Management Tools and communications

The US division’s integrated and comprehensive information systems provide detailed, timely information to monitor and evaluate many aspects of the business. They are designed to support financial reporting and management control functions such as merchandise testing, loss prevention and inventory control, as well as reduce the time sales staff spend on administrative tasks and increase time spent on sales activities.

US Head Office, Akron, Ohio

 All stores are supported by the internally developed Store Information System, which includes electronic point of sale (“EPOS”) processing, in-house credit authorization and support, a district manager information system and constant connectivity for all retail locations for data communications including e-mail. The EPOS system updates sales, in-house credit and perpetual inventory replenishment systems throughout the day for each store. The store communications system was upgraded to broadband during fiscal 2008.

UK

EPOS equipment, retail management systems, purchase order management systems and merchandise planning processes are in place to support financial management, inventory planning and control, purchasing, merchandising, replenishment and distribution and can ensure replacement within 24 hours of any merchandise being sold.

A perpetual inventory process allows store managers to check inventory by product category. These systems are designed to assist in the control of shrinkage, fraud prevention, financial analysis of retail operations, merchandising and inventory control.