Smartphones and tablets are quickly changing the way that consumers browse for and purchase retail merchandise. Many merchants throughout the globe are adopting strategies and solutions to accommodate these shoppers, mainly through websites that are optimized for mobile devices. However, recent research has found that businesses in one part of the world are falling behind when it comes to offering these options for consumers shopping through their smartphones and tablets.

British-based retailers have catching up to do
A report from Skava revealed that while all of the U.S.-based Top 100 retailers currently have mobile websites for consumers available, only 50 percent of the Top 100 U.K. retailers do. It is not a question of demand, as European shoppers are using smartphones and tablets just as much as Americans are. Throughout the European continent, purchases made from mobile devices account for 1 percent of retailers' revenues, but research from Forrester estimates that this is growing at a rate of 43.1 percent.

Skava's study points out while the websites of British companies are able to viewed through mobile, if they are not optimized, consumers can have trouble viewing many components on the smaller screens of their smartphones and tablets. If retailers want to bring in revenue from mobile commerce, they need to act now to develop their sites for shoppers' mobile devices.

"A number of factors encourage and inhibit the adoption of mobile commerce … consumer trust, the convenience and value proposition of mobile shopping, the ease of payment and the availability of products at the right price," said Martin Gill, Forrester analyst, as quoted by Skava. "European eBusiness executives in many countries have been slow to provide mobile-optimized experiences and these factors – both supply and demand – will continue to limit the opportunities."

How to ensure effective mobile websites
For retailers that are not sure how to begin their mobile website strategies, Right Mix Marketing suggests that businesses start by analyzing their desktop websites first to determine how many visits they get from smartphones and tablets. Asking device-carrying customers what they want on these platforms is one way to make sure merchants are offering elements that shoppers are looking for. In addition, frequently reviewing the appearance and performance of mobile sites is one way to make improvements and recognize strong points.

This entry was posted by Retail Pro on Friday, March 15th, 2013 at 5:00 am .

Consumers are increasingly using their credit and debit cards to make purchases at retailers' stores and on their websites, opting to swipe plastic in place of handing over cash for faster transactions and easier tracking of their finances. However, customers' information stored on these cards can be vulnerable to theft, so merchants need to take the necessary steps to protect card data.

Bank Info Security reports that hackers are developing more advanced malware to access retailers' systems to steal consumers' card information. Some of the new threats are able to circumvent merchants' anti-virus solutions, meaning that processes currently in place are sometimes not detecting attacks. Not only do these security breaches harm customers, but they do damage to retailers as well. Businesses can lose patrons from card data being compromised, and many companies lose money through these attacks.

However, there are things that merchants can do to better protect their shoppers' information. Legal Yodi recommends that retailers ensure their Wi-Fi connections are secure and have encryption capabilities. Strong retail POS solutions can also keep data safe by detecting outside threats.

This entry was posted by Retail Pro on Thursday, March 14th, 2013 at 1:31 pm .

Providing great customer service both in retail stores and online starts with understanding the needs, wants and issues of consumers. However, it doesn't stop there, as merchants can work to boost retention and loyalty by making interactions more personalized. This makes shoppers feel more valued and appreciated, further increasing the chances of making future purchases with a brand.

When it comes to ecommerce, creating personalized messages is one of the best ways to connect with customers and get them interested in retail products. To add more personal elements, BizReport recommends that businesses develop emails based on what shoppers are looking for, and this data can be gathered by simply asking individuals what their preferences are. In addition, the source explains that retailers should focus on engagement instead of promotional content, as this is an effective method for boosting personalization.

As for retail brick-and-mortar locations, offering personal aspects may seem more challenging, as sales associates are not able to memorize the names and faces of each shopper. However, with the help of solutions such as retail management software, companies can store and track information related to customers' past purchases. This information can be reviewed during checkout, giving retailers the chance to interact with individuals and find out their preferences pertaining to products and services.

This entry was posted by Retail Pro on Wednesday, March 13th, 2013 at 10:28 am .

Tomorrow is the day when retail industry professionals can learn all about Retail Pro Business Intelligence, the easy-to-use and comprehensive reporting solution from Retail Pro that gives companies better insight into their daily operations across a variety of components. There is still time left to sign up for the webinar, which will take place between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m. PDT. Registration information can be found at https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/704496674.

