Furniture consumers’ increased demand for a seamless shopping experience make retail technology a priority for today’s successful furniture businesses. Streamlined logistics and operations are critical to meet consumer expectations surrounding delivery accuracy, fast turn-around times, and an elevated service experience. Another major shift in the furniture retail landscape is the prevalence of eCommerce and how consumer shopping behaviors impact traditional brick and mortar store locations.
Enter STORIS—a provider of full service solutions for retailers to appeal to the sophisticated buying habits of consumers. STORIS’ software integrates the POS experience to a retailer’s warehouse operations while facilitating inventory management across all retail channels. “At STORIS, we bridge the gap between brick and mortar, online, and mobile by offering fully integrated solutions. We help retailers keep inventory updated in real-time regardless of where their customer views or purchases it,” explains Douglas Culmone, COO, STORIS.
Since its inception, over two decades ago, the company has had a single industry focus-home furnishing retail. “The furniture industry has unique elements such as the need to capture a more detailed customer profile at the POS, deliver the product in accordance with the customer’s expectations and manage an advanced supply chain,” says Culmone. “STORIS’ processes are extremely user-friendly and designed specifically for selling and delivering big-ticket items. Our up-selling tools for sales and service orders prompt for add-ons like extended warranties or protection plans, which can help retailers increase their average ticket by 10 percent,” Culmone states.
At STORIS, we bridge the gap between brick and mortar, online, and mobile by offering fully integrated solutions
STORIS manages the full scope of a furniture retailer’s business. The key areas of focus within the company’s software include POS, inventory management, merchandising tools, customer service, logistics, distribution, accounting, financing, business intelligence, CRM, mobile, and eCommerce. The company has two mobile solutions that are a part of STORIS’ eRoam product suite. eRoamgives showroom staff a valuable knowledge base and
Douglas Culmone, COO the ability to deliver efficient service to today’s progressive customer. Apart from the software, the company also offers a full range of professional services that includes implementation and conversion services for new users, consulting, operational reviews and dedicated technical support.
By providing retailers of all sizes with quality technology and professional services, the company helps their clients improve their productivity. An example is Bassett Furniture Industries’ retail division,who converted from their previous retail system to STORIS in 2012. With STORIS’ implementation services and advanced software capabilities, Bassett experienced tangible results including increased profitability, tighter inventory control, and enhanced customer service.
Since its founding, STORIS has grown a thriving, collaborative network of 350+ retailers. STORIS’ mission is not only to remain current with the needs of furniture retailers, but also to anticipate technological trends and requirements in order to stay ahead of the curve. The results of their development organization are critical to their future success. They dedicate 60,000 plus hours annually to R&D and roll out a variety of impactful enhancements to clients each year, which is simply unmatched in their industry.
Moving ahead, the company is focused on several innovative projects including introducing its new product— the Financing Queue. The product allows a sales person to process credit approvals across a variety of third party providers from a single request right at the POS. “It is going to significantly optimize the way our retailers sell to their customers,” Culmone concludes. STORIS’ goal is to identify opportunities for growth for furniture retailers of all sizes and help the industry as a whole thrive.
