Abstract:
A method of retail shopping includes the step of assigning an establishment specific shopper profile to each customer and digitally expressing the same as an intranet access means which may be electronically encrypted into the shopper&#39;s store charge card. In the retail establishment, the method includes the step of selecting a product search mode from the product search mode possibilities consisting of physically looking at a product display and touching it, observing a static, dynamic, or other pre-defined electronic image or series thereof including store department-specific images, or proceeding to an intelligent shopping station (ISS) comprising the establishment intranet and accessing the intranet with the intranet access means. If the ISS is employed by the shopper, a graphical user interface (GUI) is activated. The customer may access product specific information within searchable databases of the ISS selected from suggestion categories consisting of product information, frequently asked questions about a consumer-indicated product, alternatives to the indicated product, coordinates suitable therewith, and combinations thereof. The step of accessing suggestion categories includes the step of sorting each category in accordance with one or more criteria including geographical region, season, age of shopper, other personal data profile of the shopper, price range of interest, current discounts, random, and priorities of management. Some of such sorting may be more readily accomplished by the intranet access means if the shopper or establishment has included category-specific information within the shopper&#39;s electronic profile.

Description:
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]    This case is a non-provisional, utility application conversion of Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/183,163, filed Feb. 17, 2000, and No. 60/201,799, filed Jun. 12, 2000. The benefit thereof under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) is claimed and the subject matter thereof incorporated by reference into this application. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    The present system provides a novel link between hands-on retailing and home catalog/Internet/home TV shopping in which many of the benefits of such forms of home shopping are integrated into a sales floor environment within a retail establishment.  
           [0003]    The instant invention thereby addresses a long-felt need on the part of retail establishments to respond to increasing competition from the above noted forms of e-tailing and home shopping and, as well, to integrate the advantages to both consumer and retailer of store-site shopping with the advantages of on-line and other forms of home shopping to thus inform, educate, expedite sales, and deliver products in a depth and range not heretofore possible.  
           [0004]    The invention derives from a realization that the contemporary consumer has less time to shop, demands better service, and has reduced tolerance for low inventory with respect to issues of size, color and assortment. See Block A of FIG. 1. Conversely, the present invention responds to needs of traditional retailers in presenting new product ideas and emerging trends as effectively as on-line businesses, in efficiently relating product enhancements and accessories to individual product sales, in providing efficient delivery of goods, and by enabling the potential of group purchases and group promotions. See Block B of FIG. 1. The present system and method, commercially known as TOTALSHOP, may therefore be considered as a bridge between hands-on retailing and home catalog/internet shopping. Therein, its purpose is to inform, educate, expedite sales, and deliver products in a depth and variety not heretofore possible. Resultant thereof (see Block A 1  of FIG. 1) the consumer may be provided with unlimited inventory, colors and assortment; may be educated with instant product information; may be provided with a tactile and real shopping experience; and may be provided with the benefit of speed and delivery associated with internet and catalog shopping. Concurrently (see Block B 1  of FIG. 1), retailers obtain a vehicle with visionary imagination to new and prospective products, are transformed from a warehouse mentality into a diverse world of product ideas that can be constantly modified and updated, and are provided with the benefits and scope of internet shopping without loss of the tradition and intimacy of hands-on shopping.  
           [0005]    The prior art as best known to the within inventor is reflected in U.S. Pat. No. 5,434,394 (1955) to Roach, et al, entitled Automated Order and Delivery System and U.S. Pat. No. 5,970,493 (1999) to Gerszberg, et al, entitled Video Communications Device Providing In-Home Catalog Services. The system of Roach teaches integration of the order and delivery of retail merchandise, which includes an automated system for combining point of sale and warehouse processing functions in the selection, order, and delivery of merchandise. The system of Roach is particularly applicable in integrated point of sale and warehouse facilities such as hard good megastores of the type of Brandsmart and Circuit City where, because of the size, quantity, and value of the merchandise, only a limited amount of such merchandise is available for display in the retail area. Accordingly, in such facilities, a need has arisen to establish an information-based flow of activity which satisfies both the customer shopping experience and the requirement of the retailer to allow a suitable warehouse processing function while enabling efficient merchandise selection and delivery thereof either at a pick-up location within the warehouse facility or through accomplishment of a warehouse originated delivery of the purchased items. The present invention attempts to apply certain concepts of Roach, to general merchandise stores, selling primarily soft goods and in a much greater number and variety than is contemplated in systems of the type of Roach above.  
