Hearthlist Digest #451 - Thursday, May 11, 2000
 
1999 HPA Retailer Benchmark Study
  by "Sue Kalish" <[email protected]>
Advice on a computer system
  by "Norman" <[email protected]>
 

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Subject: 1999 HPA Retailer Benchmark Study
From: "Sue Kalish" <[email protected]>
Date: Thu, 11 May 2000 13:07:14 -0400
 
Please don't let the questionnaire for the 1999
Retailer Benchmark Study get buried under your
paperwork - take the time to report to the survey
now!  Why should you participate?  Tom Pugh's
(Lloyd F. Pugh and Associates) sessions on
strategic analysis and competitive advantages for
retailers offered at EXPO have been the highest
attended and highest rated for the past two
years.  Tom quotes extensively from the 1997 study
to point out and discuss hearth industry
benchmarks that are not available from any other
source but HPA.  Tom says, "I strongly urge all
retailers to take the time to participate in the
1999 survey.  You will receive invaluable
information in the comprehensive report to enable
you to assess your business and improve your
profitability.  You will be able to identify your
store's strengths and weaknesses and make plans,
if needed, to improve your performance.  The
report provides industry benchmarks to help you
compare yourself to other hearth retailers across
North America. It is well worth the time to
participate!"  If you've lost your survey or have
questions, call either Don Johnson or Sue Kalish
at HPA, 703-522-0086.
 
 

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Subject: Advice on a computer system
From: "Norman" <[email protected]>
Date: Thu, 11 May 2000 17:13:47 -0400
 
Friends,
           I'm hoping one of you is using an accounting-invoicing program
that will be right for me. The one I'm using now is making my hair fall
out. It's called PIMS (Professional Inventory Management System) from
Executron Development in Santa Rosa, California. If anyone is curious
I'd be happy to spell out its problems.
           I need the new system to run on Macintosh. I now have six Mac
work stations plus the server; I don't want to scrap that for a PC.
Features I want:
     1) Good accounting package
     2) Invoicing, with capability to handle deposits on undelivered
goods
     3) Inventory tracking, ideally with reorder levels for
semi-automatic reorders.
     4) Purchase orders, receiving records plus vendor-reconciliation to
match vender invoices with what we actually got.
     5) Good reporting features.
     5) Security features.
           I'd appreciate any help you can give me.
Norm Potter
Tubmakers Stove and Spa
Berkeley, CA