Diane’s Lingerie

Diane’s Lingerie | Aralco Client since 1998

When Diane’s Lingerie came to Aralco in 1998, they knew they needed a software system to accommodate their rapid growth. This small, local store had grown by 50% in just a few years, quite a feat in the complex and ever-changing world of retail where trends come and go.

Since opening the store 15 years earlier, Diane’s Lingerie had been handwriting their bills – a practice that was impossible to maintain with their remarkable increase in sales.  Diane’s was also quick to realize that the retail world wouldn’t stand still.

“Retail has changed a lot with the introduction of the Internet,” says Lynda Barr, Operations Manager. “Customers often search for what they want online and compare prices, so it’s critical to stay on top of customers’ needs by making sure the right products are in stock, otherwise, they will go to a competitor.”

After shopping around and carefully considering their options, Diane’s Lingerie chose Aralco for several reasons:

-Aralco has an excellent track record.
-They offer individual attention that other companies do not.
-They could offer a system that suited Diane’s Lingerie’s inventory management needs, including a size grid.

Given the volume and variety of stock, this is essential for a lingerie store. For example, just one style of bra comes in several colours and sizes, which amounts to over 7,500 bras in-stock, and this is just one of the many items that Diane’s carries.

Results

Today, Diane’s Lingerie relies on Aralco. “It’s easy to work in your business, not on your business,” says Lynda. “Aralco helped us to look beyond our own borders to see our business in a different, more objective way.”

Diane’s Lingerie now has a system that allows them to keep up with their growth in sales and manage their stock so they always have the right items in store “Aralco has been a saving grace,” says Lynda.  “With inventory management in place, we can now focus on training our staff and serving our customers.  Aralco is the foundation of our business.”

Aralco’s software makes it easier for Diane’s Lingerie to deal with the varying nature of retail. Here are just a few of the benefits of the new inventory system:

• Everyone in the store can use the POS system because it is so user-friendly.
• Since customers’ buying behaviours change quickly, it is critical to have up-to-date sales history at your fingertips.  Aralco allows them to look at this information in a variety of ways.
• From the first day, they have experienced very little downtime. Being a 7 day a week operation, a reliable system is invaluable. “I’ve seen what happens when a system crashes in a store, it’s chaos. So having almost no downtime is fabulous,” says Lynda.
• It provides trending reports and trending sales, which assists with buying.

In addition, Aralco is responsive to their needs, being available to answer questions and taking the time to help staff understand the system. “Since Aralco is also local and accessible, we found that they really understood what we needed,” says Lynda.

About Diane’s Lingerie

Diane’s Lingerie is a local landmark, thriving since 1983 despite competition from larger lingerie chains.

Why are they so successful? It’s simple, they understand and cater to their niche market by offering their customers personal attention, expertise in fitting, and a wide range of lingerie for every size and shape. “We realize the intimate nature of lingerie,” explains Lynda. “We want women to leave Diane’s with exactly what they needed in terms of style and comfort.”