Tw0 Galway companies have announced a new strategic sales and software development alliance which will make life easier for those in the hospitality and retail trades.
The alliance between JBM in Castlegar and Merit Solutions of Claregalway will see both companies merge their software sales and marketing development teams.
At the announcement they also launched Merit Smart – a smart phone/pad application which allows retailers get real time sales from any of their stores directly to their hand wherever they are. This clever ‘app’ gives retailers up-to-date sales analyses and trends without any cumbersome dial-in requirements. The joint focus of JBM and Merit Solutions on technical excellence with new innovations and a commitment to top class service are key synergies of this strategic alliance with the simple mission – making retail and hospitality easier.
Merit Solutions was established in 1992 by Micheal Hughes and family. The Hughes have a long established history of retailing and Merit Solutions developed from the need to make retailing easier. Merit understands retailers needs and combines those needs with the latest technologies and excellent service. The retail management solution is designed to maximise profits by integrating scanning, stock control, margin control and accounts in the most user friendly and efficient way possible. Other features include: extensive reporting, staff monitoring, radio-linked (Wi-Fi) handheld and electronic purchasing. The software has also links to forecourt controllers, mobile top-up, vending machines,weighing scales and security cameras. Merit Solutions have systems across major symbol groups including BWG, The Barry Group Musgraves and NISA. The company takes pride on its focus on excellent customer service and support across its nationwide customer base and on making retail easier.
Mike, Mary and Eva Hughes, Directors at Merit Solutions said:
“This strategic alliance makes us stronger in an increasingly competitive market. We are confident that this merger will help us to enhance our passion for retail technology and continue to serve our existing customers and expand both our product range and our customer base.”
JBM was established in 2002, providing point of sale solutions, to both the Hospitality and Retail markets and are one of the fastest growing PC based hospitality solutions providers in Ireland and the UK. A well established and large satisfied customer base exists throughout the UK and Ireland mainly serviced through London, Dublin and Galway offices with such high profile clients as Indie Spice Restaurants in Dublin and Belfast, The Grill and Donnybrook Fair in Dublin, McSwiggans and Moran’s Oyster Cottage, the Ardilaun Hotel, the Front Door Pub and Busker Browne in Galway, Sean’s Bar – the oldest Pub in Ireland – and The Olive Grove in Athlone. JBM specialise in the hospitality sector and provide a consultative approach to selling offering a menu of suitable products and services that will help to streamline and grow a business.
JBM have a well earned reputation for integrity, reliability and innovation with in excess of 700 sites using their software, the majority of which are in Ireland. The company has enjoyed a continued run of successes and strong sales for ever a decade.
Michael Jordan, Managing Director at JBM (pictured above with local resident Eva Hughes of Merit Solutions) said: “This alliance is a natural fit for us at JBM and we are confident that Merit Solutions is the right partner for us because of its strong track record. We believe that combining Merit’s knowledge of the retail sector along with JBM’s knowledge of the hospitality sector and a strong technical expertise and network of corporate clients, we will together be able to develop exciting software applications for retail and hospitality sector both nationally and Internationally. We currently sell our hospitality solution into the UK through our London office. We will also sell Merit’s products through our existing and expanding sales channels. This will mean job creations in sales and marketing, software development and support – exciting times for both companies.”
Originally published in the Connact Sentinel August 21st 2012
