Spruce Computer Systems has announced a new Subscription Licensing option for its industry-leading SpruceWare.NET software. The option offers modern software with no upfront licensing fees, following instead a flexible model that lets dealers keep more cash on their balance sheets.

No-Compromise Solution

“Subscription licensing is a great option for many of our prospects,” said Rob Fitzpatrick, President of Spruce. “People wanted the best technology but they didn’t want the large initial outlay required to purchase a complete system during a housing downturn. Subscription licensing accomplishes that, with great flexibility. People can even test drive the software on subscription licensing and change to a purchase option any time if they choose to do so.”
“It’s a great option for those who want to grow their market share when budgets are tight,” said John LaFave, Director of Marketing. “New customers can choose to pay only for implementation and hardware upfront; no borrowing, no lease, no balance sheet hit, no long term commitment.”

Wide Range of Included Features

The one monthly subscription charge is inclusive of many features that cost extra with other systems. “Our new partners aren’t getting a stripped-down point of sale and back office package,” said LaFave. “Included with every subscription license is everything from document management to signature capture, including Crystal Reports, millwork and manufacturing, the SpruceWare.NET import wizard, EDI, full software support, regular software updates, and even Spruce’s interfaces with Blue Tarp, Enfinity, BuilderWire, DQ Order Delivery Tracking, Andersen iQ, and 20 20 Window and Door.”

Spruce Computer Systems is pleased to announce that Warren “Skip” Engel has joined its sales team. Skip comes to Spruce after a long and successful sales career at ECi Advantage, formerly Advantage Business Computing Systems.

Skip was born in St. Louis, but his military family moved frequently. He served four years in the Air Force during the Vietnam era. After that, he spent 12 years as the Controller for a supplier of appliances, lighting and Tru Value hardware to the building industry. He spent four years at Profitmaster before honing his skills and knowledge for another 16 years with ECi Advantage. He has gained the respect of his peers and his customers alike during his years in the industry, and he will be a great asset to Spruce as he introduces business owners to the flexibility and power of the SpruceWare.NET software.

Engel Looking Forward to the Modern Functionality of SpruceWare.NET

“I am happy to represent a software package with the in-depth functionality I have become used to but with a truly modern design, one that makes it both powerful and easy to learn. SpruceWare.NET definitely fits the bill,” Skip said. “And Spruce has a great reputation for being customer-centric, something that is very important to me.”

Growing Company Continues its Quality Tradition

“We’ve always been a conservative company, and our hiring practices are no exception,” said Rob Fitzpatrick, President of Spruce Computer Systems. “Skip is an example of how that conservative approach has paid off for Spruce. We’ve had impressive growth for a long time, and it’s only been boosted since the release of SpruceWare.NET in 2006. This growth can, in large part, be attributed to our philosophy that hiring the best people results in the best products and the most satisfied customers. Skip will help us continue bringing new technologies to new customers while working hard to make sure they get what they expect from Spruce.”

Spruce Computer Systems is pleased to announce that John Maiuri has joined its sales team. Maiuri is looking forward to working with other dealers to streamline their processes and improve their fiscal performance by transitioning to SpruceWare.NET, the most modern Windows® software package available within the retail lumber, hardware and building materials vertical.

Maiuri offers experience and proven leadership

Maiuri’s industry experience, involvement, and awards illustrate why he will serve as a valuable partner to new Spruce customers. He began his career in 1982 when he became a yard foreman at Dunn Builders Supply Corporation in Catskill, NY. He served as a Purchasing Agent and General Manager before taking over the reins as President in 1994. Dunn Builders Supply was successfully sold to Herrington’s this year.

Maiuri is currently the Treasurer of the Northeastern Retail Lumber Association (NRLA) Political Action Committee. He also serves on NRLA’s New York Legislative Committee. He is the Chairman of the Board of the Columbia County Chamber of Commerce, an Administrative Board Member of the Greene County Empire Zone and a member of the Heart of Catskill Association (HOCA). He is a past Chief and lifetime member of the Palenville Volunteer Fire Department, President of the Greene County Chamber of Commerce, and member of the Greene County Office Building Task Force.

He was the Eastern New York Lumber Dealer Association’s Lumberperson of the Year in 2003 and the Heart of Catskill Association’s Businessman of the Year in 2004.

Spruce an “Easy Decision”

“My decision to enter my new role at Spruce was made simple by two things: past experience with the company and the quality of the SpruceWare.NET software,” said Maiuri. “As a long-time Spruce Customer running Spruce’s UNIX-based SprucePlus software, I had grown to respect greatly Spruce’s support and its corporate culture, which is one of respect and quality. When I saw the way their SpruceWare.NET software integrated the best of what we were using with the incredible power of the Microsoft Visual Studio .NET®, Windows®, and SQL Server® trio to produce software that really can give dealers a serious return on investment, I was hooked.”

