Star Micronics

Tag: Receipt Printers

  • Retail Stores are Boosting In-Store Customer Experiences with Receipts

    Retail Stores are Boosting In-Store Customer Experiences with Receipts

    At Star Micronics, we’ve been innovating POS tech customer engagement solutions for years as an innovation hub for POS.

    Recently we have solved how retail stores can achieve digital receipts and micro receipts that engage customers, and this year we’re rolling out PromoPRNT, a seamless feature that allows stores to easily reach their customers with POS Ads in-store on receipts.

    PromoPRNT as an Innovative Location Marketing Tool

    • PromoPRNT is a new service available to Star Micronics Cloud–registered members that empowers retailers to create printed promotions in addition to receipts.
    • PromoPRNT is a suite of tools that allow small businesses to easily reach their customers with the creation, design, and execution of location marketing campaigns on receipts.
    • Ultimately, with these PromoPRNT tools, retailers will be able to deliver incentives directly to shopper’s hands at a fraction of the cost of other marketing tools.

    Mobile In-Store is Catching On

    According to a survey by iVend Retail’s 2018 Global Path to Purchase, 60.1% of shoppers said they used their smartphones in brick-and-mortar stores. This means mobile is an important touch-point for physical retailers and stores to elevate the customer experience. In 2017, Star created a seamless way for customers to upload their receipts to their smartphones called AllReceipts.

    Starbucks-e1574798293112
    Photo Credit: Kate Taylor, Business Insider

    Customer-centric apps allow retailers to boost their sales. A good example of this is how Starbucks has created a seamless way to do mobile ordering.

    Deployment 2.0 of Starbucks reworks the workflow of employees to better optimize their time that caters to the new mobile ordering feature at Starbucks locations, with a dedicated place for customers to pick up their orders.

    Starbucks insists that digital sales are a key for its future and displays one of the top in-app experiences of any global retailer. Dedicated employees for mobile ordering tasks means Starbucks have sped up their customer-experience to enable mobile ordering to become an ever-increasing portion of their sales.

    In-Store Mobile Experience Trends

    Shoppers who receive special offers via mobile while they are inside physical stores show higher conversion rates than in other customer journeys, according to Retail Dive. Mobile is also increasingly the starting place for research into products and retail locations that are local. At Star, we recognize the importance of both digital and physical cues for shoppers and thus have dedicated digital receipts and location marketing suite of services that is an omnichannel solution to better engage the modern shopper.

    Sophatar-e1574798315870

    Digital Signage that Combines Mobile Loyalty with Digital Displays

    With more consumers using mobile at physical retail locations, Star also has another new program that leverages POS Digital Signage, with digital signage partner, Sophatar.

    Sophatar® POS Signage is another new service available to retailers who are registered Star Micronics Cloud users, for a low monthly subscription cost. Combining POS Data, with digital signage screens, the solution is able to increase the basket size of the most popular selling items at hospitality, grocery, retail, and apparel boutique locations.

    In this article, we have covered how retailers and brick-and-mortar small businesses can easily combine mobile, location-marketing receipt tech and POS digital signage to create a better in-store customer experience that increases retail sales.

  • 3 Reasons Why Restaurants Should Allow Customers to Order Online

    3 Reasons Why Restaurants Should Allow Customers to Order Online

    Online ordering and delivery are so convenient that more and more people are going online and, in a few clicks, having meals delivered to their door. According to banking analysts Cowen, delivery will grow to a $76 billion industry by 2022. CNBC reports that online orders comprise half of all deliveries, with millennials and the 35-44 age group leading the pack among diners who are taking advantage of online ordering apps and services.

    Online Ordering Makes Sense for Your Restaurant

    Although most restaurants take phone orders, it’s a good idea to have an alternate ordering method so people won’t get a busy signal or wait on hold for too long. Online ordering also means the phone won’t be ringing as often, taking staff away from other tasks and making the atmosphere more pleasant for dine-in customers.

    Online ordering allows diners to enter their orders online through the restaurant’s website or app and designate whether it’s for pickup, delivery, or dine-in. Online ordering solutions also enable the customer to pay with a credit card before the order is prepared, and it streamlines workflows by sending orders directly to the kitchen. Implementing an online ordering system means a better customer service experience for patrons and allows you to gather their contact information for future marketing efforts.

    Online ordering is a great way to boost revenue and attract new customers. The addition of Amazon Eats and Seamless are making it easier than ever for restaurants to introduce online ordering. If you haven’t already, here are three reasons why your customers should be able to point, click, and eat:

    1. Increased sales and larger orders

    Restaurants that introduce online ordering increase their takeout revenue, on average, by 30%. For small restaurants or ones with limited hours, adding online ordering and delivery generates an additional revenue stream without impacting your dine-in customers.

