As economic conditions continue to improve and shoppers make their way back into stores, retailers across the country are beginning to show signs of optimism. While there are still some concerns about what can happen in the near future, executives of large retail brands are expressing their confidence in the industry and the purchasing habits of consumers.

The Herald Online reports that recent research from accounting firm BDO USA revealed that retail chief financial officers are expecting to see at least a 4.5 percent rise in 2012 sales from last year's amounts. This number could be more than what is hoped for, as the total amount of 2011 sales exceeded expectations by increasing 7.3 percent from the year before.

The study also found that retail CFOs are becoming increasingly confident, reports the news source. Many companies expect slow growth throughout the next few months, but 32 percent of retailers are anticipating an economic turnaround, which is nearly triple the 11 percent that said the same thing in 2011.

These positive expectations could be due to the high amount of sales that retailers saw in August. InvestorPlace states that a report released by the International Council of Shopping Centers found that retail chain store sales increased by 6 percent throughout the month.

This entry was posted by Retail Pro on Monday, September 24th, 2012 at 1:44 am .

For the British fashion industry, each year there are many innovations and creative efforts put forth that produce amazing results for retailers. However, one aspect they seem to be skipping on is mobile. Recent research has found that a large amount of fashion retailers do not currently have a website optimized for mobile devices. For these and other merchants, it is essential for them to go mobile as that is where consumers are going.

According to BizReport, a study by OnePoll revealed that 84 percent of fashion retailers surveyed do not have a mobile website available. This number is shocking, as 90 percent of respondents surveyed stated they believe that mobile shopping is essential to operations. There are several reasons as to why these retailers are failing to integrate mobile sites. Many said the high associated costs are the main challenge, while others think the effort would be too time consuming. Whatever the reason, the study's authors argue that steps must be taken by these fashion merchants to adopt a mobile site or they could lose out to competition, reports the source.

Many retailers around the world are being encouraged to embrace mobile platforms. The Wall Street Journal writes that a paper from investment bank GP Bullhound recommends that merchants integrate mobile systems to accommodate a larger range of consumers. If not, these businesses can suffer by not being provided with sales opportunities.

This entry was posted by Retail Pro on Friday, September 21st, 2012 at 1:49 am .

Retail Pro will be hosting its annual Global Conference next month, which will be held in San Francisco, California, from October 12 to October 16. Retail Pro Alliance and Business Partners, Sponsors, Vendors and Users will be able to attend the event, where they can learn about industry insight and product knowledge that is needed to drive their businesses forward.

The Business Partner Agenda portion of the event, which runs from October 12-14, features a variety of seminars and speeches from retail professionals that will equip attendees with the valuable knowledge they need to improve operations and propel their businesses forward. One of the technology products that will be highlighted include Retail Pro 9 and its reporting and analytics capabilities. Business Partners will also learn more about how to best sell Retail Pro's systems.

The Customer Agenda component, which is on October 14 and October 15, will showcase Retail Pro's solutions and how they can streamline workflow processes and help retailers grow their businesses both in stores and online. Additionally, there will be many networking opportunities available for all attendees, which will help them to establish valuable and effective professional relationships. Retail Pro Community Members can find registration information at https://www.retailpro.com/2012Conference/Registration.php.

This entry was posted by Retail Pro on Friday, September 21st, 2012 at 1:46 am .

Perhaps as a way to avoid the colder temperatures, consumers are expected to go online in large numbers this holiday season to purchases items and gifts. Retailers that offer internet options should begin preparing now, not only for the next few months, but for growing ecommerce in general.

Internet Retailer cites research by eMarketer, which found that American consumers will spend approximately $54.47 billion online over the next few months. This represents a 16.8 increase from last year's season, which saw a total of $46.63 in internet purchases. The study anticipates that online gift buying will account for 24.3 percent of holiday shopping. In the middle of the recession, online sales decreased. However, since economic conditions have been improving, ecommerce has been steadily growing. It also adds several benefits to the shopping experience, notes the source.

"Consumers will turn to the internet to stay within their budgets, locate hard-to-find gifts and avoid crowded stores," stated the eMarketer report.

Online sales in the U.S. have been strong for the past few years and are continuing to grow. According to comScore, the second quarter of 2012 saw a total of $43.2 billion in ecommerce, representing a 15 percent increase from the same time last year, reports Power Retail.

This entry was posted by Retail Pro on Thursday, September 20th, 2012 at 1:54 am .

Women are normally the ones known for having a love of shopping. However, recent research has found that when it comes to buying items and services from retailers through mobile devices, men are the ones who have a knack for it.

