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Message: <blockquote data-quote="RyanD" data-source="post: 3301143" data-attributes="member: 3312">I've done extensive analysis of this issue, both in abstract, and in terms of actually investing in retail stores.If the store uses a computerized POS system, and tracks its inventory on that system, and the buyer intelligently sets order points and target levels, and the POS system is programmed to generate either email or fax orders (which sound like a lot of big if's but all can be accomodated by QuickBooks, as well as several other POS systems I investigated), the time required to stay current and place orders amounts to about six hours a week.  Integration with most major shipping companies (UPS, FedEx, etc.) is so good now that you can usually configure your shipping account to track inbound shipments and notify you when there's a problem.In return for that six hours (which is likely less than most retailers spend on the phone with distributors each week doing their purchasing), the average retailer can generate between 5 and 10% additional net profit annually.  Larger stores get an even better benefit - this is one place where economy of scale works in the retailers favor.Now, and this gets to Ryan's point obliquily, setting up a store to run this way requires access to either help with technology, or someone with a technical bent and a lot of time to learn new stuff if they don't already know what they're doing.  Since many stores start almost like an "Our Gang" episode (hey -- let's put on a show in the barn!) that precondition is not often met.Which begs the question;  Should the publishers tolerate (or even encourage) retailers to be able to stock their products if they can't demonstrate some minimal level of retailing competence?  Or should they act to raise the bar, perhaps losing a lot of "new business", but being more likely to see that the new stores that do open and stock their products are more likely to be the stores ready to compete and succeed in today's very challenging market?Ryan</blockquote>

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