Interim profits at point-of-sale systems supplier Real Time Control Plc have suffered because of pressure on margins in a retail sector hard-hit by recession. Pre-tax profits fell 49.1% to UKP258,000, although turnover rose 4.4% to UKP3.1m. Due to a very flat market in the US, the group’s office in Boston, Massachusetts has now given up direct marketing and will simply provide software support. Real Time intends to keep the site open, however, because, according to finance director, Tony Wheeler, it ‘still has potential for growth’ when things pick up. Wheeler wasn’t entirely despondent about the UK results either – sales into the UK point of sale market actually rose 12% because the Watford, Hertfordshire-based company is concentrating on adding value to its products. It now offers a range of services around the installation of its systems, such as software support and adding extra networking capabilities if required. Wheeler said that the trend towards service provision will continue because it gives the group the edge in a competitive marketplace. While he also intends to keep a careful eye on costs, there are said to be no redundancies in the offing. Although Wheeler foresees 1993 as being a tough year, he claims that the point of sale market is still a growing one. The group’s order book is quite healthy, he says, and there are a lot of retailers out there without point of sale systems. But the market is ‘pent-up’ as customers continue to postpone orders. Overall he believes that, ‘if there are no major banana skins, there should be an improvement in business over the coming year; although it will be slow.’
