A new government report suggests that consumer spending edged up just barely in spring. This information may worry some merchants, but analysts predict consumers will resume spending again this summer.

Gas prices have declined over the past few months, but not enough to significantly stimulate spending. However, key sectors noted significant lifts in sales. For example, furniture retailers and appliance sellers saw a significant boost in sales. Moreover, these are big ticket items, which means consumers aren't afraid to make big purchases when they want to.

"The continued fall in gasoline prices should support consumption by freeing up cash to be spent on other items," Paul Dales, senior U.S. economist at Capital Economics, told The Washington Post.

"The drop in gas prices means summer spending will accelerate," Ian Shepherdson, chief U.S. economist at High Frequency Economics, added.

While the summer months are typically slow due to consumers spending more time outside and shopping indoors less, some seasonal retailers are particularly set to benefit from bigger sales through the back-to-school season.

This entry was posted by Retail Pro on Friday, June 22nd, 2012 at 10:06 am .

Despite a number of big-name retailers working hard to launch digital flyers and mobile shopping pamphlets, a number of them are still launching more traditional paper marketing materials as well.

For example, in June, Walmart increased the number of flyers it sent to consumers by 100 percent compared with the same time frame last year. The company dropped three times as many flyers in key markets this year, while it also more than doubled the page count, the Market Track report notes.

Staples similarly increased distribution by 33 percent. Kmart and Sears also boosted distribution, while Best Buy, CVS and Walgreens lifted the number of pages per flyer. On the flipside, JCPenney saw the biggest downgrade in both total circulation numbers and page count.

"Overall, this month saw gain in flyer distribution as well as the size of flyer," the report explains. "Interestingly, a large set of retailers did not change their distribution strategy at all this month, and only focused on the size of flyer."

New mobile devices are gaining more traction with retailers because they enable consumers to access circulars no matter where they are.

This entry was posted by Retail Pro on Friday, June 22nd, 2012 at 10:04 am .

A number of retailers are investing in new software and other technology as a means of improving store operations. This is particularly the case with point-of-sale (POS) systems that can be leveraged to expedite the checkout process.

For example, many merchants are now experimenting with tablets such as Apple's iPad. Some arm their sales associates with the devices to help customers find specific items and learn more about merchandise. Others incorporate them into the frontend for use as POS terminals. There are a number of potential ways to use these devices, depending on the needs of the brand.

"When it comes to retail software, one of the key questions many merchants are asking has to do with hardware – namely, what role tablet computers will play at the point of sale and how these devices can be integrated with existing POS systems," adds Business Solutions magazine.

Some retail merchants are using tablets to run Retail Pro's own software. For example, Chinese Apple Premium Reseller iSpace leverages the iPad as a touchpoint for operating Retail Pro's management solution.

This entry was posted by Retail Pro on Thursday, June 21st, 2012 at 11:11 am .

India's retail sector is growing quickly. There are a number of key statistics that point to this and show the direction of the sector in the future, NDTV Profit reports.

1. The retail sector of India is expected to hit $450 billion this year, with a significant 90 percent of the market run by tiny, independent merchants.

2. However, as the retail sector pulls in more sales, larger merchants are growing interested in the region. For example, larger chains account for only 10 percent of the market now, but are growing at a rate of 20 percent per year.

3. The government recently passed a law to allow for 100 percent foreign direct investment in businesses, which makes the market even more attractive to larger global retailers. "So far U.S.-based coffee giant Starbucks has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Tata Coffee," the source adds.

As such, membership to trade groups like The Retailers Association of India (RAI) has surged as local merchants look to share best practices for tasks such as store operations and marketing.

This entry was posted by Retail Pro on Thursday, June 21st, 2012 at 11:10 am .

Despite the fact that some major brands have pulled out of advertising on Facebook, a new report from comScore highlights the value that the social network can bring to retailers in terms of promotional efforts.

The report suggests most brands have an amplification ratio of 0.5 and 2.0, which means they are extending their reach by between 50 and 200 percent every month. This can grow even further when social media is used in conjunction with other paid media. Exposure to Premium Ads on Facebook may drive significant lifts for online and same-store sales as well.

"Social media continues to emerge as an important marketing channel and major brand marketers are devoting more time and attention to understanding its impact on consumers," said Andrew Lipsman, comScore vice president of industry analysis.

"While marketers understand the importance of a channel that now accounts for one in every seven minutes spent online, many are challenged to quantify its effectiveness," he added.

More than 800 million consumers are registered with Facebook, with upward of 200 million accessing the site from their mobile devices. Facebook reaches a significant portion of consumers, which makes it important to marketing initiatives.

This entry was posted by Retail Pro on Thursday, June 21st, 2012 at 11:07 am .

Previously, online, mobile and in-store shopping experiences were likely handled as different platforms. However, a new report from Retail Systems Research suggests companies are looking to consolidate their various sales platforms as they further focus on providing a uniform shopping experience.

The 66 retail respondents all said that consolidation is important, but as few as 32 percent have actually done so. Most focus on relatively simple tasks first, such as marketing.

There is a notable advantage to consolidation, though. Out of a group called "retail winners" – those that achieved 3 percent year-over-year growth – all have begun to form consolidation plans.

"Enabling true cross-channel capabilities, exposing product and inventory information across the entire enterprise, empowering in-store associates to meet customer needs and proactively managing the relationship with consumers will enable retailers to build brand loyalty that is more valuable than merely delivering a low price,” the authors say, as quoted by Internet Retailer.

Many merchants are striving to integrate software solutions that will help them boost store operations and consolidate their efforts.

