News / Events
ASSOCIATION OF CHARITY SHOPS 5-6 July 2010.
Keele conference park , Keele
On Monday 5th and Tuesday 6th July the association of charity shops will be holding their annual conference, which is the only national event for charity retail. It is set to be a great opportunity for you to meet new people and network with people in your sector, be inspired and increase your knowledge.
The conference is set to provide two days packed full of useful and interesting information and guidance on how to prepare for the changing world of charity retail. Plenary sessions include BBC radio 4’s Peter White on working better to overcome challenges. Focus sessions include New formats for charity retailing, the future of reuse, Facilitating a culture of innovation in practice, marketing for small chains, minimizing future property legal costs, developing your retail offer and a whole lot more.
Merlin Software will be exhibiting on stand 29 and demonstrating their specifically developed Gift aid Charity module on their EPOS software. Merlin helps make the capture of Gift aid donations easier than ever and keeps track of your donors for marketing purposes. Merlin makes it easier to reach your targets with Gift Aid and reclaiming 28% more from your donors.
On the Monday night from 6.30 for 7.30 there will be an awards ceremony for Charity retail which will be an exciting event and the compere is by the BBC’s Robin Ince, better know for His radio and TV shows such as ‘Just a minute’ and ‘Nerdstock’ although some people only know him as Ricky Gervais’ much bullied support act to his stand up shows. Robin is a charity shop devotee and will be warmly welcomed on the evening.
The Charity retail conference is held at Keele conference park, Keele, Staffordshire on both days and Merlin Software will be on stand 29.
Charity shops conference
AIM CONFERENCE 3-5 June 2010.
Heritage Motor Centre , Gaydon
The AIM conference is an event held in the Heritage Motor Center on the 3rd to the 5th of June. The conference is aimed at independent museums of all sizes with Keynote speaker Dame Fiona Reynolds, Director of the National Trust.
Dame Fiona will be followed by a series of case studies looking at the way various museums work within the tourism agenda and the evening will end with the legal update focusing this year on Trustee responsibility.
On Friday the 4th Merlin software will be exhibiting at the Heritage Motor Center in the conference hall from 11am to 4.30pm and we would love to see you there and let us show you what we can do for your business and how we can help you maximise profits.
There will be the usual very popular social events; on Thursday evening our Dinner, held at The Heritage Motor Centre , and on the Friday evening an informal pub supper with quiz in Warwick. On the Saturday there will be a fascinating behind the scenes tour to Chedham's Yard (winner of the BBC Restoration 2006 ) and to Stratford on Avon where we will be hosted by the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust.
MUSEUM & HERITAGE SHOW 12-13 May 2010.
Earls Court , London
Merlin on stand D7
On the 12th and 13th May we will be exhibiting at the Museum and Heritage show on stand D7, which is the UK’s leading trade exhibition for the world of museums, visitor attractions and cultural and heritage sites.
This show is set to be a great opportunity to showcase our award winning EPOS software to a diverse crowd all expecting our software to tailor to their individual needs, and we know that Merlin has the power to do so. We already have many clients in this sector such as Bressingham steam museum and Canterbury cathedral.
The Museum and Heritage show is set to offer an extensive programme of free seminars and expert advice, this show really is a must do for anyone in this industry and gives the opportunity to keep one step ahead of the game.
Why not come along and see what new advancements and innovative ideas can help your business grow, Merlin Software Ltd are on stand D7 and will be happy to have a chat with you and demonstrate just exactly how our EPOS software can make your business more money and bring back more customers than ever before. We are expecting this show be quite busy and that you probably won’t remember everything at the show, so to help you we will be handing out information packs at the show
Merlin 7
The new Windows™ 7 release is nearly upon us, with some great new features and a new look. We have been listening to your comments and working hard to implement them.