Independent Retailer reports that a recent survey by market research firm uSamp found that male shoppers are significantly more likely to purchases products from their phones and tablets than females. Men bought more consumer electronics, digital content, office supplies and food and drinks with their mobile devices than women. The only category where women outpurchased men in terms of mcommerce was cosmetics. The survey also revealed that of overall shoppers, 45 percent of men are using their phones and tablets for mobile purchases, compared to 34 percent of women.

However, when it comes to implementing systems that allow for mobile payment acceptance, retailers are still hesitant. Internet Retailer cites research by Forrester which discovered that many merchants are staying conservative with their mobile efforts for 2012. On the other hand, the report suggests that these businesses will soon begin integrating solutions to accept mobile payments from customers as the trend becomes more popular and widespread.

This entry was posted by Retail Pro on Thursday, September 20th, 2012 at 1:50 am .

In one month, Retail Pro will be hosting its 2012 Global Conference, open to all Retail Pro Alliance and Business Partners, Vendors, Users and Sponsors. The annual event, which will be held on San Francisco, California, from October 12 to October 16, will feature the Retail Pro Prism Boot Camp.

The last day of the Global Conference will be dedicated to Retail Pro Prism, the company's latest retail management software. Attendees will be able to learn more about the product and the various features it has. This includes the fundamentals and flexibility of the software, how its architecture strengthens retail store POS operations and its ability to create customized functionality. Retail Pro Prism also captures customer information and helps retailers develop an efficient database for consumer details. The platform is able to be configured to meet regional and national requirements, including language, taxation and currency operations. For Retail Pro Community Members who learn best from hands on training and want to realize the full potential of Retail Pro Prism, the class offered during the Global Conference will offer many benefits to these retail professionals.

At the Retail Pro Prism Boot Camp, attendees will be able to earn their certification in the software. This official certification is recognized by Retail Pro University and Retail Pro International, LLC. Registration information can be found at https://www.retailpro.com/2012Conference/Registration.php.

This entry was posted by Retail Pro on Wednesday, September 19th, 2012 at 1:41 am .

For smaller online retailers, cutting costs is essential to keep operations going. Since these merchants provide products for consumers all across the country, shipping, processing and other associated expenses can easily and quickly add up. There might be additional costs on the horizon, as several pieces of legislation are making their way through Congress. These bills are proposing that sales tax be implemented by individual states for online retailers, even if they do not have physical locations within those jurisdictions. However, many smaller internet companies are strongly opposed to the potential laws and are asking legislators to consider the increased costs and complications that it could create for the businesses.

Small online retailers form under We R Here

While these regulations would not have any impact on larger internet retailers such as Amazon.com, smaller companies are arguing that the laws would significantly increase expenses for them, as they would be required to collect the taxes. Internet Retailer reports that a coalition of sorts has been formed by these internet merchants. Titled "Web Enabled Retailers Helping Expand Retail Employment," or We R Here for short, the group is lobbying against the bills and stating that any of the sales tax enforcement would limit growth and stifle jobs for these businesses.

"We want to make policy makers know we are here, make sure they are aware of the critical role small web-enabled retailers play in today’s modern economy," said Phil Bond, We R Here's executive director, as quoted by the source. "It is not the job of small businesses to collect taxes for state and local governments where they don't live, don't have a business presence, and don't receive government services."

The organization has received the support of eBay Inc, as the company is comprised of thousands of smaller online retailers. We R Here is proposing that if laws are passed requiring online sales tax to be collected by merchants, then the government should also include a revenue threshold of annual sales that would exclude very small retailers from the regulation, states Internet Retailer.

California sees enforcement of online sales tax

In California, a law recently was enacted that requires internet retailers to collect sales tax from shoppers. The Los Angeles Times reports that the new regulations are expected to bring in approximately $317 million for the state as well as local governments after the first year. The news source notes that before the tax went into effect on Saturday, September 15, many California residents were stocking up on items online to avoid the extra fees.

This entry was posted by Retail Pro on Wednesday, September 19th, 2012 at 1:35 am .

It's no surprise that the world of ecommerce has seen a sharp increase over the last few years, as customers shop for items online and retailers offer their products and services for purchase through the internet. The holiday shopping season is definitely no exception. Last year, the amount of online sales leading up to and throughout the holiday rush reached a record. Retailers are expecting those numbers to increase this year, as they anticipate that shoppers will get their wish lists and items for loved ones on the web.

Retailers prepare for holidays

Although it is still a few months away, both customers and merchants are gearing up for the holiday shopping spree. Independent Retailer reports that total sales during the Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons last year came to approximately $35.27 billion, according to recent research from Forrester. This year, retailers are expecting that amounts will surpass last year's, both at brick-and-mortar locations and online.

