With the impending release of Windows 8, Microsoft is reportedly looking to advance its retail footprint. According to NBC News, the computer company is expanding its reach in the retail industry in an effort to compete with the iOS and Android mobile operating systems.

"They’ve got to give customers a reason to go out there and upgrade," senior analyst for MKM Partners LLC, Israel Hernadez, told the news network.

Tech media website,The Verge, reports that recent job ads are indicating that Microsoft plans to open pop-up stores in major markets such as San Francisco and New York City. These stores would serve as a showcase for the company’s new Surface tablet as well as the new smartphone operating system.

Microsoft had previously announced that it would only sell the Surface tablets through brick-and-mortar stores and online outlets, but the company is reportedly looking to cash in on the holiday shopping season.

While the Surface tablet and the Windows 8 operating system might seem like a step in the right direction, Hernandez doesn’t believe the "limited time offer" approach is going to work. "I think they’ve got a lot of work to do in terms of convincing consumers," he told NBC news.

As Microsoft begins the release of these new products, it could see a spike in sales. In order to help with inventory and store merchandising, Microsoft could benefit from the Point of Sale software offered by Retail Pro.

This entry was posted by Retail Pro on Thursday, August 9th, 2012 at 7:38 am .

An Intel scientist has designed a high tech mirror that will show consumers how clothing looks on them without having to try the garments on. Shoppers can simply stand in front of the LCD display and the technology will simulate their body type with how the fabric will fit based on the height, weight and measurements.

While the concept is about three to five years from becoming a standard, this could open the door for Intent to get into the retail market. Social media, 3-D printers and smartphone technology are already changing the retail industry, as consumers are beginning to adopt technological advancements such as mobile price comparisons and online rewards programs.

"The next five years will bring more change to retail than the last 100 years," Cyriac Roeding, CEO of Shopkick” told USA Today. Shopkick is a shopping app that is available at top retailers such as Target and Macy’s.

Kevin Sterneckert, a Gartner analyst, believes that big-box stores such as Old Navy will become testing centers with no physical merchandise. While this is just a speculation, it could help retailers stay competitive with online-only retailers.
As retailers start to adapt to the changing landscape, they might benefit from the retail merchandising solutions offered by Retail Pro.

This entry was posted by Retail Pro on Thursday, August 9th, 2012 at 7:35 am .

Even through the mobile and internet markets are great purchasing, MSNBC reports that college students are still drawn to physical textbooks. While most publishers offer the choice for an electronic copy of textbooks, students would rather carry printed textbooks to the classroom and the library. This could be an indication to merchants that they need to continue maintaining their stocks of physical textbooks.

"We have found that digital textbooks are still not as popular with students," Charles Schmidt, a spokesman for the National Association of College Stores, told the news network.

The price of an e-book can be anywhere from 60-70 percent of a printed version. However, a poll from the NACS found that up to 74 percent of college students still like having a printed book in their hands. According to Schmidt, this might be because most e-books are just PDF files of the printed book and renting the book is much cheaper.

While most students are used to handling content online, having a physical book that can be written on or flipped through is something that most students are willing to pay more for. Schmidt also told MSNBC that most professors are not comfortable with their students only having the e-book version for their classes.

As college bookstores gear up for students coming back to school this fall, they could see a benefit in utilizing the software solutions offered by Retail Pro.

This entry was posted by Retail Pro on Thursday, August 9th, 2012 at 7:30 am .

The United States paves the way for many trends and technologies, but sometimes it follows in the footsteps of other continents. This is the case with EMV, which is the term used for the technology that equips credit and debit cards with a chip that provides more secure transactions. Coined from the companies that developed the payments technology, Europay, MasterCard and Visa, EMV is expected to hit the U.S. market fairly soon, and merchants across the country are beginning to prepare for this new piece of retail technology.

Changes, but benefits to EMV

There will be some changes that will need to be made as EMV becomes mainstream, reports Independent Retailer. Stores may be required to purchase or upgrade existing payment and technology systems in order to accept the new credit and debit cards. This can include software updates, buying new PIN pads and also training staff on how the EMV systems work. However, the costs might be well worth it, as the new technology is expected to reduce long lines by facilitating and speeding up the payment and transaction processes. This could lead to an increased customer base as well as rise in revenue for retailers, states the source.

There will be a variety of systems available for merchants, such as hosted or shared solutions, that need to be PCI-compliant in order to meet industry standards. This offers a wider range of security for both consumers and retailers, and reduces costs for businesses. Independent Retailer says that a new organization has been created to help companies with EMV systems and issues, called the EMV Migration Forum. The goal is to offer help and assistance to retailers who are integrating EMV processing solutions in order to accept the new cards.