           [0006]    The above reference to Gerszberg relates to an earlier generation of e-tailing which, essentially, constitutes a communication system for enabling catalog-related sales and services, the same including display means, input means for receiving on-line customer orders, auto processing means, and a centralized database service corresponding in content to that of an in-home catalog accessible by the e-commerce customer from his personal computer. In other words, Gertzberg relates to early forms of Internet use for purposes of e-commerce.  
           [0007]    Also of interest to the instant invention is U.S. Pat. No. 5,047,614 (1991) to Bianco, entitled Method and Apparatus for Computer Aided Shopping. Bianco teaches the use of a portable bar code scanner having an electronic memory. Through the use of such a bar code scanner, a customer may scan into the memory of the portable device one or more bar codes from bar code tags or labels within a store for purposes of later use of this information as part of a larger computer-aided shopping system.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0008]    The within invention relates to a method of retail shopping including an establishment-specific intranet. This method includes the step of assigning an establishment specific shopper profile to each customer and digitally expressing the same as an intranet access means which may be electronically encrypted into the shopper&#39;s store charge card. In the retail establishment, the method includes the step of selecting a product search mode from the product search mode possibilities consisting of physically looking at a product display and touching it, observing a static, dynamic, or other pre-defined electronic image or series thereof including store department-specific images, or proceeding to an intelligent shopping station (ISS) comprising said establishment intranet and accessing said intranet with said intranet access means. If the ISS is employed by the shopper, a graphical user interface (GUI) is activated. Thereat, the customer may access product specific information within searchable databases of said ISS selected from suggestion categories consisting of product information, frequently asked questions about a consumer-indicated product, alternatives to the indicated product, coordinates suitable therewith, and combinations thereof. The step of accessing suggestion categories includes the step of sorting each category in accordance with one or more criteria including geographical region, season, age of shopper, other personal data profile of the shopper, price range of interest, current discounts, random, and priorities of management. Some of such sorting may be more readily accomplished by said intranet access means if the shopper or establishment has included category-specific information within the shopper&#39;s electronic profile.  
           [0009]    The invention also relates to a cash register or cashwrap system inclusive of a customer assistance intranet. The cashwrap portion thereof, also termed said ISS includes computer means for the display and reading of information from a digitally or optically readable tag. Also, information may be inputted into the workstation from a computer mouse or keyboard associated therewith. In one embodiment, the workstation includes dual user monitors or screens, one for the customer and the other for a sales assistance. Upon each screen initially appears said GUI. Such workstation is situated upon the sales floor of a department store or other retail establishment.  
           [0010]    In one mode of operation, the system requires a digitally or optically readable tag associated with a unit of merchandise of potential interest to the customer, the tag including thereupon information sufficient to identify such merchandise with which the tag is associated. As above noted, the system also includes databases accessible from either said GUI or by digitally scanning said tag into the workstation. One database is organized relative to quantity, sizes, and colors of the item of the scanned tag. Another database includes visual suggestions regarding coordinating merchandise, such as accessories, and possible alternative merchandise, as developed from a customer profile database. The system further includes program means, in digital communication with said work station, for processing payment and effecting direct customer delivery from a remote location of merchandise not in stock at the local establishment to any address designated by a customer at a time of purchase or to an address already resident within the customer profile database.  
           [0011]    It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide to traditional retailers a sales floor environment including many of the benefits of forms of home shopping inclusive of Internet, home TV shopping channels and home catalog.  
           [0012]    It is another object to provide a means to respond to the long-felt need of retail establishments to increasing competition from the above noted forms of e-tailing.  
           [0013]    It is a further object of the invention to provide a system to enable retailers to respond to new product ideas and emerging trends as effectively as on-line businesses.  
