Retail Pro Users, Alliance Partners, Vendors and Sponsors who are planning to attend the 2012 Global Conference will be bound for the West Coast in a matter of weeks, when Retail Pro hosts its annual event in San Francisco, California from October 12-16

The Global Conference will attract Retail Pro Users, Sponsors, Vendors and Alliance Partners from across the world as they converge on San Francisco to learn more about the company's technology and product offerings as well as trends in and insights on the retail industry. Attendees will be able to network and connect with Retail Pro Community colleagues to establish and develop valuable professional relationships, which could help foster growth and innovation for businesses. Sponsors, Users, Vendors and Alliance Partners will also be able to attend seminars and events pertaining to the latest Retail Pro technology products and hear advice and speeches from industry experts.

On October 16, the last day of the Global Conference, a day-long program will be held to teach attendees more about Retail Pro Prism, the company's newest retail management software. Training and other resources will be available for users to learn more about how Retail Pro Prism can streamline processes within the retail business. Registration information can be found at https://www.retailpro.com/2012Conference/Registration.php.

This entry was posted by Retail Pro on Thursday, August 23rd, 2012 at 8:33 am .

As smartphones are turning into devices used to make purchases, consumers are still relying on their mobile phones to research and contact retailers. This can be beneficial for companies and their retail business intelligence processes.

A recent study by Nielsen revealed that consumers use their mobile devices to look up a variety of information relating to retailers who are in the immediate area. Approximately 84 percent of customers research physical store locations and directions. Nearly three-quarters of users look up a business' phone number and then call to find out more information about what is offered. The study's results highlight the importance of mobile phones and the significant role they will continue to play in the retail industry.

Mobile devices are increasingly being used by consumers for many retail processes. On Device Research CEo Allistair Hill writes for Newline that his company found that both online and in-store purchases are becoming more common for mobile users. More than three-quarters of customers who responded to the survey have used their phone at brick-and-mortar locations. Additionally, 47 percent of shoppers access retail information on their devices while at home or other remote locations.

This entry was posted by Retail Pro on Thursday, August 23rd, 2012 at 1:59 am .

Athletes were not the only ones seeing success during this summer's Olympic Games. Retailers throughout the country experienced an increase in both online and in-store purchases in the weeks leading up to and during the sporting event.

A recent study by Capgemini found that ecommerce rose 17 percent year-over-year, and the London Olympics played a large role in the increase. For the month of July, consumers in the U.K spent a total of £6.5 billion ($10.2 billion) in online purchases.

"Retailers, both online and offline, were offered a unique opportunity to build an international base of customers, so it will be interesting to see whether the U.K. successfully capitalized on the millions of additional visitors to Britain," says Chris Webster, head of retail consulting and technology at Capgemini.

Sports-related items also saw a boost in sales, both online and in brick-and-mortar locations. Marketing Week reports that many retailers across the U.K. have experienced increases in a variety of sports purchases by consumers, including bicycles, gym memberships and magazine subscriptions. Industry experts believe the uptick in store operations was due to shoppers being inspired by the London Games as well as marketing efforts put forth by sports retailers, states the source.

This entry was posted by Retail Pro on Wednesday, August 22nd, 2012 at 9:53 am .

Smartphones and tablets allow users to complete a variety of daily tasks, which save time and sometimes money. These devices are not only set to change the consumers' lives, but the world of commerce is also expected to be altered by the emergence of these technologies. While retail technology is constantly changing the way merchants and shoppers interact with each other, industry experts believe that these modifications will have many benefits for all parties involved.

Impact of technology on retail

USA Today reports that many retail industry experts believe that brick-and-mortar locations will function differently as technology begins to change the landscape. This includes a variety of hardware and software, such as mobile device applications, social media platforms and other advancements. Some believe that retail stores will turn into centers where consumers go to test out products and services, but do not make purchases. Shoppers will then use mobile and online tools to buy what they want.

