David Abrams has developed extensive expertise in retail over the course of his career, starting in 1978 when he became the assistant manager of his first RadioShack. He continued with that company for 11 years and then spent two to three years each with Bradlees, Caldors, Ames, Bed Bath & Beyond, TJ Maxx, and CVS before moving to Sarasota, Fla., and beginning to work for Davidson Drugs, where he's been with for the past ten years. He is currently store manager and buyer for the Davidson Drugs location on Midnight Pass Road.

Davidson Drugs, owned by John Davidson, has four stores located in Sarasota and more than 100 employees. It has been a family business since 1958 and is the oldest established drugstore under the same continuous ownership in Sarasota.

I've read your article in the ComputerTalk magazine (May/June 2012) regarding point of sale. I enjoyed the topics you covered as they are the current main points that everyone should be thinking about. The POS topic interests me greatly due to my long retail background.

I got to see many interesting POS systems (Radio Shack was just installing when I left them), and because of my experience I was allowed to put POS in my  store for Davidson Drugs. Sadly, my other two stores still are using department key cash registers and guessing what's taxable and what isn't, what's on sale and what's not, etc.

We like the electronic signature capture, the ability to program sales easily, and the ease of adding and updating items. We are yet to do perpetual ordering. Our stores are 9,000 to 10,500 SF and at my particular store the front end is 75% of the business. We are  a similar mix to Twin Harbor Drug, Jack Jones, who you spoke of in your article. He and I are going to meet at the Cardinal RBC show in Orlando in the middle of July to compare notes. With only 25% RX the front end POS needs to be strong. (My other stores mix are closer to 50/50 at one and 75/25 in favor of Rx at the other one due to its location near a major hospital).

Here's my list of the areas where POS makes an impact:

• New PBM requirements met.

• Accuracy at all registers.

• Sale prices is automatic at all registers, without the time it takes to manually sticker and then remove stickers from sale merchandise.

• HIPAA signatures logged electronically.

• Signatures for all Rxs electronically captured with no physical storage.

• All credit-card processing with one provider.

• Electronic time clock add accuracy and eliminate time theft.

• Daily report processing at the office much faster.

• Number of price checks disappear when there are no longer labels to come off items.

• Customer service better as sale prices always given when they should be.

• Eliminates human error with key punches.

• Eliminates tax/nontax questions for categories.

• Eliminates errors going to secondary credit-card machine.

• Allows for storage of credit-card numbers on file for quicker processing.

• Fantastic COD ability in POS system.

• Clear receipts for customers.

• Ability to customize message on customer receipts.

• Ability for all stores to take FSA cards.

• Makes RX reporting and auditing easier.

• Allows for easier review for buyers of fast and slow sellers.

• Gives managers the ability to see vendor names to make easier use of who buys what guide.

• Allows for easy multistore personnel use as all are on the same system.

• House charge processed much quicker.

• Much more accurate P & L statements.

• Much more accurate inventory results.

Sincerely,

David Abrams, Store Manager and Buyer

Davidson Drugs #2                   Davidson Drugs Office

6595 Midnight Pass Rd.            1281 S. Tamiami Trail

Sarasota, FL 34242                 Sarasota, FL 34239