           [0014]    It is a still further object to provide a cash register/intelligent shopping station of the above type to provide to the customer reduced shopping time, superior service, and access to a wider variety or size, color, quantity, and coordinates than is available in existing retail establishments.  
           [0015]    It is a yet further object to provide a system of the above type in which suggestions to the consumer of size, color, style, and price range are provided within the context of a database of personal profiles of membership/store credit card holders of the particular establishment.  
           [0016]    It is a still further object of the invention to provide a system of the above type in which visual suggestions relative to alternatives, coordinates, region, season, age, price, and style are available to the consumer, either with or without intervention of a sales assistant, thereby enabling retail establishments to respond to a range of interest and to provide a degree of personalization comparable to that of Internet e-commerce sites.  
           [0017]    The above and yet other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the hereinafter set forth Brief Description of the Drawings and Detailed Description of the Invention set forth herein.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0018]    [0018]FIG. 1 is a diagram setting forth consumer/retailer needs to which the instant invention is responsive, as well as the benefits of the invention to both consumer and retailer.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional conceptual view of a dual screen cash register of an interactive shopping station in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 3 is a top schematic view of one embodiment of an interactive shopping location.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 4 shows a first embodiment of a standalone interactive customer station having keyboard and store credit card scanning capability.  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 5 shows another embodiment of a standalone customer station in which an optical code scanning and mouse input capability have been added thereto.  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 6 is a schematic systems diagram of the present invention.  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 7 is a decision tree diagram showing possible steps and options of a customer using the interactive shopping system.  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 7A is a flow diagram of the inventive method.  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 7B is a diagram of a data object model of a database structure applicable to the intranet aspect and usable with Steps E 1  to E 6  of FIGS. 7 and 7A.  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 8 is a diagram providing an overview of the manner of use of the system by corporate management and the manner of communication of information from management, to operating divisions, to retail locations, and to the customer.  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 9 comprises a written and graphical summary of the present system.  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 10 sets forth typical displays provided by the present system, and includes a customer template applicable to apparel coordinating options.  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 11 illustrates a zoom capability of the display of FIG. 10 in which one of the product concepts thereof has been enhanced while permitting the user to see the other product or coordination options relative to the same merchandise area.  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 12 is a visual presentation option within the present system in which a department of a retail establishment appears as a template, and in which selected areas or subjects thereof, may be visually enhanced to, optionally, feed into screen displays of the type of FIGS. 10 and 11.  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 12A is a flow chart summarizing the functions of the screens of FIGS.  9  to  12  above, reflective to the flow chart of FIG. 7A.  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 13 is an illustration of physical display of merchandise items within a retail store in which the store is substantially configured for purposes of merchandise display, as opposed to purposes of merchandise inventory, thereby maximizing the types and styles of merchandise items for which retail floor space may be utilized.  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 14 is an illustration showing the use of high-resolution LED screens to display merchandise and TOTALSHOP user screens upon walls of the retail establishment.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0035]    With reference to the conceptual view of FIG. 2, there is shown the use of a dual screen, dual input interactive shopping station which, as well, functions as a cashwrap or cash register location  18  within the concept of the TOTALSHOP facility set forth herein. For purposes of the present description, the TOTALSHOP customer assistance person is referred to as the Cruise Director. Accordingly, in FIG. 2 is shown Cruise Director data input means  10 , a Cruise Director screen  12 , a customer screen  14 , and customer data input means  16 .  
         [0036]    In FIG. 3 is shown one form that interactive TOTAL SHOP station or cash register/cashwrap may take in the context of the present invention. Therein, an interactive shopping station  18  may be positioned within a kiosk  20 , which may employ any of a number of forms, not limited to the annular geometry shown in FIG. 3. For example, a semi-circular or linear geometry may prove entirely functional as kiosk  20 . However, regardless of geometry, the interactive shopping station, in the embodiment of FIGS. 2 and 3, contemplates that a customer  22  is located opposite one side of the cashwrap location  18  while Cruise Director  24  is located at the opposite side thereof.  
