ShopTab is a popular eCommerce storefront application which allows for you to showcase all of your products on a branded page within Facebook. Users are able to view your company’s commerce page, search by keywords or price range and make purchases using your existing commerce site. Best of all, your sales are still being made and managed within EasyShop.

Brands such as Stanley Lewis, Kate Spade and HerRoom have all made their products more accessible to the world of FB and have opened the window of opportunity to increase profits, now it’s your turn! Forrester Research forecasts that by 2014, social media commerce will produce approximately $15 Billion in sales. Don’t miss out on increasing your company’s  presence and commerce sales, take advantage of the EasyShop and ShopTab integration today!

Current EasyShop Users

EasyShop has integration which will allow you to have a tab on your Facebook page that shows your EasyShop products.

In order to do this you will need to use the product feed from in the admin section and submit it.

Click here to learn how.

If you are not an EasyShop customer, contact us today and learn how AIMS can implement EasyShop into your marketing strategy and increase your businesses profits. Receive more information by click here.

You may also contact an AIMS Advisor directly at: 310-361-5710 or info@aims360.com.

Long gone are those days where a business within the apparel industry was profitable based just on the basic knowledge of fabrics, trims, design, etc.  To build a successful business in today’s apparel industry, it’s critical that companies also understand the importance of the business aspects and principles of the industry and costing.

Many fashion institution programs do not emphasize or give enough respectable time to the not so creative and exciting stuff such as costing, order taking, allocation, invoicing, logistics and accounting by using fashion business software referred to as “ERP”.
This leaves companies having to educate themselves about new business practices, delivery methods, social media and the latest and greatest technologies and devices on their own.

So what is ERP?   The term Enterprise Resource Planning was coined in the early 1990s. But today’s professionals and students in the apparel industry have no clue what that acronym really means or entails.  In a nutshell, ERP software is business software for manufacturing and production planning, which includes back-office functions such as order entry, production management, inventory control and financial management.

There are apparel software packages being offered nowadays that can help you manage your business better. Identifying an ERP apparel software not only requires pinpointing key functionality, it is also needed to find a one-stop packaged solution that is integrated, provides quick implementation, simple for anyone to use, does not require significant management, has easy educational training and most of all, cost effective for your business.

Companies should look for a software company that offers a customized solution to meet their business needs with high –level support and shouldn’t have to hire an entire battalion of IT specialists to make it run, managers to supervise them or to spend heaps of money on support.  An ideal software solution should be simple for anyone to use, allow you to easily create and manage business accounts, implement SKUs, styles, designs, take orders, create pick tickets and run invoicing.  Also, look for a solution that can easily integrate applications that will help your business run more efficiently such as an application that integrates for accounting and iPad apps that can showcase products, take orders, monitor sales, view order status, production and inventory figures all in real-time and from anywhere.

Keep in mind, when trying to select the appropriate apparel software you will also want to find a solution that offers continuous education or training to keep you and your staff up-to-date on the latest improvement and additions.

One of the key elements to running a smooth operation is learning how to use and manage an ERP system efficiently.   Before you decide to implement an apparel software it is imperative to start with an understanding of apparel principles and procedures.   You should have a good manual system and/or guidelines in place before you implement a successful software program.  Programs like Microsoft Office, Word, Excel, and Powerpoint, are good, basic, essential tools that should be learned.  Even a rudimentary understanding of General Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and bookkeeping will help to the success of an apparel company.  A good accounting program that business owners can learn to help manage their day-to day financial activities is QuickBooks.  As you learn the fundamentals and implement these processes into your daily business routine, you will get a better understanding of what kind of software system will work best you’re your company.

Many schools and fashion institutions throughout the west coast are teaching and certifying students to understand ERP software by using an Apparel Information Management System (AIMS).  And more and more companies are hiring them because of their AIMS knowledge. AIMS offers a complete training program for its clients as well as educational courses in many colleges and trade-schools for students interested in fashion apparel. But where do you find people who can implement and maintain an efficient system and help grow a company?

AIMS has been studying apparel companies for over 28 years, understanding business needs and has developed a one-stop solution with all the functionalities needed to give your business the cutting edge and being successful.  Along with fully customizable apparel ERP software, AIMS offers QuickBooks integration, e-commerce solutions and iPad apps to take orders, track sales and view analytics all on-the-go.  One of the leading and widely accepted ERP software companies for the apparel industry, AIMS is paving the way by training the next generation of leaders in entering the industry.

Always remember that owning and managing a brand is a business and if you don’t spend enough time on this side educating and implementing the right staff with the proper procedures, strategies and technology, you may not hit that profit you projected.

For more information about the AIMS apparel software or their education and training programs, please contact info@aims360.com  or call 310-361-5710 ext. 722.

You may also visit them on the Web at www.aims360.com.

