Smokers' Paradise is a 6-store tobacco and beverage chain based in Ohio that uses Catapult to streamline its enterprise-wide business processes. We caught up with multistore manager Lisa Grossenbacher who told us how Smokers' Paradise uses Catapult to manage the six stores from a single headquarters location.

ECRS : Tell us a little about Smokers' Paradise.

GROSSENBACHER : The Smokers' Paradise chain is composed of six stores in the Urichsville, OH area. We started out strictly as tobacco outlets, but over the years have expanded to offer beer and wine, as well as providing bill payment services and money orders. Two of our stores also sell liquor. All of our locations are in strip malls, except our Carrolton location, which is a freestanding building. Our clientele is a diversified group whose members appreciate being rewarded for their shopping habits.

ECRS : How does Catapult's Enterprise Module help centralize chain management for Smokers' Paradise?

GROSSENBACHER : Catapult's electronic worksheets give me the ability to initiate and manage multiple tasks among the six locations, which I do from a single computer at the headquarters location where I work. From my single location I can apply the unique tax structures required at each of the stores. Catapult also helps us implement our discount system. We offer a wide variety of discounts to different customers depending on their loyalty status and shopping habits with us. Catapult simplifies this otherwise difficult task.

Catapult's zone pricing system give us much more item-level control than any other system I've seen on the market. The great thing about it is that the control is completely centralized at the headquarters location where I make all price changes by zones. When the system replicates, all of my changes are implemented automatically at the POS terminals across the entire chain.

ECRS : Can you elaborate on the centralized managerial control that Catapult has created for Smokers' Paradise?

GROSSENBACHER : It's amazing how fluid and streamline managing things from headquarters has become. All six of our stores are running smoothly and are replicating properly without any need for intervention. All of our terminals are humming along at optimal performance levels, and the correct pricing is coming up with all of our scanning. Catapult's reporting system is allowing me to provide accurate information to the State Liquor Board of Ohio, which is required periodically. Plus, I'm able to provide various reports to the owners for all of the data is correct and on time.

ECRS : Do you have any advice you would like to pass on for retailers preparing to automate their operations?

GROSSENBACHER : Absolutely. I strongly recommend selecting an installing company with a strong reference base. I've found in the past that it's absolutely critical that the installation and setup be professionally coordinated. Their are many POS suppliers that can sell you a cheaper system, but most of these companies aren't prepared to professionally install and maintain the system. ECRS Certified Installers are the best in the business.