Located in the heart of the warehouse district on the outskirts of Fort Worth, TX, Cheaper Than Dirt is a successful gun and sporting goods retailer whose business is booming - a problem more retailers wish they had. The company's task of managing a growing inventory, more customers, and an increasing cash flow is an expanding aspect of day-to-day operations. We caught up with owner DeWayne Irwin to learn more about his business, and to find out how he's using Catapult at his store.

ECRS : Tell us a little about the growth of your business.

Irwin : We must be doing something right. Currently we're taking in just over $3.5 million in annual sales, a number that by all indications is on the rise. We have about 4,800 square feet of retail space with plans to expand in the next six months.

ECRS : How did Cheaper Than Dirt begin?

Irwin : We started out as a small mail-order business several years ago. As our catalog business grew, many of our frequent customers who lived nearby started coming by our office to pick up their orders. One thing led to another and before long we'd opened a retail space. We have a customer in West Texas that told us we sold products "cheaper than dirt" in his slow Texas drawl. Needless to say, the name stuck.

ECRS : How did you arrrive at Catapult as your store solution?

Irwin : In the beginning we used Mail Order Manager (MOM) to run our new store. The application had a point-of-purchase module, but its retail weaknesses became a problem early on. We made several inquiries about various POS systems, but after our local Catpult dealer made his presentation, we knew we didn't have to look any further. Catapult's ease-of-use was immediately evident, and with 17 employees, that's very important. Our dealer's demonstration of scanning and inventory flexibility really sealed things for us. Catapult would provide exactly the kind of store automation we were looking for.

ECRS : Tell us about your customers.

Irwin : I know it sounds strange, but Cheaper Than Dirt is a family-oriented gun shop. By that I mean we're not your typical low-ceiling, dimly lit gun seller that carries only weapons, ammunition, and camouflage where hunters congregate to discuss their successes. In addition to the standard gun shop inventory, we also stock a wide variety of more exotic items. For the kids we carry things like soft air guns. Weapons enthusiasts can find samurai swords, chain mail vests, and medieval helmets. We have a great deal of military surplus business, plus a slew of 'mounts,' or stuffed wild animals. You can find just about any weapon or weapon accessory on our shelves.

ECRS : How does Catapult help you meet your customers' needs?

Irwin : Because our customers' interests are so diverse, we have to keep a large number of different items on the shelves. At the same time, we have to keep the stock levels of individual items low so that we'll have room for the variety. Catapult really helps us achieve this balance. Every morning, before doing anything else, I use Catapult's Automatic Reorder feature to replace only what sold the day before. This keeps a steady incoming flow of just those items that need replacing, which not only saves us time and money, but also takes the guesswork out of ordering.

ECRS : How does Catapult fit into your plans for future growth?

Irwin : Cheaper Than Dirt is taking in $30,000 more per week than it was this time last year, which is unbelievable. To prepare for our massive growth we have plans to add another 3,000 sq. feet of retail space this summer. We'll probably install four more POS terminals and three more workstations to accomodate this expansion. Catapult's ability to adapt to increased volume and a more eclectic inventory is obvious, and will make our upward transition just that much easier.

ECRS : What can you tell us about the quality of support you've received with Catapult?

Irwin : It's phenomenal! No matter what sorts or questions we come up with, they get answered one way or another. Typically, our local Catapult Dealer is able to resolve our issues very quickly and effectively. Once in a while they confer with ECRS to get things accomplished. This "Whatever-it-takes" attitude is just one more reason I would recommend Catapult to any retailer.