Retailers are constantly looking for new ways to improve upon their current practices so they can bring in more customers and increase their revenues. This is especially true with the coming new year, as many merchants are using the end of the year as a time to reflect on their progress in 2012 and apply the lessons they learned to their plans for 2013. Additionally, businesses are testing out their new strategies on consumers now during the holiday season to pinpoint areas for improvement so that operations will run smoothly over the coming year.

Drawing in consumers of all ages

The Baltimore Sun highlights several companies that are implementing new strategies aimed at increasing customer retention. These merchants have decided to test out their new methods now, during the holiday shopping rush, to see how shoppers respond and to determine what tweaks need to be made before the strategies are rolled out permanently. One example is Game Stop Kids, which is trying to attract both younger gamers and those that are interested in more serious products. Company executives stated that the business wants to present itself as a place for both types of customers and serve as a store where these shoppers can find the games they want.

The news source writes that larger retailers such as Target, Best Buy and Toys R Us are opening up smaller locations in malls and plazas, which is allowing them to reach out to more areas and customers, as the companies are no longer limited to their big facilities that are normally located outside of urban regions. Retail industry specialists state that trends such as these are expected to continue, as merchants look for ways to expand their operations and increase their revenues.

Focus being placed on customer experiences

Changes are also being made to retail customer experiences in stores, according to the Lexington Herald-Leader. Brick-and-mortar merchants are having to increasingly compete with online businesses, so these companies are implementing strategies to keep shoppers coming in their doors. Many are now offering deals, discounts and incentives that can only be redeemed in stores, giving consumers more reason to head to the locations instead of using the web for purchases.

"They are trying to add a different element so it is not just about the product," said Wendy Liebmann, chief executive officer of WSL/Strategic Retail. "They are giving people a reason to play … making it worth it to go into the store. A sense of place and a place to stay."

This entry was posted by Retail Pro on Wednesday, December 12th, 2012 at 8:50 am .

Retailers across the country added a record number of 465,500 seasonal jobs to their payrolls throughout November, the largest amount of temporary workers that the month has ever experienced. Businesses brought on these additional employees to help with the holiday shopping rush, and more hires are expected to take place in December.

The Dallas Morning News reports that research from Challenger, Gray & Christmas Inc. revealed that approximately 465,500 retail seasonal positions were created in November, representing a 21 percent increase from the same time last year. When coupled with the temporary jobs added in October, the total amount of seasonal workers now stands at 610,700. Analysts expect that this year's holiday hiring numbers will surpass last year's, which saw around 660,200 temporary jobs added to retail payrolls.

Further good news – for both businesses and temporary workers – is the fact that many of these seasonal positions could turn into permanent jobs, according to WSAV-TV. The news source spoke with retailers in the Savannah, Georgia, region, and most said they will be doing everything they could to offer their holiday employees full-time positions once the shopping frenzy is over. 

This entry was posted by Retail Pro on Wednesday, December 12th, 2012 at 8:50 am .

Although the holidays are fast approaching, there is a significant number of American consumers who have yet to start shopping for the items and gifts they will be giving to loved ones this year. There are several reasons for this, as many customers are busy with work and other obligations. Others are looking around for the best prices, both at retail brick-and-mortar locations and websites. Finding deals and discounts is very important for shoppers this year, as many are keeping an eye on their holiday budgets. To draw in customers, retailers are providing special offerings and various incentives designed to entice consumers.

More than 60 million haven't started holiday shopping

According to the recently released Consumers Reports Holiday Poll, approximately 66 million American consumers have not begun to tackle their holiday shopping lists. Additionally, many are concerned about their finances, as they will be looking out for deals and discounts to stay within their budgets when hitting retail stores and websites.

"Our poll revealed that Americans have plenty of shopping left to do and are generally enjoying the holiday season so far," said Tod Marks, Consumer Reports senior editor. "However, they are also watching their dollars very closely and just as in years past, they're looking for bargains."

The study found that consumers will be spending an average of $483 on gifts and products throughout the holidays. To help cut back on costs, shoppers are resorting to a variety of tactics to stay within their budgets. More than half (55 percent) stated they will be giving less expensive gifts, while 46 percent of respondents stated they will be searching for more discounts and deals being offered by retailers.

Merchants aiming to bring in shopping crowds

While Black Friday was a boon for retailers, many businesses are hoping to keep the activity going by providing discounts and offers to incentivize consumers, including the millions who have not started their holiday shopping. According to Bloomberg News, one example is clothing retailer Banana Republic, which has designed giveaways for its customers. The chain is giving six Fiat 500s for lucky shoppers, along with Ghirardelli chocolates, during December. Other merchants that have launched similar campaigns include J.C. Penney, which is handing out firewood and cashmere scarves as part of their holiday-themed giveaways. Both Target and Neiman Marcus are featuring limited-time designer collections throughout the holiday season, the news source reports.

This entry was posted by Retail Pro on Tuesday, December 11th, 2012 at 6:09 am .