         [0037]    Alternate embodiments of an interactive shopping station within the contemplation of the present invention are shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. More particularly, shown is a standalone TOTALSHOP station  26 . Its operation requires only a membership or store credit card, either of which would preferably include a digital customer profile, which is inserted into slot  28 . Accordingly, at the standalone station  26  of the type shown in FIG. 4, the customer is able to obtain a variety of generalized information, as is more fully described below, about merchandise of potential interest available from the particular retail establishment.  
         [0038]    In FIG. 5 is shown a more fully equipped standalone shopping station  32  which includes a bar code reader  34  and a mouse  36 . The embodiments of FIGS. 4 and 5 are particularly applicable to customers who have become familiar with the TOTALSHOP system and do not, as that time, require the assistance of the Cruise Director. It is contemplated that standalone units of the types of FIGS. 4 and 5 may be more department-specific than the dual screen embodiments of FIGS. 2 and 3.  
         [0039]    In FIG. 6 is shown a system overview of the interactive shopping station with customer-assisting intranet. Therein, the shopping station  18 / 32  includes said membership or store card reader  28  and said bar code tag reader  34  or a digital equivalent thereof. Further, a mouse and/or keyboard  10 / 16 / 30  is provided. However, regardless of the input means, there is provided a graphical user interface (GUI)  37  from which a variety of products display  38  (more fully described below) may be effectuated. Such displays will typically come from database  40  which provides access to a variety of product information and options. There is also provided an external inventory database  42 , which typically is accessible only by the Cruise Director through link  44 . Accordingly, through the external inventory database  42 , the Cruise Director can determine nationwide availability of given products relative to size, color and quantity thereof.  
         [0040]    Block  46 , as a further part of the intranet aspect of the invention, provides for payment processing, product shipping, and the acquisition of customer information for purposes of addition to a personal profile of each customer.  
         [0041]    Shown at block  48  is an external log-on capability of the system, this for the benefit of customers who wish to research a particular subject or product in the comfort of their home or office, or thru wireless online means, prior to, or even while, visiting the retail establishment, or to place an order while online, thereby providing direct competition to e-tailers.  
         [0042]    With reference to FIG. 7, there is shown a decision tree diagram of the various steps and options which occur in the TOTALSHOP system. More particularly, Column A of the flow diagram of FIG. 7 indicates the customer entering the store. After such entrance, the customer will typically have three Column B options, namely, Option B 1  in which the customer looks at the physical product, Option B 2  in which the customer observes a large high resolution LED display or video of the product (described more fully with reference to FIG. 14 below) and Option B 3  in which the customer goes directly to an interactive shopping station (ISS)  18  or  32 .  
         [0043]    Continuing to Column C of the decision tree diagram, if the customer has selected Option B 1 , two possibilities then ensue, namely, Option C 1  in which the customer leaves the store (for whatever reason) and Option C 2  in which the customer takes the bar code tag to an interactive shopping station. Further shown in column C are the options which follow from B 2  which, as may be noted, are substantially identical to those which follow Option B 1 . In either case, the customer will, in all likelihood, not have the physical product in hand but, rather, will simply hold a bar code tag or a bar code card created in accordance with scanning technology of the type of U.S. Pat. No. 5,047,614 to Bianco, referenced above in the Background of the Invention.  
         [0044]    Option C 5  in Column C of the flow diagram corresponds to a shopper who is not certain of what he or she wants. Thereby Option C 5  will follow Option B 3 , except where the shopper enters the store knowing exactly what he wants, in which case, Step D 1  (see below) would follow Option B 3 .  
         [0045]    Moving forward to Column D of the flow diagram, from Option C 2  or C 4 , the shopper proceeds to Step D 1 . This corresponds to the common retail store situation in which a customer has identified a product of interest but is unable to find that product in the exact size, color, or quantity desired. In this scenario, the customer scans the bar code tag or inputs digitally equivalent data, whereupon information regarding product availability with respect to various sizes, colors, and quantity will appear upon product display screen  38 . This information is drawn from databases  40  and  42 . Therefrom, the customer is able to indicate, using the keyboard, mouse, or touch screen capability of the GUI  37 . The exact size, color(s) and quantity desired of the product for which the bar code tag has been inputted. This will result in accomplishment of an on-line order (E 1  of Column E) as well as payment processing at E 2  of the flow diagram.  