The source states that there are several trends that businesses must be prepared for before the rush starts. Consumers are increasingly starting their shopping efforts early, so right before October will be the unofficial start for holiday gift buying season. Retailers need to determine which channels are most effective at selling products and services, and they should aim to develop those methods to see a boost in sales throughout the coming months. Additionally, more shoppers are going to be equipped with smartphones and tablets, both of which are purchasing and price comparison tools in the palms of their hands. Merchants need to take this trend into consideration, and implement systems that allow them accept and process these types of electronic transactions.

Hiring employees may help to bolster sales

As any manager knows, hiring more employees increases the chances of sales opportunities. This is exactly what many retailers are doing as they prepare for the holiday shopping season, reports Millionaire Corner. A recent study by the Hay Group found that 57 percent of businesses surveyed said they plan to bring on additional seasonal employees this year before the shopping rush. Thirty-six percent stated they will hire more workers than they did last year. This could be why many retailers anticipate that holiday sales will exceed the totals from last year, with 75 percent stating they expect to see significant increases.

This entry was posted by Retail Pro on Tuesday, September 18th, 2012 at 1:58 am .

The internet has brought about many changes for consumers and businesses worldwide. The web is constantly providing ways for new devices and solutions to be created or used. The retail industry has been especially impacted by the internet, as businesses are increasingly going online to promote their products and services, as well as bolster sales. There are even retailers that operate solely online and ship items to where customers are. The industry is constantly changing, and experts believe that consumer purchases will only continue to rise for internet retailers.

Web businesses to see increase

According to a recent report by Forrester and Barclays, the online marketplace, except for Amazon, brought in $14 billion in transactions in 2011, writes Independent Retailer. This amount is anticipated to increase to $54 billion by 2015. Despite this high number of purchases, there are still some aspects that online retailers are missing and that retailer-owned products have. If these businesses want to increase operations and revenue, there are some methods that will need to be taken into consideration.

Returning items to internet marketplaces seemed to be a difficulty that shoppers faced. The study discovered that some of these retailers lack the information needed to successfully return items, such as an address to where it can be shipped to. Although convenience is a major advantage of buying from these businesses, the average wait time to get these products was high, at 4.57 days.

Authors of the study stated that if online marketplace retailers can put more efforts into fixing these problems, then they can provide the same satisfaction and service that traditional and retailer-owned items do, writes the source.

Online sales for small retailers increasing

The month of August proved to be successful for many small retailers who offer products online. According to Internet Retailer, recent research by an industry software firm found that the amount of web sales for these businesses rose by 6 percent from the the same time last year. Some sectors performed better than others, as sporting goods sold more on the internet than last year. This was seen by a 32 percent increase from August 2011. Booksellers were also successful, as they experienced a boost of 20 percent from the same month last year.

This entry was posted by Retail Pro on Tuesday, September 18th, 2012 at 1:54 am .

Facebook, Twitter and various other social media platforms may have been created so that users can share information quickly and effectively. However, these sites are proving to be valuable tools for retailers who are looking for extra advertising and promotional resources. While these solutions are not exactly free, they are often cheaper than traditional marketing forms. Additionally, they allow businesses to reach out to a wider range of customers, and merchants are no longer limited to consumers in their respective areas. This can lead to increased online sales and revenue, as well as providing opportunities for further growth.

Social media promotion provides many advantages

Perhaps the reason that retailers are increasingly using these platforms is because they have realized that social media is not a trend. Independent Retailer reports that some small and midsize businesses spend an average of $845 per month on software products that allow them to better manage their social media strategies. According to a recent survey by Duct Tape Marketing and Vocus, these companies make up 36 percent of the ones included in their study. Other merchants decide to spend more on their efforts, with an average monthly cost of $1,000 for social solutions.

Of the businesses that employ these tools, 87 percent stated the systems have been somewhat helpful or have helped a great deal, the survey revealed. The use of social media management resources has helped companies with their marketing methods, as nearly three-quarters of respondents said they include these tools in promotional strategies.

"What I've been noticing more and more is there's finally this acceptance that social media not only isn't going away, it's an essential element of the marketing mix and the real challenge now is to figure out how to integrate it into the total online and offline marketing presence," said John Jantsch, creator of Duct tape Marketing, as reported by the source.

Facebook leading the way for social media

It seems as though Facebook is the main player when it comes to retailers using social media for marketing purposes, as well as driving sales. According to a study by RichRelevance, Facebook accounts for 85.8 percent of traffic that is driven to retail websites, reports Web Pro News. Customers who use Facebook for shopping stay on the site longer and are more likely to come back. Pinterest came in second place in terms of sales and traffic, followed by Twitter, the source writes.

This entry was posted by Retail Pro on Monday, September 17th, 2012 at 1:43 am .