Although Black Friday and Cyber Monday have turned out to be the biggest days for online shopping, today, which is known as Green Monday, may give these previous days a run for their money. Coined in 2007, Green Monday is the second Monday in December and has been one of the top day for ecommerce purchases from retailers over the past few years.

Although Green Monday certainly doesn't receive as much attention as other shopping days, both from consumers and retailers, this year it is expected that online retail sales will reach more than $1 billion throughout the day, according to TIME magazine. Last year, more than $1.13 billion was spent through the internet on Green Monday. For 2012, Adobe Digital Marketing estimates a 7 percent increase from 2011's amounts. It is also anticipated that Green Monday will garner more attention in the coming years, as consumers take the internet to purchase items and gifts for the approaching holidays.

Daily Deal Media reports shoppers won't be using just their computers to buy retail products during the day. Smartphones and tablets may turn out to be the preferred devices for purchasing, as consumers are able to browse and buy goods from companies through the technology. Retailers are also stepping up their mobile efforts, writes the news source, by offering optimized websites and deals for device-using customers.

This entry was posted by Retail Pro on Monday, December 10th, 2012 at 11:19 am .

For the countries in the European Union, conditions have not been looking too bright lately. Add to that the fact that during October, retail sales in the member states fell from the previous month.

According to a recently released report from Eurostat, October's retail sales fell by 1.2 percent from September. This was double the amount of the previous month's decrease from August, which was 0.6 percent. Economists had predicted that sales would decline by 0.2 percent. The countries with the largest drops in retail sales for October were Portugal, Finland and Germany. There were some member states that performed better than others, and the nations with the highest retail increases were Ireland, Lithuania and Belgium, the Eurostat study stated.

Perhaps the biggest contributor to the total decline was a large drop in retail sales throughout Germany, which fell by 2.8 percent in October, reports The Associated Press. Germany is one of the strongest economies in the European Union, so any negative impacts within the country are certain to affect other nations. There is much hope for a quick recovery, but economists believe it could be some time before conditions begin to improve, the news source wrote.

This entry was posted by Retail Pro on Monday, December 10th, 2012 at 3:11 am .

To celebrate its 25-year anniversary, Authorized Retail Pro Partner SATCOM, based in Ecuador, recently held an open house to showcase its commitment to the Retail Pro brand after a successful three years of selling Retail Pro technology to customers in Latin America.

The event was attended by many customers, as well as prospects, university students pursuing career opportunities within the niche retail market, TV reporters and other media members. All were gathered to explore retail product laboratories set up at the open house and learn about new Retail Pro product features and capabilities. 

Several presentations also gave some valuable insight into the growth of both SATCOM and the Retail Pro brand in the region. SATCOM owner Marcela Hernandez extended her welcome to the open house guests and shared the importance of customers in the company's philosophy and business growth strategies.

Retail Pro's vice president of sales for Latin America Shaff Kassam also gave a presentation, where he spoke about what truly makes Retail Pro the company that it is. Kassam touched on how Retail Pro technology provides many benefits to its customers by bringing them solutions based on a deep understanding of retail and years of leadership in the industry.

"Retail Pro's flexibility, nimble workflows and extensive tools for delivering exceptional customer experiences make us who we are" stated Kassam. "Our market strategy is focused on binding that robust product acumen with partnerships with local business partners, such as SATCOM, to deliver retail software products to customers along with a proven track record of providing a local dedicated support network with a deep and thorough understanding of local retail market conditions and needs."

Of the professionals in attendance, one was Mr. Uwe Guggenbuhl, who is the general manager and owner of the Pony Store, a footwear chain with a strong presence in Ecuador. Mr. Guggenbuhl is a Retail Pro Customer, and he has been using Retail Pro software for eight years in his 23 stores located throughout the country. When asked how Retail Pro's technology has benefitted his retail operations, he said there was one thing he could say with certainty: "Retail Pro saved my business." 

This entry was posted by Retail Pro on Friday, December 7th, 2012 at 5:20 am .

Many analysts have predicted that this year's holiday internet retail sales will at least meet – if not surpass – the amount from last year. With the recovering economic conditions, it's certainly easy to believe that 2012 will be a better year for retailers in terms of online spending. Recent research has revealed that so far this season, consumer ecommerce purchases are up significantly from the same time in 2011, which could mean that overall holiday sales will beat expectations. However, these exact numbers are not yet known, and web retailers will not be able to compare the two seasons until the shopping frenzy is over.

Online holiday spending up significantly so far

According to a recently released report by comScore, more than $21.4 billion has been spent online during the first 32 days of the holiday shopping season. The largest contributor to this amount was Cyber Monday, which turned out to be the biggest internet shopping day in history, with $1.4 billion made in purchases.

Online retailers saw a 17 percent increase on this year's Cyber Monday when compared to the same time in 2011. However, that was not the most significant boost regarding the two shopping seasons. ComScore reported that Thanksgiving Day was the biggest jump, with a 32 percent jump in online retail sales from last year. This was followed by Black Friday, with a 28 percent boost in ecommerce spending. On the other hand, the study found that online purchases began to decrease slightly after Cyber Monday, but the research firm expects things will begin to pick back up soon.