Talk about EMV is finally happening

According to Retail Info Systems News, it has been anticipated for the past few years that EMV would make it over to the U.S. However, it seems as though it is just now happening and is expected to become widespread in 2015. There are many benefits to the emergence of EMV among retailers, including added payment security. Waiting times for customers will also be decreased, as transactions will be processed faster, giving retailers more time to focus on shoppers and providing service. The source states that some merchants might be hesitant about making the switch to EMV payment processing systems, but they could lose out on revenue by not being able to accommodate card holders. Retailers should make an effort to get a jump start on the trend, before it becomes too late.

This entry was posted by Retail Pro on Wednesday, August 8th, 2012 at 1:22 am .

Just like with most things, gift cards seem to be going the way of mobile. Many retailers are increasingly offering these types of digital programs for mobile shoppers, as it can increase customer satisfaction and loyalty while bringing in more revenue.

Internet Retailer reports that recent research from Aberdeen Group found that 61 percent of retailers surveyed said they plan to provide mobile gift cards as an option for their mobile-conscious consumers. These programs can work by providing links via text message or email for customers through which they can access downloadable codes that can be used in the store. Of the retailers surveyed, 51 percent stated the main reason for providing gift cards through mobile was convenience, and 42 percent said they offer them because they are available for shoppers to use anywhere and at anytime.

According to the National Retail Federation, the trend of mobile gift cards among retailers has increased significantly over the past few years, reports Retail Technology. Additionally, more consumers are purchasing gift cards for a variety of reasons, not just for the holiday season or other special events. Research by First Data revealed that gift cards are being reloaded more, with $211 being the average price put on them in 2011, up from 2010's average of $161.

This entry was posted by Retail Pro on Tuesday, August 7th, 2012 at 10:57 am .

After a less-than-stellar June sales report, retailers across the nation performed better than expected, as many saw increased revenue from summer and clearance sales.

According to Retailing Today, research from Thomson Reuters revealed that 75 percent of retailers, including Limited Brands, Costco Wholesale Corporation and Gap Inc., experienced a rise in sales, as many stores turn their efforts from summer sales to the upcoming school season shopping. Although the back-to-school campaigns are considered the second-largest period for retailers after Christmas, July is usually noted as a transitional month, as sales are normally lower than other times of the year. However, with the recent increase in numbers, experts believe the back-to-school season will be boosted by recent positive sales.

"Hot weather and summer clearance, coupled with some newness in stores in the back half of the month, is leading to a nice upside heading into back-to-school," said Ken Perkins, president of RetailMetrics. "Retailers were pretty aggressive with promotions, trying to clear out merchandise."

June sales were not as profitable, as many retailers reported their worst figures in three years, states MarketWatch. Out of 20 retailers that reported their June numbers, approximately two-thirds did not exceed their estimates. 

This entry was posted by Retail Pro on Monday, August 6th, 2012 at 1:50 am .

Europeans are increasingly using their smartphones to make mobile payments at retailers across the continent, as the new purchasing trend begins to become widespread in global commerce. Mobile devices can now be used for a variety of different tasks, including completing transactions at retail stores, and the traditional purchasing method is getting a makeover, as are retail store operations.

Europe turning to mobile purchasing

According to recent research by comScore, consumers in five major countries – France, the United Kingdom, Spain, Germany and Italy – are increasingly turning to their mobile devices to make purchases from online retail websites. One in eight smartphone users have utilized their devices to complete transactions with retailers, and one in six have visited retail sites and applications on their phones. These numbers are a significant increase from 2011, when the numbers of users was half the amount it is today. In May of this year, 75 percent of consumers who had accessed retail sites with their devices ended up making a purchase from the company.

"We are now observing a rapid increase in the emergence of m-commerce, where consumers visit retail sites or use dedicated apps and ultimately make on-device purchases,” said comScore's European mobile product manager Hesham Al-Jehani.

Retailers are in turn responding to shoppers and their mobile needs. ComScore found that Spain has the most growth in mobile retail commerce. In the past year, there has been a 141 percent increase in the number of smartphone users who access sites and apps on their phones, which is currently estimated at 1.9 million. The U.K. ranks highest in regard to the largest number of mobile users, with a total of 6.5 million. Germany comes in second at 5.8 million, states the research.

Retail mobile payments to increase in Europe

The recent numbers highlight the growing significance that the trend of mobile payments is currently and will continue to play in the retail industry. The Information Daily reports that recent research from Forrester estimates that mobile spending in Europe will increase elevenfold by 2017. This equals a total of €19.2 billion ($23.6 billion) within five years. In 2011, approximately €1.7 billion ($2 billion) was spent through retail mobile purchases, which equals 1 percent of total online sales. Mobile payments in Europe will account for 6.8 percent of sales by 2017. 

