Your weekly dose of innovation, inspiration, and insights.

Welcome to This Week’s coreWEEKLY!

With Black Friday just around the corner, we’re continuing to focus on helping you make the most of the biggest shopping event of the year. This week’s edition is packed with resources, insights, and tools to help you turn opportunities into results this holiday season!

We kick things off with our latest blog, Black Friday Part Two: Turning Opportunity into Results for the Holiday Shopping Season. This follow-up dives deeper into strategies and ideas to help you capitalize on the busy shopping season and set yourself up for long-term success.

From the Help Desk, we’re sharing two timely articles to help you prep: coreFORCE Basics: Setting Up Holiday Promotions and coreSTORE: Holiday Sales - Establishing Holiday Pricing. These guides will ensure your systems are optimized for Black Friday sales.

In this week’s Compliance COREner, Tony and Joel discuss critical aspects of the Form 4473. If you’re a firearms retailer, this is a must-watch to stay informed and ensure compliance during the busy season.

We also encourage you to check out the replay of Black Friday Boot Camp Part Two. Don’t forget to have Webby, our smart webinar companion, open while you watch. Webby can answer your questions in real-time, making your learning experience even more effective.

Next, we’re excited to share a new course: Master Black Friday Sales. This exclusive coreSTORE course provides a treasure trove of resources, articles, and step-by-step instructions to help you set up sales and promotions with ease.

We’re also introducing five fresh fraud prevention tips to help you stay vigilant during this high-risk season. Fraud tends to rise during the holidays, and we want you to stay one step ahead.

Finally, don’t forget to visit the coreARCHIVE, where you can revisit past editions of coreWEEKLY for more insights and tools to help your business thrive.

Here’s to a successful and secure holiday season!

Cheers,

The Coreware Team

Latest From The Blog

Black Friday Part Two: Turning Opportunity into Results for the Holiday Shopping Season

In our last article, we explored why Black Friday is often called the "Super Bowl of sales" for retailers, showcasing its power to shape the holiday season. From its tumultuous beginnings in Philadelphia to its evolution into a retail cornerstone, we unpacked its history and shared actionable strategies like early access deals, product bundling, and building momentum that carries through the holiday season.

Now, it’s time to dive deeper. This article focuses on what Black Friday means for retailers in terms of numbers, how to leverage tools like coreSTORE and coreFORCE, and creative strategies that can elevate your sales approach. We’ll also explore how memorable in-store experiences, data-driven decisions, and AI-powered solutions can make your store the holiday destination of choice. By the end, you’ll have the confidence and creativity to tackle Black Friday like a pro.

From The Help Desk

coreFORCE Basic - Promotions: Setting up Holiday Promotions

As the holidays draw near, it’s an ideal time to revisit your holiday markup strategies! In this article, we’ll cover how to offer promotional codes or coupons to your customers and how to adjust your pricing markup for the season.

Please Note that setting up a pricing structure is optional and not usually used in s short term promotion as you will have to inactivate the pricing structure once the promotion has ended.

1. Setting up a Promotion code

We'll start here with establishing a promotion code in which customers can input at checkout

coreSTORE - Holiday Sale Establishing Holiday Pricing

In this guide, we will cover how to set up a simple discount sale of 10% off for a specified category during Black Friday. This setup is useful if you wish to pre-establish your sales before the holiday season

1. Click on Inventory

Navigate to the Inventory menu.

Compliance COREner

Mastering Multiple Orders: Episode 12 of Compliance COREner

In the latest Compliance COREner episode, we’re tackling a common challenge: handling multiple firearm orders on a single 4473. Learn how to merge transfers, layaways, and new purchases into one seamless transaction while staying compliant.

Tony breaks it all down with practical tips and insights to make this process smoother for you and your team.

Catch the Replay: Black Friday Bootcamp Part 2 – Transform Your Sales Strategy!

Missed our live session or want a refresher? The replay of our Black Friday Bootcamp Part 2 is now available! Dive into essential strategies that will set your sales soaring this Black Friday. From mastering inventory management to converting browsers into loyal customers, we've covered it all. Don't let another day pass without boosting your holiday sales plan. Watch the replay now and ensure your store is the one with long lines and sold-out signs this season!

Webinar Recaps:
Watch with Webby by Your Side!

Missed our latest webinar? No worries! Now you can watch the recap whenever it fits your schedule. But here’s the game-changer—meet Webby, your perfect webinar companion. As you watch, Webby is right there with you, ready to answer any questions or provide extra insights on the spot. It’s like having an expert by your side the entire time. Ready to dive in with Webby? Click below to start watching and chatting!

Master Black Friday Sales: Exclusive coreSTORE Course Now Live!

Ready to conquer the busiest shopping day of the year? Enroll in our comprehensive "Black Friday Bootcamp with coreSTORE" course, now available on CoreU. This detailed course provides step-by-step guidance on leveraging coreSTORE to maximize your holiday sales, manage inventory efficiently, and outperform your competition. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to boost your Black Friday strategy. Access the course now and start your journey to retail excellence!

Here are 5 fresh tips to help you protect against fraud this holiday shopping season:

Fraud prevention doesn’t have to rely solely on external tools or third-party solutions. As an independent retailer, you can take proactive steps in-house to safeguard your business and protect your customers from fraud this holiday season. Here are some innovative strategies you can implement on your own to stay ahead of potential threats:

1. Create a Staff “Fraud Awareness” Training Program

Fraudsters often target businesses where employees are less equipped to recognize red flags. A simple, in-house training session can make all the difference.

What to Train On:

• Spotting unusual customer behavior, such as hesitations when answering basic questions about payment or identity.

• Recognizing altered or forged documents, such as mismatched names on IDs and credit cards.

• Taking appropriate steps if fraud is suspected, like calmly verifying customer information without confrontation.

By empowering your team to recognize and act on suspicious behavior, you’ll fortify your first line of defense.

2. Implement a “Two-Person Verification” Policy for High-Value Transactions

To minimize the risk of large-scale fraud, establish an internal policy requiring two employees to verify any high-value or unusual transactions.

How It Works:

• One team member processes the transaction while another independently reviews the details for consistency (e.g., matching billing and shipping addresses, ID verification).

• This approach reduces errors and ensures proper due diligence for expensive purchases.

Adding this extra step builds accountability and strengthens your fraud prevention process.

3. Conduct Daily Cash and Inventory Reconciliations

Fraud isn’t always external—it can sometimes originate from within your own team. Regularly reconciling your cash drawer and inventory ensures discrepancies are identified early.

Best Practices:

• Count cash drawers at the start and end of every shift.

• Use a log to track who had access to the drawer or inventory during each shift.

• For firearms retailers, cross-check serial numbers in inventory to confirm everything is accounted for.

Frequent monitoring creates a robust system that deters both internal and external fraud attempts.

By staying proactive and implementing these fraud prevention strategies, retailers can minimize risks while focusing on providing a seamless shopping experience for their customers this holiday season.