LAKEWOOD, Colo. — Russell’s Convenience, a 19-unit independent convenience-store chain with its own software company, is going frictionless with Skip Checkout at all locations. Skip is integrating directly to Russell’s point-of-sale (POS) system through its Tenderfoot Software.
"Offering a frictionless shopping experience to our customers increases the frequency of transactions," said Tom Bachrodt, Denver area regional manager of Russell's Convenience. "By making the shopping experience as fast as possible, we open up more shopping opportunities to our customers that are on break or just short on time. With Skip, we can accommodate any shopper's schedule without disrupting our operations."
In addition to the app’s frictionless capabilities, Russell’s will have the ability to reach its customers directly through Skip’s "scan-and-go" mobile checkout app to inform them of deals and in-store promotions.
"From both a customer experience and technical perspective, we have always sought to push the limits of a typical store," said Raymond Huff, president of HJB Convenience Corp., parent company of the Russell's stores. "Similar to opening our own self-serve store, we engaged Tenderfoot Software to customize our POS and loyalty systems because our needs weren't met in the market. The same is true with Skip, as their product combined with our operations greatly enhances the service for our customers."
Because Skip did not have an existing integration with Tenderfoot Software’s POS and back-office programs, the companies worked together to leverage Tenderfoot’s application programming interfaces (APIs) to connect the Russell’s stores to the cloud.
"For years, retailers across the country have requested more connection options to our mobile shopping ecosystem," said Peter Nichols, Skip's director of product. "It's very exciting to publicize our APIs in JavaScript Object Notation and NACS XML formats, but to have launched our first public store with them is even more of a rush. Ray and his team were ideal partners to work with, and we look forward to extending the network with more like-minded retailers and software systems."
Salt Lake City-based Skip implements a system in stores that allows customers to scan items with their mobile devices as they take them from the shelves. Store associates are notified when a Skip user arrives and can monitor their purchases in real time. Once a customer scans all of their purchases, they finalize payment in the app and leave, avoiding waiting in line.
Russell’s Convenience, based in Lakewood, Colo., owns and manages 19 locations in Denver, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Honolulu and Detroit. The chain uses its own in-house POS through its software arm, Tenderfoot, and runs two cashierless stores.
Members help make our journalism possible. Become a CSP member today and unlock exclusive benefits, including unlimited access to all of our content. Sign up here.