At FAO Schwarz’s iconic Rockefeller Center location in New York City, innovation meets nostalgia as the legendary toy store enhances its customer experience through mobile point-of-sale (POS) and real-time technology—thanks to a strategic partnership with Teamwork Commerce.

In this behind-the-scenes video case study, Blake Gillan, Director of Direct to Consumer Technology, and Doran Finneran, GM of Global Retail for FAO Schwarz, walk us through how Teamwork’s flexible mobile POS system and real-time inventory tools are reimagining retail operations for a store that sees up to 15,000 visitors a day.

“The mobile POS allows us to easily grab customers throughout the store, pick people off the queue, and lessen wait times,” says Blake. “It’s all about getting customers in and out with a fun experience throughout the day.”

Spanning 20,000 square feet and filled with interactive experiences, FAO Schwarz requires agility—both physically and digitally. The mobile-first strategy enables store associates to meet shoppers wherever they are, significantly improving speed, service, and satisfaction.

“We’ve been able to pivot our operations in line with where we see traffic go,” explains Doran. “Whether it’s adding additional POS stations to departments or expanding our cash wrap, we’re using data to make impactful business decisions.”

One of the biggest wins? Real-time inventory tracking across in-store and online channels. Team members can instantly check stock, ship from store using the Send Sale feature, and offer guests alternate fulfillment options on the spot.

“Being able to see our inventory live enables our reps to give the customer the best experience,” adds Blake. “We can ship directly to their home or show if it’s available online.”

Beyond tech, it’s the partnership that makes the difference. “I would describe Teamwork as a partner more than a vendor,” Doran emphasizes. “They understand the nuances of our business, and we go through decisions together. It’s not just a service—it’s collaboration.”

As retail continues to evolve, FAO Schwarz and Teamwork Commerce are leading the way, setting a new standard for personalized, guest-first experiences powered by intelligent, unified commerce solutions.

“We’re excited to continue working with Teamwork,” Doran concludes. “Whether it’s improving the guest experience or team efficiencies, we want to innovate and stay ahead. And the best part is—Teamwork makes that easy.”

Andrea Elliott, Executive Vice President of Direct-to-Consumer at Moose Knuckles, shared insights into the brand’s successful partnership with Teamwork Commerce. Her role spans all retail operations and customer interactions in their global stores, emphasizing Moose Knuckles’ commitment to delivering a top-tier retail experience.

One of the key highlights of this collaboration was the seamless integration of Teamwork’s POS system, which facilitated “send sales,” allowing store teams to link inventory across the portfolio and prevent missed sales opportunities. “All stores would never lose the opportunity for a sale,” Andrea stated, noting how this enhanced the customer journey by ensuring product availability and improving interactions.

Beyond operational improvements, the Teamwork POS system offered robust support in data validation and reporting. Andrea explained, “We were able to validate the sales data that feeds to other reporting… that backup is there.” This feature was unexpectedly smooth and reliable, building confidence among the store teams and IT department by ensuring data accuracy across the system.

Andrea emphasized the importance of Teamwork’s dedicated service team, describing it as the “mojo of making things work.” This close, responsive support allowed her team to work collaboratively without delays, ensuring both internal alignment and better external communication. She described this relationship as “like a family,” fostering open communication, quick responsiveness, and mutual respect, which is often rare in partnerships with POS providers.

The relationship is not static; Moose Knuckles consistently pushes Teamwork to innovate. Andrea remarked, “We’re always asking questions like, what are other people doing? What’s a best practice?” This active engagement ensures that Moose Knuckles remains at the forefront of retail technology. She further stressed the brand’s high expectations: “We push Teamwork to meet that expectation at a luxury, at a high level, because we want it.”

In addition to improving store operations, Andrea pointed out the brand’s commitment to supporting in-store teams. By providing reliable tools and responsive support, her goal is for store employees to feel empowered, knowing they can provide outstanding service. This approach aligns with Moose Knuckles’ luxury brand identity, as Andrea stated, “If they’re happy, then I know they’ll treat our customers in a really great way.”

