Epos Now meets Nerdy: the game-winning move for any business

Like many businesses in the UK, Nerdy felt the profound impact of the pandemic and the challenges posed by the rising cost of living. Sadly, the business found itself at a crossroads in 2023.

Katie explained, “Our original owner, Nerdy 1.0 if you will, owned Nerdy for four years but faced challenges - this place has flooded four times, and there is a cost of living crisis! They did amazingly but took on too much on his own. So back in May 2023, we actually closed down.” 

However, all was not lost.

“When we closed, we had a huge outpouring from the community because this place means so much to so many people. It's saved so many lives. I've worked here for the past year, it's turned my life around. And so we couldn't let it go. So Kelly Davis stepped in and has been amazing. She’s our investor. We reopened August 7th with myself, Kelly, and Rachel Matthews as co-owners and a team of ten, including managers Matt, Kai, and Chris, that help the place tick over day-to-day.”

Nerdy’s revival showcases the incredible impact of a devoted fanbase on a beloved business. So how did they build such support?

With the community deeply invested in the comfortable atmosphere the team has created, exceptional, warm customer service is pivotal to Nerdy’s success. Fortunately, Katie and co. are ready to cater to each customer's unique needs.

“We have customers come in and say thank you because we say hello and goodbye to everyone that comes in. They say it makes them feel welcome, loved and thought of. We ask questions, we talk to them, we engage with the customers. If they're not comfortable, we give them their space, and we have quiet rooms set up.”

“We work with a lot of community groups as well as with charities like Sans, PAC, and Headway. We've raised over £2,000 since reopening for various charities, with a different event each week.”

As a business, Nerdy has a range of services to offer its customers.

“We have 1000+ board games to sell, and we have events on almost every night. We do crafting and wargaming, and a lot of social events such as LGBTQ+ nights which bring in 40-50 people. We offer a full kitchen with two cooks and we accommodate any dietary needs, vegan, gluten-free, meat, all the works.”

Amid all the action, Nerdy required a top-notch point of sale (POS) system for seamless business and inventory management to ensure they could continue to deliver high-quality games, food and friendly service. Thankfully, they found it with Epos Now.

“The system we had before was decent, but we wanted to let guests order from their table. We wanted Yoello, and they told us they don’t partner with our old system; they work with Epos Now.”

Learning the POS quicker than Catan

Reopening a cafe is a lot of work, so setting up your team, products, and inventory quickly and easily can make life much easier. Then there’s the treacherous territory of dealing with the plugs, wires and hardware.

So how did Katie and the Nerdy team find setting up with Epos Now?

“The unpacking, the plugging in. That was easy! We’ve got a team of ten people using it on a day-to-day basis and it’s fine. It’s easy to pick up and it’s user-friendly. The payment options are good.”

Today’s businesses are often complicated operations and with table-ordering, complex reports, and innumerable inventory snags, it’s inevitable that even the nerdiest team will need a little help now and then.

But Katie and the Nerdy team have been able to get through to the Epos Now team whenever needed.

“When you ring up, you automatically go into a queue. But I press the callback option and I get called back within two minutes, so instead of waiting on the phone I can get on with work!”

“It’s a good system, and I like it,” Katie tells us. Even this early into the new Nerdy venture, it’s great to know the team can count on a POS system that’s as reliable as a rulebook.

“Right now, we have 200 active members, and we’ve just come up to our first quarter, and that’s in addition to those who drop in and don’t have memberships. I love to see these customers coming back and saying “You’re doing great. Keep going!” so we can continue helping more people. As this place is not about making money; it’s about helping the community.”

Nerdy’s dramatic journey has been an inspiration for the people of Shrewsbury. We’re confident we’ll see them providing a safe and fun home for people young and old long into the future, and with an Epos Now system backing them up, it’s sure to be a smoother ride for Katie and co., too!