Progressive Grocer - April 2010 - (Page 98)

Technology EXCLUSIVE King of the Jungle Jungle Jim’s POS system is as dynamic and feature-rich as the store itself. By Joseph Tarnowski ungle Jim’s International Market in Fairfield, Ohio, is considered by many to be a theme park for foodies. Founded in 1974 by “Jungle” Jim Bonaminio, the store started as a small produce stand and has grown to more than 300,000 square feet, stocking upward of 160,000 SKUs of products, more than 60,000 of which are hard-to-find specialty products from around the world. The single-store operation boasts one of the largest wine collections in the United States, live seafood tanks and an in-store cooking school, as well as a 1,000-person Event Center. This uniqueness extends to the store’s POS. “We have checkouts throughout the store,” says Vicki Lape, network administrator for Jungle Jim’s. “There are 57 checkouts throughout the store, including 38 at the front end, eight in the beer and wine department, five in the state liquor store, two in the gift shop, and checkouts at the garden center, deli and sandwich shop.” And this setup is always changing, says Will Bradshaw, also a network administrator for the grocer. “The owner — we call him ‘Jungle’ — changes the format of the store all the time,” he says. “He doesn’t like to keep it stagnant. For example, we’re adding a vitamin and supplements department next week, and it will get two checkouts.” With the vast number of products offered at Jungle Jim’s, promotions are numerous and varied. To accommodate such a unique operation, 98 • Progressive Grocer • April 2010 J the grocer needed a POS system that was both robust and agile, not to mention easy to learn and easy to use. It found these attributes in Dayton, Ohiobased NCR’s Advanced Checkout Solution for Independent Retailers. Quick Study Jungle Jim’s is a feast for the eyes as well as the palate, with such features as an animal pond and an animatronic soup can. With all of the products and services Jungle Jim’s offers, store associates already have a lot to learn, so the grocer didn’t want to add a complex POS system on top of it. That’s why Jungle Jim’s found the ease of use of the ACS system so attractive. The grocer was able to customize the user interface to make it similar to the store’s previous system, so making the transition was a snap for most. Jungle Jim’s was even able to customize the screen’s colors so they remain visible in the occasional glare that comes from A H E A D O F W H AT ’ S N E X T the newly installed skylights. The ACS promotion functionality is what really drew the grocer to the system. “The system makes it very easy to create promotions,” says Lape.“For example, we have a department that features high-end gourmet kitchenware, and we’ll do regular chef demonstrations and cookbook signings.When we have those events, we usually run a promotion for just that department, just for the duration of the event, maybe something like 10 percent to 20 percent off www.progressivegrocer.com http://www.progressivegrocer.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Progressive Grocer - April 2010

Progressive Grocer - April 2010
Table of Contents
Nielsen’s Shelf Stoppers/Spotlight: Baby Needs/Baby Powder
The Lempert Report: Ways to Improve the Nutrition Facts Panel
Best Practices: The Employee Satisfaction, Productivity and Profit Connection
State of the Industry Report: Looking Up, Cautiously
Store of the Month: Standing Ovation
GMA President’s Note: Tackling Obesity: A New Blueprint for Success
Natural Meat: Where Was the Beef?
Produce: Swinging Springtime Sales
Beverage Alcohol: The Case for Beer
Breakfast Foods: The Start of Something Big
Dairy: Probiotics in Dairy and Frozen: A Healthy Pursuit
Baby Care: The Dry Season
Pet Care and Supplies: Where the Margin Is
Case Study: King of the Jungle
Tech Toolbox: A Look at the Latest Solutions
Foodservice: No Strain, No Pain
Sustainability: Green Energy is Blooming
What’s Next: Editors’ Picks for Innovative Products

Progressive Grocer - April 2010