From President Obama to Jessica Alba to Michael Kors, Pinterest is the latest rave to hit the social media scene.  With approximately 12 million visitors viewing and pinning their favorite fashion designers and collections, products, brands, etc., Pinterest is a marketing avenue to definitely get noticed in.

As part of our commitment to be the most advanced and up-to-date with technology, applications and social media , AIMS has implemented this new feature within AIMS EasyShop.

"Pin It" example using Pinterest

How to turn on Pinterest in Apparel EasyShop

It’s easy to activate.  Simply go to the “Admin” section within your Apparel EasyShop account and …

1. Go to “Settings”
2. Then “General
3. Click on the “Product Detail” tab
4. Check the box next to “Pinterest Button”
   And you are set!

More about Pinterest

What is Pinterest you ask?  In a nutshell, it’s a social media site based on a picture, a video, a discussion, or a product.  Each user has a pin board that they use to pin images of almost anything that interests them from all over the Web (think of it as an electronic version of the good old pins and a cork board!).  The pins can then all be grouped into “boards” which are a group of “pins” specific to a particular area of interest. Other users then can view, comment and pin that image again (making it go viral).  This is a great way to bring together people of same interests and allows them to interact with each other, create great discussions and ultimately sales.

To get started, you will need to add the “Pin It” button to your website (next to your images), so that when someone pins something on their Pinterest, a link will be created which is sent back to your business website.  When creating your website and adding images of products, try to add pin-worthy images (stylish, trendy, eye-catching images, etc.) to your company’s website so people will be encouraged to pin things of interest on your site.

If you are an AIMS EasyShop customer, then the Pinterest option is included in your account. Simply log into your account and activate it.  If you do not have AIMS EasyShop, you will just have to wait to be invited by someone before you can activate this social media on your website.  You may be waiting a while and definitely do not want to miss out on capturing potential customers!

Every company should have a Pinterest account and should share things related to their business. Pinterest does add a sense of validity and authority to a business’s reputation. If you are on Pinterest sharing pictures and information related to your niche, you are connecting more intimately with your potential and existing customers and also showcasing on your business knowledge of the industry you represent. Essentially, you are authenticating that you know what you talking about and that you are a genuine source of information. If people start to pin your items, you could see your website’s traffic and customer base increase dramatically. Good luck!

Don’t have AIMS Apparel EasyShop? Receive more information by clicking here.

Or you may contact our sales team directly at: 310-361-5710 or sales@aims360.com.

AIMS RemoteLink is the iPad app for fashion sales people on the go. Take orders at tradeshows, and send them to your back office and warehouse with a few touches. New orders can be taken, processed, and managed directly from your iPad.

Use your iPad camera to scan barcodes directly from your samples or LookBooks, without having to input style numbers manually. AIMS RemoteLink also displays your inventory so you can keep track of exactly how much stock you have available. You can even connect a credit card reader to your iPad and swipe customer credit card.

AIMS RemoteLink lets you take your entire showroom with you, make presentations, take orders, track inventory, and manage customer lists all entirely from your iPad.

NOTE: Requires AIMS Apparel Information Management System with AIMS RemoteLink add-on.

For more information about AIMS RemoteLink, please contact an AIMS Sales Advisor at sales@aims360.com or call 310-361-5710.

Keep track of your company performance at all times. AIMS Analytics connects to your office database to provide comprehensive information about your business and day-to-day operations.

Watch your sales, orders status, production, and inventory figures in real-time anywhere in the world. AIMS Analytics puts your finger on the pulse of your company at all times.

Create informative graphs, and charts in multiple time frames with one touch. AIMS Analytics lets you create instant reports based on your actual company performance figures, including shipping statistics, order statistics, customer comparisons, and style comparisons.  AIMS Analytics lets you take your business on the road, so you can keep track of company performance and day-to-day operations entirely from your iPad.

NOTE: Requires AIMS Apparel Information Management System with AIMS WebLink add-on. (Available for download from the App Store by end of January.)

For more information about AIMS Analytics, please contact an AIMS Sales Advisor at sales@aims360.com or call 310-361-5710.

• Analytics reports are now available for WebLink administration users. The report categories currently include shipped amounts, order statistics, customer comparison and style comparison.  The analytics reports will soon be a native app available on the App Store and provide a dashboard for executives to conveniently access on their iPad.

  

  Order Statistics Analytics Report

•  Users now have the ability to void or edit Web orders not yet imported into AIMS.

• A screen has been added for WebLink administrator logins.  Administrators can now manage login access for their AIMS users and allow them to have access to the new analytics reports.

AIMS RemoteLink™ for iPad

• Implemented new slide show functionality for collections and styles.  Users can now view style/color images using the slide show option.

• Implemented sorting and searching for both customer account and name.