The webinar will feature live presentations and demonstrations of Retail Pro Business Intelligence, and attendees will be able to see firsthand many of the capabilities, benefits and specifics of the solution. With Retail Pro Business Intelligence, retailers can focus more on their business goals and measure progress through KPIs and in-depth analysis. The technology platform produces accurate reports that enable companies to make changes to current procedures, improve upon current strong points and highlight areas for improvement.

In addition, retailers can fully customize Retail Pro Business Intelligence to fit their needs, as the system can create filters, dashboards and reports that are tailored to businesses' unique specifications. At the webinar, attendees will hear from the product manager of Retail Pro Business Intelligence and Retail Pro E-Commerce, Neil McKeown, who will discuss the advantages and features of the technology.

This entry was posted by Retail Pro on Wednesday, March 13th, 2013 at 10:12 am .

This month could be a good one for the nation's retailers, as recent research has revealed that sales increased during the first week of March. This finding follows news of rising consumer confidence throughout the country, and more optimism could certainly be seen in retail sales over the coming weeks.

Dow Jones reports that the latest figures from Johnson Redbook Research discovered that during the first week of March, sales jumped 0.6 percent from February. Seasonally adjusted sales also increased, up by 2.7 percent from the same time a year ago. Johnson Redbook explained that March retail sales are expected to get a boost due to the Easter holiday falling within the month, although those numbers will not be released until April.

Rising consumer confidence is also playing a major role in retail sale improvement. The most recent Bloomberg Consumer Comfort Index increased for the fifth straight week during the beginning of March, coming to minus 32.4. This is up from the previous week's figure of minus 32.8, the source explains. Individuals stated now is a good time to buy products and services, as the American economy continues to recover.

This entry was posted by Retail Pro on Wednesday, March 13th, 2013 at 6:58 am .

Providing exceptional customer service, carrying the latest and the most sought-after products and offering competitive prices – these are all strategies that retailers use to boost their sales. Another approach that merchants can follow to increase revenues and attract shoppers to stores and on websites is email marketing.

Internet Retailer reports that a study by Experian revealed that sales generated from retail marketing emails jumped at the end of 2012. During last year's fourth quarter, the average revenue for one marketing email rose 7.6 percent year over year, reaching 14 cents for every message compared to the 13 cent average from 2011's fourth quarter. In addition, the research also found that the average order amount per email also increased to $180.25, representing a 12 percent increase from the previous year's figure of $160.99.

But how can retailers ensure their messages stand out in consumers' inboxes, especially as individuals often see a barrage of emails from a variety of sources each day? Travel Market Report recommends that merchants develop attractive subject lines to boost the chances of customers opening the emails. Messages' content should include items that are relevant to consumers' needs and wants, and this information can be garnered from past purchases, the source notes.

This entry was posted by Retail Pro on Wednesday, March 13th, 2013 at 5:55 am .

There are many technologies, solutions and methods available that retailers use and follow to conduct their operations, whether it is for marketing, customer service, inventory or a variety of other tasks. The same goes for preventing retail loss, theft and fraud, as these are types of problems that merchants unfortunately face every day. These situations can occur due to employees, customers or general errors made throughout various processes. Whatever the cause, businesses want to ensure they are taking the steps to avoid these issues, and many retailers are turning to updated technologies and approaches to accomplish this.

Billions lost annually to fraud, theft
TribLive Business reports that a study by the Centre for Retail Research revealed that U.S. retailers lost approximately $8.9 billion during last year's holiday season due to fraud, theft and errors. Another piece of research by the National Retail Federation (NRF) estimates that throughout 2011, companies experienced a loss of $35 billion for the same reasons. The study also discovered that businesses fell victim to professional thieves in 2011, who stole an approximate total of $12 billion worth of merchandise throughout the year.

On the other hand, the news source notes that the NRF analysis also found that companies are doing more to avoid loss, as merchants implement new systems and procedures for detecting theft and pinpointing areas where improvements need to be made.

Loss prevention methods being used in 2013
Writing in a blog post for the NRF, Jennifer Overstreet highlights some of the trends coming to the forefront of retail loss prevention this year. As new technologies and strategies emerge, businesses incorporate these aspects into their operations to avoid theft, fraud and errors, and 2013 is no different.

Overstreet states that companies are working more with authorities in their respective areas to crack down on organized retail crime. Both organizations are sharing information related to potential loss and problem areas to stop theft before it happens. Overstreet also explains that merchants are conducting background checks on employees to ensure they don't have any past situations that could compromise retail operations.

