Retailers throughout the world have been embracing mobile technology as smartphones and tablets have been increasingly used by consumers. Whether it is developing mobile applications, creating optimized websites for devices or offering mobile payment solutions in stores, merchants are aware of the importance of the technology and what it can do for their operations.

Street Fight Magazine writes that when mobile devices first came on the scene, many businesses were wary of the technology, as they believed it would be the end of brick-and-mortar. However, many companies have seen that this is certainly not the case, and for merchants that are still concerned, the source explains there is no need to be worried. Consumers want to use their smartphones and even tablets in retail stores, which means that the gadgets are set to transform how businesses conduct their in-store operations.

To accommodate customers using their personal devices, the source recommends that brands adopt solutions that fit the needs of shoppers. This can be accomplished through offering location-based deals and discounts as well as providing incentives for patrons who use websites and apps on their devices to submit feedback. In addition, retailers can implement mobile POS systems that allow shoppers to pay with smartphones and tablets in stores, further increasing satisfaction and retention.

This entry was posted by Retail Pro on Monday, April 1st, 2013 at 12:35 pm .

For Retail Pro Business Partners and Customers, there are many reasons to look forward to this year's Retail Pro Global Conference, which will be held October 18-22 in Barcelona, Spain. Each group will have their own summit, with the Business Partner Summit taking place October 12-20, and the Customer Summit being held October 20-22. Here are just some of the reasons for retail industry professionals to get excited about the upcoming event:

– Insight into product development: Attendees will learn all about the current and future development of Retail Pro's products, and these solutions' features, capabilities and benefits significantly boost retail operations.

– Focused time with Retail Pro experts: The 2013 Retail Pro Global Conference gives Business Partners and Customers the chance to connect with Retail Pro experts through discussions, demonstrations, presentations and other events.

– New technology showcase: On top of learning about current product development, Conference attendees will also be able to see firsthand the new technology solutions being offered by Retail Pro and how these systems will greatly benefit a variety of retail operations.

– The tools needed for better retailing: Whether it's existing Retail Pro solutions or technology still being developed, Business Partners and Customers will have the chance to see live demonstrations of effective tools that lead to improved retailing, no matter the niche.

– Networking opportunities: Conference attendees will be able to interact, connect and network with other retail industry professionals and learn more about other retailers by hearing about their experiences.

Sign up today for the 2013 Retail Pro Global Conference to enjoy these benefits and more. Registration information can be found at https://www.retailpro.com/Community/2013Conference/Registration.php.

This entry was posted by Retail Pro on Monday, April 1st, 2013 at 10:23 am .

Technology has allowed consumers to reach out to brands at any time and from any place, and this has resulted in customers looking for more personalized interactions from retailers, as people want their patronage to be valued and appreciated. Merchants throughout Europe are realizing the importance of this trend and are adding more personal elements to their marketing campaigns.

A study by Neolane revealed that retailers know that incorporating personalized components into their marketing materials can significantly boost ROI. Of the professionals surveyed, 54 percent stated they see positive ROI within months of launching their personal marketing initiatives. In addition, European businesses are making these aspects more customized to improve customer satisfaction and loyalty as well as grow their conversion rates. This means that cross- and upselling are not the main goals of these more personal interactions, Neolane discovered.

Mobile is another channel in which retailers can reach out to consumers and make engagement more effective through personalization, according to CMS Wire. Feedback garnered through these devices can then be used to target customers and make them feel valued. This appreciation will help to boost sales as well as loyalty and retention rates.

This entry was posted by Retail Pro on Monday, April 1st, 2013 at 4:41 am .

Retailers are aware that shoppers, both online and in stores, like to feel appreciated by brands and know their patronage is valued. While merchants use many strategies to let consumers know they are important, providing personalized interactions may be just the thing to build loyalty.

Marketing Land cites research from Harris Interactive and inContact that found most retail customers are influenced more by personalized experiences than previously established brand loyalty. This means that even if a shopper has done business with a merchant in the past, they are more likely to buy products from another business if that company offers more proactive and personalized customer service options. The study revealed that more than half of respondents (56 percent) said they are somewhat likely to forego a favorite retailer and switch to one that provides better experiences, the source reports.

