‘Hat trick’ for J2 Retail Systems, as Cineworld signs up for nationwide EPoS replacement programme

Published 28th April 2008

Cineworld, the UK’s second largest operator in terms of screens and sites, has joined Empire Cinemas and Vue Entertainment as the third cinema chain to select J2 Retail Systems as its EPoS partner.

Cineworld has now changed its hardware vendor allegiance to J2. The new partnership has been sealed with a contract for 200 of J2’s model 560 PC-based touchscreen which is fast becoming the de facto EPoS system in the cinema industry.

Cineworld operates some 1,200 point-of-sale tills in its box offices and at concession counters. This initial order of 200 will be rolled out during the next 6 months as the first phase of an estate-wide refurbishment programme. Whilst these units will used exclusively to replace older equipment at concession counters, Cineworld are also installing J2s in their box offices at new sites.

Explains Cineworld’s Head of IT, Vincent McGann: “The J2 560s are reliable and are delivering good performance. Our concession counters are quite a challenging environment at busy times, with heavy traffic and liquids being served. We need equipment that is hard-wearing and can cope reliably in these circumstances. The J2 560s have proved their worth and suitability.”

Cineworld were favourably influenced by J2’s 3-year warranty, and have opted to lease the equipment. “The lease approach is better for our business and provides a replacement roadmap which we believe will work out at a lower cost in the long term. By initially replacing old equipment at our concession counters, we’re expecting fewer breakdowns and lower maintenance costs. The faster performance of the new tills will also undoubtedly increase customer spend,” continues McGann.

Cineworld is the third cinema chain to opt for J2 EPoS. States Moray Boyd, Managing Director and co-founder of J2 Retail Systems: “With Cineworld, Empire Cinemas and Vue Entertainment as our clients, I’m proud to say that J2 is now used in 150 cinemas nationwide. Together, these cinemas represent some 1,500 screens and welcome over 100 million customers a year!”

J2 attributes its success in the cinema sector to reliabilty, cost of ownership and performance. The J2 560’s flexible mounting is particularly well suited to this environment, and allows tills to be counter-mounted, pole-mounted with screens swivelled towards the customer for seat selection, and fitted within self-service ticket and confectionery kiosks. “Whenever they are used in cinemas, our J2 560s contribute to an uplift in staff efficiency and customer spend,” concludes Moray Boyd.