, and experience the year’s latest technology. Speaking of partnerships, one of Star’s favorite reasons for being at Retail’s Big Show is the dedicated time we give to catching up with our many retail software partners.

In today’s blog post, discover how one of Star’s POS software partners, eMobilePOS, is expanding mobile payments into even more verticals this year. Learn more about our partnership in the below video interview filmed at NRF 2020 and stay tuned for even more partnership interviews in our upcoming Star Spotlight NRF 2020 Edition blog posts.

What Does eMobilePOS Do?

e-Nabler, the company behind eMobilePOS, is a pioneer and leader in mobile POS and cloud-based software-as-a-service. The full-feature mobile POS and inventory management software fits all the functionality of a traditional POS workstation into a Android, Apple iOS, or Windows tablet or smartphone.

e-Nabler was founded by Joel Vazquez in 2001 and the company was one of the first to offer a full-featured mobile POS solution for Windows Mobile. In 2010, the application became available on iTunes as the first complete mobile POS app for iPhone, iPod touch and iPad. Today, the eMobilePOS software is available for Android, Apple iOS, and Windows tablets and smartphones. The company is headquartered in San Juan, Puerto Rico with a sales office in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

eMobilePOS seamlessly integrates with leading accounting, POS and ERP systems such as QuickBooks, Sage, Microsoft Dynamics RMS, Retail Pro and SAP, making sure that information is always up to date.

With hundreds of satisfied customers and thousands of users, eMobilePOS is a thoroughly tested and hardened solution, providing reliability and plug’n’play installation. Customers include everything from brick and mortar stores, mobile retailers and restaurants to field service organizations and wholesale distribution companies. To date, eMobilePOS has processed more than 3 billion sales transactions.

^{Source: https://www.emobilepos.com/}

What are Some of eMobilePOS’s Key Products?
- Mobile POS: eMobilePOS’s unique mobile POS solution has the ability to transform Android, Apple iOS, and Windows tablets and phones into feature-packed POS devices which include businesses’ favorite legacy POS components, but in a flexible and stylish package (and with an affordable price). Features include: EMV chip, PIN, check, gift card, and NFC-based payment acceptance; interoperability with QuickBooks, SAGE, and more software; out-of-the-box certified peripherals; and more.
- Tablet POS: The eMobile POS tablet POS solution for iOS and Android – which can be a standalone solution or be integrated with a business’s favorite software – allows businesses to track sales in real-time, manage loyalty programs, customize the interface with branding, and more, all at an affordable cloud-based subscription price.
- iPad Kiosk: Self-service is immensely popular, and it’s not going away anytime soon. eMobilePOS allows businesses to easily take advantage of all the benefits self-service has to offer by transforming an iPad into an easy-to-use interactive kiosk. With an intuitive user experience, customers can easily place and customize orders, select add-on products, apply coupons, earn or redeem loyalty rewards, and pay for their order.
What’s New with eMobilePOS in 2020?

One exciting piece of news from eMobilePOS this year is the addition of a mass transit POS application to their solution lineup. This new solution serves mass transit operators, as well as smaller operators like ambulances, taxis, ferries, buses, and commuter rail. eMobilePOS’s solution supports passengers on board who would like to pay with any kind of payment method, including credit card, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and more. Receipts for tickets are printed on Star mobile printers, with QR codes for conductors to validate.

Learn more about how Star and eMobilePOS enabled mobile credit card payments for Greater Boston commuter rail.

What Star Products Does eMobilePOS Integrate?

mPOP

Compact and sleek design
Printer – cash drawer – scanner – device stand
Compatible with iOS, Android, and Windows
Two cash drawer options: vertical bill (4 bill and 6 or 8 adjustable coin slots) and flat bill (4 bill and 4 or 6 adjustable coin slots)

mC-Print3

3-inch thermal printer
Modern, space-saving, connected
Bluetooth, USB, Lightning, LAN, CloudPRNT
SteadyLAN® Technology (mCP31L and mCP31LB)

TSP654II

High reliability and performance
High-speed printing (300mm/s)
Swappable interfaces: serial, parallel, USB, LAN
Bluetooth and AirPrint connectivity available

SP742

Reliable kitchen printer
Internal power supply
Available with Apple MFi certified Bluetooth
Available with CloudPRNT online ordering support

SM-S230i

2-inch portable printer with compact, lightweight design
Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR / USB 2.0 full speed
Barcode/graphics printing supported
Magnetic stripe reader

SM-T300i

3-inch ultra rugged mobile printer
Apple MFi certified
Long battery life
3DES encryption and optional magnetic stripe reader

SM-T400i

3-inch ultra durable mobile printer
Apple MFi certified
Small and lightweight design
3DES encryption and optional magnetic stripe reader

mG-S8200

Legal for trade, NTEP-certified
Bluetooth, Serial, USB
Wired and battery-operated power supply
Measures substances up to 18lb

Stay tuned for our upcoming NRF 2020 Star Spotlights, coming soon. In the meantime, learn more about how Star and our partners have teamed up to provide solutions by browsing our Success Stories.

