Above-Par Performance KICKY BLACKBURN SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS It is a large potential market. ext time you're buying your radishes or canned beans Supermarkets in the U.S. alone on your weekly shopping spend an estimated 5330 million trip to the supermarket, a year on software. Europe spends spare a thought for the check-out about the same. The other sectors also have sim- system. The once slow, ponderous till ilar-sized markets. The company was founded in has been replaced by a high-tech PC-based cash register, which can 1982 by Mr. Shaked and a part- scan goods in seconds as well as ner. South-African born Mr. provide information about pro- Shaked took over the reigns when motions, discounts and other store his partner left a year later. It incentives. wasn't Mr. Shaked's dream to In the coming years, shopping open such a company. A keen is likely to get even easier and sportsman— his trophies for bas- quicker with the introduction of a ketball, football and golf jostle for new generation of mobile shopping space with snapshots of his fam- devices. With these shopping ily on his office shelves — he was carts, the lengthy check-out line contemplating a career in golf For will be a thing of the past. On the some years he was Israel's golf cutting edge of this movement is champion. "There wasn't much future in Herzliya-based Point of Sale (POS), a promising software house golf here, though," he admits. In- that offers system solutions for re- stead he studied computing and tail chains and restaurants all over brought his sports skills into busi- the world. ness. He initially programmed ECR Over the last 15 years,POS has grown from a small, two-man cash registers (stand-alone pro- start-up with sales $50,000- prietary tills), then later began $100,000 a year to a public com- selling first generation point of sale pany with 120 staff members, a systems (PC-based servers driving subsidiary in Israel called Net- proprietary tills). For the first few years compa- point, another in the United States employing 15 people and repre- ny growth was slow, but in 1987 sentatives in Britain, South Africa, POS signed a distribution agree- ment with international hardware France and Germany. In 1996, sales were $6.5 million. manufacturer Siemens Nixdorf. This year they are expected to rise A similar agreement followed with to $10-13 million. Customers in- ICL in 1989. In a market domi- dude British supermarket chain nated by giant international com- Tesco, White Hen Pantry in the panics, this was an essential move U.S., and other major retail as it gave POS a chance to sell its chains. "The company has lots of software to retail chains all over potential," says Aaron Katsman the The world. one drawback was that of Commstock Trading. "It's in an industry with a lot of growth and none of the foreign chains knew it isn't sticking to Israel. It's head- they were buying POS software. 'The big companies took our soft- ed in the right direction." POS offers a gamut of solutions ware and ran with it," says from the central computer of the Shaked. "We supplied software for eri0 Tengelm ann sto s in this chain or store right down to the 1,40 hardly met re the cus- individual registers. "From host pod and to post," as 40-year-old POS Pres- tomer." In 1994, when the second gen- ident and CEO Barry Shaked likes to say, host being the com- eration of point-of-sale solutions puter and post the point of sale. became popular, this all changed. At a supermarket, for example, "With the first generation, the big his software can scan items at the hardware companies sold the check-out, give change, deal with hardware and provided the soft- credit cards and smart cards, give ware," says Mr. Shaked. "In the information on promotions with- second generation, the emphasis in the store, control loyalty cards moved to software houses. They in and deliver coupons. had become the major players At head office, it can assess and retailing solutions. "It gave the company a huge compare cashier efficiency and monitor sales, inventory, special boost. Customers wanted to deal offers, profit margins and other with us directly. Suddenly we were being introduced to big cus- valuable marketing data. The software is available for a tomers and our software was sold range of retail outlets including under our name, not that of the supermarkets, department stores, vendors." ❑ restaurants, gas stations and con- (c) Jerusalem Post 1997 venience stores. N Gain R Presence on The World Wide Web 1111, ..e, SpeedLink A Division of SpeedNet, Inc. Tel: (810) 335-1309 Fax: (810) 332-5570 http://www.speedlink.net e-mail:speed@speedlink.net The :old wa y void as lotted personal'service call or stop by our new office. Heritat.,se Arr4 Classic ‘ccouni* 1110. Minimum $500 Minimum $5,000 TAT •Unlimited Checking! M IC IIIGAN IICRITAGC (810) 380.6590 21211 Haggerty Road at 8 Mile. Next to the Novi 11111011. Your Home or Office Ca v. CI FDIC trliai insured 75 Annual Percentage Yield is effective as of April 24,1997. Penally for early withdrawal. Business or brokered accounts not eligible. MOVING OR SHIPPING 1000 Lbs. Or Less? We're the Small Load Specialist INN IMO Mae IMMO •••• 111=M1 custom shirts 1w mari hyn MEM/ gm Custom Slits & Accessories AI Dhcotried Prim Men's Fashion Coordinator & Shkt Designer For 20 Years 9€0-12,35 . We Ship Anything from 1 to 1000 pounds FURNITURE - COMPUTERS - ARTWORK For a Free Estimate Call 11,1 :wi lt' , U4,9[1811,1 911- 0:44 111 r,4 1 016 (248j 680•0993 • BLOOM and BLOOM • • Registered Eledrologists • - 0) 01 >- • —I I, r By Appointment Only — Ask For Debby Near 12 Mile Road between Evergreen and Southfield 810-559-1969 85