    Online ordering encourages larger orders by giving customers extra time to look through the menu and discover new items they would like to try. Diners are in control of the ordering process and they can take their time reading the menu without feeling rushed, securely process their payments, and never get a busy signal.

    2. Improved order accuracy

    Taking phone orders means an employee must be able to clearly hear the customer on the phone, accurately and legibly write down an order, and then input it into the point of sale (POS) system. Sometimes the employee may not hear the order correctly or make mistakes while entering it into the POS terminal. Removing these steps means less opportunity for errors and a reduction in the amount of time and resources wasted remaking orders prepared incorrectly.

    3. Expand your customer base

    More of your customers will seek out restaurants with online ordering, so it’s important to have every option available—phone, online and ordering app. According to a survey by the National Restaurant Association, 61% of people said they consider delivery and takeout options important for table service restaurants.  The experts at QSR Web reported that online ordering is outpacing dine-in patrons by 300%. If reservations at your restaurant are hard to get, or there are only a few tables, online ordering makes it easy for people to satisfy their craving or try it for the first time quickly and easily.

    Restaurants are preparing more meals for take-out than they are serving to on-premises customers, so make sure they can place their orders using the technology they want. Online ordering is the key to drawing in new customers and increasing revenue.

    CloudPRNT

  • The SMB Guide to Retail Promotions

    The SMB Guide to Retail Promotions

    The weather is getting warmer and school’s almost over for the year. SMBs are shifting gears for summer months, lining the shelves with warm weather merchandise. Customers are ready for some fun in the sun, but they’re looking for deals to affordably stock up for summer camp and trips to the beach.

    E-commerce sales have outpaced brick-and-mortar store growth, but effective retail promotions will help you compete with online goliaths. It’s important to focus on your existing customer base because marketing experts agree that it’s less expensive to retain customers than it is to acquire new ones. How much exactly? According to the Harvard Business Review, it ranges from 5 to 25 times more expensive to attract a new customer than it is to generate repeat business.

    Brick-and-mortar stores still have the upper hand over online competitors when it comes to instant gratification and the face-to-face service experiences that shoppers crave. Supercharge these advantages by combining them with effective retail promotions that draw in foot traffic, giving customers can’t-miss reasons for wanting to shop in your store.

    1. Discount Promotions

    It’s natural to think that the easiest way to give sales figures a boost is to run discount promotions however, it’s important to ensure there’s enough long-term value to justify the short-term discount. Bundling is a great way to encourage shoppers to spend more money. Couple related items for a discount—for example, purchase a beach towel and get a bottle of sunscreen for 50% off. Partnering less popular items at full price with discounted best sellers is a smart way to move inventory quickly while still earning a profit.

    2. Utilize “Free” in Your Promotions

    Free items or small “tokens of affection” can go a long way toward making shoppers feel their business is appreciated. Customers are more likely to return to your store if they feel they are being rewarded for buying items they need or value, so “buy one, get one free” can inspire shoppers to stock up. This is especially effective for special event-related merchandise that’s headed for the markdown bin after the season is over. Retail promotions such as “purchase a $100 gift card and get a $10 gift card free,” are also popular because consumers feel like they are getting a bonus with their purchase.

    3. Coupons, Coupons, Coupons

    Coupons are a great way to get people to try new products at a lower price, and if the product lives up to expectations, pay full price the next time. In addition, coupons like “spend $50 and take $10 off” give people an incentive to buy a few more items to reach the $50 goal, and let the shopper choose which items to purchase. Merchants can use their POS solutions to reduce the cost of printing coupons by generating offers in-store. Printing coupons on receipts allows you to reach a higher percentage of shoppers because you can be sure the customer receives it, and it gives your sales associates an additional opportunity to engage customers before they leave the store.

    4. Limited-Time-Only Retail Promotions

    Discounts or items that are only available for a short amount of time creates scarcity and a sense of urgency to purchase. For example, flash sales that happen between certain hours will force people to purchase in that time frame. Daily deals give the perception that the deal will last only as long as the items are in stock. Use these tactics to your advantage with summer deals.

    Although the retail landscape is competitive, SMBs can employ smart retail promotions to help attract new shoppers and retain their customer base. Coupons, free products, discounts, and limited-time-only sales can make an already-great, in-store shopping experience too irresistible to pass up.

    Star’s PromoPRNT allows you to easily customize promotions that print directly on receipts.