Here are just a few features youve been asking for:
- Windows™ 7 Pro, Enterprise and Ultimate are supported
- E-Commerce link
- News enhancements including, reports, customer statements, customer account payments
- More modern look and feel
- Windows Server 2008 and Windows server 2008 R2 supported
- Still XP Pro and Windows server 2003 compatable but adds support for 64 bit versions.
Keep checking back for more information and the long awaited release date of Merlin 7.
Take the Microsoft Windows™ 7 tour here
The New Merlin Software Blog
Have something to say? Got an opinion? Want to share your views with others? If so Merlin Software Ltd wants you!
Go and visit our new blog we have recently launched and keep up to date with what's happening here at Merlin Software Ltd. In order to keep up to date with our developments, we thought we would throw it open to you the users, after all you're the most important people to us and to help us keep you happy, using our blog to comment is the best way to do it.
So what are you waiting for? Head over to the blog now by clicking the navigational bar or the image above now!
Convenience Retail Show NEC
Install Merlin® and you’ll very quickly get more out of your business and more out of your life. Merlin® saves you both time and money by managing your business for you – 24 hours a day 7 days a week!
When you’re running a shop, it can sometimes feel like it runs your life, but Merlin® can help make running a busy shop a little easier by offering you an extra pair of hands.
Merlin® will automatically maintain your news accounts and effortlessly take control of your returns and credits. It will free up your time pricing individual products by producing shelf-edge labels displaying the product and price. Spending Sunday afternoons calculating your VAT returns will be a thing of the past as Merlin® keeps your VAT records up to date all the time.
- Make sure your shop is fully stocked at all times
- Quickly process transactions and keep queues down
- Track all sales for automatic re-ordering and reporting
- An extra member of staff that never phones in sick or takes holidays
- Keep on top of customer and news accounts and reports
- Keep your shop running smoothly and your customers happy
Always know the exact profit you are making
With Merlin® you will always know exactly how much you’re making from each product in your shop. Never again be left wondering why the profit margins were not as expected. Instant, accurate, up to date information is always available with Merlin®.
With competition from big supermarkets becoming a daily issue, Merlin® can give you the tools and information you need to maximise your profit and maintain a loyal customer base.
By installing Merlin® you can create additional sales opportunities, minimise shrinkage and identify costly slow-moving lines.
This all ensures the smooth running of your CTN or convenience store and keeps you and your customers happy!
- Direct Product Profitability on ALL items
- Unlimited numbers of special offers
- Create and run special loyalty schemes
- Track all sales for management information and re-ordering
Up and running straight from the box
With Merlin® you can be selling within minutes of installing the system. With its preloaded stock file and Windows™ based operation it’s so easy it’s child’s play. Need help? The on demand help facility makes sure you are never left wondering what to do.
Merlin® is a user friendly system that has been designed to make running a busy CTN or Convenience Store easier. With a simple touch-screen interface, Merlin® has been designed with the user in mind to make day to day tasks easier and less stressful in a busy retail environment.
Merlin® comes complete with a pre-loaded stock and publications file to help you get up and running quickly and smoothly with minimum disruption for you or your customers.
- Easy to use touch screen terminals with simple graphics
- On-screen help available at any time
- Full staff training available
- Keep your shop running smoothly and your customers happy
Complete system
Merlin® ‘POS-in-a-Box’ is a ready to use EPOS system with fully loaded
software that you can pick off the shelf, plug it in and be up and running within minutes.
There are no hidden costs to pay, for just a one off payment of £1,995.00 plus VAT you can have a complete EPOS system which will save you time and money and make running your busy shop much easier.
POS-in a box includes:
- Full copy of Merlin® software module
- Touch Screen Retail Terminal
- Desktop Style Cash Drawer
- High Speed Thermal Receipt Printer
- 2 Line Customer Display
- Metrologic ‘Fusion’ Laser Barcode Scanner
- WindowsTM ‘XP Pro’ Operating System
- 12 Months Manufacturers Warranty
Convenience Retail Show NEC
Merlin® can be found on stand F284 and are exhibiting at the show as part of a joint venture with one of their newest resellers ITP Panorama Ltd. The CRS has been running for 15 years and is one of the top shows in the convenience sector attracting the whole of the convenience retail market, from independents to supermarkets.