So how can retailers either retain customers to build loyalty or attract new shoppers with exceptional service? Media Post suggests that companies offer various channels for communications, through phone, email, social media and even live chat on websites. In addition, merchants can store and analyze customer data to develop campaigns that provide deals and discounts for items and services shoppers will be interested in.

This entry was posted by Retail Pro on Wednesday, March 27th, 2013 at 1:17 pm .

It may seem as though countries across the globe have fully adopted ecommerce platforms, as consumers are now going online more than ever to browse for and purchase items. However, some merchants in Australia are lagging behind when it comes to web shopping, and they could risk losing customers if they ignore the technology much longer.

Writing for the Herald Sun, Jessica Irvine explains that Australians are taking to the internet to buy all kinds of items – appliances such as refrigerators, clothing, groceries, electronics and a variety of other products. As retailers in all industries are impacted by the growing demand for ecommerce, it only makes sense for these businesses to provide solutions to make customers' web shopping experiences more pleasant. Irvine cites the NAB Online Retail Index, which found that in 2012, Australian consumers spent a total of $12.8 billion online, representing a 23 percent year-over-year increase.

If retailers make the move now to implement ecommerce processes, it could give a big boost to the nation's retail sales. Reuters reports that findings from the Australian Bureau of Statistics revealed that retail sales grew 0.9 percent in January, the biggest jump in four months. Adopting ecommerce strategies will only help merchants increase their revenues.

This entry was posted by Retail Pro on Wednesday, March 27th, 2013 at 11:00 am .

When shoppers find a merchant they like, such as one that offers specific products or one that provides exceptional service, they usually frequent that business often. This helps retailers build loyalty among these customers and turn them into advocates for their brands. However, recent research has revealed that while many shoppers stick with certain companies, many are willing to try out new retailers to see what they are offering. Businesses have tactics to retain consumers and turn them into loyal patrons, but how can brands attract new customers? There are several strategies that companies can follow to draw in potential shoppers and keep them coming back.

Consumers open to new retail experiences
One of the reasons shoppers venture to new merchants could be the improving economy, as individuals have more spending money and are willing to test out various products and services they are not familiar with. A recent study by Market Force found that of the customers visiting new companies, the majority were happy with their experiences and would consider frequenting those merchants again.

The research revealed that of the shoppers who tried out a new retailer recently, 60 percent were pleased with their experience, while 40 percent said they were either neutral about their visit or had negative opinions about that particular merchant. The majority who were satisfied with the new retailer stated they are more likely to return to make future purchases, the study discovered.

"In our findings, consumers who gave a five out of five satisfaction score were six times more likely to recommend the retailer to others than those who gave a four out of five," said Market Force chief marketing officer Janet Eden-Harris. "Focusing on great service and in-store execution is the best investment a retailer can make to grow same-store sales."

Try out daily deals for new customers
To attract new customers, many retailers rely on traditional techniques, such as posting fliers, sending out direct mailings and other strategies. These approaches still work, especially to draw in local shoppers. But another method that is effective is offering daily deals on websites. ZD Net writes that while some customers will only use their coupons once and perhaps never return, others become interested in what companies have to offer and are likely to visit again for additional purchases. Daily deal websites get brands' items in front of consumers, boosting the chances of sales and retention.

This entry was posted by Retail Pro on Wednesday, March 27th, 2013 at 6:58 am .

Retail sales throughout the United States have been improving over the past few months, and recent findings reveal that March is on track to be another positive month for American merchants, as consumers spend more money amid their increasing confidence.

Fox Business reports that statistics from Redbook Research showed that during the first three weeks of March, chain store sales throughout the country rose by 0.6 percent. While this did not meet the 1.2 percent expected gain, it is positive news, as the final days of the month could see a strong boost for retailers to round out a solid month of growth. Year-over-year, Redbook found that seasonally adjusted sales were up by 2.8 percent, the news source explains.

March is following an extremely positive month for retail sales, as Modern Materials Handling cites research from the National Retail Federation revealing that sales totals reached $421.4 billion in February. This represents a 1.1 percent increase from January, and was the largest rate of growth since September 2011. These findings lay down the foundation for a strong 2013 for American merchants.

This entry was posted by Retail Pro on Tuesday, March 26th, 2013 at 9:44 am .

