need advice on IT related things for a small thrift store/ Florist shop that I'm helping with getting started

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jordan8thepie1

56 posts

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#318994 11-Mar-2025 20:48

I'm helping with setting up the IT for a small charity thrift store/florist shop that will be opening soon.

the people running the charity shop are in the process of renovating the shop and are trying to do things a cheaply as possible. I'm giving them advice on what to do with the tech side as they are not tech savvy people.

I need recommendations for:

Eftpos terminal

POS Terminal

Networking/cabling, Router and Wi-Fi.

Phone lines. They want 2 separate phone lines one for the charity store and one for the florist shop. They wanted 2 separate phones. I'm thinking of going VoIP and combining the two lines into a single phone or having two phones with both lines on them? I don't see them making lots of calls out so something cheap that uses VoIP?

They also want to play background music in the shop. so looking for providers that do that sort of thing. I'm recommendations for speakers/playback devices too.

I've suggested they install CCTV. Probably need 4-8 Cameras max and a NVR. has anyone got and recommendation of brands. They will want remote viewing.

The premises has fibre but the ONT seems to be installed at the front of the shop near the entrance. They are looking at having the counter towards the back. so would it be best to get it moved or run a cable from the ONT to the counter at the back.

Burglar alarm will need replacing as it's an old Bosch that beeps every 30 seconds or so and requires a copper telephone line for monitoring. No one knows the code for it either and battery is definitely dead.

If there is anything that I've missed and what are your suggestions?

Dynamic

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#3352843 11-Mar-2025 21:10

Suggestions for a small portion of the task:

Arrange for a fibre broadband connection and ask the chosen broadband company to arrange to have the ONT relocated. (You can also leave it where it is, and run an ethernet cable from the ONT to where you want the Wi-Fi router located.)
Have the fibre broadband company set up two phone lines for you. Connect 2x inexpensive cordless phones to the phone connection on the ONT or on the broadband company's router (one cordless phone for each line). Consider using two different models of cordless phone so the phones and bases don't get mixed up.
If they want an A4 printer, go with an inexpensive Brother mono laser printer with an ethernet connection so it gets plugged into the router. Wi-Fi printing is not reliable. Avoid a model with a scanner unless absolutely necessary as scanning issues cause tech support calls. (A modern mobile phone can be used to 'scan to pdf and email it'.)
Playing music in a shop involves license fees. Look this up. An old mobile phone with a mid-range bluetooth speaker can do a great job.
POS terminal.... if you can use cloud-based POS software that has an app, a tablet like an iPad is relatively inexpensive and reliable. Fewer things to go wrong than a PC. The tablet can also send music to the bluetooth speaker. There are secure mounting options for a tablet to prevent it being stolen.

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jordan8thepie1

56 posts

Master Geek

#3352855 11-Mar-2025 21:37

I had let them know previously that there are license fees for playing music.

I Will see if we can get the ISP to move the ONT. It's in a bad spot which is very open and a customer could easily turn switch it off being at the front of the store in an open area.

Will recommend them a mono laser brother printer. I'm not sure if they need scanning will check.

I assume that streaming services like Spotify/You tube are out of the question for music as i see that their terms of service don't allow commercial use.

I've just looked at Soundtrack your brand https://www.soundtrackyourbrand.com/ which seems pretty good at $44 and works with Windows, IOS, Android and hardware streaming devices like Sonos and Wiim.

https://www.soundtrackyourbrand.com/apps-and-hardware/

xpd

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#3352936 12-Mar-2025 06:53

You WILL need a licensed music provider. I help a friend in a similar situation, and they just had Spotify playing until an inspector turned up and advised they cant do that.

They ended up signing up with an overseas music provider (wanted particular style of music not readily available via NZ providers) which was fine.

Gavin / xpd / FastRaccoon / Geek of Coastguard New Zealand

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wellygary

8312 posts

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#3352971 12-Mar-2025 09:08

jordan8thepie1:

I Will see if we can get the ISP to move the ONT. It's in a bad spot which is very open and a customer could easily turn switch it off being at the front of the store in an open area.

There will be a cost to move the ONT and given its a business not a residence its likely to be higher than the $300+GST homes get slugged

Given this place sounds like it running pretty lean I would seriously not bother about shifting the ONT, customers don't care and won't even notice it.... Just run a long Ethernet cable to the back of the Shop.

If you are really worried about customer tampering, put a cheap box around it it, drill some vent holes in it and paint it the colour of the wall...

I've seen plenty of ONTs by the door in shops around town,

gehenna

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#3353100 12-Mar-2025 12:51

It's going to be more expensive over time for them to do things on a shoestring budget. In my experience it's cheaper to engage a reliable company at the outset. It might not feel cheaper today, but it will in 12 months when all the gotchas that pop up over the next year are tallied are tactically resolved, when they could have been known and planned for at the start.