Thermal Paper Storage and Shelf Life Reommendations

We are often asked about the storage and shelf life of our thermal paper rolls.  Listed below are some general thermal paper storage and shelf life recommendations.  

Shelf Life - Storage of thermal products in a dark place at a relative humidity between 45 percent and 65 percent and a temperature below 77°F (25ºC) will assure satisfactory performance for at least three years from the date of manufacture.

Image Life - Once thermal paper has been imaged on the recommended equipment, it is expected that the image will remain legible for at least seven years, assuming the documents are properly stored with compatible materials under normal filing conditions, with a relative humidity between 45 percent and 65 percent, as well as a temperature below 77°F (25°C).

Fade Resistance - Most thermal products use dye and co-reactant technology to form an image. The combination is sensitive to ultraviolet (UV) light and may exhibit some image decline with extended exposure to office light or shorter exposure to intense UV light (sunlight). The stability of the image will depend upon the degree to which the image was originally developed, the individual product design, the intensity of the UV light and the character of UV (percent of UV range in a light source). Sheet discoloration may also occur with prolonged exposure to UV light.

Contact Storage - We recommend that thermal grades not be exposed for long periods to the following specific materials to avoid: 

1. Organic solvents, including: Alcohol, Ketones, Esters, Ethers, 

2. Cleaning fluids
3. Plasticizers: Alcohol-type (cellophane tape), Ester-type (PVC film), Polyethylene glycol-type Dioctyl phthalate, Dioctyl adipate
4. Petroleum solvents: Gasoline, Toluene and Benzene
5. Wet-type diazo copy paper
6. Carbon papers (certain types)
7. Cast-coated papers
8. Papers containing tributyl phosphate
9. Dissimilar thermal systems
10. Carbonless paper solvents
11. Ammonia
12. Certain oils 
13. Water (prolonged exposure)

An exception to these general guidelines would be our specialty top-coated media, tag, ticket and label grades.

Note: Most thermal papers, regardless of the manufacturer, are susceptible to many of the same items shown on this page. These incompatible substances are not unique to any thermal products.

Please feel free call us if you have any questions on thermal paper storage and shelf life recommendations. 

Koehler Paper Announcement

Last week Koehler Paper Company announced they would begin withdrawing the supply of their lightweight thermal paper in the US.   This action is directly related to increased tariffs imposed by the US Department of Commerce stemming from an initial 2008 ailing. Koehler has outlined a phased withdrawal plan calling for reduced shipments to converters in February and March of 2013 with the potential for complete shutdown of shipments beginning in April of 2013.

 

 

Currently Koehler estimates it supplies approximately 44% of the US market for lightweight thermal paper. Their decision to reduce shipments and potentially exit the US market altogether will no doubt create tremendous strain on lire supply chain for thermal paper and has already had an impact on the price of thermal paper. 

Rest assured, POS Supply Solutions is doing everything possible to ensure we continue to have a continuous source of supply. This includes on-going discussions with the remaining thermal paper converters & mills as well as looking at offshore alternatives. Our most immediate, and number one goal is to create an uninterrupted source of supply for our thermal paper needs.

POS Supply Solutions will make every effort to keep you updated on developing news as it relates to the supply of lightweight thermal paper. POS Supply Solutions appreciates your business and values the relationship between our companies.

The Power of Color for POS Receipts

From retail stores to restaurants, businesses are always looking for new ways to sustain and grow a steady customer base and increase product awareness.  Color printing on receipt paper rolls helps to enhance branding and customer communications. This creates the ability for businesses to use their receipts as promotional tools. 

Memory retention studies show that humans are naturally drawn to color. When color is combined with the printed word, there is greater recall, recognition and retention. Leatrice Eiserman, director of the Pantone Color Institute’s speech on the Impact on Consumer Behavior spoke to the impact of color on consumers: “Memory retention studies tell us that consumers are up to 78% more likely to remember a word or phrase printed in color than in black and white. The human eye is naturally drawn to color. Color activates the right brain, while the printed word activates the left brain. When color is combined with the written word, it impacts consumers with the triple whammy of greater recall, recognition and attention.”

There is a distinct psychology to color and it is shown that different colors naturally evoke certain feelings among consumers. Here are some examples:

Color Meanings/Association

Red: Encourages appetite and evokes strong emotions. Many restaurant chains like Wendy’s, KFC, Pizza Hut and McDonalds use red in their logos.

Orange: Incites feelings of excitement, enthusiasm and warmth. Orange is often used in signage to draw attention or promote a sale. It is also an appealing color to children.

Yellow: Makes people feel optimistic and warm. It is a stimulating color that draws your attention so it is often used in promotions.

Green: Associated with nature, ecology, health and tranquility. It is often used to promote natural products.

Blue: Induces feelings of serenity, trust and dependability. It is the color most preferred by men. 

Purple: Often thought of as symbolizing wealth, royalty and success. Businesses often use purple to represent a high quality product.