Technology is also playing a big role in avoiding fraud, theft and errors, the author notes. Solutions such as video analytics, mobile POS and various software forms are being used as prevention methods. Additionally, retail inventory management systems keep accurate track of products in-stock and are able to quickly reflect changes, giving businesses the ability to see if any merchandise has been stolen.

This entry was posted by Retail Pro on Tuesday, March 12th, 2013 at 10:42 am .

There have been many changes within the retail industry over the past few years – the rise of ecommerce, evolving consumer demands and enhanced customer service are just a few. Now, a new form of technology is bringing yet more alterations to retailers' brick-and-mortar locations as well as their web shopping options – mobile devices. Smartphones and tablets are being increasingly used by consumers to browse for and purchase products. While merchants may think they are prepared to accommodate these device-carrying customers through new solutions, the truth is that many are not able to meet the needs of these patrons. If businesses want to avoid losing shoppers due to a lack of technology that processes transactions from mobile devices, then now is the time to incorporate POS systems and other capabilities into their operations.

Mobile adoption is big, but not yet widespread
A significant number of retailers know how important mobile solutions are and how vital they will be in the near future, but not enough are implementing the technology into their current operations. According to research from Kontagent and Econsultancy, two-thirds of companies do not have strategies in place to determine how well they are providing mobile experiences for customers. This means that many merchants may not have solutions that meet the needs of shoppers who prefer to use their devices for retail purposes.

In addition, the study also revealed that 65 percent of respondents are putting more money toward technology solutions this year. However, many of that group stated that they are not sure of the plans they have regarding mobile systems nor of how to gather and analyze data from consumers who are using smartphones and tablets.

"Many companies fall into the trap that they believe they need a consistent mobile presence, but fall short of taking the proper steps to ensure the experience is effective," said Jeff Tseng, CEO and co-founder of Kontagent. "Businesses that will succeed on this next wave need to understand how to not only build outstanding experiences on mobile platforms, but also leverage user data rigorously in order to best measure and improve their mobile offerings."

A study by SAP, conducted at this year's Mobile World Congress, found that many retailers do indeed want to improve upon their mobile payment options. Retail Info Systems News report that of the technologies considered essential to provide great experiences, POS services such as near field communication was the most vital.

This entry was posted by Retail Pro on Monday, March 11th, 2013 at 12:24 pm .

Retailers deal daily with a vast amount of information pertaining to their business operations, and many are looking for ways to effectively manage all of that data. The solution to meet these needs is the Retail Pro Business Intelligence platform, which provides companies with the tools to view, store, access and utilize their business intelligence information to stay on top of vital operations. Interested industry professionals can learn all about Retail Pro Business Intelligence this Thursday, March 14, at the webinar which will take place from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. PDT. Registration information can be found at https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/704496674.

The webinar will be presented by Neil McKeown, product manager of Retail Pro Business Intelligence and Retail Pro E-Commerce. Many of the features, capabilities and benefits of the platform will be demonstrated in the webinar, such as its ability to analyze data from other Retail Pro solutions, such as Store Operations, POS and Merchandising. Retailers will gain better insight into their operations through Retail Pro Business Intelligence's dashboards, enterprise reporting, scorecards and ad hoc queries.

Retail Pro Business Intelligence is fully customizable, allowing businesses to create reports, dashboards and other components based on their unique needs. In addition, the platform gives companies the ability to design workflows in their own way as well as conduct BI analysis from mobile devices. All of this and more will be showcased at Thursday's Retail Pro Business Intelligence webinar.

This entry was posted by Retail Pro on Monday, March 11th, 2013 at 9:26 am .

Consumer confidence levels and spending are up, but many Americans are still concerned about federal budget cuts and how they will impact personal finances. Retailers are feeling the effects of this, as sales volumes in February grew but certain cautions remain for the coming months.

A report from Thomson Reuters revealed that a survey of 13 large retailers throughout the United States experienced a 1.8 percent jump in sales from January. This was better than analysts' forecast, which was 1.2 percent. Seventy-three percent of companies beat these estimates in their February sales, while 27 percent did not meet expectations.

However, there were several factors that hindered last month's retail sales, mainly in the form of severe winter weather. The Associated Press reports that although February is usually the time when businesses replace winter merchandise with spring and summer-related items, the onslaught of winter storms throughout the country did not encourage consumers to stock up on products for the coming warmer months. In addition to these conditions, increases in payroll taxes and ongoing uncertainty pertaining to federal budget cuts also impacted customers' purchases, the news source notes.

This entry was posted by Retail Pro on Monday, March 11th, 2013 at 5:31 am .