For this reason, many retailers will need to integrate necessary systems and solutions to accommodate customers who prefer to utilize these technologies in their shopping experiences. It is believed that cash will no longer be used, as consumers will leave it at home or in the bank. They will instead be completing transactions by using credit and debit cards or even their mobile phones. This new purchasing method may be the technology that is poised to change the world of commerce the most, as the marketplace readies itself to begin adopting solutions.

"Cash has dug in its heels for small-value transactions, but with the arrival of each new tech offering (providing) an alternative way to pay for little stuff…cash is being further and further marginalized," says David Wolman, author of the book The End of Money, as quoted by the news source.

Mobile commerce increasingly becoming popular

The current back-to-school shopping season has seen a significant amount of school supply purchases made through mobile devices, according to recent research by the National Retail Federation. The study found that 43.8 percent of consumers who own tablets will use their devices to compare and ultimately buy necessary items needed for the upcoming school season. Smartphones will also play a role in back-to-school shopping, as 20.9 percent of shoppers looking for items for college will purchase from their devices, along with 19.2 percent of K-12 customers.

This entry was posted by Retail Pro on Tuesday, August 21st, 2012 at 1:33 am .

Consumers might be forgoing buying books and other educational resources in stores, as recent research found that online purchases for these items increased in July. This could be highlighting the changes in retail POS systems.

Internet Retailer reports that a study of ecommerce purchases revealed that books and educational materials topped the list for items bought online. Year-over-year, books and other resources rose by 24 percent. Overall sales are up by 23 percent in comparison to the total from the same time last year, the research found. Also faring well in the ecommerce marketplace was the sporting goods industry, which saw a 19 percent jump over the past year in online purchases.

Retail ecommerce in the U.S. has been steadily increasing the past few months, as research from comScore revealed a total of $43.2 billion was spent on online purchases, reports Power Retail. This represents a 15 percent increase from the same period in 2011, which reached a total of $37.5 billion. However, industry experts are not sure how long the increase in numbers will last, as economic uncertainty and the unemployment rate can have an impact on the retail industry.

This entry was posted by Retail Pro on Tuesday, August 21st, 2012 at 1:31 am .

As smartphones and tablets make it easier for users to complete daily tasks, these devices will continue to make their way into new industries. Retail is one sector that is experiencing a large impact from mobile sales, and the current back-to-school shopping season is expected to see a large increase in purchases from devices.

A recent study by the National Retail Federation (NRF) revealed that a significant amount of smartphone and tablet owners will buy items needed for school on their devices in the next few weeks. Almost 70 percent of tablet users stated they will use their devices to purchase merchandise and supplies. As for smartphones, half of the owners surveyed said they will make payments on their devices for school-related items.

"Mobile continues to drive the conversation in the retail industry, and when it comes to back-to-school, retailers have spent months preparing their mobile promotions in anticipation of one of the biggest mobile shopping seasons we’ve seen yet," said NRF president Matthew Shay.

Retail sales are expected to increase during the back-to-school shopping season after July's numbers produced better-than-expected results, reports MarketWatch. Industry experts anticipate larger sales among consumers, as parents buy items and supplies for their children.

This entry was posted by Retail Pro on Monday, August 20th, 2012 at 2:00 am .

Many sectors within the retail industry were negatively impacted by the recession. But as conditions begin to slowly and steadily improve, consumers are gaining more confidence about the future of the economy. This includes luxury shopping, as these retailers have reported better-than-expected numbers over the past few months.

According to The Chicago Tribune, fears about the current European economic crisis and fluctuations in the stock market did little to keep customers away from purchasing designer merchandise. Retailers such as Michael Kors and Saks Inc. have experienced strong sales throughout the year, and executives stated they did not have to markdown as many prices as anticipated. Many luxury stores are also making plans for expansion, as customers continue to buy designer items and accessories, states the news source.

