Hawkin's Bazaar
Hawkin's Bazaar use WinRetail as a quick and flexible way of operating 'pop-up' stores during the busy festive shopping season.

Hawkin’s Bazaar is the retail arm of Tobar, who have been a supplier to the toy trade since 1973. Tobar operates an efficient call centre to support its mail order business, which is complimented by an e-commerce website. Hawkin’s Bazaar planned to substantially increase their permanent UK retail outlets, expanding from 30 to at least 100 stores over a five year period. The permanent stores would be supplemented by a number of temporary stores, open over the busy Christmas period.

Hawkin’s Bazaar needed to update and improve its retail systems in 2002, particularly the process of replenishing stores from their central distribution centre in Harleston, Norfolk. They had a number of criteria that they insisted their Point of Sale (PoS) system supplier should fulfil, including fast and efficient terminals that were easy to use and simple to maintain, providing stock at regular periods throughout the trading day.

The system needed to be capable of interfacing with the Maginus mail ordering system and have the ability to deploy complete PoS systems to temporary stores quickly, efficiently and at very short notice. First-class telephone and online support service was also important, as was the ability to make changes to the core system in order to meet the demands of as developing business.

Toby Templer, Managing Director of Hawkin’s Bazaar, was closely involved with the selection of a new system. He and his IT team were determined to find a supplier with whom they could establish a long-term working relationship. Corby+Fellas were able to demonstrate that their touch screen PoS system, a component of WinRetail, was ideal for use in both permanent and temporary stores.

During the Christmas trading periods from 2002 to 2006, Hawkin’s Bazaar opened several temporary stores (15 in 2006). Tight Stock Control and replenishment is essential, especially at this busy time of year. However, unlike a permanent store, there is little time to plan operations and train staff. Each temporary store needed to be equipped with a full WinPos system, allowing it to operate in exactly the same way as a permanent store. This included the ability to communicate to the head office system and handle debit and credit card transactions.

Once Hawkin’s Bazaar agrees a temporary lease for a pop-up store, it is imperative that the rollout is completed in a matter of days. Experienced Corby+Fellas operations staff move quickly to set up, deliver, configure and install a complete PoS system within seven days. Additionally, the WinRetail system means new staff can be trained very quickly, an important consideration when operating with large numbers of temporary staff.

As Hawkin’s Bazaar develops its business, WinRetail continues to be an integral part of company operations. The software can be easily modified and enhanced to suit the needs of a successful, growing and increasingly sophisticated retail business.

Chris Corby, Corby+Fellas marketing director said, “Hawkin’s Bazaar is a delightful company to deal with and we are very excited about their expansion plans. We have established an excellent working relationship with them, based on an open and honest exchange of ideas; we look forward with enthusiasm to serving them into the future.”