         [0046]    However, after a customer has completed such an on-line order and payment, one may then employ link  50  (see Column D of FIG. 7) to connect to the GUI  37  to obtain information with respect to other products, this in a fashion below-referenced with respect to Options D 2  and D 3  of system. More particularly, in Options D 2  and D 3 , the customer many “navigate” either with (D 2 ) or without (D 3 ) the assistance of the Cruise Director, whether or not one holds a company credit card or some other form or establishment identification card. In the event that a customer, coming out of either Option D 2  or D 3 , is a non-member, customer profile information is secured/cached for such an individual and, thereupon, a temporary membership card is issued. In any event, either Option D 2  or D 3  leads to the GUI  37  of the interactive shopping station  18  or  32  (as above defined). Thereupon, a variety of product information and option functions become accessible to the shopper, these including product information and frequently asked questions (FAQs) about a particular product (E 3 ), product alternatives (E 4 ), product coordinates (E 5 ), and visual suggestions (E 6 ) in regard to the above and other categories. Such suggestions are accessible in relation to one or more of the following:  
         [0047]    Region, season, age of customer, personal profile already in the store database, price range/discounts, random, other information believed by management to be of interest to certain customers, store department or display location with respect to particular products, and zoom capability with respect to any visual image of the above by subject or category. Accordingly, the complex multi-level linked menus of E 6  (a) thru (i) may also be accessed from the E 3 , E 4  and E 5  functions using product information and option database  40 .  
         [0048]    A flow diagram of the above decision tree is shown in FIG. 7A and an object model of databases applicable to the functions El to E 6  above are shown in FIG. 7B.  
         [0049]    With reference to FIG. 8, there is provided an overview of the manner of use of the TOTALSHOP system by corporate management and communication of information from upper management, to operating divisions, to retail store locations and, ultimately, to the TOTALSHOP customer. This information appears for most part, as changes or modifications within the product information and options database  40 , that is, a part of the TOTALSHOP intranet. This information would in turn be specifically available to the consumer as functions E 3  through E 6  of Column E of the diagrams above described with reference to FIG. 7 and  7 A. Accordingly, it is to be noted that the TOTALSHOP intranet provides a means by which management can rapidly respond to regional, seasonal, price, style, and other vital issues within the retail environment, this all in the context of a visually dynamic store.  
         [0050]    [0050]FIG. 8 more particularly sets forth the concept (Block A) that the TOTALSHOP program includes both software and hardware technology and a specific method or process for the use thereof. Therein, originating at corporate headquarters (Block B), it provides means by which a consistent multi-location corporate vision may be implemented. Therein, products are presented and displayed with their respective enhancements, accessories, and product information, all upon a dynamic graphic backdrop. Block C indicates that this information, in both alpha-numeric and visual terms, can be instantly relayed to each division D 1  through DN of the company. A sample of such an image is shown in Block D 1  which, in such illustration, provides to every division in a retail organization (comprising potentially hundreds of geographically dispersed locations) the manner in which central management wishes a particular department to appear and the location-present, new or proposed-of merchandise therewith. Therein (see Block E of FIG. 8) the TOTALSHOP program furnishes a strong visual tool that is built around said ISS located at a cashwrap area (more fully described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3 above). Therein, the customer may secure information with respect to alternative sizing, colors, and coordinating merchandise. Block F indicates that purchases may be automatically forwarded to any destination of the customer&#39;s choice inclusive of home, office, or geographically remote friends and family members. Therein, and as is reflected in Block G, the TOTALSHOP solves many customer problems inclusive of those associated with lack of inventory of the exact size, color and quantity of a given product sought by a customer at a particular retail location.  
         [0051]    With reference FIG. 9, an ISS product display of search category (E 6 ) (g), i.e., a store display site  52  is shown that includes much greater availability of space and application of design and imagination to provide an experience of education and inspiration at the point of purchase (actual or online) while providing access to specific size, colors and quantity of product available from remote warehousing locations (see FIG. 6, database  42 ). Accordingly, a customer wishing to “click” upon a particular item  53 , shown in the store display template of FIG. 9 simply uses a cursor at the ISS to click on that item. See FIGS. 5 and 6. Thereafter, the shopper can use the E 3 , E 4 , or E 5  functions for more information on the item  53  or a related product.  
