Helping Vaughan Shoes Step into Online Retail
From a traditional till to a connected retail business
Vaughan Shoes is a family footwear business founded in County Mayo in 2006. Its Castlebar flagship has become a destination store for customers across the west of Ireland, while its online shop reaches customers nationwide.
FM Retail helped the business move from a push-button till with no stock system to managing every shoe, in every size and location. This gave Vaughan Shoes the stock control it needed to launch online in 2015 and connect its store and ecommerce operations.
Their Challenge
Before introducing FM Retail, Vaughan Shoes relied on a push-button Casio till and had no stock management system in place.
For a footwear retailer, knowing which sizes are available and where to find them is essential. To take the business online, Vaughan Shoes needed a system that could manage its stock across locations and keep its store and webshop connected.
The team also needed better access to sales and stock information, alongside a way to simplify everyday tasks that were being handled manually.
Our Solution
FM Retail brought stock management, sales and reporting together, giving Vaughan Shoes one stock picture across its store and online shop.
The system supports the business through:
- Stock visibility: The team can check any shoe size, in any location, at a glance
- Everyday reporting: Margin control and sell-through reports provide information the team uses daily to manage the business
- Sales and returns: FM Retail handles every till sale and supports a streamlined returns process
- Connected ecommerce: Store and webshop stock are managed together, supporting both sides of the business
- Warehouse integration: FM Retail connects with Vaughan Shoes’ warehouse management system
- Process automation: Tasks previously carried out by hand now run automatically
Vaughan Shoes also uses FM Mobile on Android scanners to make stock handling quicker and easier. Product images appear as items are scanned, mistakes can be corrected on the spot and the team can complete stocktakes, returns and stock transfers more quickly.
The Results
FM Retail gave Vaughan Shoes the stock control and connected systems it needed to sell online. From its base in Castlebar, the business now ships footwear to customers in towns and villages across Ireland, as well as some further afield.
Its online success has also earned industry recognition, including Best New Website in Ireland in 2018 and National Online Retailer of the Year, across all categories, in 2020.
Today, FM Retail supports the day-to-day running of the business, from tracking stock and processing sales to monitoring margins and sell-through.
With faster stocktakes and fewer manual tasks, the team has a more practical way to manage its store and online operation.
Vaughan Shoes is now looking to strengthen and develop its partnership with FM Retail even further.
For more information on how FM Retail can support your operation, visit our about page.