In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene wreaking havoc in North and South Carolina, National Retail Solutions (NRS), which manages one of the most extensive point-of-sale platforms for independent retailers across the United States, swiftly mobilized emergency response teams to assist with relief operations across the Carolinas.
Hurricane Helene spelt calamity for the Carolinas through unprecedented flooding, destruction of homes, small businesses and devastating communities, claiming over 230 lives and caused a financial toll estimated at over $200 billion.
Over 2,300 stores in the Carolinas rely on the NRS platform to carry out their operations, a statement from NRS noted, pointing out that the company helped these essential local businesses re-open and serve communities in need.
Throughout the United States, more than 30,000 retail stores – including bodegas, convenience stores, grocery stores and other small enterprises – rely on the NRS POS platform to manage their sales and operations, and to boost customer service. A significant number of these retailers reside in areas hit hardest by the hurricane.
From the company’s headquarters in Newark, New Jersey, NRS officials undertook travels to affected regions around Greenville, SC and Asheville, NC. Once at these disaster-stricken areas, the NRS team focused on getting damaged stores back on their feet and reopen, enabling them to once again serve their communities. The team also facilitated food drives for victims by donating non-perishable foods to local non-profits, including the Greenville-based Hispanic-American Women’s Association, Asociación Hispano-Americana de Mujeres.
An NRS member who was a part of the ground team, remarked, “We witnessed extensive flood damage, with many store owners facing loss of merchandise and going over a week without electricity or internet.” The member further said, “We showed these store owners how the NRS handheld POS, paired with a SIM Card and equipped with NRS Pay with credit card processing, could enable them to accept card payments without power or Wi-Fi. For stores with power, we provided technical support to restore their POS and card processing terminals.”
Popularly known as ‘Ricky on the Road,’ from his video segments, NRS’s community outreach officer, underscored, “The NRS POS terminal is at the core of our retailers’ operations. We must repair, replace, or reconnect these units quickly so these stores can continue serving their customers, especially since so many larger grocery and big box stores were closed or inaccessible.”
The vlogger also added, “Independent NRS retailers have been a critical source of food and supplies for hard-hit communities.”
The NRS’s parent company, the IDT Corporation, also sent teams on ground to support NRS retail customers and local communities during recovery operations.
“We cannot begin to imagine the devastation that local small businesses have experienced. When news broke of the disaster’s broad scope in the Carolinas, we immediately sent a team of NRS volunteers to help these business owners through this crisis and stay afloat by keeping their stores running,” emphasized Elie Y. Katz, President and CEO of NRS, who also reached out to distressed retailers to extend support.
As rescue and recovery projects continue, the NRS remains dedicated to extending assistance to local retailers stricken by Hurricane Helene. The NRS network of independent retailers remain steadfast pillars of strength, extending a helping hand to local communities, especially at a time when many larger stores are either shut or cut-off from locals. In a statement released by the NRS, the company reaffirms its commitment to “stand by its retail partners, ensuring they have the resources and support needed to serve their communities.”
