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In the heart of Wells, Minnesota, Wells Marketplace is a testament to how independent grocers can blend community values with technology from LOC Software.
For more than 30 years, this hometown grocery store has been more than just a place to buy food – it’s been a cornerstone of the community, demonstrating that small-town retailers can innovate and thrive in today’s competitive marketplace.
The store’s recent implementation of electronic shelf labels (ESLs) in partnership with the North Country and LOC Software team is a significant step forward in its commitment to operational excellence.
“These tags are the best thing since front-end scanners,” shared Bruce Mandler, owner of Wells Marketplace, highlighting the transformative impact this technology has had on its operations.
Investing in ESLs came after carefully considering several factors affecting modern grocery retail. “We were spending a considerable amount on labor hanging and taking down Ad Signs and TPR Signs weekly, along with price changes,” Mandler explains. In an era where temporary price reductions (TPRs) are more frequent than ever and labor markets remain tight, efficiency has become paramount.
The ESL four-color options attracted Mandler’s attention, since they enable better visual merchandising opportunities. “It is now easier to highlight our Ad and TPR pricing on the tags,” he notes. This feature improves the shopping experience and ensures pricing accuracy across the store.
The transition to digital price tags has yielded multiple benefits. Staff members who previously spent hours changing paper tags can now focus on customer service and other value-adding activities. Thanks to the integration of Zebra TC 52 devices with the ESL system, e-commerce order fulfillment has become more streamlined. While the implementation wasn’t without its challenges – particularly in configuring the front-end system to display information as desired—the North Country team provided crucial support to overcome these initial hurdles.
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The results speak for themselves. “Things are going great with the tags,” Mandler shared. “I can’t imagine going back to paper tags in the aisles. They have such a clean look and are so easy to work with.” The Monday morning routine has been transformed; staff now arrive to find all weekly advertisements and TPR signs automatically updated and ready for business.
Wells Marketplace’s success with ESL is built on a strong technological foundation, particularly its partnership with North Country and LOC Software, which dates to the early 2000s. This long-standing relationship proved crucial in seamlessly implementing the electronic shelf labels. LOC Software serves as the backbone of the operation, enabling the Wells team to update the ESLs accurately with minimal staff intervention. The software’s customizable fields are directly tied to the labels, ensuring precise pricing and product information across the store.
Beyond ESL integration, LOC Software provides Wells Marketplace with an all-encompassing retail management system that optimizes almost every aspect of store operations. The LOC Suite offers robust inventory control, front-end checkout solutions and customer loyalty program management, ensuring that Wells Marketplace can operate efficiently while maintaining its small-town charm.
“We rely on LOC Software daily for much more than just pricing updates,” Mandler explains. “It helps us manage our inventory, streamline checkout processes, and even run promotions that keep our customers engaged.” The system’s ability to track sales data in real-time allows the store to make informed decisions on stock levels, ensuring that shelves remain stocked with the right products without overcommitting on inventory.
One of the key advantages of the LOC Software ecosystem is its seamless integration between various store functions. Whether it’s receiving direct store delivery (DSD) shipments, monitoring supplier costs or handling promotional pricing, Wells Marketplace benefits from a unified system that ties everything together.
The combination of LOC’s full-service software capabilities and two decades of experience, along with the expertise of the North Country team, was pivotal to the successful launch of this project. This robust integration creates a seamless flow of information from the back office to the shelf edge, maximizing in-store operations’ accuracy and efficiency.
Moreover, LOC Software’s advanced reporting and analytics tools provide Wells Marketplace with valuable insights into sales trends, customer behavior, and operational efficiencies. With detailed reports at their fingertips, store managers can better forecast demand, reduce shrink, and tailor promotions to meet customer needs.
Working alongside North Country and LOC Software is the ability to scale technology solutions as needed. As Wells Marketplace continues to grow, LOC’s flexible platform allows for the adoption of new features and enhancements. This ensures that the store remains at the forefront of retail innovation without the need for disruptive overhauls.
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However, Wells Marketplace’s embrace of technology hasn’t come at the expense of its community focus. The store remains dedicated to giving back to the community it’s served for over two decades, maintaining strong support for the local food shelf and other community initiatives. This balance of innovation and community involvement demonstrates that independent grocers can successfully navigate the modern retail landscape while maintaining their local identity.
The Wells Marketplace story inspires other independent grocers who might be hesitant about investing in new technology. It shows that technological advancement isn’t just for big-box retailers; it’s a viable and necessary path forward for independent stores looking to remain competitive and efficient in today’s market.
As labor costs continue to rise and customer expectations evolve, Wells Marketplace’s successful integration of modern retail technology while maintaining its community-focused approach offers a blueprint for other independent grocers. Their experience proves that independent grocery stores can survive and thrive in the modern retail landscape with the right technology partners and a clear vision.
The future of grocery retail may be digital, but as Wells Marketplace demonstrates, it doesn’t have to come at the cost of personal service and community connection. Instead, technology can enhance these fundamental aspects of independent grocery retail, creating a shopping experience that combines the best of both worlds—modern convenience with small-town service.
Combining technology with trusted partnerships, Wells Marketplace has positioned itself as a leader among independent grocers embracing technology. Their success story proves that with the right tools, even small retailers can implement cutting-edge solutions to enhance efficiency, improve customer service and drive long-term growth. The journey of Wells Marketplace highlights how technology, when used strategically, can be a powerful ally in shaping the future of independent grocery retail.
To learn more about Wells Marketplace, visit wellsmarketplace.com.
To learn more about LOC Software, visit locsoftware.com.
Brought to you by Rene Stai of LOC Software
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