"While Cyber Monday was a high point for holiday ecommerce spending and Cyber Week saw several strong spending days, there was a clear softening in the growth rate during the back half of the week," said comScore chairman Gian Fulgoni. "However, as the urgency to finish one's holiday shopping increases we expect to see growth rates pick up again in the next couple of weeks before Christmas."

What are the overall expectations?

Online spending has been significant so far this year, and analysts predict that retail sales at brick-and-mortar locations will also bring in large revenues for businesses. Before the beginning of the holiday shopping season, Shop.org released a report estimating that retailers will see a 12 percent rise in purchases from last year's totals, representing approximately $96 billion. However, that amount could be surpassed if consumers continue to hit retail stores and websites.

This entry was posted by Retail Pro on Friday, December 7th, 2012 at 4:48 am .

This is possibly one of the worst times for imported merchandise shipments to be delayed, as retailers are stocking their stores with items for the holiday gift giving season. However, two of the nation's busiest ports, in Los Angeles and Long Beach, California, were blocked by a workers' union strike. Fortunately, the week-long strike recently ended, and retailers are hoping they can get their holiday sales back on track.

According to Consumer Affairs, many merchants were worried throughout the eight-day blockade, which started after port workers discovered their employers had been outsourcing administrative positions to lower-wage employees. During the strike, approximately $1 billion a day was being lost by staff members and businesses that rely on the dock for incoming merchandise. The National Retail Federation stated that the strike was having a significant negative impact on retailers and their holiday season efforts.

Both ports reopened after eight days, as union workers reached a deal with their employers, reports USA Today. Businesses have agreed to drastically reduce their outsourced jobs along with modest rises in wage and pension benefits for staff members.

This entry was posted by Retail Pro on Friday, December 7th, 2012 at 4:34 am .

While American consumers flooded retail stores over the Black Friday weekend, businesses have had a difficult time keeping the holiday shopping momentum going. The days right after Thanksgiving and right before Christmas are normally the highest periods of activity at brick-and-mortar locations, but retailers are hoping to draw in crowds in the weeks between by offering giveaways and unique incentives.

According to Bloomberg News, clothing store Banana Republic is providing its customers with Ghirardelli chocolates during the first weeks of December. To mix things up, the company is also giving away six Fiat 500 vehicles to shoppers. Department store giant J.C. Penney is offering seasonal items, such as firewood and cashmere scarves to its store visitors. Other brands, like Target and Neiman Marcus, are hosting limited designer collections aimed at bringing in customers during the holiday shopping lull, writes the source.

Some retailers are planning to sell food at their brick-and-mortar locations, which could draw in shoppers even after the holidays are over, reports Bloomberg News in a separate article. Tommy Bahama will be opening a restaurant at its Manhattan store in a few weeks, and J.C. Penney announced it will be offering juice bars and coffee shops at several of its locations throughout the country.

This entry was posted by Retail Pro on Thursday, December 6th, 2012 at 5:18 am .

Although the holiday shopping season got off to an extremely strong start with Black Friday and continuing over the following days, American retailers are concerned about the large amounts of money they could lose due to retail theft, either from employees, customers or inventory errors. For this year's holiday season, research has revealed that companies are expecting nearly $9 billion in losses because of merchandise being stolen. While it's not possible to prevent every situation of theft from occurring, there are strategies that retailers can follow to reduce these instances.

Employee, customer theft combine for big losses

According to a recent study by the Centre for Retail Research, retailers throughout the United States are anticipating large losses during the holiday shopping frenzy. From expected employee theft alone, merchants could see upwards of $4 billion of revenue losses. When it comes to customers stealing merchandise through shoplifting, approximately $3.7 billion could be lost. Additionally, supply chain fraud is another element that results in decreases in retail revenue. For this year's holidays, more than $442 million will be taken away from businesses due to this aspect, the research found. In total, these instances of illegal activity will result in a loss of approximately $8.8 billion for American companies throughout the holiday season.

The Centre for Retail Research also revealed what some of the most stolen items are during the holiday frenzy. Ranking high on the list are women's clothing and accessories, health and beauty products, toys, electronics, jewelry and food.

Retailers saw large theft losses last year

American retailers are constantly trying to crack down on theft year round, and they will certainly attempt to reduce the amount stolen this year when compared to last year's totals. According to a study by the National Retail Federation, retail shrinkage – inventory loss due to theft and errors – in 2011 fell to 1.41 percent, from the previous year's 1.49 percent. Businesses may want to keep this trend going, by being vigilant about combating theft and reducing mistakes.

"Retail theft continues to plague the industry, with billions of dollars of merchandise walking out of the store every day without ever being paid for," said NRF vice president of loss prevention Rich Mellor. "Fighting these self-serving and unethical criminals has been a tedious battle, but we remain resolute in our efforts and our partnerships with law enforcement to combat this growing problem."

This entry was posted by Retail Pro on Wednesday, December 5th, 2012 at 4:19 am .