This news comes along with the recent report from the Department of Commerce that retail sales throughout the country experienced an increase in July. The Wall Street Journal writes that there was a rise of 0.8 percent throughout the month. This follows three straight months of decline, including a decrease of 0.7 percent in June. Many sectors were impacted by the positive retail sales, including consumer electronics, clothing and ecommerce.

This entry was posted by Retail Pro on Monday, August 20th, 2012 at 1:58 am .

Retail Pro Business Partners, Sponsors, Vendors and Users who are attending the 2012 Global Conference will be able to learn all about the company's products and services, along with its latest point-of-sale management system technology, Retail Pro Prism, due to launch in a matter of weeks.

The conference, which will take place October 12-16 in San Francisco, California, will give attendees the chance to learn about the latest updates and trends in the world of retail and its technologies. Seminars and events will feature speeches on topics such as the economy and its impact on the retail industry, sales reporting and analytics, as well as ecommerce solutions available for retail professionals. Additionally, there will also be many networking opportunities, allowing Business Partners, Users, Vendors and Sponsors to meet and greet each other, allowing Retail Pro community members to establish valuable relationships that can help operations.

On the last day of the Global Conference, October 16, a day-long training session will be held to teach attendees about Retail Pro Prism POS, the company's newest retail management solution. The class with show Retail Pro Prism users everything they need to know about the solution, including its flexible topology, real-time communications and exceptional workflow capabilities. Attendees will be able to earn their certification in Retail Pro Prism at the end of the session. Registration information for the Global Conference can be found at https://www.retailpro.com/2012Conference/Registration.php.

This entry was posted by Retail Pro on Friday, August 17th, 2012 at 1:53 am .

The holiday shopping season is always a sight to behold, and this year's is expected to see a boost for retailers and the manufacturers that supply them. Many industry professionals anticipate that holiday sales in the next few months will either meet or surpass the totals from 2011.

A study by Capital Business Credit revealed that 77 percent of respondents said they believe retail sales throughout the fall and winter months will stay the same or increase from last year. Some expect the back-to-school shopping season will also boost sales, with 33 percent stating the amounts from school supplies and clothing will exceed 2011's totals. The summer season was not as positive as some retailers and manufacturers had hoped, as the research found that 66 percent of stores held sales and offered discounts to clear merchandise for the warmer months from shelves.

"Like many other recent economic indicators, we are getting a lot of mixed signals from importers and manufacturers of retail goods," said Andrew Tananbaum, executive chairman of CBC. "We do believe there is the potential for growth as we head into the back-to-school and fall seasons."

Click Z reports that the holiday shopping season is expected to begin earlier this year, as consumers look to wrap up gift-buying before the big rush starts. Mobile payments are also anticipated to play a significant role.

This entry was posted by Retail Pro on Friday, August 17th, 2012 at 1:51 am .

It's no surprise that England gets a lot of rainfall each year. This normally isn't a problem, but British retailers are reporting that the weather has had a negative impact on summer sales throughout the country.

According to Bloomberg, many retailers stocked their shelves with summer items in preparation for the warmer season. However, the significant amounts of rain that fell this summer, which ended up being the wettest weather on record, resulted in consumers not buying the swim wear, outdoor furniture and other summer accessories that are normally purchased. Instead, retailers were left with an abundance of merchandise, forcing many to hold sales and offer discounts in the hopes of clearing out a majority of items to ready stores for the fall season.

"The weather has been volatile this year and last year, so rather than sitting back and saying it's tough we're trying to organize our supply chain and buying process to recognize this is the new norm," said Andrew Moore, managing director of clothing business George.

However, it's not all bad news for U.K. retailers. FXstreet reports that the Retail Price Index from National Statistics increased 0.1 percent in the month of July, even though experts anticipated it would decrease by 0.2 percent. July's percentage of 3.2 is up from June's total of 2.8 percent.

This entry was posted by Retail Pro on Friday, August 17th, 2012 at 1:48 am .