         [0052]    In FIG. 10 is shown a typical product category display  54  accessible under functions E 4 , E 5  or E 6  of the TOTALSHOP system. As may be noted therein, such visual displays/suggestions will randomly display product ideas  58  within a given category until the customer chooses to zoom upon one of the images  56  of FIG. 10 whereupon the GUI screen will shift to FIG. 11 in which products alternatives or coordinates  58   a  will then appear in smaller size at one side of the display screen. Therein, the shopper is able to focus upon aspects of the single product  53  while still viewing alternatives, coordinates, or suggestions that may be available within the particular product category. There, a product of interest  57  may be clicked upon.  
         [0053]    In FIG. 12 is shown the ability of the system to zoom in upon a particular area  60  of a floor of the retail establishment. In other words, the consumer by clicking on one of the pictures  62  in FIG. 12, will then be brought to the display screens  56 / 58   a  of FIG. 11 from which, should a customer wish, he may click upon any of the alternative or coordinate suggestions  57  shown in the smaller images thereupon. Alternatively, after the TOTALSHOP customer has clicked upon one of the images  62  in FIG. 12, he may then click upon any of the categories of E 6  (see Block E 6  of FIG. 7A) to particularize any image of FIGS.  10  or  11  in accordance with considerations of region, season, age, personal profile, pricing, or discount status. In other words, a screen of the type of FIG. 11 will itself display various coordinates within a product area. These coordinates will typically be so extensive that it will be necessary for the TOTALSHOP customer to then click on E 6  to a linked list or menu to limit the number of sub-displays. See Block  64  of FIG. 12A. That is, the customer is able to reach the visual suggestions of the menu of E 6  either directly from the GUI, as a linked list/menu off of E 3  (product information), E 4  (alternatives), or E 5  (coordinates), or off of a “clicked” picture  53 ,  57 ,  58 ,  58   a  or  62 .  
         [0054]    The above functions shown in FIGS.  9  to  12  are summarized in the flow diagram of FIG. 12A.  
         [0055]    Proceeding to FIG. 13 there is provided a further illustration of the greater space and openness which is enabled upon the shopping floor  65  of the retail establishment. This, in many cases, will comprise only a single sample  66  of one piece of merchandise, as opposed to many racks and shelves of products. As may be appreciated, appropriate bar code tags, or bar code scanning capability, will be provided to the customers such that the above-described steps and options off of Steps B 1 /C 2 /D 1  of the TOTALSHOP program may be accomplished. See FIG. 7 and  7 A.  
         [0056]    In FIG. 14 is shown the use of a large high def 0 inition LED display  68 , used in lieu of mannequins or other display means, to provide to the customer a “larger than life” idea of the appearance of a given product as well as alternatives and coordinates thereto. That is, screens, not unlike those of FIG. 11, may appear upon walls within particular retail establishments. This would entail the additional benefit of providing to new customers a sense of the power and scope of the TOTALSHOP system.  
         [0057]    With further reference to the impact of the present system upon the layout and configuration of the floor of a retail establishment, it is contemplated that clothing racks will be replaced by some combination of the mannequins shown in FIG. 13 and merchandise tables having thereon a limited amount of product but which, nonetheless, would enable the customer to touch, see and feel items before making a purchasing decision. In addition, shelving would be replaced by LED displays of the type above described with reference to FIG. 14 as well as the use of videos, large posters and photographs. Thereby, through the use of such a display strategy, there is achieved a reduction in quantity of sizes and color of any given item which must be kept in the inventory of a local store. However, as a trade-off, there is enabled the display of substantially increased variety and styles of items, both within each merchandise line per se and in numerous related or coordinated areas, many of which would be made known to the customer for the first time through Functions E 3  through E 6  of the TOTALSHOP system. Thereby, in this vision of “the store of the future” the quantity of on-site inventory is minimized in favor of a substantial increase in the scope and variety of merchandise, as well as in the design or aesthetic treatment of the interior of stores, in which only a small number of items of individual types of merchandise are required for on-floor display and/or touching by the customer.  