Reflecting on the partnership’s success, Andrea described it as a “harmonious journey,” where the goal is clear: “keeping our customers warm and in fashion in the best possible way.”

ASICS, a global leader in high-performance footwear and apparel, is transforming its retail operations through its partnership with Teamwork Commerce’s advanced point-of-sale (POS) solutions. By integrating this innovative technology, ASICS enhances the customer experience, offering seamless, efficient, and personalized service in its U.S. retail stores.

At the heart of ASICS’ success is its dedication to innovation, not only in product design but also in the overall shopping experience. According to John Lysek, Director of US Retail for ASICS, the brand’s collaboration with Teamwork Commerce has been instrumental in creating a more engaging and streamlined retail environment. Whether customers are shopping online or in-store, Teamwork Commerce’s mobile POS technology ensures a unified, top-tier service across all channels, supporting ASICS’ omnichannel retail strategy.

The Power of Mobile POS

Teamwork Commerce’s mobile POS technology empowers ASICS’ store associates to assist customers more efficiently, providing real-time inventory checks, personalized recommendations, and instant transactions—all through mobile devices. This mobility allows customers to enjoy a more flexible shopping experience, reducing wait times and enhancing the overall in-store journey.

Boosting Operational Efficiency

Beyond enhancing customer interactions, Teamwork Commerce’s POS solutions significantly improve operational efficiency across ASICS stores. The system’s real-time inventory management ensures that stock levels are always accurate, allowing staff to meet customer demand with ease. This efficient management of stock leads to fewer errors, reduced wait times, and increased performance, ultimately supporting ASICS’ commitment to operational excellence.

A Partnership Driving Retail Innovation

The collaboration between ASICS and Teamwork Commerce is a prime example of how advanced retail technology can transform traditional brick-and-mortar stores into dynamic, customer-centric environments. By combining ASICS’ reputation for innovative products with Teamwork Commerce’s expertise in retail technology, the partnership ensures that ASICS remains a leader in customer service and operational efficiency.

Petco, the renowned American pet health and wellness company, has taken a giant leap towards customer experience excellence through its collaboration with Teamwork Commerce. In this exciting success story, Guillermo Prieto, CIO of Petco Mexico, shares how this partnership has revolutionized their operations, propelling them towards true omnichannel capabilities, where every pet and owner are the ultimate beneficiaries.

Before Petco embraced Teamwork Commerce solutions, it faced significant challenges in maintaining a consistent experience across all platforms. With 127 physical stores, an app, and an online store, centralizing information and ensuring customer satisfaction were critical concerns. The implementation of Teamwork Commerce’s Point of Sale and Inventory Control System, seamlessly integrated with Petco’s CRM, Loyalty Program, and Online Store, marked a big shift.

Since then, Petco has built a real-time 360-degree customer profile. Balances, coupons, preferences, history, and promotions – all in one place. This has led to a big decrease in return-related friction and an enhanced shopping experience, both in physical stores and online.

“Teamwork Commerce has helped us gain a holistic view of the customer for all of our systems; It has been the backbone for that. It helps Petco to be an omnichannel company.” Guillermo Prieto, CIO de Petco México.

Guillermo Prieto highlights Teamwork Commerce’s effortless integration with other platforms, further reinforcing the successful “Club Petco,” where 93% of the company’s transactions take place. Moreover, this collaboration has enabled effective customer segmentation to offer personalized experiences through push notifications and email.

“Teamwork Commerce has become one of the main pillars in achieving omnichannel at Petco. It has reinforced Club Petco, our successful loyalty program and we have managed to implement real-time targeted experiences to pamper our customers both in physical stores and in eCommerce.” Guillermo Prieto, CIO of Petco Mexico.

Petco employees have also experienced significant improvements in their day-to-day tasks. The intuitive iOS interface of the Point of Sale System has reduced the learning curve and streamlined the checkout process. Even in unstable network conditions, employees can continue providing efficient service, expediting the payment process using iPads, especially during peak hours.

