Retail News and Press Releases

SNAPE MALTINGS

Snape Maltings is a superb destination venue consisting of shops, galleries and eateries by the River Alde and is the home of the Aldeburgh Food & Drink Festival.

At full industrial use Snape Maltings grew to seven acres of buildings and was one of the largest flat floor maltings in the country. In 1965, after 120 years, the malting of barley came to an end, George Gooderham bought the Maltings and a new era began with the gradual and sensitive conversion of these beautiful Victorian buildings.

The first major development was the now world-class Concert Hall. The Craft Shop opened in 1971 bringing together a variety of locally made art and crafts. In a process lasting over the last 40 or so years Snape Maltings has developed a range of offerings, and revitalized the old granaries into a leading destination on the Suffolk Heritage Coast.

This development continues today with the recent opening of the new extended House and Garden Store and superb mezzanine Café together with the sensitive development of 120 homes within the original buildings.

During the planning of this expansion the Snape team realized that they needed a modern, flexible, real-time Retail system in order to effectively gather, process and provide meaningful management information on a timely basis. This would then form the bedrock of the ongoing development of the Snape Maltings Customer experience.

After looking at other alternatives an agreement was struck on 29th August 2008 with Senso Group to install the DRS EPOS suite with go-live happening on-schedule at 10am on 10th September 2008.

Emma Tilley, Managing Director of Senso Group commented: "We were particularly pleased that Snape Maltings chose us for this important project as my family has long standing connections with the area. Given the extremely short timescales of this successful project, it is testament to the confidence that Snape Maltings have both in their own team and in Senso Group and our modern retail technology."

Visit Snape Maltings at www.snapemaltings.co.uk

CUBE

Cube is a brand new nightclub located in Liverpool in a brand new landscaped square named Concert steps.

Cube has four floors dedicated to providing the very best, most up to date and sophisticated night time experience. No expense has been spared in investing in cutting edge sound and light technology. The architectural building features fuse a traditional grade two listed building with an exemplary new glass and steel construction; jaw dropping interior design adds to the atmosphere, ambience and overall experience.

Prior to the commencement of the construction and conversion, the Cube management team scoured the market for a robust, proven hospitality EPOS system. After an extremely successful visit to the Herald Inns owned site next door (Mood), the decision was made to implement the DRS Hospitality Suite ready for the clubs opening in September 2008.

A total of 14 EPOS were installed across 4 floors linked to a central Back Office which is accessible over the internet for the Owners and Management to view from their offices locally.

Emma Tilley, Managing Director of Senso Group commented: "This is yet another endorsement of the flexibility of both our EPOS product set and the support model that Senso Group operate as standard - providing support to all of our customers when they are trading."

Visit Cube at www.thecubeliverpool.co.uk

COUTURE

Founded in 2006 by Marc Warde Couture, part of The White Circle Organisation, is a new company full of enthusiasm and a desire to do what is so simple - provide good food served with a smile - but which too few manage to get rig

The very essence of The White Circle Organisation is fresh food and providence whilst all offering something very unique and special - Couture all aim to provide a really fantastic food and drink experience for all their guests.

Couture already operates highly individualistic and successful operations at the Manchester Museum, the Bernie Grant Arts Centre and the Institut Français together with a Food Hall and café on the Royal Arsenal development in South London.

In order to underpin their passionate expansion plans, Couture have chosen Senso Group and the DRS Retail Suite to provide real-time management information across their developing business operations.

Since beginning to work together with Senso Group, Couture have opened a restaurant & bar on the ground floor of Cornerstone - a new arts centre in Didcot, a new restaurant & bar on the ground floor of the iconic PUBLIC building in West Bromwich, a restaurant & bar at Stockwood Discovery Centre - a transformation of the former Stockwood Park Museum and a restaurant at Ogilvy, the International advertising, marketing and public relations agency - all running the DRS Retail Suite.

There is no sign of slowing down either! - The White Circle Organisation are proud to have won the contract to operate the Phi cafe - bar - restaurant at Hotel Indigo London-Paddington, a new boutique hotel opening in late 2008. Additionally, there are plans to open a sister food hall to the London venue in Ipswich also later in 2008.

Emma Tilley, Managing Director of Senso Group commented: "We were delighted that the White Circle Organisation chose Senso as their go-forward retail systems partner and are pleased to be involved in their extremely exciting growth curve. It is testament to the confidence that Marc and his team have in their business plans that they continue to drive themselves forward and deliver the quality and innovation that the Couture brand has come to represent."

Visit Couture at www.coutureuk.com

Visit The White Circle Organisation at www.whitecircleorganisation.com

JOLLYE'S PET SUPERSTORES

Jollye's was established in 1935 as merchants of Hay, Straw and Horse Feeds. During this early period, Jollye's supplied to H.M. The Queen's Studs and to Billy Smarts Circus as it toured the country.