         [0058]    As above noted, workstations  18  or  32 , in accordance with the present system may be located upon the sales floor near to merchandise displays and may be located near so-called cashwrap locations within a given department. Further, as above related, workstations/cashwraps in accordance with the invention may be disposed within distinctively configured kiosks, one of which would be disposed within each major departments of the establishment.  
         [0059]    It is also believed that the instant system will prove particularly suitable to group purchasing programs inasmuch as individual members of the group can input their purchasing preferences such that, through the use of a simple group preference analysis program, statistical preferences of a given group, in terms of such issues as style, color, pricing and delivery times, can be ascertained. This may be particularly significant with respect to large national organizations consisting of younger people as members. Further, the purchasing of such groups can be more efficiently met through the accessing of remotely distributed inventory drawn from a number of distribution centers of a retail organization. As such, in the present concept of “the store of the future,” delivery of product from central distribution centers would occur to a considerable greater extent thereby effecting savings in the cost of distribution to local retail outlets and effecting an increase in efficiency of delivery to the customer.  
         [0060]    In addition, as above noted with reference to external log-on capability  48  (see FIG. 6) the present system also provides for off-site, e.g., Internet or other on-line access of the GUI to thereby enable a customer to determine such factors as local versus remote availability of given items as well as delivery periods and to secure access to all other capabilities of the system as set forth in Block E 6  of the flow diagram of FIG. 7A. Thereby, there is accomplished an integration between hands-on retailing and Internet or home shopping, such that one using the present system at home or office can consider purchasing options prior to actually visiting the retail establishment to touch, see, and feel items of interest before making a final purchasing decision. The implications of the present system in terms of benefit to the retail shopper are obvious from the above. However, in accounting concept, the financial implications of the TOTALSHOP system may be defined in terms of an increase in the number of inventory turns per annum, that is, ratio or per annum sales to value of inventory on hand at any given point in time. More specifically, this ratio is, in the case of major retailers such as The May Company, Federated Department Stores, and JC PENNEY, in the neighborhood of 5.0, this meaning that such stores will typically sell out their entire inventory an average of five times per year. However, if an improvement in the number of turns per year in a range of five percent to fifteen percent could be accomplished, the financial implications for retailing would be remarkable as may be appreciated with reference to the following chart:  
                                                                                                           Federated               May   Department   JC           Company   Store   Penney                                    1998 Sales-to-Inventory                   (turns) “Projected” 1998       inventory turns.       if they were improved           5.05   4.88   4.92        5%   5.30   5.12   5.16       10%   5.55   5.36   5.41       15%   5.80   5.61   5.65       “Projected” 1998 Retail Sales       given inventory turns       improved:             5%   $14.08   B   $16.59   B   $31.15   B       10%   $14.74   B   $17.38   B   $32.63   B       15%   $15.42   B   $18.17   B   $34.12   B       Increased annual “Retail       Sales” given inventory turns       improved:        5%   $66   M   $76   M   $1.50   B       10%   $1.33   B   $1.55   B   $2.98   B       15%   $2.00   B   $2.34   B   $4.46   B       Increased Annual “Profit”       given turns improved:        5%   $43   M   $36   M   $74   M       10%   $87   M   $75   M   $146   M       15%   $130   M   $113   M   $219   M                  
 
         [0061]    It may, thereby, be appreciated that a mere ten percent improvement, e.g., an improvement from 5.0 to 5.5 inventory turns a year on the part of a company such as The May Company, would result in an increase in annual sales of $1.3 billion dollars with a resultant increase in bottom line to such company of $87 million. Further, ten percent is a most conservative estimate of the potential of the TOTALSHOP system with reference to improvement in inventory turns. Accordingly, it is believed by the within inventor that the implications of the TOTALSHOP system are much greater than those indicated by the above chart.  
         [0062]    While there has been shown and described the preferred embodiment of the instant invention it is to be appreciated that the invention may be embodied otherwise than is herein specifically shown and described and that, within said embodiment, certain changes may be made in the form and arrangement of the parts without departing from the underlying ideas or principles of this invention as set forth herein.