Yumiko USA – A Case Study
Frustrated by the dearth of flattering leotards on the market, dancer Yumiko Takeshima started her own line of customized dancewear in 2003 and has since developed a loyal following of fans around the world. The company, Yumiko, has experienced double digit growth solely on Internet and phone orders. Yumiko also owes much of its success to its network of almost two hundred YumiGirls, a community of Yumiko fans who sell the product to other dancers in their community. Continuing on its momentum of growth, the company ventured into the world of retail for the first time with a store in an up-and-coming Manhattan neighborhood.
In planning its initial foray into retail, Stephen Dean, head of Yumiko USA, explored various Mac-compatible point-of-sale (POS) software options to make the transition as smooth as possible. He found XSilva Lightspeed 2 to be the clear winner in the bunch. With a simple, sleek interface, the solution was easy to use, flexible, and comprehensive in functionality.  After a few weeks of using XSilva, Stephen had nothing but rave reviews for the solution. The following are excerpts from an interview conducted in his NYC store:
Q: What are some of the most important features you were looking for in a POS solution?
A: First of all, it had to be Mac-compatible, which automatically narrows the list down to a few options. Second, it had to be flexible and easy to use. Our business is largely customized product and I needed something that would allow me to easily add new SKUs into the system. We offer a whole range of leotards that people can customize by sleeve length, material, color, etc.
Because Yumiko has so many SKUs, it’s important that the user interface is simple and straightforward.  On the front end, all I have to do is scan the barcode and all the relevant information pops up on the screen – price, sales tax, description, size, color. On the back end, setting up each style was a breeze. And once the styles are in the system, it was easy to find a specific leotard by typing the name, any part of the description, or color. I can also update the information or print a label in a matter of seconds.
What I’ve also found extremely helpful is the inventory management feature. I will never have to close the store to do an inventory check – XSilva keeps an up-to-date count of exactly how many of each style, color, and size I have on hand. And if I’m running low on certain styles, the system automatically reminds me to reorder.
Q: How was the learning curve for XSilva?
A: I’m no techie, so the Mac-like interface made it easy to figure out. The support team at MerchantPlus and XSilva were great – they were available to help with any other questions I had.
Once I got comfortable with the system, the rest was easy. I’ve already seen huge time savings already…I can’t imagine doing any of this manually.
Q: How compatible is the solution with your existing accounting software?
A: That’s another added bonus – XSilva is compatible with the accounting system I currently use. There are also some great financial features, such as the margin calculation feature. Yumiko products are made in Spain so I need to be able to set up a supplier in the system in euros and calculate the US price I need to make my required margin.
Q: As you expand the retail business, how do you see your software needs changing?
A: I am looking to hire three or four part-time employees for the store so I can focus on other parts of the business. Because the software is easy to use, training new employees should not take very long. And once they learn the system, all they have to do is scan the barcode to process the transaction. There’s no need to memorize style codes or prices and hence, little room for error. I also like the security features that come with the program – I can make sure that I’m the only one with access to certain functions, like changing the price of a style.
And in the future, if we expand to multiple retail stores, I can add users so everyone can access the same system. XSilva is fantastic for small businesses that are looking to grow and stay organized.