Shifting technology and marketing strategies are changing the way companies approach retail merchandising, as well as the speed and timeliness with which they do so.

In a recent interview for the website Small Business Trends, senior vice president of marketing at Desk.com Matt Trifiro explained how mobile technology is changing customer service strategies and relations.

"Mobile has completely revolutionized our relationship to the internet and similarly our relationship to companies," Trifiro explains. "When I had a good or bad customer service experience, chances are, the device that is nearest me is going to be my mobile phone. The easiest thing to do was to Tweet, and I've done that."

To prevent consumer from harnessing this technology to vent, Trifero suggests that companies identify the tools that will help them manage the technologies more effectively and efficiently.

Companies, he explains, don't need to hire separate social media, email and customer service experts in all cases. If companies choose their social networks and employees wisely, they can take care of consumer needs without breaking the bank.

A recent study by SailPoint found 48 percent of UK employees polled said they would abuse corporate and customer data if the opportunity presented itself, while 22 percent of American employees and 29 percent of Australian employees said they would abuse company data.

According to the research, 23.6 percent of Brits would sell data on the internet, compared to 5.3 percent of Americans and 4.2 percent of Australians. Of the UK respondents, 29 percent would look at employee salaries, 28.9 percent would check performance reviews and 51.9 percent would only perform tasks the company allowed.

In an interview with V3, SailPoint co-founder and vice president of marketing, Jackie Gilbert, said the higher numbers in Great Britain could be due to external factors such as willingness to answer honestly or poor worker morale.

According to the news source, Gilbert recommends companies make it clear to employees that abusing company data, such as copying it when leaving the company, is illegal.

In response to the increase in internal security breaches, the National Retail Federation recently urged the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to reject a proposal barring employees from running criminal background checks on jobs applications or existing workers. The proposal is geared at making it easier for job seekers who have been released from prison to obtain a position, as a criminal record is often a hindrance to finding employment.

"One of the most important ways to create safe working environments is for employers, principals and volunteer organizations to be able to conduct criminal background checks for employees, independent contractors and volunteers," said the NFC and other groups in a letter to the EEOC. 

Ecommerce retail sites and brick-and-mortar physical locations have long been considered two separate entities. Zales is hoping to bridge that perceptual gap with a new mobile commerce site, enabling shoppers to inform their real-life purchased decisions with information gleaned from their smartphones.

The mobile site allows users to quickly browse the retailer's inventory through search boxes or drop-down categories. They can also use their Zales.com credentials to log in and manage their billing and shipping information. The key, a Zales spokeswoman told Internet Retailer, is enabling customers to browse the store's inventory in the fashion they are most comfortable with.

"Zales sees the mobile site as a bridge between our stores and our web site that consumers can use while on the go," she added. "To be successful in today’s multichannel environment, it was important for us to deliver the best shopping experience to our customers, whenever or wherever they are."

With consumers spending more per transaction on luxury goods, according to recent report from American Express, being flexible is key to maximizing sales. By offering a satisfactory shopping experience in the store, online and through smartphones, retailers give customers the versatility to shop how they please.

A new CouponCabin.com survey found 64 percent of online parents plan to use a coupon or online coupon code for this year's back-to-school purchases. Many consumers are planning to keep strict budgets this fall, as 24 percent of parents said they plan to spend $200 per child on back-to-school items.

Of the parents who plan on using coupons, 70 percent will use the discount on school supplies, 59 percent on clothes, 37 percent on electronics, 18 percent on sports equipment and 13 percent on uniforms. In addition to cutting coupons, 43 percent of parents plan on making more purchases online this year than last year because there are better deals, its easier and will save on gas.

Jackie Warrick, chief savings officer at CouponCabin.com, said back-to-school shopping can be very expensive for families, and experienced parents have learned the value of saving whenever possible. Retailers can take advantage of this money-saving trend by offering online discounts, coupon codes and email promotions to existing and new customers.

In response to the bargain-hunting trend, CVS recently launched its new digital savings option for its ExtraCare Rewards Program. Serving more than 67 million active cardholders, the program has integrated a Send to Card option that allows cardholders to send select ExtraCare coupons directly to their ExtraCare card. Customers can select coupons from their email and send them to their account, without printing or cutting any coupons. The option is fast and convenient, while giving customers the power to choose what items they want to save money on.  

The Bureau of Labor Statistics released its July jobs report after stock markets across the globe plummeted due to poor economic data, low consumer confidence and a continued debt crisis in Europe. The report showed 117,000 new jobs were created in July, dropping the unemployment rate from 9.2 percent to 9.1 percent. The report found retail jobs grew by 26,000 in July, the largest growth of any industry.

In response to the encouraging report, president and CEO of the National Retail Federation, Matthew Shay, said retailers must work together to urge Congress to focus on job growth, corporate tax reform, visa reform and passing the free trade agreements.

"As an industry that provides jobs to more than 40 million Americans, consumer confidence in our economy and our government could not be more crucial as retailers inch closer to the holiday season," Shay said.

According to Shay, the strong growth in the retail industry for July proves that retailers are contributing to an economic recovery. But he still calls for a stronger jobs age 

The MasterCard's 2011 July SpendingPulse Retail Sector Report found strong numbers for the month, particularly in specialty apparel and luxury retail.

