Bud Lilly’s Trout Shop was named after Bud Lilly, a master fly fisherman known around the world as one of the great promoters of the sport.
The Trout shop, located in West Yellowstone, Montana, has been owned by Barbara and Dick Klesel for 18 years. Besides selling a wide selection of clothing, outdoor equipment and gifts, the store also offers an art gallery, giving visitors the opportunity to capture the beauty of the Yellowstone area in various mediums.
They have virtually no local customer base, as West Yellowstone is a town of only 1000 residents. They have, however, a very successful e-commerce business and ship products to every corner of the globe. Some international customers order merchandise online and pick up their purchases when they visit Yellowstone to fish and hike.
Barbara wears many hats at Bud Lilly’s. She is the owner, Retail Pro SYSOP, manages inventory, and much more. We recently spoke to Barbara about Bud Lilly’s use of Retail Pro.
BHD: What POS system did you use before Retail Pro?
Barbara: When we purchased the store, there was no system, just a cash register. The method of restocking was a major issue; the shop had never been inventoried. Retail Pro was our first major purchase.
BHD: Did you do much comparison shopping before deciding on Retail Pro?
Barbara: We researched a number of POS systems, and while attending the Outdoor Retailer Show, we thought we had our minds made up. Then we walked into Big Hairy Dog’s booth and met Rob and Mic. We became convinced that they really believed in Retail Pro and would not only stand behind the system, but would work with us every step of the way to get our system up and running. Even though we were clear up in Montana, we had complete faith in their ability to support us.
BHD: What are the most useful features of Retail Pro for you?
Barbara: I like it all, but in particular, I like that we can print a Re-stock report every night along with an Out-of-Stock report. The reports help greatly with pre-season ordering, which is huge for us because of our compressed selling season. Having accurate data has proved essential in the success of our business. The reports show us how much we sold of particular items during the previous season, and when it sold out. We need to know our discount margins, and margin by vendor in order to see where we should be putting more of our purchasing dollars. We also love the accounting link, as it saves us so much time.
BHD: Why did you choose Big Hairy Dog as your Retail Pro service provider?
Barbara: Who can resist a company named after Molly, the Big Hairy Dog? Anyone who names their company after their dog must be good people. I’m sure glad I choose BHD, because I know other stores in town that made other choices, and are now regretting it. I am very happy with the service I get from Big Hairy Dog.