This entry was posted by Retail Pro on Monday, August 6th, 2012 at 1:46 am .

Amazon is leading the way for a group of internet retailers who are asking Congress to pass the Marketplace Fairness Act, known as S. 1832, which would set a revenue threshold for online retailers, in which they would have to collect and remit state sales tax in all states if they went over the predetermined limit.

According to Internet Retailer, Amazon's vice president for global public policy, Paul Misener, addressed members of the Senate and urged them to enact the law in order to better protect states and provide equal opportunities for all internet retailers. Misener used research conducted by his company to back up his arguments, and asked for the threshold to be at $150,000, instead of the current $500,000. The law in place only requires retailers to collect and remit sales tax in the states where they operate physical locations, states the news source.

"Congress should enact S. 1832 to protect the states' rights, address the states' fiscal needs and level the playing field for all sellers," said Misener.

Ecommerce Bytes reports that Misener also stated the proposed law would not create a new sales tax, but instead collect existing ones already owed. However, opponents of the law, including Steve DelBianco of NetChoice, say it will impose a new tax. DelBiano argued that the many different state and local tax codes must be harmonized in order to decrease the negative impact the legislation has on small businesses.

This entry was posted by Retail Pro on Friday, August 3rd, 2012 at 1:02 am .

Summer is almost over, and with that comes parents and children rushing into stores to stock up on back to school supplies for the upcoming academic year. Although the recent economic recession put somewhat of a damper on sales in all industries, school supply retailers were also negatively impacted, as many families cut back on costs. However, industry experts anticipate that that will change this year, as spending for the back to school season is expected to increase.

Parents increasingly spending on supplies

According to recent research from the National Retail Federation (NRF), the total amount of back to school spending this year is anticipated to reach $30.3 billion for elementary, middle and high school students. When combined with the supplies purchased for college students, the total is estimated at $83.8 billion. As the economy steadily improves, parents will be purchasing items that their children might not have had last year, the report states.

Average spending for each student in grades K-12 will reach $688.62. This is a significant increase from 2011's average, which was $603.63. Parents are expected to spend more on clothing this year, with the average amount at $246.10. Shoe purchases will come in around $129.20 for each child. Electronics needed for school activities will see an increase from last year, as 59 percent of parents say they will buy these products, compared to 51 percent last year. When it comes to supplies such as notebooks, writing utensils and bookbags, the average spending amount is $95.44, says NRF.

"When it comes to their children, there’s nothing more important to a parent than making sure their children have everything they need, even in a tough economy – and especially when it comes to back-to-school shopping," said NRF president and CEO Matthew Shay.

Positive July sales help boost back to school spending

Clothing retailers did better than anticipated during the month of July, according to data from Thomson Reuters. Many experts believe the uptick in sales at these stores signals a rise in back to school clothing spending. The purchasing of necessary school supplies is the retail industry's second largest selling period after the Christmas holiday. Many retailers are now readying their stores in preparation for the expected influx of parents and children. Ken Perkins, president of Retail Metrics, believes that based on the information of better-than-expected sales in July, retailers will be stepping up their efforts to bring in more shoppers, leading to optimism within the industry.

"We are far more encouraged about [back-to-school] than we were coming out of June," Perkins said.

This entry was posted by Retail Pro on Friday, August 3rd, 2012 at 12:59 am .

Retail Pro will be hosting its 2012 Global Conference in San Francisco, California, on October 12-16. The event will bring together a variety of attendees, including retail technology professionals, alliance partners and resellers, and will feature dedicated business partner and customer events throughout the duration of the seminar.

The agenda includes many different meetings and topics over four days, such as the future of retailing, technology solutions for the industry, and new innovative products that bring all involved a competitive advantage. There will also be many networking opportunities throughout the Discover Retail Expo, and several cocktail receptions and many others. The event will conclude with Retail Pro Prism Boot-camp, a one-day class which will teach professionals about the benefits, capabilities and features of the company's new software product. The attendees of the boot-camp will also receive their certification for the Retail Pro Prism POS, enabling them to tie that product to their businesses and product portfolios.

The Business Partner Conference will take place October 12-14, with User Conference immediately following on October 14-15, with Retail Pro Prism Bootcamp, open to both groups, taking place on October 16th.  The conference is a great place to get in tune with the company vision, understand where Retail Pro product development is heading and learn about the newest capabilities in retail software.

Retail Pro community professionals can register at https://www.retailpro.com/2012Conference/Registration.php

This entry was posted by Retail Pro on Thursday, August 2nd, 2012 at 10:25 am .