Of the U.S. retail industries, apparel showed gains in July, while home-related items such as electronics, appliances and furniture showed losses due to a weak housing market. Vice President of research and analysis for MasterCard, Michael McNamara said the mixed results are due to external factors affecting consumer behaviors, such as a weak housing market translating into six straight months of losses in furniture sales.

According to McNamara, high food and energy prices are showing an effect on the industry's growth as well. Automotive sales have dropped and restaurants are posting their lowest growth rates in several months.

The data found ecommerce grew 14 percent in the past year, showing growth for 24 straight months, while the luxury index increased 11.6 percent posting its largest growth since April 2010. Specialty apparel also grew 6.2 percent in the past year.

Business Week reported that the July numbers are encouraging, but many retailers remain unsure of consumer behavior for back-to-school shopping. Many fear that shoppers will focus on necessities and hunt down discounts, reducing sales on full priced items for mos 

The National Retail Federation recently urged a congressional committee to reject the proposed National Retail Sales Tax and the Value Added Tax, and focus on reforming the existing income tax system instead. According to the organization, either tax would have damaging, job-killing results on the retail industry and not boost the economy, as lawmakers foresee them doing.

Rachelle Bernstein, NRF vice president and Tax Counsel, said that incorporating a consumption tax into the current tax system would bring risk to the economy.

"NRF believes that a reform of the income tax, by providing a broad base and low rates, would bring the greatest economic efficiency and would stimulate economic growth without causing the economic dislocations inherent in the transition to a new tax system," Bernstein said.

Congress is looking to possibly replace the current tax system with the proposed National Retail Sales Tax and Value Added consumption Tax. The Wall Street Journal recently reported that Republican presidential nominee Mike Huckabee is pushing for the incorporation of a National Sales Tax.

"Folks it is time we put the IRS out of business," Huckabee wrote on his website. 

According to the Fifth Annual Salary Survey from 24 Seven, retail industry employees are seeking higher salaries, more job mobility and quality of life benefits from their employers.

The survey found 68 percent of respondents plan to make a career move in the next year, and almost 50 percent are currently looking for a new job. Growth in the industry is highly anticipated for design, digital and ecommerce positions such as campaign manager, apparel design and visual merchandising.

Celeste Gudas, president and founder of 24 Seven, said the recession has changed job expectations, and employees are branching out to create their own opportunities.

With salary increases seen throughout the industry, the survey reported a 9 percent increase in salaries for employees who have held a position between one and five years, while base salaries for employees in a position for less than 12 months has increased almost 20 percent.

In addition, employment satisfaction has increased due to flexible scheduling and telecommuting opportunities. The top reported reasons for changing jobs were higher base salary, better growth potential and improved quality of life. Workers are seeking not only medical insurance, but other benefits that make balancing life and work more manageable. Because of steady growth in the industry, 62 percent of respondents said they believe their salaries will increase in the next year, while 43 percent expected their bonuses to increase in 2011.

"Companies need to become more attuned to the desires of employees in order to attract and retain talent and remain competitive in this post-recession environment," Gudas said.

According to 24 Seven, one way to increase visibility and share important content while continuing to interact with clients and prospective employees is to become active in social media. Blogging, conferencing and networking can increase the the number of qualified candidates a retailer can attract, as well as reach out to a new customer base.  

The NPD Group recently released its annual back-to-school study of consumer purchasing intentions that found consumers plan to spend about the same this year compared to last year, but they may start a bit later into the sale season.

According to Marshal Cohen, chief industry analyst for the NPD Group, the results indicate that consumers remain cautious about their spending. Shoppers who were once influenced by fashion and trends are being replaced by consumers hunting for value. The study found value is determined by the item's price, quality and brand name for consumer confidence in the product.

"While the differences in the numbers aren't all that dramatic there are dramatic indications of changes in consumption patterns," Cohen said. "The study's results clearly point out that consumers will be shopping later, looking for value, and searching out lower priced items."

The most recent Kronos Retail Labor Index found that hiring in the retail industry remains to rise, but the number of applicants is declining. According to the survey, the ration of hires to applicants rose to 3.7 percent in June, up from 3.2 percent in May. In addition, the number of applicants was the lowest number received since November 2007 and almost 17 percent lower than the same time last year.

Chris Varvares, senior managing director and co-founder of Macroeconomics Advisers, told Convenience Store News that the recovery in hiring has slowed in recent months due to the deceleration in payrolls and slowed growth in retail sales.  

The recently launched site RetailJobsReport.com could provide retailers with a resource to finding qualified applicants.

The new site offers information on different aspects of the industry including conditions and global trends, as well as enables users to search for applicants in its database. Retailers can peruse potential employees based on job experience, professional interests and location.

So far the site has targeted Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York and Philadelphia for applicants and employers, while focusing on the automotive, banking, electronic and restaurant business with plans to expand to other areas of retail.

Finding qualified applicants is becoming a challenging task for some retailers according to the most recent Kronos retail labor index. The report, which analyzes the retail job market, found a sharp decline in applications, while retailers only showed a slight decrease in hiring. Retailers reported hiring 33,447 employees in June, down slightly from 36,710 in May. The report also found the number of applications received by retailers was 900,164 in June, a significant decrease from 1,149,879 the month before.

Chris Varvares, senior managing director and co-founder of Macroeconomic Advisers, provided a supporting quote in the Kronos press release and said the data is characteristic of a favorable hiring environment for retailers.

"While hiring did decline in June, it remains well above levels seen near the end of the recession and during the early recovery period," Varvares said.