Professional Category Management
PROCAT is an alternative service provider created to professionally manage the cigarette category for the chain retailers. It has been updated to use today's, advanced Internet technology, to manage the cost and stock levels of cigarettes at store level. The program is not limited to cigarettes and can be used as an inventory control program for any category.
PROCAT is a web-based business designed to simplify the process of ordering cigarettes. It is for those retailers that want to increase their sales, turns, and profitability and manage their cash flow and out of stocks.
PROCAT'S President, Jack Stull, has over 25 years in the Food Industry. Jack holds a BS of Food Marketing from St. Joseph's University. His experience includes grocery, drug, mass merchandisers and convenience store chain headquarters. In addition, he has spent 10 years in the distribution segment of the industry. In addition to his duties at Procat, he currently works as a consultant for Lehigh Marts, Inc., an Allentown based gasoline / convenience store and truck stop retailer.
PROCAT'S Vice President, Dave Copestick, has over 15 years experience as a software developer and programmer. Dave has developed the Cigarette Inventory Maintenance Program over the past 12 years and has refined many of the custom features at the request of the participating retailers.
The concept of Cigarette Category Management was first introduced back
in 1988. It was created on the request of many retailers, looking for
a resolution, to controlling costs and profitability of the cigarette
category.
Once the program was written it was put to a field test in 60 Exxon Corporate
stores in 1989. The program was a tremendous success. Then in 1991 the
computer codes were re-written, at the request of the retailers, to achieve
even better results. In 1992 it was installed in 35 RX Place Drug stores
and continued to roll out to other chain retailers. 1996 proved to be
the breakout year with the installation of the program at 150 Christy's,
a New England based convenience store operator.
The program was a success but in the year 2000, due to a buyout of the
parent company, the program was no longer made available.
CIGARETTE INVENTORY MANAGEMENT IS BACK!!
Jack and Dave, as partners, have acquired the rights to market the Cigarette
Inventory Maintenance Program. They are currently in the process of rolling
it out to chain retailers. Lehigh Marts, Inc. has implemented the program
into all of its convenience stores and truck stop locations and Shop Quik,
Wind Gap, PA., is in the process of rolling it out into their company-operated
stores
.