    PromoPRNT

  • Star Micronics Announces First Apple AirPrint POS Printer

    Star Micronics Announces First Apple AirPrint POS Printer

    The First Receipt Printer on the Market with Apple AirPrint™ Certification

    Somerset, NJ, – November 14, 2017 – Star Micronics, a leading manufacturer of mobile, point of sale (POS), and customer engagement technologies, has officially received certification for the first Apple AirPrint™ POS printer. The new TSP654II AirPrint will be available to the market in coming months. With both Ethernet and WLAN capabilities, the printer will work seamlessly with all Apple® devices enabling quick setup and simple, high-quality receipt printing.

    Always leading, Always innovating, the TSP654II AirPrint allows the Apple user to continue with the familiar AirPrint experience accustomed when using their Apple iOS® POS system. In addition, receipt printing requires no extra configurations, software or additional drivers.

    For ISVs this is the easiest and fastest way to integrate a printer with Apple software. The TSP654II AirPrint works immediately after setup and is the perfect fit for the occasional print job. With the TSP654II, Mac and iOS developers now have another option in addition to the StarPRNT SDK, giving them more flexible printer control. Look for Star Micronics to be on Apple’s AirPrint certified device list in the coming months.

    For more information about Star Micronics POS solutions visit, https://starmicronics.com.

  • Why Retailers Should Select a Receipt Printer that Doubles as a Label Printer

    Why Retailers Should Select a Receipt Printer that Doubles as a Label Printer

    If you’ve been using a printer only for receipts, it’s time to consider using a receipt printer that also doubles as a label printer. Label printers give SMB retailers the ability to print price tags, labels for online orders, shelf tags and even labels with your logo that help brand your business.

    If you’re in the market for a new printer, choose one that can work double duty for labels and receipts. Not convinced? Here are three reasons why you should be:

    Improved Customer Service

    The holiday shopping season is upon us, and according to a survey conducted by the National Retail Federation, people will spend an average of $967.13 this year. Buy online pickup in store is hugely popular, with more than 49% of the people surveyed saying they would take advantage of this option. The pickup counter is going to be busy, so using printed labels instead of a receipt taped onto a bag or box helps speed up customer service by cutting down the time it takes an employee to locate an order.

    Stores using a label/receipt printer combination can produce proof-of-purchase labels for bag-free shopping as well as labels for returns that help store associates return products to inventory more easily and accurately — something they’ll especially appreciate after the holidays.

    Better Branding

    Labels and receipts take the guesswork out of determining where your customers purchased something. These small takeaways should be a consistent extension of your brand.

    Custom Labels

    Your store’s logo, address, phone number and website can be added to the label template, so each label is easily identifiable. A customized label is an advertising opportunity that helps drive new and repeat business to your store. Using Star Micronics Cloud Services you can easily customize your receipts and get the most out of your printer.

    Star Micronics Label Solutions

    From printing product labels in a warehouse to quickly attaching linerless labels to coffee cups in a café, Star Micronics understands labeling solutions aren’t “one size fits all.” Designed with the application and user in mind, Star Micronics offers label printers with the technology needed for today’s digital, fast-moving world, and label paper for virtually any business scenario.



    Learn More

    Receipts

    Label printers also have templates for customized receipt printing, so your store’s branding is cohesive. Every receipt should be customized with your store’s logo, brand messaging, website and tag line so people can easily see where it came from.

    Increased Operational Efficiency

    Mobile label printers can be used anywhere on the sales floor to print product labels, shelf tags and price tags for new products or markdowns. A mobile printer eliminates added back and forth to the point of sale terminal to print labels, so restocking and display changes can be done quickly.

    SM-L300
    SM-L300

    An example is the Star Micronics’ SM-L300 portable receipt printer, which doubles as a fully integrated label printer for retail store, restaurant, delivery and warehouse applications. The SM-L300 supports thermal receipt paper and lined or linerless MAXstick label paper, making it the perfect mobile label printing solution for any business setting.

    Protect your profit margin and inventory by labeling your items properly and displaying the prices. Proper labeling helps maintain accurate inventory counts in the POS system and protects you from pricing errors that can eat away at the bottom line. Many stores are subject to laws pertaining to pricing conflicts. For example, if a full-priced item is accidentally marked 50% off, the retailer to sell the item at the lowest marked price, even if it’s a mistake.

    Get the most out of your printer investment with a model that can provide both labels and receipts to increase efficiency and accuracy, enhance customer service and ensure that online orders can be picked up easily.

