With the back-to-school season underway and the busiest shopping period of the year fast approaching with the upcoming holidays, U.S. retailers have a lot to look forward to. However, a less-than-stellar first half of 2013 has dampened merchants' optimism, as sales figures dropped slightly.

Advertising Age explained that many retailers are expressing caution about the second six months of the year following a dismal performance between January and June. Big-name brands such as Target, Kohl's and Macy's have reported lower sales and traffic, both in stores and online. There are several reasons for these declines, including higher payroll taxes and a fluctuating housing market, the source noted.

Despite this, businesses are ramping up their promotional efforts in preparation for the busy holiday shopping season. The news provider stated that Macy's is increasing its marketing strategies in the hope of attracting customers with its message that the brand offers a great deal on its products.

More businesses will certainly be following suit in the coming weeks to boost their revenues, and to handle the influx of customers both online and in their stores, merchants can use retail management software to oversee all of their operations.