Consumers are increasingly going online, and retailers are following suit. However, without the right systems and strategies in place to accommodate internet shoppers, retailers could hurt themselves when it comes to their ecommerce methods. This is where Retail Pro E-Commerce can help businesses, by providing them a solution that effectively manages all of their needs and meets customers' wants.

Interested retail industry professionals can learn all about Retail Pro E-Commerce at this week's webinar, taking place on Thursday, March 28 from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. PDT. Registration information can be found at https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/706071914.

Neil McKeown, Product Manager for Retail Pro E-Commerce and Retail Pro Business Intelligence, will be presenting the webinar, and he will demonstrate how the fully integrated e-commerce solution benefits retailers by providing better customer service, saving time and supporting multiple web stores.

Other features of Retail Pro E-Commerce include tools for building e-commerce websites from scratch or either professionally created templates. The solution allows companies to keep all of their e-commerce data in one place, such as sales orders, customer details and inventory management processes. All of this and more will be discussed at Thursday's webinar, so sign up now!

This entry was posted by Retail Pro on Tuesday, March 26th, 2013 at 5:35 am .

With the prevalence of new technologies emerging almost daily, retailers have been provided with new channels for marketing and communicating with customers to drive sales. This doesn't mean that businesses are completely throwing out their more traditional strategies, such as direct mailings, catalogs and asking shoppers to fill out feedback forms. But companies are employing both digital and non-digital methods for interacting with target audiences. Some of these approaches are providing more positive results for brands, and surprisingly, the more traditional methods seem to still be working.

Consumers influenced by variety of methods
Although people are increasingly using technology like smartphones and tablets for daily tasks, many are still receptive to traditional promotional campaigns such as direct mailings. But new channels such as social media and mobile are also giving merchants results, both in-stores and online.

Marketing Profs reports that research from Baynote and the e-tailing group found that many consumers look up reviews online when considering buying from brands. These opinions and insights from previous and existing customers strongly influence potential shoppers' purchasing decisions. Email promotions are another tactic that bring in results for retailers' marketing efforts. Messages that contain relevant content such as products similar to past purchases and discounts for future items can drive sales.

On the other hand, paper catalogs featuring retail merchandise are also still effective, as many consumers like receiving these materials in the mail. The news source reports that this promotional approach doesn't seem to be diminishing in popularity, so for merchants looking to further boost sales, this could be an efficient strategy.

Make use of mobile marketing
Despite the ongoing relevance of traditional methods such as catalogs, consumers still like digital tactics for retail marketing. Mobile is one channel that is fast becoming a preferred technology among shoppers. Many companies have adopted solutions, such as mobile POS systems, that accommodate customers who like to browse for and purchase products through smartphones and tablets. However, businesses may also want to consider sending out promotional elements through the devices.

Fourth Source writes that consumers are becoming more confident in buying items through mobile, as concerns over security and identity theft have decreased over the past few years. The source explains that the convenience and fast transaction times of mobile purchases are what is driving sales made with devices. Therefore, retailers should look at sending out promotions such as discounts, deals and offering to shoppers' smartphones and tablets to increase retention and satisfaction.

This entry was posted by Retail Pro on Monday, March 25th, 2013 at 9:25 am .

The recent economic recession hit both businesses and consumers hard, as owners and individuals were forced to cut back on various expenses. However, now that conditions are steadily improving, confidence is coming back and shoppers are splurging on luxury purchases.

According to the recently released Harris Poll EquiTrend Brand Equity Index, luxury retailers are faring significantly well despite ongoing economic recovery. Businesses in nearly every luxury category, including automobile, clothing, airlines, hotels and gourmet foods, saw boosts in revenues over the past year, signaling higher consumer optimism as individuals spend more on expensive items and services.

"This may show that after a number of years spent tightening their belts, consumers are looking to the quality and value they feel these brands provide," said Aron Galonsky, Harris Interactive senior vice president of brand and communication consulting, of the study's results.

However, these luxury shoppers are less than eager to share their personal information such as address, phone number and other details when purchasing online, reports Internet Retailer. Research from the Luxury Institute found that more than half of these individuals give retailers their information only because it is necessary to do so to complete transactions. Therefore, merchants may want to provide incentives for these customers to share their details for better marketing and promotions.

This entry was posted by Retail Pro on Monday, March 25th, 2013 at 5:52 am .