Charity shop POS software made for volunteers, committees and the cause
Charity shops, op shops and community enterprises are the heart of many local neighbourhoods. They provide a service to the community and raise the funds that make the work possible. They also carry an unusual set of problems: stock that is never the same twice, a counter run by people who may be on their first shift, and a committee that needs to know exactly where the money went./p>
Tower Systems makes POS software built for that reality, and supports it locally from Australia and New Zealand.
Half price for registered charities
The software is offered at half price to registered charities and community enterprises across Australia and New Zealand. This is one way we give back.
There is no fee per transaction. The EFTPOS provider is the shop's own choice. The software can run in premise or in the cloud. Rental is cancellable, so the arrangement continues only while it earns its place.
Designed for volunteers, from the first shift
In a community enterprise, the counter must be learnable quickly, because there is rarely time for anything more than a single handover.
The interface is built to be simple to navigate and easy to learn on day one. Beyond that, training videos can be recorded covering the specific procedures of the individual shop. Those videos stay available for the next volunteer and the one after that, which keeps the way things are done consistent and takes the training load off the manager.
Security and transparency, for everyone's protection
Areas of the software can be locked down, so administration and sensitive data stay with management while volunteers process sales.
Each process is guided by built-in checks and balances. Hidden tracking tools are available for investigating a discrepancy should the need ever arise.
That protection works in two directions. It safeguards the funds and the trust of donors, and it protects volunteers from ever being under a cloud they cannot clear.
Inventory that suits donated goods
Charity shop stock is diverse and unpredictable, and no two intakes are alike.
Stock can be handled by barcode, product code, department or price point. A bag of paperbacks does not need itemising to reach the floor. A single high-value piece can be tracked on its own while broad departments such as ladies clothing still report as departments.
That flexibility is what lets goods move from the back room to the shelf on the same day they arrive.
Loyalty that people understand
Points schemes ask a shopper to do arithmetic. Money needs no explanation.
The loyalty facilities can produce a receipt showing a specific dollar amount the shopper can save on their next visit. This transparent reward is proven to encourage at least 20 per cent of shoppers to spend more during the visit they are already making.
More funds raised from the same foot traffic, without discounting the whole shop.
Selling the good donations online
Some donations are worth far more than the local floor can realise.
Shopify, Magento and WooCommerce integrations allow unique or high-value items to be listed online, with inventory levels kept in step across both the shop and the website. Embedded AI tools help produce a professional description quickly, which is the step that usually stops this work happening at all.
One good donation, listed properly, can be worth a week of ordinary sales.
Time saved on administration
The software is AI enabled, with direct integrations to ChatGPT, Google Gemini and Anthropic.
Supplier invoices for new-goods stock can be imported automatically rather than typed. Reports can be analysed in seconds, showing which departments are performing and informing decisions about floor space and pricing. For a manager who is often a volunteer too, having a report explained rather than merely printed is the difference between data and a decision.
Electronic invoices, Xero for accounting, and roster management through Tanda or Deputy round out the back office.
Returns to suppliers, handled properly
Where new goods are sold alongside donated stock, returns to suppliers are rarely a simple yes or no. Approval can take days, stock sits in limbo, and staff keep side lists that end up disagreeing with what the software says is on the shelf.
Where new goods are sold alongside donated stock, returns to suppliers are rarely a simple yes or no. Approval can take days, stock sits in limbo, and staff keep side lists that end up disagreeing with what the software says is on the shelf.
Where the software earns its place in a charity shop
A new volunteer starts on Saturday morning. One shift to learn the counter, with the shop's own procedure videos available whenever they are needed.
A trailer load of donations arrives. Priced by department or price point, on the floor the same day.
Something unusual comes through the door. Described with help from the AI tools, listed online, inventory synchronised.
A shopper is at the counter. A cash-off voucher on the receipt gives a reason to add one more item now and a reason to come back.
The committee meets on Tuesday. Department performance, best sellers and pricing decisions drawn from the software rather than assembled by hand the night before.
Something does not add up at the end of a shift. Checks, balances and tracking tools, so the question is answered with a record rather than a suspicion.
What changing software actually involves
For most community enterprises this is the real decision, not the feature list.
Data is reviewed first. Existing data is examined before any commitment, so the answer on what can be transferred is a fact rather than a promise.
Training is built for turnover. One-on-one training to start, then shop-specific videos recorded once and used by every volunteer who follows.
Support is local. Help desk support delivered by people based in Australia and New Zealand, six days a week, with after-hours access for urgent queries.
The price is halved. Registered charities and community enterprises pay half price, with no fee per transaction and no lock-in.
Is this the right software for your shop?
It is not the right choice for everyone, and it is better to know that early.
It suits charity shops, op shops and community enterprises that run a real shop floor, work with rotating volunteers, sell some goods online and answer to a board or committee. A single-counter stall open a few hours a week will be well served by something much simpler.
Ask for a live, obligation-free demonstration, with the people who will actually use it in the room, volunteers included. Expect a straight answer about fit. If the software is not right for the shop, that will be said plainly.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is the software really half price for charities?
Yes. Registered charities and community enterprises across Australia and New Zealand pay half price. - How quickly can a new volunteer learn it?
It is designed to be usable from the first shift, and training videos can be recorded for the specific procedures of the shop so every new volunteer sees the same instructions. - Can I stop volunteers seeing sensitive parts of the software?
Yes. Areas can be locked down to management access only. - What if something does not add up at the counter?
The software includes checks and balances through each process, plus hidden tracking tools for investigating discrepancies. - Do I have to price and barcode every donated item?
No. Stock can be handled by barcode, product code, department or price point, while high-value items are still tracked individually. - Can I sell high-value donations online?
Yes. Shopify, Magento and WooCommerce integrations keep shop and website inventory in step. - Can I manage returns to suppliers of new goods?
Yes. The Returns Authorisations facility handles several requests to several suppliers at once, including quarantined stock, partial approvals and a returns form on finalisation. - Does the software integrate with Xero?
Yes. - Can I manage volunteer rosters?
Roster management is available through Tanda and Deputy. - Are there AI tools in the software?
Yes. Embedded AI tools were first released in 2023 and are updated regularly. - Do you use an offshore help desk?
No. All help desk support is provided by people based in Australia and New Zealand. - Can I choose my own EFTPOS provider?
Yes. - Can I run it in the cloud?
Yes, in the cloud or in premise. - Can I transfer data from my current software?
Yes. Let us see your data first so we can 100% confirm this for you.
Contact Us
Australia Phone: 1300 662 957 Email:
New Zealand Phone: 0800 444 367 Email:
