About MCS Multi Computer Solutions
MCS is a USAF veteran-owned, family-run Retail Management Hero (RMH) partner in Goffstown, New Hampshire, serving retail stores since 2003. MCS is owned by Shawn Collins and his wife, Mary. We help independent retailers across the US and Canada choose, set up, learn and keep running RMH point of sale, all remotely.
★ USAF veteran-owned · Goffstown, NH · Retail Management Hero partner
MCS at a glance:
- Owned by Shawn and Mary; Shawn is a USAF veteran
- Serving retail stores since 2003
- Microsoft RMS since 2003, RMH partner since 2016
- Focused on Retail Management Hero (RMH) POS
- Stores across the US and Canada
- Training and support done remotely
It started with a bank computer in 1979
Shawn Collins has been fixing computers since he was a kid. In 1979 his dad worked at NCR and sometimes brought home bank computers that had problems, to drop off with the tech department the next morning. At night, young Shawn would get up, tinker with them and get them running. When his dad caught him, he warned Shawn they couldn’t afford to replace one, then asked if he’d done this before. He had. One of the last two wouldn’t start until Shawn opened the lid and reconnected a loose wire. His dad laughed: work had just told him to stop bringing in computers that already worked.
After high school, Shawn joined the U.S. Air Force in August 1982 as a firefighter. He served four years on active duty, then about ten years in the New Hampshire Air National Guard while working full time as a Manchester, NH firefighter. When computers arrived at the fire departments, Shawn was the one who’d been reading the computer books, so the Fire Chief put him in charge of getting them up and running.
He left the Manchester Fire Department in 1997 and opened a computer training center in 1998, teaching companies and their people to use computers and Microsoft programs. On March 17, 2003, he opened MCS Multi Computer Solutions to sell and support Microsoft RMS (Retail Management System). In 2016 MCS became a Retail Management Hero partner, and we helped our stores move from Microsoft RMS to RMH. Today RMH is our focus, and you still talk to people who know your system.
After this many years around computers, Shawn just figures them out.
“As my son Ricky puts it, I’m the most persistent person he’s ever met. I won’t stop until it’s fixed.”
— Shawn Collins
Our timeline
- 1979Shawn gets NCR bank computers running for his dad, the night before they go to the tech department.
- 1982Joins the U.S. Air Force as a firefighter, then serves in the NH Air National Guard while working for the Manchester Fire Department.
- 1997Leaves the Manchester Fire Department. With Mary’s backing, uses his pension to start a computer consulting business.
- 1998November 14: marries Mary Sullivan. Opens a computer training center, teaching computers and Microsoft programs (through 2002).
- 2003March 17: opens MCS Multi Computer Solutions, selling and supporting Microsoft RMS.
- 2016MCS becomes a Retail Management Hero (RMH) partner and helps stores move from RMS to RMH.
A family business, from day one
I left the Manchester Fire Department in 1997. About 30 days went by, and then I asked Mary if she minded me withdrawing my fire department pension money to start a computer consulting company.
She said, “Sure.” I said, “Wait a minute. If this doesn’t work, we’re broke.” She said, “We will make it happen.” That’s really how it started.
Mary and I were married on November 14, 1998, and she has helped with my computer adventure every step of the way. Today Mary and I own MCS together. It’s a family business, and that’s why I always tell our customers:
“Mary is the real brains in the business.”
— Shawn Collins
Stores we work with
Independent retailers across the US and Canada, including:
- Comic shops
- Liquor & wine stores
- Golf shops
- Ski & sport shops
- Garden & landscape centers
- Resorts
- Gourmet markets
- Hospital gift shops
Everything RMH, from one partner
From your first license to everyday questions at the register, here’s how MCS helps.
RMH POS
Retail Management Hero licenses and everything it takes to get your store selling.
- RMH licenses
- Install and setup
- Data conversion from text or CSV files
RMH Yearly Support Contract
Our support plan for RMH stores: $1,500 a year per store.
- Help with anything RMH, all year
- Free membership in our RMH video library
- Not on a contract? Pay as you go
RMH Training
We train your staff on how your RMH is set up and how to run it day to day.
- Remote: Microsoft Teams, GoTo Meeting or ConnectWise ScreenConnect
- Initial training for new stores
- How-to help for contract customers
MCS Utilities for RMH
Our own utilities for keeping RMH databases clean.
- Built by MCS for RMH stores
- Included with the Support Contract
- Also sold one at a time
RMH Integrations
Connect RMH to your accounting and your online store with integrations from ISVs.
- RMH to QuickBooks Online (x2x eCommerce)
- RMH to Shopify (Retail Dimensions Inc.)
- Installed and supported with MCS
Payments with Sola
Card payments inside RMH POS through our payments partner, Sola Payments.
- Sola runs inside RMH POS
- Free Verifone P400 terminal when you sign up through MCS
- Setup in RMH by MCS
Remote training and support, with a real person on the line
All of our training and support is done remotely. We connect to your store through Microsoft Teams, GoTo Meeting or ConnectWise ScreenConnect, so we can see your RMH and fix problems without waiting for a visit. We don’t do on-site work.
Business hours are on our Contact page. After hours, we take emergency calls from RMH stores that can’t open RMH or can’t make a sale.
Remote only
Microsoft Teams, GoTo Meeting and ConnectWise ScreenConnect. No on-site visits.
We recommend hardware, we don’t sell it
We point you to the hardware we use ourselves, then set it up in RMH. Recommended Hardware
Managed IT for existing clients
We still look after the computers of our existing Managed IT clients over ScreenConnect. IT Services
Partners and integrations
MCS works with companies that build for RMH, so your payments and integrations come with support from people who know your store.
Sola Payments
Card and gift card payments inside RMH POS. Stores that sign up with Sola through MCS get a Verifone P400 terminal free.
Sola Payments for RMH →x2x eCommerce
Built by x2x, the RMH to QuickBooks Online integration brings your RMH sales into QuickBooks Online.
RMH Integrations →Retail Dimensions Inc.
Retail Dimensions’ integration keeps your RMH inventory, products and orders in sync with Shopify.
RMH Integrations →MCS video library on Vimeo
We’ve started building a library of RMH how-to videos on Vimeo. It’s free for RMH Yearly Support Contract customers, and we’re adding videos as it grows.
Let’s talk about your store
Thinking about RMH, need help with the one you have, or want a partner who picks up the phone? Get in touch.
603-928-7690 · info@itsmcs.com · Support: support@itsmcs.com
MCS Multi Computer Solutions · 148 S. Mast St., Goffstown, NH 03045 · Business hours: see our Contact page. After hours we take emergency calls (can’t open RMH or can’t make a sale).