As the American economy has improved over the past few months, consumers are becoming more confident in their own financial conditions and this is showing in their spending levels. If shoppers keep hitting retail stores and websites at the same pace, retail sales should be boosted in the coming months.

According to the Deloitte Consumer Spending Index, February was a positive month for consumer spending even though the number of weekly unemployment claims rose and concerns lingered over payroll tax increases. However, the index revealed that shoppers were not too phased by these worries, as spending remained steady throughout February. Last month's figure jumped to 4.0 from January's index of 3.9. Deloitte analyzes real wages, initial unemployment claims, tax burdens and real new home prices to come up with its monthly index. Authors of the report stated that all signs are pointing to further economic improvement bolstered by increased spending among consumers.

Retail sales in February were positive, as statistics from the Commerce Department revealed sales totals increased 1.1 percent from the previous month, which represents the biggest jump since September 2012, according to Reuters.

This entry was posted by Retail Pro on Thursday, March 21st, 2013 at 1:28 pm .

Businesses in every industry are allowing employees to work from home more than ever before, as technology such as laptops, smartphones and tablets help workers complete tasks from home. However, many of these telecommuters are spending some part of their day shopping, meaning that with the correctly timed advertisements, retailers can boost their ecommerce through these individuals.

According to a recent study by CouponCabin.com, 69 percent of home workers stated they go online to browse for and purchase products at some point during their day. This is compared to the 54 percent who do so from their offices. Just under one-quarter (24 percent) of telecommuters spend an average of one hour per week shopping online. Many of the work-from-home employees said they prefer not going into the office as there are fewer distractions and therefore they feel more productive. The research revealed that these staff members also feel less likely to get caught shopping on the internet during their workdays.

So how can retailers reach this group, especially as the telecommuting trend is expected to grow? Tracking and analyzing which products these individuals are looking at can give merchants more insight into what kind of items consumers want. Then, businesses can promotional campaigns with this information and send messages to telecommuters during working hours.

This entry was posted by Retail Pro on Thursday, March 21st, 2013 at 11:37 am .

Although retailers throughout the United Kingdom have had a rough couple of years since the recession took hold of the nation's economy, things are looking up. Conditions are improving so much that merchants are looking to expand their operations outside of their domestic markets into foreign countries, in nearby Europe and other continents. The U.K. government is supporting this goal, as it is expected that it will lead to further economic growth.

Going across borders
The International Business Times reports that there is new initiative in place, which was developed by U.K. Trade & Investment (UKTI) and several national retailers, called the U.K. Retail Industry International Action Plan. The source explains that the program will provide 1,000 merchants with capital needed for international expansion. This money will be given out over the next two years, until March 2015. Among the markets being targeted by U.K. companies are Mexico City, Mumbai, Istanbul and Shanghai, along with other big cities.

"This International Action Plan should make a real difference. It will ensure that retailers who need help and advice get it, and that the British government's efforts to tackle barriers to trade overseas are properly co-ordinated," said British Retail Consortium director general Helen Dickinson.

The news source writes there is an increasing demand for British goods in foreign countries, which is one reason why the International Action Plan was created. Exporting U.K. products is expected to provide a huge boost the country's economy.

Domestic retail conditions improving
While the expansion into foreign markets will bring in additional revenue for U.K. retailers, these same merchants are seeing strong growth at home as well. Dow Jones reports that statistics from the British Retail Consortium revealed that retail sales throughout February jumped 2.7 percent from the same time a year prior. This represents the largest year-over-year increase in three years, the news source notes.

January's sales were also positive for U.K. companies, as total volumes climbed 1.9 percent from the previous year. Economists contribute this growth to improving weather conditions and more confidence among consumers, and there is hope that the trend will continue in the coming months.

"Against all expectations, retail sales rose this month to achieve the strongest underlying sales growth for three years," said David McCorquodale, head of retail at accounting group KPMG. "Relatively dry, if cold, weather and the occasional day of spring sunshine helped to lift clothing sales as well as drive footfall in the general direction of the department stores."

This entry was posted by Retail Pro on Thursday, March 21st, 2013 at 8:02 am .

