Hofstede’s Country Barn is a well-known local grocery store and eatery located in Chilliwack, British Columbia. Renowned for its fresh produce, local delicacies, and inviting atmosphere, Hofstede’s has been a community staple for decades. As a business committed to providing excellent customer service and quality products, Hofstede’s recognized the need to modernize its operations to keep up with evolving customer expectations and streamline its internal processes.

Challenge

As the popularity of Hofstede’s Country Barn grew, so did the complexity of managing its offerings, particularly in the eatery section. The traditional static menu boards made it difficult to keep pricing updated and accurately reflect stock levels. Manual updates were time-consuming and often led to inconsistencies, which could result in customer dissatisfaction. Additionally, the business faced challenges in quickly updating the menu to reflect out-of-stock items, leading to potential confusion and frustration among customers.

Solution

Hofstede’s Country Barn turned to SmarterSign to implement a modern, dynamic digital menu board solution integrated with the Square Point of Sale (POS) system. This integration offered a seamless connection between the inventory management in Square and the digital displays, ensuring that all menu information was always accurate and up-to-date.

Key features of the SmarterSign digital menu board implementation included:

• Real-Time Pricing Updates: With the Square POS integration, any changes made to pricing in the system were instantly reflected on the digital menu boards. This eliminated the need for manual updates and ensured customers were always presented with the correct prices.
• Automated Stock Management: The integration also allowed for real-time updates on stock availability. Items that were out of stock could be automatically removed or marked as unavailable on the digital menu boards, reducing customer frustration and enhancing the overall experience.
• Enhanced Visual Appeal: SmarterSign’s user-friendly interface made it easy for Hofstede’s team to design visually appealing menu boards that aligned with their brand. The digital boards not only conveyed accurate information but also added a modern touch to the store’s ambiance.

Results

The implementation of SmarterSign digital menu boards, integrated with the Square POS system, delivered significant benefits for Hofstede’s Country Barn:

• Improved Operational Efficiency: The automation of pricing and stock updates reduced the time and effort required to manage the menu boards, allowing staff to focus more on customer service and other critical tasks.
• Increased Customer Satisfaction: Customers appreciated the accuracy of the digital menus, particularly the real-time reflection of out-of-stock items. This led to a smoother ordering experience and fewer instances of disappointment when items were unavailable.
• Brand Modernization: The sleek and dynamic nature of the digital menu boards helped Hofstede’s enhance its brand image, appealing to a broader, more tech-savvy customer base while maintaining the store’s traditional charm.

It’s been a great experience helping Hofstede’s Country Barn integrate their Digital Menu Boards with their Square POS. The value created with this solution very quickly created value for them.

Gregg Zinn – CEO/SmarterSign