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The Entertainer

"J2 touchscreen tills are one of the best decisions we ever made."
John King, Network Manager, The Entertainer

The Client

With a mission to provide the ‘ultimate toyshop’, The Entertainer was established in 1981. From a single store in Amersham, it has since grown to become the UK’s largest independent toy retailer. It now has 41 stores and an online operation which serves customers internationally.

Founder Gary Grant is still heavily involved in every aspect of business at The Entertainer, purchasing product and advising on merchandising and the ‘look and feel’ of the stores.

The company’s wide range of toys, games and media products appeal to children of all ages and combine quality with value for money. The company’s banner of ‘more toys, more value, more fun’ says it all. Exercising creativity, working off energy and developing imagination are all made possible with a little help from the Entertainer.

“ Since we started using J2’s touchscreen tills we haven’t looked back. From an IT point of view it was one of the best decisions we ever made.”

John King, Network Manager, The Entertainer

The Solution

The Challenge
The Entertainer prides itself on providing an easy shopping experience for its customers. In its quest for an EPoS partner, it looked for a supplier who could provide a simple, robust system capable of handling large numbers of transactions and withstanding the rigours of a busy retail environment.

The Entertainer had previously used a keyboard-operated EPoS system. Equipped with a standard hard drive located under-counter, the system was time-consuming to operate and was prone to overheating and dust penetration.

The Benefits
* The new J2 systems are counter-mounted to provide ease of access and use for staff.

* Simplicity of touchscreen operation provides quicker transaction times during busy periods.

* Overheating and dirt penetration are no longer issues

* J2’s customer support is highly rated, with technical issues being dealt with quickly and efficiently.

* The Entertainer recognises in J2 a ‘value for money’ solution that complements its own products well.

The Process

J2 Retail Systems was approached to provide a robust and competitively-priced touchscreen system, which could help in reducing transaction times and provide easier operation for The Entertainer’s store staff.

In addition, J2 was invited to provide an ongoing technical support and repair service to The Entertainer’s newest stores. J2 touchscreen tills are now in use across half of The Entertainer’s estate, with plans in place to roll-out to the remaining stores.

The Results

After a review of The Entertainer’s requirements, J2 specified the J2 820 which could be counter mounted for easy access. The J2 820, with its 12” resistive touchscreen, removes the need for a keyboard and is a clean and hardy alternative to traditional PC-based systems.

For more recent installations, the company has standardised on the newer and more advanced, Intel-based J2 920.

With in-house design capabilities and technical support, J2 has proved it can provide a quick-response maintenance service to The Entertainer, dealing efficiently with both repairs and technical queries.

John King, Network Manager for The Entertainer,
comments:

“In a busy retail environment like ours we need a reliable system. J2 has delivered on every front, with a fantastic product and excellent customer support at a competitive price. The J2 920 is fast to operate and very clean to use. Our stores that don’t already have these systems in place are very eager to see them installed.”

www.theentertainer.com

Partners

About J2 Retail Systems
J2 Retail Systems is a specialist manufacturer of PC-based touchscreens, LCD touchscreen monitors and point-of-sale hardware to the retail, hospitality and leisure industries. With 50,000+ units installed worldwide, its clients include Vue Entertainment, Greggs and Thresher Group.

By controlling its own design and manufacture, J2 has built a reputation for innovation, reliability and cost-effectiveness.

Credited with introducing ‘thin client’ EPoS to the market, J2 uses emergent technologies wherever possible to reduce the cost of hardware ownership.

Sales in the UK, Continental Europe and the Middle East are managed from the company’s Warrington headquarters. J2 Retail Systems Inc. in California covers the USA, Canada and South American markets.

J2 920

The J2 920 sets the benchmark for integrated touchscreen systems by delivering unprecedented functionality, durability, quality, and affordability. Based upon the latest Intel technology, the M1.2GHz processor, it represents leading-edge performance for the most demanding markets.

Its industry-standard open platform can run a broad range of operating systems and peripherals and demonstrably improves customer transactions. Neither dependability nor ergonomics have been comprised in the 920’s design and the result is a product which combines a lower cost of investment with product longevity.

The J2 920 offers all the connectivity required by today’s retailers, plus support for other peripheral options such as Wireless Connectivity, Dual VGA Screens, CD Rom, DVD and iButton.

Sector: Retail