Browse Success Stories
April 17, 2020
Star Teams Up with Square to Offer Linerless Label Printer Support on iOS
We’re proud to announce that payments and point of sale (POS) company Square has added iOS support for our TSP654SK label printer. This new release will add even more functionality to Square’s POS solution for cafes and quick service restaurants (QSRs).

With Square’s addition of label printer support to their Point of Sale for the first time, businesses can say goodbye to writing down individual item modifiers and, instead, automatically print single item tickets to keep orders moving quickly. The support of Star’s TSP654SK will also help to reduce human error by eliminating hand written orders while printing professional, clean, and easy-to-read labels.

Star Micronics TSP654SK linerless label printer allows for easily repositionable thermal labels that can stick to virtually any surface, and can be removed and reapplied, leaving behind no residue. The labels can stay with and track an order through the entire preparation process, improving takeout order accuracy and eliminating the cost of additional print-outs.

At Star, we take great pride in our partnership with Square and we are excited to provide more robust solutions for their sellers, giving them the ability to more accurately fulfill and track orders using a simple labeling solution.

Benefits of Linerless Labels

Since linerless labels do not use a silicone liner, they eliminate the negative environmental impact of alternative labels and help cut back on in-house waste, thus continuing Star Micronics’ Global Green Initiative which encompasses manufacturing products that provide minimal impact on our environment.

Linerless labels are a welcomed addition for QSR applications including fulfilling takeout and delivery orders. The labels can be used for custom items within an order or the entire order by attaching it to the order container. Linerless labels can stay with and track an order through the entire preparation process, improving order accuracy and a business’s bottom line.

About the Star Label PrinterThe TSP654SK is the ideal linerless label printer! Explore some of its features below:
- 80mm support
- High reliability at a low cost
- “Drop-In and Print” paper loading
- Reliable guillotine auto-cutter
- Small footprint
- Swappable communication interface
- Serial, Ethernet, parallel, or USB
- Optional vertical stand
Download Datasheet

Other Square-Integrated Solutions

Our partnership with Square includes many more POS solutions. Find some of our other popular integrations below:

Value Series Cash Drawers

Durable steel construction
13” x 13” and 16” x 16” sizes
Black or white coated finish
Cash till options: 4 bill / 5 coin, 3 bill / 5 coin for Canadian currency

mPOP™

Compact and sleek design
Printer – cash drawer – scanner – device stand
Compatible with iOS, Android, and Windows
Two cash drawer options: vertical bill (4 bill and 6 or 8 adjustable coin slots) and flat bill (4 bill and 4 or 6 adjustable coin slots)

TSP143III

High-speed printing (250mm/s)
Easy setup across all models
Lightning connection for simultaneous charging and data transfer
Compatible with Star Micronics Cloud Services

Want to Take a Closer Look at the New Star Label Printer?

Learn More

Free iOS Resources

It can be tough to find truly Apple-compatible hardware for point of sale use. Star Micronics offers the largest range of Apple compatible printing products and Apple certified POS hardware. Developer friendly, Star was the first provider of SDK for iOS and is currently the only provider that offers iOS development support for scales, cash drawers, and kiosk printers. Help your customers future-proof their Apple POS solutions with Star Micronics.

Visit iOS Toolbox
April 15, 2020
How to Plan for an Effortless POS Deployment
These days, while the state of business and the world at large comes with a lot of uncertainty, one thing that is sure to be a constant in the future is mobile point of sale (mPOS). Many business owners may have some downtime on their hands and it’s natural for them to plan for when their doors reopen. A modern POS that’s ready for the future may be a part of those plans.

You can help your customers hit the ground running by having a healthy knowledge of what it takes to plan for an effortless POS deployment. Every business has specifics needs, and POS is certainly not “one size fits all,” but in today’s blog post we’ll explore the fundamentals of how to offer your customers a solution that will work for them well into the future.

POS Deployment Step 1: The Meat and Potatoes

First, you must consider the “meat and potatoes” of the POS deployment. What does this include, you might wonder? Hardware, software, and scalability are all good concerns to keep in the front and center of your mind as you help customers plan POS deployments.

