ShopKeep POS, the cloud-based point-of-sale system made by retailers for retailers, announced the official launch of a new online resource center for storeowners— TheLeanRetailer.com—and shares findings from this week’s Lean Retailer panel discussion.
TheLeanRetailer.com aims to drive conversation around innovation in technology and new approaches to retail that are helping local stores not only survive but succeed against larger chains.
“Sixty percent of ShopKeep’s new customers are, in fact, new businesses—that’s exciting to us,” says Jason Richelson, founder and CEO, ShopKeep POS. “This site is dedicated to the forward-thinking merchant, who we’re lucky enough to work for.”
Inspired by the technology startup industry, ‘Lean Retailing’ embraces new technology and takes a data-led approach to starting and growing a retail store, applying tests and measures to learn what works before investing too heavily.
Visitors can expect to find advice and real-life applications from a variety of experts who have grown their businesses, as well as a five-lesson ‘Lean Retail 101’ e-mail course that will provide helpful advice to small business owners on starting and expanding their business.
On September 24, ShopKeep POS invited technology and small business experts, as well as dozens of successful NYC brick and mortar retailers, to discuss how a lean, data-led approach to retailing and transformative cloud-based technology can help local shop owners make smarter business decisions.
The event was held at The Bean, a loyal New York City coffee shop and ShopKeep POS customer using its iPad POS system.
Panelists included Jed Kleckner, CEO of delivery.com; Kelvin Collins, assistant commissioner of the NYC Department of Small Business Services; Jason Richelson, founder and CEO of ShopKeep POS; Ike Escava, co-owner of The Bean; and moderator John Tucker.
The panel event shed light on major trends that are keeping small brick and mortar retail stores alive in NYC and all over the country, and well-known local storeowners came by to listen in.
Maturing technology is enabling small shops to invest in new inexpensive services in the cloud.
“There is perhaps no industry like brick and mortar retail that requires aspiring entrepreneurs to make so many upfront commitments just to enter the marketplace,” Richelson says. “But it couldn’t be a better time to be a small business. A lean, cloud-based, and data-driven approach to building a business can make a huge difference, and today’s technology is making it possible for more people to start.”
The discussion also observed the displacement of those old shops that were slow to innovate with their clientele, and younger generations entering the workforce starting up stores on their own rather than looking for jobs.
“In fact, there’s a huge demand in NYC for more access to small-business education, which we are supporting at our local service centers and online,” Collins says.
“What’s more is these technology innovators and startups are helping businesses new and old grow with breakthrough systems that provide a better service for customers and employees,” Kleckner says. "Local businesses have the best opportunity to run lean, be nimble with decisions, and embrace innovation ahead of larger companies where change is made by committee."
When looking toward the future, all agreed that integrated operations will benefit business. “In some ways, I’m jumping from screen to screen to keep the business up and running. While ShopKeep simplifies point of sales for us tremendously, unifying operations would be really helpful,” Escava says.
“The future is full of integrations and add-ons that will allow shop owners to activate all different kinds of services—delivery, loyalty, CRM, and more—all from one access point at the point of sale,” Richelson says.
