Ordering at House-Hasson market to be upgraded

House-Hasson Hardware is launching a new buying program at its upcoming Atlanta dealer market through which dealers can use hand-held electronic devices to order products straight from vendors on the market floor.

“With today’s technology we want dealers to have the option of electronic ordering, which eliminates paperwork and speeds products to their stores," said Don Hasson, House-Hasson president.

The House-Hasson Atlanta Dealer Market is scheduled Thursday, June 23, to Saturday, June 25, at Atlanta’s Cobb Galleria Center.

Beginning Friday of the market, House-Hasson dealers will be able to scan stock merchandise using CipherLab handheld units, about the size of a cell phone, said Mike Woolf, House-Hasson VP sales.

“Products -- including coupon and bonus buy items -- can be scanned using a bin or UPC code into the CipherLab and the order transmitted prior to dealers leaving the market,” Woolf said.

“CipherLabs are used by a great many House-Hasson dealers in their stores to order products,” Woolf added. “Most dealers transmit to us using a telephone or by downloading it into the House-Hasson Electronic Toolbox program.”

The sole previous method of market ordering was for House-Hasson to print a book of Bonus Buy items and coupons. A dealer sticker was put on a product order, along with the quantity, as the written order was made. That system also remains in use.

“Now, if the dealer chooses, CipherLab is there as well,” Woolf said. “Using a CipherLab is a time saver, and dealers will receive copies of their orders as they leave.

“Until now there wasn’t a reason for dealers to bring their CipherLabs to a market,” he said. “Our objective is to provide them the same convenience at the market that they have in their stores.”

Another Atlanta market shift from past practice is to open up Friday’s market session for Bonus Buy items, he said. Previously, Bonus Buy events were held on Saturdays.