I’m going into partnership with two others to open a jewelry
repair/retail store. We would like to start out with a good
software package to track inventory, mailing lists, etc. The most
common recommendation I’ve gotten was to use QuickBooks, but
would like to get comments from others with experience.
We anticipate small need for electronic tracking initially, but
think it would be better to establish it now than later on (also
easier dealing with the accountants). And we all would like to
only have to learn one system. I have an extensive computer
background, but the other two partners do not, so I can spend
whatever effort it takes to set it up, as long as the daily use
is simple.
Any opinions about software packages, QuickBooks, etc? Is a true
point-of-sale package worthwhile considering the prices?
Opinions about computer controlled cash drawers, elaborate
computer cash registers vs separate register and PC?
Of course we’re looking for the perfect solution, which doesn’t
exist. But we’d greatly value any advice you can give us.
After Becky Bray & her partners get themselves set up with
whatever new software they finally use, she might want to post
some messages about her experiences. The info could be useful to
all of us.
As for the place where I work: my bosses keep saying they’re
going to replace our old slow 386 & our antique MSDOS software
with a fancy new Windows network. They’ve been babbling about
this pretty steadily for years now. Promises, promises . . .
Joel Kahn <@Joel_Kahn>
Comptroller for Maxon’s Jewelers
Diamond Merchants & Estate Jewelers
2622 S Glenstone, Springfield Missouri 65804 USA
Voice: 417-887-1800 or 417-887-1809
Fax: 417-887-3422
I tried using Quickbooks (which my accoutant swears by). The
manual tells you that it is not suitable for a manufacturing type
business. Since we had already paid for it, I tired using it. I
was spending more time trying to force the program to work for me
than if I was doing things by hand. I needed to keep track of
findings and stock in a seperate program, and as I finished a
piece, I would input it into Quickbooks as a finished item.
Quickbooks is set up to track the purchase and resale of complete
items. It has many nice features, but I ended up just setting up
my own set of books for inventory, job order tracking, A/P, A/R,
Slaes records, mailing lists, balance sheets, taxes, etc. in
Excel. It is not quite as slick as a canned program, but I find
I make a lot less mistakes than I did in Quickbooks. And with the
links that you can set up, it is easy to establish a path of
checks and balances to insure that you don’t goof up. If you
want, I can send you a sample of how I have things set up.
My mother (an accountant) just set up books for a local company
that had the same problems with quickbooks. no allowing for
manufacture use or open invoices or memo. she claims the answer
is a program called Peachtree Accounting. trust mom. Frank
I have been following the tips about the Accounting/Inventory
Software. I just started useing Quickbooks for my business. I
repair and design costume jewelry and restring pearls and beads.
she claims the answer is a program called Peachtree Accounting.
trust mom. Frank
Hi Frank.
I totally agree with your mother. Peachtree accounting is a
powerful application. It comes with a variety of demo companies
accounts, and I think you can find a jewelry manufacturing
operation demo as well. I have been using it for a while a couple
of years ago. and now I am relating totally on my
self_designed_application. written in clipper.
I agree with the assessment of Quickbooks. It just simply did
not work for a “manufacturing” type of environment. So, mine is
still pretty much manual except for the cashflow stuff I do just
through plain old Quickens. I am interested in whatever else
anyone has come up with.
We would like to start out with a good software package to track
inventory, mailing lists, etc. The most common recommendation
I’ve gotten was to use QuickBooks, but would like to get comments
from others with experience.
We are in the process of changing to a new computer system. We
searched for about 2 years trying to find a system that would
handle our repair dept.,A/R, A/P, customer data base, payroll,
accounting, and inventory. We found 2 programs that would do the
job. “GIA ARMS”, will handle anything and is the best thing we
found. Of course the best comes at a price, a very steep price
aprox. 20k…ouch…
The other program that fit our needs and we are using now is
“Jewelry Shopkeeper”, it does all we need it to and we didn’t
have to let half our staff go to buy it. The support is great
and the program does what it says it does. All for about 1/10
the price of ARMS . You can contact “JS” at (310) 204-5121. By
snail mail at: Complink 3300 overland Ave., Ste 201 Los Angeles,
CA 90034
I have used quick books with little success, it was not in a
retail situation, but a non profit organization. It seemed
confusing and hard to work with but there are classes available
that could help alot.
Thanks for the tip. A friend of mine has an old version which
she uses and didn’t seem very enthusiastic about it’s
capabilities, but it may be a lot more powerful now. Canned
programs tend to have a lot of advantages over using spreadsheets
that make them less time consuming to use. I’m not sure I relish
the thought of transferring all of my data to another program,
but I might look into it anyway.
Sharon. let me know how peachtree works for you. Remember i got
the referal from an accountant not another artist. The thing she
liked about it that other programs did not do was that it allows
for open invoices, and un delivered contracts. She buys and
sells precious metals and scrap jewelry. This is ideal for
memos, comissions with a percentage paid on assumption of job
and balance due on delivery. sounds like art jewelry to me .
good Luck and hppy left braining.
I’m not sure I relish the thought of transferring all of my data to
another program, but I might look into it anyway.
This is highly dependent on the program, but there is the
possibility of ‘data conversion’ from one program to another.
Ask the software vendor or manufacturer about importing and
exporting data to and from other software. It’s not a universal
capability, but is certainly a question that should be addressed
when purchasing a new system.
Yes, this relates to what I do in my ‘day job’!
<> Marrin T. Fleet <>
<> MFleet@cc.memphis.edu <>
<> SCT Corp. in adminstration of: <>
<> Admin. Computing Services <>
<> The University of Memphis <>
<> Memphis, TN 38152 <>
<> 901-678-3604 <>
Sharon, I have bought Quickbooks, but have never tried using
it. If there is an easier way to do it, for the computer barely
literate, please send details. I do have Excel, but haven’t used
that either. Who has time, what with the shop work and e-mail?
I’ve tried so many softwares trying to find the best one to suit
my needs. The best I’ve found was Microsoft Access. You need a
little knowledge of programming language, but if you put yourself
at work you could do anything you want and need. I use Access to
track purchases(rough metals, stones, semi-finished gold,
finished product, in consignement product…), to create
intermidiate stocks (21k gold, 18k yellow gold, 18 kt white gold,
silver, red gold…), to follow production (design database, work
in proccess, employees current job order…). Then comes the
Inventory at hand with their cost crearly handeled, ready to be
sold. Clients, supplier, workmen database…accounts receivables
& payables…
All you want the software to give you, it can be done with
Access. Now, I’ve done all my programming myself. It only cost me
the software package and my time. If you can’t do it by yourself,
hire a professional. Having a perfectly designed software
tailored to your needs is worth the money you’re going to pay for
it.
The most common recommendation I’ve gotten was to use QuickBooks,
The problem with quickbooks is you must log inventory in and out
or it won’t work. This becomes complicated in a repair situation
when you are only using part of a item you inventoried in, or you
are using many parts. You spend WAY too much time on the
computer. I use quicken for the checkbook, I don’t have an actual
checkbook other than the computer. It works great. I do use a CPA
also.
Peachtree accounting is a