I was in the shop from morning till night, seven days a week. Today, I manage it from anywhere and enjoy a 12% increase in turnover. See how one decision to implement Click&Collect changed not only my business but my entire life.
Running a Polish shop in the UK is not a 9 to 5 job. It’s a lifestyle that consumes you entirely, at least that was the case for me. Before I implemented the system that changed everything, each of my days looked almost identical: waking up at dawn, deliveries, stocking shelves, handling the cash register, and after closing – paperwork, orders, and cleaning until late at night. This is a story about how technology not only increased my turnover by 12% but, more importantly, gave me my life back.
When I opened “Paczka Pals” in Manchester, I was full of enthusiasm. I wanted to create a place that would be a little piece of home for the local Polish community. I succeeded – customers loved the shop, and I adored the work. The problem was that the job loved me back too much. Over time, I became a “one-man band”: cashier, warehouseman, supplier, and accountant all in one. The phone rang constantly, even on Sunday evenings. “Boss, is there any mayonnaise?” or “We’re running out of milk, should I order more?” I lost track of how many family dinners I missed and how many times I promised my wife that “next week it will be quieter.” It never was.
The turning point came on my daughter’s birthday. Of course, I spent it in the shop because a big delivery was due. In the evening, when I returned home, I saw a piece of cake left on the table just for me. That’s when I realized that something had to change. My business was growing, but I, as a person, was shrinking. I was working harder, not smarter. I was tired, frustrated, and felt like I was losing control over my own life, and worse, over the shop as well. I knew I had to find a way to automate some tasks and delegate responsibilities, but I didn’t know how.
The idea of selling online had been on my mind for a long time, but I always postponed it. I was afraid of the costs, the complicated implementation, and that my employees wouldn’t cope. “Will my customers, often attached to traditional shopping, even benefit from this?” – I thought. A conversation with a consultant who showed me an integrated POS system with an e-commerce platform opened my eyes. It wasn’t just about an additional sales channel. It was about centralizing management, automatic inventory control, and simplifying processes. It was the promise of regaining control. I decided to take the risk.
I was afraid that implementing a new system would paralyze the shop for several days. Nothing could be further from the truth. The installation of hardware and software went smoothly. The biggest surprise was the simplicity of operation. After a short training session, my employees easily started managing online orders. The POS system automatically updated inventory levels after each sale – both in-store and online. The phone calls asking about product availability ceased. It was enough to look at the computer or tablet screen, even from home.
The first online orders came in the very next day. Initially, there were a few each day, but the number grew every week. Customers appreciated the convenience – they could shop on their way home from work and pick it up without waiting in line. After six months, the numbers were clear:
A similar success was achieved by a shop owner in Birmingham, who, thanks to the e-commerce system, started offering local deliveries. His turnover increased by almost 20%, and the shop became number one for young, busy Poles in the area who value convenience.
The numbers are important, but for me, the most important change was the quality of life. For the first time in years, I could go away for a weekend with my family without a hundred phone calls from the shop. In the evenings, instead of poring over paperwork, I could just relax. I gained a tool that gave me full insight into the business from anywhere. I could check daily revenues, stock levels, or the most popular products while lying on the couch with my laptop. It was an invaluable feeling. I stopped being a guard in my business and became its strategist. I started thinking about growth, introducing new products, and marketing – everything I previously didn’t have time for.
Investing in an integrated e-commerce system with Click&Collect was the best business decision I made. It wasn’t an expense; it was an investment in the future of the company and in my personal freedom. The key takeaways I want to share are simple:
If you feel that your shop is consuming all your energy and time, take a moment to pause. A busy trading period is approaching, followed by holidays. Maybe this is the perfect time to implement a system that will not only allow you to earn more but, above all, start living again.