There is still time left to sign up for tomorrow's webinar for Retail Pro 9, a complete retail management system that gives businesses the tools needed to maintain control of and oversee all of their operations. The event will be held tomorrow from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. PST, and will showcase the various features, benefits and capabilities of the innovative Retail Pro 9 platform. Registration information can be found at https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/163323242.

Webinar attendees will learn all about Retail Pro 9 and how it fits the needs of all types of retail operations, including specialty merchants. The solution offers both companies and their customers improved point of sale technology, providing faster transactions and more accurate processing. Businesses can also effectively manage their inventory and purchase orders and transfers with Retail Pro 9. Merchants who operate in multiple markets and countries are provided with a system that controls both domestic and foreign operations. Workflows become more efficient and flexible with the Retail Pro solution, and reports produced by the platform are able to be customized based on retailers' needs.

Presenting at the webinar is the Director of Retail Pro University, Ket Venethongkham. He will discuss and demonstrate Retail Pro 9, showing attendees how it can significantly help their retail operations.

This entry was posted by Retail Pro on Wednesday, March 20th, 2013 at 12:44 pm .

When completing a purchase, especially online, shoppers are often required to enter various forms of information about themselves, such as name, address, phone number and sometimes even birth​ date. While most consumers are comfortable giving out these details, others are not so sure about it.

Internet Retailer reports that research from the Luxury Institute revealed that shoppers buying luxury items online are not happy about sharing their information with businesses, but they only do so because it is required to complete a transaction. Of the 68 percent of customers who give retailers their data, three-quarters of that group only do it since it is necessary. Some of the hesitance of sharing these details comes from concerns for their privacy and security. Another reason was because some shoppers believe merchants sell their information to third parties, the source noted.

So how can businesses get consumers to give them information, most of which is vital for marketing and building loyalty? The importance of customer data is not lost on companies, as The Huffington Post reports a study by the Marketing Society showed that executives believe understanding shopper information is the key to success. Retailers can offer incentives, such as discounts, deals and free items to patrons for sharing details.

This entry was posted by Retail Pro on Wednesday, March 20th, 2013 at 10:38 am .

The dates for this year's Retail Pro Global Conference have been announced, and the alluring city of Barcelona, Spain, will play host to the annual event. Retail Pro Business Partners and Customers will each have their own conference, with various discussions, demonstrations and presentations designed to fit the needs of both groups.

The Retail Pro Business Partner Summit will take place between October 18 and 20, while the Retail Pro Customer Summit will be between October 20 and 22. Business Partners will learn all about the various Retail Pro technologies, solutions and processes they support, both in their local regions and abroad. Attendees will gain more insight into how to work with Retail Pro Customers to make their processes and procedures more streamlined with the company's products.

For the Retail Pro Customer Summit, attendees will learn everything there is to know about Retail Pro's solutions that provide a variety of features, benefits and capabilities to retailers' operations. Whether it's reporting, customer management, inventory or point of sale, Retail Pro has the products needed to make processes more streamlined and successful.

The 2013 Retail Pro Global Conference will be held at the Hesperia Tower in Barcelona, Spain, which will provide attendees with many amenities and luxurious accommodations. Registration information can be found here: https://www.retailpro.com/Community/2013Conference/GlobalConference.php.

This entry was posted by Retail Pro on Wednesday, March 20th, 2013 at 5:53 am .

There's an app for pretty much everything these days, as consumers are increasingly using smartphones and tablets to perform a variety of daily tasks. Mobile applications have even made their way into the retail industry, as many merchants – especially big-name brands – have developed apps for their shoppers. However, recent research has found that many customers prefer to use ecommerce websites instead of applications for researching and purchasing products. For companies, this means that more focus needs to be put on developing effective ecommerce sites to boost online sales. While apps may still be beneficial for retailers, websites are proving to be where consumers are going, so creating strategies for managing both could be the key to success.

Attractive design and ease-of-use improve ecommerce
MediaPost reports that according to a recent study by Siteworx, 65.7 percent of consumers prefer to access merchants' websites on their devices for shopping rather than mobile apps. One of the reasons for apps lagging behind ecommerce sites was that shoppers need incentives to download them, such as special offers, discounts and other deals. Many companies are not providing these aspects, leaving their apps unsupported.

