Computerize your gun store?

Shooting Industry, August, 1997 by Cal Stewart

But Are You Ready For Hardware, Software, DownLoading, Gigabytes And The Information Super Highway?

How widespread is computerization in gun stores today? What tasks do computers perform? What types of computers are favored? Is there software that works better for gun stores? What about Federal Firearms License and bound-book requirements of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms?

These were some of the questions being tossed around by the editors of Shooting Industry when the following letter arrived from John P. Cacciola, of Glen Cove Sports Shop Inc., in Glen Cove, NY.:

To answer Cacciola's questions, we asked retailers across America for help. We found that computers are definitely standard office equipment in most stores, but the tasks for which they are used vary greatly. And just like your first slow dance in junior high, there's a lot of trepidation and anxiety about putting your arms around a box labeled "computer" for the first time.

THE HARDWARE

What type of equipment do you need to computerize your shop? Tom Penney recommends you first decide on the type of software you want to use.

"This is an important first step," Penney said. "Contact several of the software companies and find out what they can do for you. Many of them will also try to sell you the equipment. It would be wise to get a quote and then shop around."

After doing a lot of research in 1991, Bill's Gun Shop shelled out close to $18,000 to computerize their operation.

"While it was just six years ago, personal computers were more expensive," Penney said. "The Internet was in its infancy and software and systems consultants weren't as prevalent as today."

Which explains why Penney, after listening to salesmen and doing his own research, selected a $12,000 system: a Unix mainframe with a dozen dumb terminals.

"At the time, computerized cash registers cost $2,000 to $3,000 - five or six times the price of a dumb terminal," explains Penney. "In our Robbins-dale store, we had four cash register locations, one receiving station for incoming shipments, our accounting and administrative stations, and the ATF station - about 12 in all. As you can see, that would have been nearly double the price of the Unix system I bought."

However, a mainframe system probably would not be his choice today. "The cost of personal computer cash registers that are linked for inventory control and other time-saving functions have not come down per se, but their capabilities are far greater," Penney said. "One problem with a networked mainframe system is that you're effectively out of business if the system goes down - and it will, no matter how good it is - because it's on 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

"Your hard drive might crash, or you may shut down the computer for required maintenance. When it's down, your workstations go dark. The registers don't work. This isn't the case with PC-based cash registers. While they are connected via a network for inventory control purposes, a single workstation failure doesn't affect the others."

THE SOFTWARE

There are a lot of software programs on the market that are designed for retail businesses. During the past few years, more software companies have developed programs for gun shops.

"I selected a Synchronics point-of-sale package that is designed for shooting industry retailers," explains Penney. "It does what we want, such as inclusion of serial numbers, layaways - all the gun shop needs. Because of our ATF requirements, we had it enhanced."

To comply with ATF's rigid requirements, Penney turned to Randy Keefer of AmBr Software Group in Maryland. "Randy is president of the company and had his programmers work with us to modify our Synchronics software to add ATF's bound-book requirements," Penney said. "AmBr Software will work on DOS or linked systems."

Price tag for the software was nearly $6,000.

Another outfit to consider is ARS Solutions Ltd. "They can build a point-of-sale and inventory control system from ground zero, completely customized for a gun store," said Penney, who keeps an eye on developments and firms serving the electronic gun store. "Their prices are in line with off-the-shelf software, since they've been in business a long time."

Jeff Horton, of ARS Solutions, said his firm's basic software package is $2,395, which includes an inventory management system, point-of-sale system and training. "Buyers then can choose from among the other software programs we have: accounts receivable, serial numbers, purchase orders and the like at $995 each," he said.

Drake Enterprises Inc., of N. Little Rock, Ark., offers "Firearms Information Tracking System," a software program developed by Kyle Wade who managed a large volume gun store for over 10 years. Trial versions of the software are available to dealers.

"We also offer complete versions of the program that includes 450 manufacturers' and distributors' names and addresses, and over 6,000 item numbers and descriptions. This takes away any initial setup that the dealer would have to do."