Parsons Gift Store: An NCR Counterpoint Case Study

Parsons Gift Stores, a high-end gift and collectibles chain based in the Atlanta, Georgia area, is totally dependent on the NCR Counterpoint retail management system, and Owner Gary Willis wouldn’t have it any other way. “NCR Counterpoint is the lifeblood of our retail business,” says Mr. Willis, stating that he uses NCR Counterpoint tools to optimize every aspect of the chain’s operations, from receiving and ticketing inventory, to marketing and selling merchandising, to making critical purchasing and operational decisions. Since the chain offers more than 56,000 items from nearly 500 vendors, having instant access to real-time data is absolutely critical. “I can get a complete picture of the entire company, with NCR Counterpoint tools,” states Mr. Willis.

Parsons Gift Stores, which became a customer in 2005, made the switch from a competitive solution because Mr. Willis was looking for a “full-featured retail system with SQL open architecture. We’ve been in business since 1925, so we didn’t want to change our processes; we wanted something that was highly customizable to the way we do business.” Mr. Willis says his staff used NCR Counterpoint configuration options to change screen layouts and the POS touchscreen interface and terminology to meet their requirements. Of his 65-person operation, 62 use NCR Counterpoint tools every single day for critical retail operations. The company currently uses the NCR Counterpoint retail management solution, payment services, integrated email marketing tool and mobile alerting.