CASE STUDY

HollyNorth Production Supplies thrives in “Hollywood North”

with help from QuickBooks Enterprise.

QuickBooks primarily handles accounting and financial tasks. While lacking built-in CRM functionalities, it can integrate with third-party CRM solutions, it is not designed as a CRM system, focusing instead on managing finances and bookkeeping for businesses.

 

Company Overview

HollyNorth Production Supplies, based in Burnaby, British Columbia, is a key supplier to the film, television, and special event industries. Situated in “Hollywood North,” a term often used for Vancouver due to its proximity to Los Angeles and diverse filming locations, HollyNorth is a one-stop shop for production needs. Founded 16 years ago by Mike Kaerne, the company has grown to become a significant player in the region’s bustling film industry.

Business Needs

As HollyNorth expanded, it faced the challenge of managing an increasingly complex business. The company required an efficient accounting solution that could handle multiple functions such as payroll, inventory control, accounts receivable and payable, sales orders, and daily receipts. The growing demands of the business made it essential to find a system that could integrate seamlessly with their web store and provide the necessary insights for decision-making.

Initial Challenges

Initially, Kaerne started HollyNorth on QuickBooks, a trusted solution for small businesses. However, as the business grew, the need to manage rental inventory became a priority. At that time, QuickBooks did not offer the functionality required for rental inventory management, leading Kaerne to switch to another system. This decision, however, proved to be a costly mistake.

The new system failed to meet HollyNorth’s needs. According to Kaerne, the inventory and bookkeeping features were so outdated that additional staff had to be hired just to manage the accounting tasks. This system not only increased operational costs but also made the accounting process far more complicated and time-consuming than it needed to be.

Transition to QuickBooks Enterprise

After two challenging years with the new system, Kaerne decided to return to QuickBooks, this time opting for QuickBooks Enterprise. The transition proved to be a turning point for HollyNorth. QuickBooks Enterprise offered several key advantages that addressed the company’s needs, including unlimited SKUs for inventory management and role-based access control. The latter feature was particularly valuable, allowing part-time employees to access only the specific functions they needed, reducing the risk of errors and ensuring data security.

QuickBooks Enterprise also offered a level of flexibility that Kaerne appreciated. As a self-described “reports guy,” he valued the ability to explore detailed reports and customer segments. This capability allowed him to stay attuned to client preferences and make informed business decisions, helping HollyNorth remain competitive in a rapidly evolving industry.

Benefits of QuickBooks Enterprise

The implementation of QuickBooks Enterprise brought several benefits to HollyNorth, including:

  1. Integrated Accounting Functions: QuickBooks Enterprise enabled HollyNorth to manage all accounting tasks from a single platform, streamlining processes and reducing the need for additional staff. The system’s integration with the company’s web store also ensured that sales data was accurately tracked and recorded.
  2. Advanced Inventory Management: With QuickBooks Enterprise, HollyNorth could efficiently manage its extensive inventory, thanks to the unlimited SKU feature. This allowed the company to keep track of a wide range of products without any limitations, ensuring that inventory levels were always accurate and up-to-date.
  3. Role-Based Access Control: QuickBooks Enterprise’s role-based access control provided an added layer of security. Employees could be granted access to only the functions they needed, minimizing the risk of unauthorized access and ensuring that sensitive financial data remained protected.
  4. Enhanced Reporting Capabilities: The ability to generate detailed reports allowed Kaerne to monitor business performance closely. By analyzing customer segments and sales trends, HollyNorth could tailor its offerings to meet client demands, improving customer satisfaction and driving business growth.

Conclusion

QuickBooks Enterprise has played a crucial role in supporting HollyNorth Production Supplies’ growth and success in the competitive film industry. By providing an all-in-one solution for accounting, inventory management, and reporting, QuickBooks Enterprise has enabled the company to operate efficiently and stay ahead of industry trends.

Kaerne’s experience underscores the importance of choosing the right accounting solution for a growing business. After a difficult period with a less effective system, HollyNorth has found the reliability and functionality it needs with QuickBooks Enterprise, allowing the company to thrive in “Hollywood North.”