This entry was posted by Retail Pro on Wednesday, June 20th, 2012 at 11:09 am .

The Retailers Association of India (RAI) was first formed seven years ago by key merchants in the region. The group recently crossed the 750 member mark in 2011, which highlights the growing prominence of the retail sector in India.

The organization serves as a way to help merchants in the emerging market develop effective best practices and create an organized and prosperous retail sector in India. While retail is still not an accorded industry in the country, RAI is still trying to stress the importance of the growing sector to the local government.

"As consumerism in India was growing, [so was] retail … witnessing an altogether new phase with new players coming in picture, modernization becoming need of the hour, etc.," explained Kumar Rajagopalan, chief executive officer at RAI. "There was no single body to represent the interest of retailers, forget a ministry. That is what led to some of the retailers coming together and laying the foundation of RAI."

The retail sector in developing markets – such as India – has largely been credited with helping local economies grow, despite the economic recession.

This entry was posted by Retail Pro on Wednesday, June 20th, 2012 at 11:08 am .

A number of retailers have reported increased cash flow, revenues and workforces, but they still believe they could be doing better if the economy was recovering more quickly. As a result, many are being more guarded in their long-term decisions, at least until 2014, when they believe the economy will begin recovering.

More than three-quarters of retail executives polled by KPMG said they have significant cash on the balance sheet, up 5 percent from 2011. Additionally, 56 percent say their companies have better cash positions and 64 percent indicated revenues are up. Still, 65 percent believe the economy still has room to improve in the future and 61 percent don't see that happening until 2014 or 2015.

"The retail sector has experienced some positive momentum in the past year, but executive leaders aren't about to throw caution to the wind," said Mark Larson, KPMG global retail leader. "In this year's survey, executives have pushed back their estimated timeline for economic recovery to 2014 or later, with concerns that decreased consumer confidence and continued high national unemployment are hindering … recovery."

Many businesses are scaling back their brick-and-mortar presence as a result, focusing on lower cost ecommerce.

This entry was posted by Retail Pro on Wednesday, June 20th, 2012 at 11:06 am .

The tremendous and consistent growth of China’s “dragon economy” has made it an attractive market for international retail growth. According to The Economist, China’s 9.2% GDP expansion last year was fueled principally by consumer spending. China’s rising middle-class is a colossal new market for business across the globe. In 2010, three of China’s top-ten retailers were Western companies, earning over $5b each. Apple’s risky foray into the Chinese smartphone market paid off, bringing a staggering $7.9 billion in revenue last quarter.

But the promise of increased sales in China has been tempered by challenging realities. Transportation, distribution, licensing issues for new stores, and domestic competition against foreign entrants are significant obstacles for international businesses expanding in China.

Western industries and Chinese businesses are pairing up in creative distribution channels to overcome logistical problems and navigate the ambiguous legal environment. For example Apple, Inc. is leveraging their partnership with five firms (Apple Premium Retailers) to drive new growth in the Chinese market.

A Retail Pro customer, iSpace was recently announced as the newest member in the extremely selective group of APRs. Valued for their modernity, international expertise, professional support, and highly personalized customer service, iSpace has driven the growth of several global businesses in China’s specialty retail sector. iSpace is currently the only American distribution partner with Apple, Inc. in China and delivers the highest level of non-direct distribution. iSpace provides a full inventory of products, 3rd party accessories, warranty and repair support, and training in their specialized lifestyle mall locations. With their focus on key trade demographics and highly-personalized customer service, iSpace will grow Apple’s share in the Chinese consumer tech market.

iSpace’s new status as an APR comes with significant control issues. Managing sales, inventory, distribution, costumer data, and accurate reporting are critical to maintaining profitability and promoting Apple’s highly-regarded brand identity.

To meet those control issues, iSpace adopted Retail Pro International’s management solutions for their store operations. Retail Pro’s highly flexible and scalable software ensures that iSpace can immediately meet their business needs in China’s rapidly evolving specialty retail sector. And with the Xdisplay app, iSpace is capable of using the latest iMacs and iPads as touch points for operating Retail Pro software. From basic store operations to challenging logistical operations, iSpace is utilizing Retail Pro retail management software to thrive in China’s booming retail sector.

At Retail Pro International, we maintain our commitment to customer success across the globe. Networks of servicing Business Partners deliver prompt, local, and professional service and support in 85 countries. The robust architecture, extensible features, and unparalleled scalability of Retail Pro POS software allow clients to solve their unique business challenges today’s global market.

This entry was posted by Retail Pro on Tuesday, June 19th, 2012 at 10:14 am .

Australian residents are increasingly forgoing international vacations and opting for domestic hotspots, which has given the retail sector a much-needed boost, Smart Company reports.

New data from the Australian government suggests more than 73 million overnight trips were taken through March, which marks a 5 percent growth compared with the previous year. Vacationing tourists are more likely to spend money at retail, with a separate report from Deloitte noting the sector is on pace to record 2 percent growth through the end of 2012.

The growth projected by Deloitte may not be as significant as many retailers had hoped for, but it's a large step up from the 0.7 percent growth of 2011. Deloitte predicts growth will further accelerate in 2013 to 3 percent.

"Overall, we expect that interest rate cuts and budget handouts will help the retail sector continue some upward momentum in the coming months," Deloitte Access Economics director David Rumbens told the news source.

Australian retail has been hindered the past few years because of the growing prevalence of ecommerce, which enables consumers to import less expensive retail goods from foreign countries.

This entry was posted by Retail Pro on Monday, June 18th, 2012 at 10:18 am .