Running a hardware store is a busy, dynamic role – and one where you can’t afford to take your eye off the ball when it comes to staying price competitive.
With a demanding set of homeowners and tradespeople for customers, and a skilled and experienced staff, streamlining the store’s price labelling unlocks a whole ream of benefits.
Time saved and revenue boosted
DIGI has now installed 3.2 million Electronic Shelf Labels (ESLs) in stores across Ireland, including in Topline Murtaghs in Ashbourne and Sandymount, and in Goodwins Build & DIY in Lucan and Mulhuddart. Stores that have installed ESLs are praising the time saved among other revenue-boosting benefits. Stores with approximately 2,500 product lines are reporting 10-20 labour hours saved per week since switching to the automated price labels on their shelves, while stores with 10,000 report saving 40-50 hours per week.
"We previously had only one way of working around pricing changes. Staff would increase pricing on the computer, send messages to INTEC who would then print out and pull the labels and then find the different products. The whole process was long and tedious. Having worked with DIGI since 2022, we have found Electronic Shelf Labels (ESLs) to be more efficient and effective, as we can put up the new price straight away. We find that promotions are working very well and we are extremely happy with the whole system and the return on investment. Our staff now have more time to concentrate on other important tasks within store."
What do ESLs do?
The e-paper labels replace paper price stickers and tags and can be attached to rails, stands, clips and slatwall hooks. They run on long-life batteries and are integrated with the store’s EPOS via a secure radio-frequency connection. The product information, prices, promotions and even label designs, can be updated individually, all-at-once, automatically or manually. Stores can update the labels from a handheld device, their back office or updates can be rolled out centrally from head office – a game-changer in terms of efficiency.
Alan Brown, Managing Director at DIGI Systems says there are usually several driving factors behind their customers’ decision to switch to ESL…
"I think the top priority for most retailers today is cutting costs and maximising revenue, and there are many ways our ESLs have been proven to help with both. It gives you time back, and flexibility and control that many of our customers say they now could not do without. It makes it easier to run promotions. And shoppers comment on the sleek look of the labels too. It’s also much better for the environment. For example, SuperValu retailers saved 182,000 sheets of paper in year one alone."
DIGI is the largest provider of ESLs in Ireland –
A feat they put down to their unrivalled customer service and support. The company promises rapid service, should it be needed. Their expert field engineers, remote support team and even spare parts, are all based here in Ireland; unlike with other providers.
"We set ourselves a target to improve our customers' experience by having every product priced - and priced accurately - across our two stores. We have between five and six thousand retail products, and it was taking at least 20 hours a week to keep the printed price labels updated. This was taking our senior, experienced staff away from the sales counter, where they could be doing more important work with our customers. On top of this, the global pandemic caused a period of rapid price fluctuations that would have been impossible to keep up with, if we had not installed DIGI's Electronic Shelf Labels (ESLs).
"Now our pricing is set in our ERP system, which is fully integrated with our website and all of our price tags across both stores. It automatically updates twice daily and can be managed from our central office. Our experience with DIGI has been really good. The system has really delivered. It's a 'fit-and-forget' solution that's been stable and reliable. The ESLs have allowed us to meet our target of improving our customers' experience with accurate pricing but also with staff who have more time to help them."
Get in touch to learn more about how DIGI ESLs would work for your store.