Over the years a natural progression took place where the customers who visited Jollye's for their Horse Feeds also had requirements for their Dogs, Cats and other animals. These customers wanted to buy all their pets requirements from Jollye's so the range of products stocked grew to suit customer demand.

Eventually in 1985, an extension was built to accommodate the ever-growing retail side of the business and our first Petfood Superstore was opened - a completely new concept at that time. The number of stores has increased steadily since 1989 and today Jollye's have 40 stores nationwide, including 11 in Northern Ireland.

As a result of this continuing success, during 2006 full review of the retail systems deployed by the business was undertaken and the Jollye's Senior Team realized that the time had come to facilitate a central view of the whole operation from Head Office. This would encapsulate stock control and purchasing together with the more basic benefits of real-time information flow.

The Jollye's team enlisted the help of Paul Mason Consulting in order to assist them plan their requirements, link these to a system specification and to make the final choice of product and therefore supplier.

Following this intensive process Jollye's chose Senso Group and the DRS EPOS in December 2007.

DRS is currently undergoing pilot and the full rollout plan is in place to encompass the remaining 39 stores once all processes and procedures have been tested thoroughly.

Emma Tilley, Managing Director of Senso Group commented: "Although Jollye's are a large and growing Company, they are a very close-knit team. Over the last 9 months we have developed a close working relationship recently culminating in Jollye's choosing Senso to support their systems and Network across the entire Company."

Visit Jollye's at www.jollyes.co.uk

MARKETING BIRMINGHAM

Marketing Birmingham has completed the installation of new retail technology across its Central Birmingham store and mobile operations, in a move designed to increase efficiency and enhance the Birmingham visitor experience

Marketing Birmingham commissioned Senso Group to install the Dynamic Retail System EPOS system into the City Centre's Visitor Services outlet together with mobile operations to be based at seasonal sites within the city.

The site is a key component of the delivery of the Marketing Birmingham vision for Birmingham to become the leading global event city, a knowledge capital and an international destination of choice, being the central information resource for centre visitors.

The Visitor Centre, Mobile and Head Office functions went live with the system after hours on 14th November 2007 with customers being served on the new system from 9am on 15th November 2007.

Emma Tilley, Managing Director of Senso Group commented: "We're delighted that the Marketing Birmingham chose us for this important project. This order solidifies DRS' position as the industry's leading retail management software. As one of our strategic solutions, it is ideal for helping forward-thinking retailers to integrate processes more effectively and bring significant efficiency gains to the business."

MEADOWHALL SHOPPING CENTRE - UPDATE

Following the installation of new retail technology across its Customer Services Department, in a move designed to further increase efficiency and enhance the Meadowhall visitor experience, a new Gift Card system has been installed to run alongside Senso Group's DRS EPOS System.

Following the devastating floods in June 2007, Meadowhall originally commissioned Senso Group to install a new EPOS system into the centre's Customer Services Area. Customer Services is a key department of the Meadowhall centre being the central information resource for visitors as well as offering a range of services from gift wrapping, shop mobility and gift cheques redeemable in the majority of the retailers within the Centre.

Emma Tilley, Managing Director of Senso Group commented: "We were delighted that Meadowhall originally chose us for this important project and more than pleased to help further as Meadowhall's Customer Service Offer is enhanced. It is further proof of the confidence that leading retailers have in Senso Group and our technology."

Visit Meadowhall Shopping Centre at www.meadowhall.co.uk

WOODS OF WINDSOR

The Woods of Windsor story dates back to 1770, when the flagship store in Windsor began life as an apothecary and over the years gained many Warrants for its services to the Royal Family.

Over the years Woods of Windsor has remained innovative and always strives to combine the simplicity of natural ingredients with the efficacy of modern technology. Woods of Windsor brands are now enjoyed worldwide yet their primary motivation has always remained the same; to satisfy customers' wishes for indulgent fragrances and treatments and remain loyal to their heritage; truly "The Fragrance of England".

After acquiring Woods, the new owners Lornamead instigated a project to look at flexible options for remotely managing their new retail operations.

At the top of the requirements list was a flexible, real time system with extensive offers, promotions and loyalty functionality and, after looking at the products and suppliers in the market chose Senso Group and the DRS Retail Suite.

Following a sensitive refurbishment of the Windsor store the system went live serving clients from June 2007

Emma Tilley, Managing Director of Senso Group commented: "We were delighted that Lornamead chose us as their partner for retail systems. It is a true endorsement of our Company to be involved with such a long established and respected brand as Wood of Windsor."

Visit Woods of Windsor at www.woodsofwindsor.co.uk

Visit Lornamead at www.lornamead.com

Senso Group announce UK Distribution Agreement for 3D Visual Merchandising Software

Senso Group, the Midlands based Retail Solution Specialists have announced an agreement to resell Visual Retailing’s unique 3D Visual Merchandising product suite.