Tiscali Press Release - Tiscali and Anker systems sign £1,000,000 deal with Hobbycraft

Arts and Craft Superstore chain to roll out OSCAR utilising 'always-on' communications network to improve information flow and stock ordering

HobbyCraft, the largest Arts and Crafts superstore chain in the UK, has placed an order worth over £1,000,000 with pan-European retail systems provider, Anker Systems and European ISP, Tiscali, for its multi-outlet EPOS system, OSCAR.

OSCAR will be deployed on an IP-based Virtual Private Network provided by Tiscali, enabling 'real-time' communication between the stores and Head Office, increasing visibility of stock availability across the HobbyCraft business, and supporting its move to centralised stock ordering at Head Office.

The order for OSCAR consists of 143 touch-screen EPOS terminals which will be rolled out across all 23 HobbyCraft stores in the UK, with the retailer planning to expand its business to over 60 stores in the coming years. The OSCAR solution will also integrate with other systems in use across the business, including the Navision Financial and Proteus Warehouse Management software.

Chris Crombie, Managing Director comments "We needed to implement a proven, scaleable EPOS system that would enable us to increase profitability and meet our forecasted growth over the coming years. The OSCAR system provides us with a reliable, future-proof EPOS platform that allows us to improve store efficiency and ultimately serve customers more effectively."

Crombie continues, "By deploying OSCAR over an 'always-on' communications network we are able to benefit from having 'real-time' product information which means that stock management will now be greatly enhanced. In addition, the level of integration between our key business systems at head office means that we will have a much clearer picture of overall business performance and the level of reporting information available to local stores will be better."

Commenting on the working relationship with Anker and HobbyCraft, Nathan Frances General Manager Business Services at Tiscali says, "We are delighted that our relationship with Anker has led to this lucrative deal. We're confident that with our strength in the IP-VPN joined with Anker's proven experience in the retail industry we will provide a cost effective and reliable EPOS solution that will be able to support HobbyCraft as it grows."

HobbyCraft is the largest Arts and Crafts superstore chain in the UK and it pioneered the 'all under one roof' approach to retail in a sector traditionally dominated by smaller, specialist shops; each HobbyCraft store provides customers with a 32,000 products for over 250 creative activities. HobbyCraft is due to go live with the OSCAR system across all stores in July this year.

As part of the deal HobbyCraft has taken a three year 'managed service contract' with Anker, outsourcing hardware and store software application support, including EPOS and Microsoft Office. OSCAR replaces HobbyCraft's in-house developed EPOS system which was no longer able to support the retailer's planned expansion.