  • Star Micronics to Showcase New mPOS Solutions at 2017 RSPA RetailNOW

    Star Micronics to Showcase New mPOS Solutions at 2017 RSPA RetailNOW

    Somerset, NJ – July 31, 2017 – Star Micronics, leading provider of point of sale and proof of transaction technology, will be exhibiting new solutions at the 2017 RSPA RetailNOW expo at booth #707.

    The show will be held from August 6th through August 8th at the Paris Hotel in Las Vegas, NV. RetailNOW® is one of RSPA’s signature events, billed as “the place where the industry meets” with over 170 exhibitors.

    Star Micronics will be showcasing a number of our newest mPOS peripherals and solutions including the mPOP™ with new peripheral options, TSP100IIIU, and SM-L300 portable printer, all compatible with Star Cloud Services digital receipt and customer engagement solutions.

    mPOP™

    Star Micronics has upgraded our popular all-in-one mPOP to add even more functionality. Now the mPOP will support a number of peripheral options including a 1D or 2D bar code reader, a customer-facing line display, three NTEP legal-for-trade point of sale scales, and an additional cash drawer. Users can now transform their mPOP into a complete point of sale hub, while still saving space.

    TSP100IIIU

    Star Micronics will be introducing the latest version to the TSP100III series, the TSP100IIIU at RetailNOW 2017. Now offered with a simple “plug and play” USB connection, users will be able to enjoy the upgrades of the TSP100III series including faster print speed and a paper de-curl mechanism that provides a flat receipt, even when the receipt paper is at the end of its roll. The TSP100III also facilitates data communication and device charging using only one lightning cable for iOS users.

    SM-L300

    The brand new SM-L300 is Star’s first Bluetooth low energy receipt, label, and MAXStick® portable printer. The SM-L300 is Bluetooth (3.0/4.0) compatible with all operating systems including Windows, Android™, and iOS, and is equipped with a receipt de-curl function and easy “drop-in and print” paper loading.

    Star Micronics is also proud to host our partners: CAP Software, Weigh & Pay Solutions, TouchBistro, GreenBits, AppSuite, Appetize, eMobilePOS, and Vend. Visit booth #707 for demonstrations of our partners’ POS software solutions with Star POS and mPOS peripherals.

  • Star Micronics adds CloudPRNT Support for TSP700II, TSP800II, and SP700 Printers

    Star Micronics adds CloudPRNT Support for TSP700II, TSP800II, and SP700 Printers

    Somerset, NJ – June 26, 2017 – Star Micronics, leading provider of point of sale and proof of transaction technology, is proud to announce that they have added CloudPRNT support for their TSP700II and TSP800II thermal printers and SP700 impact printer. These Star printers will retrieve and print orders from any online ordering service integrating Star’s communication protocol.Cloud-PRNT-TSP700-e1574794772508

    Star’s CloudPRNT technology provides benefits to both restaurants and retail stores alike by eliminating the need for an extra tablet to send an online order to the printer. Instead, the ordering service will be able to communicate directly to the printer.

    Star’s TSP700II label and receipt printer will allow pizzerias or coffee shops to accept and print an online order receipt or label to stick directly on the pizza box or coffee cup for take-out or delivery orders. For industries outside of food service, the TSP800II wide-format (4” wide) thermal printer will allow delivery services to print labels on the go directly through the cloud from a smartphone or mobile device.

    Finally, the SP700 is Star’s most durable printing solution for kitchens. It is designed specifically to work in environments where heat and humidity can erode the type on the kitchen order. Paired with Star’s CloudPRNT communication protocol, restaurants can receive and print online orders directly to the SP700 kitchen printer to be prepared for pick-up or delivery.

    These CloudPRNT supported printers also offer an intelligent interface to support POS functionality along with the online order system. The TSP700IIcloudPRNT and TSP800IIcloudPRNT are also compatible with Star Cloud Services, allowing users to offer their customers digital receipts through the AllReceipts™ app, and to engage with their customers for free.

  • Star Micronics Introduces the TSP100IIIU Thermal Receipt Printer

    Star Micronics Introduces the TSP100IIIU Thermal Receipt Printer

    Somerset, NJ – May 15, 2017 – Star Micronics, leading provider of point of sale and proof of transaction technology, is proud to introduce the newest addition to the TSP100III series, the TSP100IIIU. Already offered with LAN, WLAN, or Bluetooth interface, Star Micronics is now offering the TSP100III with simple USB connectivity for intuitive use and easy integration.