Pink: A youthful and lighthearted color that is also calming. Businesses targeting women may benefit from using pink in their promotions.

Black: While it can be thought of as a powerful and controlling color, it is also thought of as trendy and high end. It works well when used with vibrant jewel tones. 

Brown: Evokes feelings of comfort, maturity and reliability. Like green, it is often used to promote wholesome and organic products as well as outdoor products.

Whether a customer is buying groceries at the supermarket, getting a coffee at the local espresso bar, paying for gas, or buying a big-ticket item, receipts are indispensable. You can choose from several different options of color receipts that will help your business stand out from the competition:



Custom Printed Receipt Paper Rolls
By investing in custom printed paper rolls, you can instantly increase awareness at a low cost. At a minimum, adding a color logo and website information will reinforce branding and increase product awareness. But that is just the beginning. Why not go one step further and use the receipt as a more powerful marketing tool? Your business can increase customer visits and build brand loyalty by simply featuring a color coupon or special promotion on the back of your pre-printed paper roll receipts. 

Two-color Thermal Receipt Paper Rolls
Another way to achieve color accents on your receipts is through 2-color thermal papers. This thermal media has been available for some time and offer blue / black and red / black printing combinations. These high tech thermal papers generate 2-color images within the receipts. There are many printers on the market with the firmware needed to generate the two color text and graphics. The down side is that the paper is currently hard to find and thermal coaters require a significant volume to produce these products.

Colored Paper Rolls
This option is an economical alternative to pre-printed rolls. These colored paper rolls are a simple and easy way to make your business stand out from all the rest. Instead of custom printing, you can choose a paper roll in a solid color like blue, green, yellow, or even pink. Using colored paper rolls is a simple yet effective marketing tool to ensure customers remember your business by your attractive receipt. With plenty of colors to choose from, it couldn’t be easier to brighten up your receipt! 

Now that you know how to add color to enhance your receipt, the options for promotions on your receipts are almost endless. They can include logos, coupons, email registration, advertising specials, promotion of special events, customer surveys and employee recruitment. 

What to Consider Before Purchasing Currency Handling Products

Coin and currency handling products help save time, increase counting accuracy and improve loss prevention. They are a key component of daily operations for many businesses including banks, credit unions, casinos, vending operators, amusement operators, retail stores, restaurants and more. To be sure that you purchase the right coin and currency handling product for your business, we recommend you ask yourself these three simple questions first: 

1. What do you want to count? 

You will need to take into account that most bill or currency counters are designed to work with U.S. currency. Although many bill counters can count currency from other countries, the counterfeit security features may not work. You will want to investigate what security features your country uses before purchasing a bill counter. 

Coin counters are also designed to work with U.S. currency. Coin counters are not built with any counterfeit detection hardware. 

2.  How often will you need to count money? 

Different currency counters are built with different counting speeds. If you are counting money often, you may want to purchase a bill counter with a large duty cycle and counting speed. Purchasing more than one currency counter will help you count money even faster. 

3. How much security do I need? 

Counterfeit money is a growing problem. If you feel that you may be subject to counterfeit money now or in the future, you may want to purchase a currency counter that has built-in counterfeit detection. Counterfeit detection will let you know if the money you are counting is legitimate. Different currency counters are available with different grades of counterfeit detection.

Next, you will want to consider is what type of counterfeit detection you will need. You can choose from two different types:

1. Ultra Violet Light Detector 

Currency created by a color copier or printer produces an image that rests on the surface of paper that can easily be seen when UV light is placed over it. Tiny particles of toner outside the image can also be easily seen with a UV light. Bill counters and counterfeit detectors have a UV light built into the machine. If a counterfeit bill is run through the machine, an alarm or light will alert you that the banknote is counterfeit. 

2. Magnetic Detection or MG detection 

U.S. banknotes are made with magnetic components. Several foreign currencies and travelers checks are also made with magnetic components. MG detectors are capable of detecting the magnetic components in money. When a detector does not find the presence of the magnetic components, an alarm or light will sound letting you know the money is counterfeit.

Marketing Tools Part 3: Using Surveys on Your Point of Sale Receipts to Gain Valuable Feedback

Receipt surveys not only drive customers to your website, they also provide important feedback. You obtain very precise data on the participants which will help you better market to them in the future. By asking customers to complete a survey it also shows that you value their opinion. Data that can be collected through a survey include:

1. Feedback on the quality of service customer your received
2. Open ended suggestions such as ways to improve customer experience
3. Input on current promotions
4. Input on new products ideas
5. Demographics of shoppers

Your next question may be "What kind of rewards can I offer?" on my custom printed receipt paper roll? In exchange for participating in a survey, you can offer a perk such as:

1. A free item at next purchase
2. % off next purchase
3. Entry into a drawing to win a gift card or cash prize

Here is an example of a Before and After receipt. You can see that along with the addition of a logo, the bottom now includes a survey with the chance to win a $50 gift card.