A Great Fit

“When the owners at Dunn Builders Supply decided to sell the company,” said Rob Fitzpatrick, President of Spruce Computer Systems, “we were immediately interested in talking to John. He was exactly what we look for in a salesperson: a straight shooter, someone who is a great partner and communicator. John can understand his prospects completely. Moreover, he would rather tell them the truth on the rare occasion when we’re not a good fit than have a prospect become an unhappy customer after being promised something the salesperson couldn’t deliver.”

Spruce Computer Systems and BlueTarp Financial have worked together to create the most direct trade credit tie-in available to retail Lumber, Hardware and Building Materials Dealers. The newest release of SpruceWare.NET software allows users to authorize receivables transactions directly to BlueTarp as easily as they would authorize in-house credit. BlueTarp’s instant approval results in speedy, accurate transaction processing with no worries about bad debt or slow-paying accounts.

Customers Benefit from Tight Integration

“Spruce is a thought leader in the ERP space for building supply. We are thrilled to work with them to integrate our commercial credit services into their software,” said Bond Isaacson, CEO of BlueTarp Financial. “This integration will provide merchants seamless access to BlueTarp’s Trade Credit solution. Spruce and BlueTarp users will also have an easy way to provide contractors with invoice level data in an automated fashion, with no extra work for the dealer. This is truly a best-in-class solution for managing commercial trade credit.”

Rob Fitzpatrick, President of Spruce Computer Systems, agrees. “Some of our customers can benefit greatly from the reduced costs, improved cash flow, and zero bad debt associated with BlueTarp’s Trade Credit solutions, and the quality of the tie-in is key. There is no transfer of reports, no daily updating; receivables transactions clear just like credit card transactions on our system, and BlueTarp improves dealer’s customer retention through innovative features like online access to invoice data and a best in class rewards program.”

About BlueTarp Financial, Inc.

BlueTarp Financial, Inc., headquartered in Charlotte, NC, and with operations in Portland, ME, provides commercial trade credit services to more than 1,500 building material dealers and over 30,000 contractors across the United States and Canada. BlueTarp dealers have the choice to offer their pro customers extended payments terms and rewards points. The BlueTarp program gives 1.5 points for every dollar spent, which is the richest rewards program in the industry. These points can be redeemed for millions of reward options including travel packages, gift certificates and brand-name merchandise. Online job-level reporting gives contractors the ability to track and manage costs as well as view invoices quickly.

Spruce Computer Systems and Solutions by Computer have partnered to integrate the Enfinity® rental application with the SpruceWare.NET business and information management system. The integration is seen as a no-compromise alternative for lumber, hardware or building material dealers seeking the most modern software both for the multifaceted needs of their retail businesses and for the unique needs of their rental departments.

Integration Solves a Common Challenge

“SpruceWare.NET users are already familiar with the benefits of the most modern yet easy to use Windows-based software available for their businesses,” said Rob Fitzpatrick, President of Spruce Computer Systems. “Up until now, though, their rental departments have had to compromise in order to get receivables, sales tax and general ledger to balance between the rental departments and stores. Integrating Enfinity® into SpruceWare.NET solves that problem.”

Jack Shea, Chief Executive Officer of Solutions by Computer, agrees. “We look forward to providing SpruceWare.NET users with rental management functionality that is practical and effective for their business environments,” he said. “Our software development priorities are focused on the special requirements of rental operations, and have been for more than 25 years. In SpruceWare.NET, Solutions has an integration partner with an equally strong commitment to its customer base.”

Windows Allows Effective Integration

Both SpruceWare.NET and Enfinity® were written from the ground up as true Windows software packages, and the simple integration between the two allows rental transactions and purchases to be combined on the same ticket. Sales tax and receivables are handled by the SpruceWare.NET system for easy tracking and reconciliation, and the rental activities are tracked and processed using the full functionality of the Enfinity® rental management system.

Spruce Computer Systems has completed the process of becoming a certified Do it Best Corp. Level 1 provider for its SpruceWare.NET Windows®-based software for lumber, hardware, and building materials retailers.
Do it Best Corp. has tested the SpruceWare.NET software and it has all the functionality required to be certified as a Level 1 software package. This functionality includes full electronic communication with Do it Best Corp., as well as such capabilities as multi-location affinity, solid reporting features, acceptance of Do it Best gift cards and acceptance of the Do it Best “Best Rewards” loyalty program.

Spruce Pleased to receive Do it Best Corp. approval

“We have had standard Do it Best Corp. electronic communication (EDI) capabilities in all our software for many years,” said Rob Fitzpatrick, President of Spruce Computer Systems. “But with the introduction of the SpruceWare.NET software a year and a half ago, we decided it made sense to put in the extra effort required to reach Level 1 compliance. Do it Best Corp. is both conservative and diligent when it comes to recommending software vendors, and we are pleased to be admitted as a fully approved member.”

John LaFave, Director of Marketing at Spruce, added “Spruce was able to attend the Do it Best October Market early this month in Indianapolis. It was our first Do it Best Market, but our reception, both by the Do it Best staff and by their member-owners, was fantastic. We really enjoyed meeting such a satisfied group of retailers and the Do it Best Corp. team who were working hard to make their members more successful.”