Hardware Considerations:

Printer: A good starting point is to make note of which kind of POS printer(s) your customer needs. Is a desktop thermal receipt printer required? Or maybe an impact kitchen printer? Or mobile printers, for on-the-go transactions? From there, you can assess and compare printer options, keeping in mind connectivity, reliability, print speed, aesthetics, and more.

Cash Drawer: All cash drawers might seem similar, but they’re not. An important question to ask yourself is what size of cash drawer your customer needs – do they experience a lot of cash transactions, or mostly credit card and mobile payments? From there, it’s important to consider how many bills and coins they’d like to store in their till, as well as if they need to store checks/coupons, which would require a cash drawer with media slots, and if they plan on supporting a POS terminal or tablet POS on top of the drawer, which would require a drawer with added built-in strength. Design should also be on your list of considerations – your goal is to have your customer’s cash drawer seamlessly and cohesively fit in with the rest of the POS.

Peripherals/Accessories: Once the printer and cash drawer are squared away, it’s time to plan for peripherals and accessories. If your client is opting for a tablet POS, be sure to offer a stand that has both a clean design and useful features like universal VESA mounting so it can accommodate any tablet and the ability to rotate to capture customer signatures. For many businesses, a customer display is also important to prominently display an order’s total price and scanners are a must for ringing up products. If your customer is a cannabis dispensary, jeweler, grocery/deli, frozen yogurt shop, or even a farmer’s market stall, it’s important to offer POS scales that are legal for trade, easy to connect with other POS components, and portable.

Software Considerations: Do a deep dive into your customer’s daily functions and goals for what they want to do in the future. For example, while a good place to start is modernizing a retailer’s main POS terminal, does the customer also want to complete transactions and look up inventory while on the sales floor? Or if your client is a restaurant, in addition to a POS and kitchen printer, would they like to incorporate online ordering or self-service kiosk technology into their establishment? Make sure you offer software that can handle it all and provide an easy, one-source solution for the customer.

Scalability: An important factor to consider when planning both POS hardware and software initiatives is scalability. Does your customer operate just one store? Or perhaps a handful of stores? Or maybe even an entire franchise? Be sure to select hardware and software that is easily scalable, no matter what size business you’re assisting.

POS Deployment Step 2: Affordability

An inevitably important factor in your customer’s POS deployment considerations is price – and who can blame them?

It’s important as a solution provider to offer products that can accommodate a variety of budgets, but one thing to keep in mind is that the cheapest option may not be the most affordable in the long run. It’s also smart to research the warranties and reliability of products, as replacing cheap but unreliable products will likely end up being considerably more expensive than investing upfront in a quality solution backed by a strong warranty.

POS Deployment Step 3: Select a Dependable Supplier

Your suppliers matter! Choose a supplier with attentive, solution-focused sales and integration teams that will help you not only find the right solution but ensure it will work for your customer’s specific business needs. Some factors to look for when choosing a hardware or software supplier are:

Robust Support: Choose a supplier that has a live support team, online resources, frequent and useful software/firmware updates, and more.

Industry Knowledge: Another must-have is a supplier who has a healthy amount of industry knowledge as well as the ability to act as a trusted advisor, not a product-pusher.

Multiple Integrations: Choose a supplier that is integrated with industry-leading hardware/software manufacturers so you know that your customer’s solution of choice will work with the tech you offer.

POS Deployment Step 4: Look to the Future

If your customer could look into a crystal ball and see five years into the future, we’d bet that they’d like to see themselves keeping up with the latest trends in the most affordable way possible. Do that by choosing a future-proof POS deployment in the present!

While choosing a future-proof solution today might mean a higher price tag up-front, it will serve your customers over time and they can rest assured it will be integrated with any future solutions that they choose to deploy.

As we mentioned above, reliability is also a critical consideration for the future. Don’t roll out a POS deployment that will leave your customers with unexpected downtime, maintenance expenses, and replacement costs.

Last but not least, we understand the POS is just one part of a business. Marketing is also surely a priority to your customers – and did you know that the POS can play a part in that? Some receipt printers, like Star’s, feature value-added receipt marketing software which means your clients can grow their sales and customer base by simply using the tools they already have.

We hope that these POS deployment tips are helpful as you help some of your customers plan for the future during this time of uncertainty. Our hearts and thoughts are with everyone affected by COVID-19.

Free Resources During COVID-19 & Beyond

Now more than ever, safety is a priority in retail and hospitality environments. Star Micronics is proud to offer a line of solutions and resources for businesses during this challenging time, designed to keep consumers and employees safe, as well as mitigate business impact caused by COVID-19.

Visit Our Health & Safety Toolbox

Star Micronics Product Catalog

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April 13, 2020