     

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    Users will be able to enjoy the upgrades of the TSP100III series including faster print speed and a paper de-curl mechanism that provides a flat receipt, even when the receipt paper is at the end of its roll. Star Micronics has also brought back the power switch on this upgraded version of the TSP100IIIU, so business owners can shut down their printer and save power when closing shop. With its simple “plug and play” connectivity, and its new USB serial number feature, the PC will detect the TSP100IIIU on its Windows platform using any USB port. Star Micronics has also added product serial numbers to all of our TSP100IIIU printers for easy asset management.

    With included internal power supply, power cables, complete mounting kits, and paper roll, the TSP100IIIU is the perfect printer for any mPOS bundle. As an upgrade of Star’s TSP100ECO printer, the TSP100IIIU can seamlessly replace your old printer to offer faster speed and increased reliability. It offers a small form factor and prints up to 43 receipts per minute (RPM) with “drop-in & print” paper loading for thin paper support and a guillotine auto-cutter. The TSP100IIIU is also compatible with Star Cloud Services, allowing users to offer their customers digital receipts through the AllReceipts™ app, and to engage with their customers for free.

  • Star Micronics and Elo Partner to Provide a Modernized All-In-One POS Solution

    Star Micronics and Elo Partner to Provide a Modernized All-In-One POS Solution

    Somerset, NJ – May 8, 2017 –Star Micronics, leading provider of point of sale and proof of transaction technology, has announced their partnership with Elo, a global supplier of touchscreen solutions, to provide a new all-in-one POS hardware bundle for point of sale. This solution combines the Elo I-Series for Android and Windows tablets with a flip stand that houses a Star Micronics TSP100III, TSP650II, or TSP700II thermal printer. This bundle provides a perfect solution for hospitality, enterprise stadiums, and other environments where space saving and durability are essential. The flip stand is designed to seamlessly transform your point of sale into a self-service kiosk solution or a customer-facing display, and is ideal for small counter spaces with integrated cable management.

    “Elo and Star recognize that demand is growing for POS solutions with mobile architecture combined with the configurability of traditional POS systems,” said Sonal Apte, Senior Director of Product Management at Elo. “With this new mPOS platform, customers can instantly transform a traditional POS station into a self-service countertop kiosk that integrates a best-in-class Star printer, an EMV payment device, and a barcode scanner into one seamless design.”

    The all-in-one POS bundle allows users to print receipts using their choice of WLAN, LAN, Bluetooth, and USB connectivity with Star’s TSP100III or TSP650II thermal receipt printers. In addition, Star’s TSP700II offers a solution for receipt and label printing with the I-Series tablet and stand. With high-speed printing, “drop-in and print” paper loading, and a receipt de-curl mechanism that allows receipts to print smooth and flat, Star Micronics’ printers are easy to use in fast-paced environments.

    “Star Micronics is very excited about this new partnership and can expect this bundle to gain a lot of popularity in the hospitality and retail markets,” says Christophe Naasz, Business Development Director of Star Micronics. “There has been a major increase in the use of tablets in these markets over the past few years. Star Micronics and Elo have worked together to create a POS bundle that still has a sleek and compact look, but provides a durable solution for high-volume point of sale environments.”

  • Star Micronics Introduces Access Point Mode Support for the TSP100IIIWLAN Thermal Receipt Printer

    Star Micronics Introduces Access Point Mode Support for the TSP100IIIWLAN Thermal Receipt Printer

    Somerset, NJ – March 6, 2017 – Star Micronics, leading provider of point of sale and proof of transaction technology, introduces Access Point Mode support for the TSP100IIIWLAN thermal receipt printer. The TSP100IIIWLAN upgrade now provides a simpler solution for users to join the network from any location, using any device. The TSP100IIIWLAN with Access Point will provide a solution to some of the limitations present in the previous Ad-Hoc mode. Now, in its out-of-box configuration, the printer will behave more like a router, offering a simpler way for all devices to connect to the printer for setup.

    The TSP100IIIWLAN upgrade now makes it easier to set up with Windows, Android, and iOS devices and can be used out of the box with any operating system. Star’s TSP100IIIWLAN is also available to use with Star Cloud Services’ free digital receipt and customer engagement solutions. Star Cloud Services allows users to print receipts that can be digitally saved and stored by the customer using Star’s AllReceipts™ app, or that can be used for digital expense management with the Itemize app.

    “We very pleased to be adding Access Point Mode support for our TSP100IIIWLAN printer,” said Jon Levin, Product Integration Manager of Star Micronics. “Before, our customers were struggling to connect via WPS or Ad-Hoc and we knew we needed a solution. With Access Point, more users can utilize this printer peripheral with its out of the box set up that can be used with any mobile device.”