The news source notes that even if retailers are discouraged that their mobile apps are not generating the interest they had hoped for, they should instead focus their attention on improving their websites to draw in mobile traffic. Uploading information, pictures and demonstration videos pertaining to merchandise, which of course are optimized for mobile devices, can help shoppers with their purchasing decisions, further boosting online sales. Making transactions faster and more secure are other ways that businesses can ensure their ecommerce strategies see success, as these are elements that consumers are looking for when buying items through their smartphones and tablets.

Ecommerce set to get bigger
Although websites are the main factor of mobile commerce for retailers, overall online sales for companies are expected to climb significantly this year. Internet Retailer cites a study by Forrester Research, which estimates that purchases made through the internet, whether on mobile devices or computers, will reach $370 billion by 2017. The research firm also forecasts that for 2013, ecommerce sales will jump 13.4 percent from last year, coming to a total of $262 billion.

Making efforts now to improve ecommerce sites will only help retailers accommodate consumers who prefer to go online for shopping purposes.

This entry was posted by Retail Pro on Tuesday, March 19th, 2013 at 1:10 pm .

Keeping track and maintaining control over the many aspects of retail operations can seem daunting for any businesses, but with the help of a retail management system like Retail Pro 9, merchants can streamline their processes, make improvement and create more efficiency. Interested retail industry professionals can learn all about Retail Pro 9 on Thursday, March 21, at a webinar session dedicated to the innovative solution. Registration information can be found at https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/163323242.

Presenting at the webinar will be Ket Venethongkham, the Director of Retail Pro University. He will showcase the features, capabilities and benefits of Retail Pro 9 and how the retail management software can be customized for retailers' unique needs. The system provides businesses with retail point of sale software as well as merchandising solutions. Retailers can track and manage layaways, gift registries and special orders in addition to overseeing customer retention strategies and loyalty programs to boost satisfaction.

Retail Pro 9 provides companies with the tools for producing reports and analytics, so retailers can see all of their transactional data that help them make more informed decisions. Merchants can also maintain control over their inventory, and have more insight into entire product life cycles. All of these features and much more will be discussed at the Retail Pro 9 webinar on Thursday, so sign up today!

This entry was posted by Retail Pro on Tuesday, March 19th, 2013 at 10:57 am .

When shoppers enter retail stores or log onto merchants' websites, they want to feel like their business is appreciated and valued. Companies have ways of providing this, perhaps through discounts and free offerings, among other strategies. But now, consumers are looking for personalized interactions and products to keep them loyal to brands.

Independent Retailer explains that shoppers want to connect with brands, and while businesses may provide the products individuals are looking for, it may not always be enough. To boost retention and loyalty, the source recommends that merchants look into offering options for consumers to have their names and other details put onto products. This approach can be used on a variety of merchandise, including jewelry, clothing, cutlery and other items.

"Consumers are drawn to things they can connect with and the first thing many people connect with is their name," Joe Pirrucello of The Name People told the source. "When customers see a product with their name on it, they establish an immediate relationship with that item."

Personalization shouldn't apply to only products, as QSR Web points out that shoppers want specialized attention during interactions with brands as well. Retailers can provide this by analyzing data about consumers and their past purchases to offer similar items.

This entry was posted by Retail Pro on Tuesday, March 19th, 2013 at 8:13 am .

Retailers have been incorporating technology solutions into their brick-and-mortar locations for a while, but now that consumers are bringing in their own technology in the form of smartphones and tablets, companies are having to adopt solutions to accommodate these customers.

Econsultancy reports that research from JiWire revealed that 43 percent of shoppers use their mobile devices while on-the-go to research retail products and compare prices. In addition, 44 percent of smartphone and tablet-using individuals state that the availability of Wi-Fi in merchants' storefronts actually influences their decision to visit businesses. For these reasons, it is important for retailers to consider offering Wi-Fi access in their brick-and-mortar locations, as this can help to draw in passing consumers. Perhaps offering location-based discounts for nearby patrons will sweeten the deal.

To further accommodate customers who like to use devices while out and about, merchants can incorporate systems such as mobile POS technology that accepts and processes payments from mobile gadgets. Consumers are not only utilizing their devices to browse for products, but they are using them to purchase merchandise as well. Making these procedures faster and more streamlined for shoppers boosts satisfaction and loyalty.

This entry was posted by Retail Pro on Friday, March 15th, 2013 at 10:46 am .