Petco’s success story with Teamwork Commerce is a compelling testament to how the right technology can completely transform a company. The collaboration with Teamwork Commerce has taken Petco to new heights in omnichannel capabilities, delivering unique experiences and enhancing both customer satisfaction and operational efficiency.

“At Petco, we highly recommend Teamwork Commerce. The first point is scalability. It has proven to be a robust tool that has given battle to 127 stores, App, and Website.” Guillermo Prieto, CIO of Petco Mexico.

If you’re looking to take your company to the next level, check out Teamwork Commerce’s Flexible Tech Stack omnichannel solution.

Paul Stuart is an 84-year-old American brand that offers exclusive and custom-tailored clothing, sportswear, footwear and accessories for men and women. Founded in 1938 in New York City by Ralph Ostrove, who named the company after his son, Paul Stuart Ostrove, the company was created with the goal of dressing the American consumer in the very finest of men’s clothing.

In addition to the original Flagship store in New York City, Paul Stuart has stores in Chicago, Washington, DC, and Southampton.

Paulette Garafalo, the CEO of Paul Stuart, has been at Paul Stuart since 2016. At Paul Stuart, she’s advancing digital technology, new footwear and sportswear collections for men and women, as the company looks ahead to the future.

Paul Stuart is fully omnichannel since switching to Teamwork Commerce. In 2016 they began the journey by integrating their ecommerce business with the physical stores. Today, you can buy online and pick up in stores, as well as buy in stores and have it shift.

Before Teamwork, Paul Stuart faced challenges with inventory management, customer data information, and inventory optimization among the stores. There were many areas of the business that could not service the customer in the best way, since the company did not have the support from a proper system.

When Paul Stuart first implemented Teamwork, they faced challenges in their own infrastructure. “Training and development were a challenge, but Teamwork was right there for us and helped us understand the system and train our employees, which was critical to our success. We couldn’t have done it without their hands and attention,” mentioned Paulette Garafalo, Paul Stuart CEO.

Paul Stuart needed a customized system and Teamwork provided just that. Sales executives needed to be able to measure the customers, since each garment is a unique piece. Paul Stuart’s customers can pick their fabric, their sizing, and their measurements. Prior to that, Paul Stuart didn’t have a system that could support customized clients’ orders, send it to the factories and ensure that it comes in a timely manner.

According to Paulette Garafalo, one of the best attributes of Teamwork is that it is really easy to use. “Teamwork is the less complicated platform that we could provide to our employees to service the customer.” She also mentioned that with Teamwork Commerce, Paul Stuart empowers their sales associates to know more about the customer and personalize the experience. “Our sales executives now can look up the customer information, customer preferences, find the customer sizes, find merchandise for the customer, ring up the sale, and ship the goods.”

When COVID came, Paul Stuart faced the challenge of having employees returning to work. “Many of the employees were not comfortable yet being in a public space, and thanks to Teamwork we were able to work with a much more limited number of people. We could reduce our staff because our sales personnel could do all the functions”, mentioned Paulette Garafalo, CEO. Paul Stuart stores were able to shift, return, service, look up the inventory, and operate their business, still to this day with a much linear crew that they needed prior to the introduction of Teamwork.

Many other cases have come up where they needed Teamwork’s support, and the help has been personalized. “They responded to us, both with staffing as well as financially. When we hit COVID they were good partners to us, we were together to get through it. People and employees of Teamwork have a very more personal relationship with their clients and their partners than any other software company I’ve worked with.”, remarked Paulette Garafalo.

Paul Stuart CEO, Paulette Garafalo, mentioned that thanks to Teamwork Paul Stuart has changed the customer experience in all stores, both brick and mortar and ecommerce since they are fully connected.

“I would recommend Teamwork to anyone who is looking for a retail management solution. A wonderful partner and a success story.” Paulette Garafalo.