Windward Software Blog

I didn’t know, when I walked into Outdoor Adventure Gear, that they were a customer of ours. The shop is neat, the clothing and equipment appropriately priced and the sales person in attendance was friendly and helpful. My wife found a toque that went well with her jacket so we decided to purchase that – at the end of the purchase we were asked if we’d like a receipt emailed to us. Now THAT is a great way to build your client email base to be able to send information about products and events to the people who actually buy from you. Yup, at that point I asked which POS software she was using. The owner, Linda, informed me it was Windward System Five.I thought about our tag line about ‘helping you run your business’ and thought we could add, especially in these economic times, that we help you stay in business too.

Linda is doing the right things to keep herself in business. Does everything go smoothly? Well no, but she keeps on going. When her lease recently expired and the landlord allowed a neighbouring store to expand, Outdoor Adventure Gear moved over a few doors – that’s not cheap! It also makes you realize how everyone who walks in the the store is an opportunity – an ongoing opportunity – to pay for the surprise move and renovation. Encouraged by recent successes of retail businesses like her own, Linda is looking at turning her growing email database into some targeted marketing campaigns (exactly what our WeMail product does). Linda also spoke briefly about moving on line and I congratulated her on an excellent thought, she’s already half way there because, using System Five, her product information is ready for WeCommerce, Windward Software’s online store solution.

If you live in British Columbia’s Okanagan region,  drop by Outdoor  Adventure  Gear at 1963 Harvey Ave. in Kelowna. You can always email Linda about her great selection of products, she has rentals too, info@outdooradventuregear.ca or phone (250) 860-9481

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Many merchants are asking themselves how they can win new and existing customers returning more often; the answer is RENTALS. Adding rentals to your business is a way to reinvent your business without a makeover. Windward System Five Rental POS is the perfect solution for business people parachuting into the rental business. The software is fast, easy to use and is already the preferred software solution to many common rental businesses such as Audio/Video (sound equipment) and musical rentals, Heavy Equipment (diggers etc.), Party Rentals (tables, tents, etc.) and the hardware store rentals of small tools and equipment.  It even allows you to sell and upgrade your rental equipment to customers who might be on a budget.

Ask yourself if your business is similar to those in any way? For instance, a furniture store could have a rental inventory for Real Estate staging. With Windward System Five RentalPOS, sports stores can easily get into sports equipment rentals, computer dealers could easily add rentals for seasonal businesses, garden centers can add small equipment and tool rental. Once you think about the potential, all sorts of possibilities come to mind.

Helping you realize the potential and possibilities is where Windward Software really shines. We are dedicated to helping our customers run their business so we made sure that System Five Rental POS is fast easy to learn and easy to use. For instance, in our visually appealing rental interface, to reserve an item for rental you locate the item in the rental menu (many ways to find the item) click on the item(s), click COMPLETE, select the customer from your database, click OUT and take the money! Returning items and renewing rentals is also a breeze.

If you are in the rental business, or just considering getting into it, you’ll be happy to know that we’ve made it easy to start your day. With the click of a few buttons you will quickly see your Current Rentals and Overdue Rentals; the two most important pieces of information you need each day.

Let us show you how fast and easy your rental business can operate.  Call 800-663 -5750 and ask for a free demonstration.

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Dec. 27 (Bloomberg) — Burt Flickinger, managing director of Strategic Resource Group, talks about retail sales and consumer spending during the holiday season. Flickinger, speaking with Sara Eisen and Scarlet Fu on Bloomberg Television’s “InsideTrack,” also discusses Sears Holdings Corp.’s plan to close 100 to 120 Kmart and Sears full-line stores. (Source: Bloomberg) from http://www.bloomberg.com/video/83384898/

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WINDWARD SOFTWARE TV debuts in 2012. Host Kevin Schilter will be interviewing System Five experts to share advice, best practices and How To’s…Windward Software 800-663-5750

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As most of you have heard, a deadly typhoon resulting in flash floods and landslides has hit the southern region of the Philippine islands. 

Pictures like this are worth millions.  Windward Software Cebu has really stepped up to help!  They will be filling a container with these supplies and shipping it to CDO – the most devastated area affected by this disaster.  Good job team

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They’re back! WEBINARS on our most requested subjects

Register ASAP for these important courses

SUBJECT                                                10 AM (Pacific) START

Wemail                                                       January 12

Labour/Productivity Tracking                  January 26

Unit Capitalization                                    February 9

End of Day                                                  February 23

Integrity checks                                         March 8

Payroll                                                         March 22

Windward Software Inc.
#200 – 3547 Skaha Lake Rd
Penticton, BC V2A 7K2
Toll Free: (800) 663-5750
Phone: (250) 492-8888
Fax: (250) 492-8886
E-mail: sales@wws5.com

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This years party had the theme AUSTRALIA to commemorate the opening of our office there and to celebrate Mark and Becky’s departure, with children, to Australia to get the office going there.  You’ll see video of Mark stripping to show his summer attire and conduct a few activities including shrimp on the barbie (Tanya won!). Many of us sported Australian flag tattoos as well as snakes, spiders and other weird things.

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I’d like to share this link with some of the pictures taken during our Outreach Activity headed by Sidney on December 10, 2011 at the My Dream Home for Special Children in Tejero, Cebu City. This orphanage center is adopting these special kids who were abandoned by their parents due to physical and mental defects. This orphanage was burned down (twice in separate occasions) but with the help of few volunteering professionals, it still operational although not as it used to be before.

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2836569599601.2149549.1420059676&type=1&l=1c1aa8b589

In the spirit of Christmas, our way of giving back all the blessings we’ve received. J Enjoy!

Cheers, Mitch L. Alejandro

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Cebu Office Manager Sidney Blaza says…

It’s the Cebu office 3^rd year anniversary. CONGRATULATIONS on a great 3 years of hard work and significant accomplishments Cebu team!  Through the years you have been productive and we are blessed to have you guys in Windward. From all of us in the management team THANK YOU and HAPPY 3^RD YEAR ANNIVERSARY!

I would like to make a special mention of some people who have been working at Windward for 3 years now.  These guys were the first batch of Support Techs I hired who started last December 1, 2008. Congratulations on your 3^rd year Jane, Mitch, Jess, Joe and Doby!

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It’s official. We’re opening an office in Brisbane, Australia. Actually, it’s in Springwood which 15 minutes from downtown Brisbane. We are on the second floor of the pictured building and our address is 203/2 Murrajong Road, Springwood QLD 4127.

Australia, and especially the Brisbane area, has been good for us. Windward has been represented in Australia for many years by Wright Way Business Systems owned by Phil Wright. Phil has been instrumental in working out the the issues and aspects of our Australian customers. When the need arose to rebuild the office after last years floods in Brisbane, we decided it was time to create a larger presence.

Phil is in charge of Implementation Services and for help with training of both customers and staff.   Phil will also be creating training videos, especially targeted at Australia issues to begin with. Simon Wingett will be available for Advanced support and Lawrence Wright is our local business developer. Last but not least, Mark Rutter will be moving to Australia for a year to help with the transition and take on the responsibilities of general manage.

In the new year we will be organizing product and training seminars at our new offices. We’ve always had a great time getting to know our customers during and after training seminars at our head office, and now, meeting in Brisbane, it’s going to be more fun for everyone because there are more choices of places to go after seminars.

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