 AIMS EasyShop™

• You can now break out colors on the search results. Just checkmark ‘break out colors in search results’ in the General Settings.  The break out colors will show the colors of the style as separate items on the list results page.

• Improved integration of tags & scripts. Several new keywords for data are availiable in the General Settings > Tags & Scripts.

AIMS WebLink™

• The invoice report for customers and sales reps, generated from the website, has been modified.  The report layout will now look the same as the report generated from AIMS.

• Added a more powerful editor, allowing users to create great-looking HTML emails and send them to customers directly from AIMS WebLink.

For full release notes, click here and login to review full details for each product.

Section 179 of the tax code allows business owners to deduct the cost of their business equipment (including new software) in a single tax year rather than a little at a time over multiple years.

Contact AIMS regarding softare purchase details - if you are renting AIMS, this might be a great time to upgrade to a purchase.  Then contact your CPA to be sure your business qualifies for this tax incentive.  Click here to visit the Section 179 deduction website.

How do I schedule AIMS training?    

I have a voucher for training.  How do I schedule live AIMS training with a voucher?   Training vouchers are valid to use for either a live training class or a video training class. Please note you may not use the same voucher for both, it’s one or the other. For live classes, you will need to enter your voucher number on the main registration screen, and enter it as your special discount code on the following payment screen.

Where are live AIMS training classes held?     Live training classes are held at our AIMS Training & Education Center, 110 E. 9^th St, Suite A1169, Los Angeles, CA  90079 (in the California Market Center building).  Or, if you are not able to be  at our downtown center, you can attend the training class live via GoToTraining.

We just added additional AIMS user licenses.  How can we get the new users trained?     Training for new users should be purchased directly on our website training page.  Go to www.aimstsi.com and click on the “Training & Events” button.  Select whether you prefer AIMS Live Classes or AIMS Video Classes and follow the directions.

If you have several new users to be trained (six or more), you may wish to request a group training session.  Click on the “Request Training Center Rental” button to fill out a request for group training.  Half-day and full-day training sessions are available.

I prefer live training.  What if I can’t come in to the AIMS training center?     If you prefer live classes and are not able to be at our downtown center, you can join  the training class live via GoToTraining. This is not a video class – this is a popular and convenient way for you to connect and attend the class live without having to be at the  training center.  You will need a computer with internet access and either a headset with mic (preferred) or telephone to connect to the audio portion.

I want to have live AIMS training not video training.  Why did I receive a “GoToTraining” invitation for my live class?     You will automatically receive a GoToTraining invitation to attend online.  However, you may choose to attend in person if you prefer.  Our live AIMS training classes are often a mix of trainees attending in person at our training center and attending online.

How do we schedule a group training session for our company?     If you would like to request a group training session for six or more company employees, please visit our training page on our website (www.aimstsi.com, then click on the Training & Events” button) and select the “Request Training Center Rental” button to fill out a request for group training. Half-day and full-day training sessions are available.

For the last three decades, AIMS has been the industry leader in designing and developing powerful, complete, state-of-the-art software solutions for manufacturers, wholesalers, and importers of apparel, accessories, footwear, home furnishings and other sewn goods.  AIMS’ success is based on creating technology solutions for clients that contribute to improving their efficiency and productivity.

“A Gold Web Development Competency differentiates us from the competition and establishes us as market leaders, further demonstrating our commitment to serving the needs of customers relying on Microsoft-based solutions,” said Shahin Kohan, COO. “We look forward to helping our customers be what’s next by continuing to focus our areas of technology expertise in response to today’s apparel
industry business needs.”

“The Microsoft Partner Network is designed to empower solution providers to succeed in today’s business environment. By achieving the prestigious Gold competency, participating companies are provided  with a rich set of benefits, including increased customer visibility through branding and accessibility, training and support,” said Jon Roskill, Corporate Vice President, Worldwide Partner Group at Microsoft Corp. “We are proud to put forth a program that provides the right resources to  help a company develop the expertise customers demand in today’s competitive market and also provides the community and infrastructure that can connect them to one another, lowering costs for all parties.”

The Microsoft Gold Competency signifies to the market that a company has demonstrated the highest level of skill and achievement within a given technology specialization. All 28 Microsoft competencies are designed to help differentiate a partner’s specific technology capabilities, helping customers find solution providers quickly and easily. Each competency has a unique set of requirements and benefits, formulated to accurately represent the specific skills and services that partners bring to the industry.

With the Microsoft Web Development competency, you can demonstrate your ability to deliver Web-enabled deployment solutions that help your customers operate their businesses more efficiently and conduct transactions more effectively.

The Microsoft Partner Network is designed to equip organizations that deliver products and services based on the Microsoft platform with the training, resources and support they need to provide their customers a superior experience and outcomes.