Top retailers such as Wendy's, Home Depot, Dunkin' Donuts, WalMart, Starbucks, Target and JCPenney (just to name a few!) are taking advantage of the space at the bottom of their receipt paper rolls to engage customers.  Find out what you are doing right and what you can improve on by including a short survey. Don't forget that a happy customer is your best customer!

If you are new to online surveys, check out these sites for more information: Survey Monkey, Constant Contact, Zoomerang and Question Pro. Many offer free accounts if you have ten questions or less on your survey. 

Most importantly, don't be afraid to experiment with your receipt marketing. Sometimes it takes a little trial and error to find something that works for your business. The key is to engage your customer and let them know that you value their business and their opinions.

Marketing Tools Part 2: Using Coupons on Your Point of Sale Receipts to Increase Sales

People are always looking for ways to cut costs and save money. Adding coupons to your point of sale receipt paper rolls is a great way to help customers save while increasing sales at the same time. Coupon incentives encourage customers to buy something that they may not have tried otherwise. You can experiment with using a coupon to promote a new product or offer a BOGO or % off promotion. Here is a side by side comparison of two coupons that illustrates how you can use a coupon to drive sales and awareness.

Recently pcAmerica wrote a great article that outlined several tips for creating effective coupons that we found very informative, and we hope you will as well: 

1. Make your coupon specific. If your coupon is good on Tuesday, June 19, 2012, then it is only good on that day. If your offer is too good, you can reduce your discount or change your offer the following week.

2. Offering a deal for your customers gets your customers used to reading and redeeming your coupons. It not only keeps your old customers coming back, it gets you new customers.

3. Think of it this way. If you offer your customers 90% off on their next purchase or meal, you're going to get a really high coupon redemption rate. On the other hand, if you offer your customers 5% off on any Tuesday between 4:50 PM and 5:00 PM, you are likely not to see anyone redeem your coupon.

4. If you really need to, you can use unique coupon codes just by stamping or printing a unique number on every coupon that you issue.

5. Likewise, you can track email coupons by asking recipients to submit their email address when redeeming a coupon and comparing it to your list of issued coupons.

Did you find these tips useful? Do you currently have a couponing program in place? Do you find it effective? Are there any stumbling blocks that you are looking to overcome?

3 Secrets of Successful Multi-Channel Companies

Guest post from nChannel.com

Let's start out by defining multi-channel sales.  The term multi-channel is used to describe environments in which you are selling products through different avenues, or channels such as a store, web store, a marketplace like eBay or Amazon, or even an event such as a flea market or trade show. You could also consider dropship suppliers as a channel too.

You need software or systems to execute a multi-channel strategy and herein lies the problem.

Your systems aren’t connected and when these systems aren't connected you spend lots of time keying items into multiple systems, updating items and prices, gathering orders, updating order status...you get the idea. Managing inventory can also be a problem because you need to constantly update many systems with the inventory you have on hand or you'll end up selling products you don't have.

The issue of manual effort required to keep everything running smoothly is so widespread that most companies can't move forward with taking products to new channels because it's simply too much work. However, getting your products into many channels could help you increase sales - quickly.

Here are three secrets that successful multi-channel companies have made sure their channel strategies include. Anyone can throw up a bunch of web sites and hope for the best, but to truly make it work (i.e. make money) your strategy has to include the following:

1.  Successful multi-channel companies deploy item syndication.  To do this effectively they've connected the system that acts as the Item Master to the channel system. For example, the Point of Sale system (the item master) is connected to the web store system and automatically pushes new products and updates to pricing to the web store. These companies are easily able to manage items pricing, price lists and updates electronically to their web store with very little manual effort.

2.  Successful multi-channel strategies automate order management.  Orders from a web store or marketplace get pushed to the item master system creating centralized management of orders to be fulfilled and customer data. Once orders are filled, the system pushes an order status to the web channel so it can notify the customer shipment is on its way.

3.  Successful multi-channel companies automate inventory management. Each time a web order is placed it is pushed into the master system to await fulfillment. Upon receiving the order, the inventory for the item is "committed" and once order is filled the total inventory is decremented.  Items in which no inventory is available are automatically hidden in the web site or an "out of stock" is automatically published to the web for that item.

If this were easy - everyone would've figured it out right?  Many companies put together detailed import/export processes, which require time and effort - but considerably less than manual entry.  Custom Integration can be costly and hard to support, but if you have your own resources (or super-technically inclined) you could do it yourself.

There are a constellation of POS, ecommerce, and accounting systems that have integration built-in to another, but these systems require the use of both systems (which you may or may not have). If you want to add another channel to the mix, you're back to square one.

A promising new breed of cloud-based management platforms may make multi-channel strategies easier and cheaper for companies because they offer a variety of connectors for a variety of systems (POS, ecommerce, accounting, marketplaces) - so you can connect and leverage the systems you've already invested in.   

Author Bio: nChannel provides an easy-to-use, cloud-based platform that enables retailers to cost effectively synchronize and exchange sales, customer, and product data from transactions that occur at the register, in the warehouse, or via a web-store.