ITP Panorama Ltd became resellers of Merlin® earlier this year and represent the products in the North West region. They also sell the Ezeecopy range of products and are well suited to understand the needs of the convenience retailing sector. Merlin® also have many years experience of the CTN and convenience retailing sector and feel this partnership with ITP will be a fruitful and long-lasting one.
Proud Patrons
On Friday 15th January, Merlin® Software Ltd were suited and booted to accept the award for 'Most Outstanding Patron of the Year' from the Barnsley Junior International Chamber.
Merlin® staff alongside members of the local business community, dignitaries and JCI associates braced the wet winter weather to celebrate the JCI's annual awards dinner held at Ardsley House Hotel.
The JCI's success and achievements were combined with a night of dinner and dancing and was proudly sponsored by Patron Merlin® Software Ltd.
The JCI is a network of active and ambitious people between the ages of 18-40 who strive to create a positive change in Barnsley and beyond. It is a voluntary organisation where members can develop skills to boost their confidence and reach their full potential in life and work. There are 35 local chambers thriving in the UK and Northern Ireland helping to encourage members and change communities.
This years awards dinner welcomed renowned CEO Graham Honeyman of Sheffield Forgemasters International as guest speaker to offer wise words for JCI members and saw the new 2010 President, Gemma Fletcher, elected.
2010 will see the JCI Barnsley build on their accomplishments and continue to give local members new and improved skills such as personal development, project management, training and leadership along with fun packed social events and charitable ventures.
Merlin® Software Ltd and JCI Barnsley started the year as they meant to go with their first charitable venture on the evening raising over £600 for local charity Barnsley Riding for the Disabled. The money raised will help the charity who work hard to constantly adapt to meet the needs of the disabled residents of Barnsley.
If you are interested in becoming a member of the JCI Barnsley or would like more information visit www.jcibarnsley.org.uk/
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MAGIC MOMENTS
In the current economic climate times have been tough for the retail industry. Many independent businesses and large and small organisations have disappeared from the high street as the recession strikes. The threat of the credit crunch means retailers are going back to basics and retail managers, owners and consultants are just some of the people attending seminars and courses looking to pick up some tips and advice to survive in these troublesome times.
Owen Gleadall, Sales and Marketing Director, has over 30 years experience in retail and wanted to give retailers practical advice and innovative ideas to improve their businesses in the form of a one day workshop.
On 12th October 2009, Merlin® held its first workshop of 'Retail Magic' at The Source centre of Retail Excellence. In conjunction with Barnsley and Rotherham Chamber of Commerce, the day ran from 10am-4pm and it focused on a five key elements. The five useful categories included 'Putting the Customer First', 'Visual Merchandising', 'Managing Stock including Preventing Crime', 'Maximising Profit' and 'Making the most of technology'. The aim of each aspect would help to ensure that retailers keep more of the money they take an ethos Merlin Software Ltd abides by. In order to help retailers thrive and survive, Owen was aided by three other retail experts, George Elliott (Business Communication Executive, The Source at Meadowhall), Helen Goodwin (Visual Merchandiser, Made You Look!) and Eamonn Larkin (Crime Reduction Officer, South Yorkshire Police).
The day was a huge success for the 27 attendees and retailers across South Yorkshire, where everyone left with a more retail knowledge. Of the 14 people who completed feedback forms 8 rated the choice and style of speakers as excellent and both content and materials delivered on the day also received a rating of excellent. It was even suggested to make the length of the course longer as the content was so valuable.
The success of 'Retail Magic' means Merlin® Software Ltd is making plans to hold more events like this in the New Year. Merlin® Software Ltd is currently in talks with both Chamber Skills Solutions and Business Link about incorporating this event into their training and seminar programmes. Keep your eyes peeled to the website for more information.
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