Customers returning merchandise is something that every retailer must deal with. Whether it's a shopper choosing the wrong size or color, a product breaking after purchase or an item found at a cheaper price elsewhere, there are many reasons why consumers take back merchandise for refunds or exchanges.

There is a lot of information that merchants can gather from customer returns, and with the help of retail management software, brands can ensure they have the tools needed to collect, store and analyze data related to returns.

USA Today reported that many retailers throughout the United States are putting more focus into tracking returns. One of the main reasons for this approach is so that businesses can pinpoint fraud and repeat returns, allowing them to prevent these kinds of instances in the future. The source cited industry estimates that revealed that every year approximately $264 billion worth of products are returned, which represents 9 percent of overall sales.

But fraud and other illegal activities are not the only reason why companies are turning their attention to customer returns. By monitoring which merchandise is taken back most often, merchants can determine if there are defects in products or if pricing strategies are not meeting market demands, for example. By utilizing a retail management software platform to store and analyze this information, brands can reduce their returns and boost customer satisfaction.

This entry was posted by Retail Pro on Tuesday, August 13th, 2013 at 12:58 pm .

Being able to focus mainly on customers, vital processes and their daily operations is a goal of many retailers. However, other aspects must be taken care of as well, such as inventory issues, financial procedures and employee management. Fortunately, with the help of a retail management software platform like Retail Pro 9, brands can turn their attention to what matters most as the technology handles the behind​-the-scenes work to give merchants the essential operational insight they need.

Retail industry professionals who are interested in learning more about Retail Pro 9 and how it can significantly benefit their businesses can sign up for this week's webinar, taking place Thursday, August 15th, from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. PDT. Registration information can be found at https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/324625578.

The many features and capabilities of Retail Pro 9 will be covered in full detail at the webinar, including the platform's ability to manage retail stores and websites across borders, making it easier for international merchants to oversee their processes in all markets. In addition, retailers can offer quick and seamless point of sale procedures through Retail Pro 9, boosting customer satisfaction and, ultimately, their revenues.

This entry was posted by Retail Pro on Tuesday, August 13th, 2013 at 11:21 am .

For many retailers, opening new locations is a move that brings in new business and success. Most of the time, this expansion is within domestic markets, but in some cases, merchants turn their sights to foreign regions. For example, Wal-Mart operates several stores in China, and Target has Canadian locations, just to name a few. But now, retailers' attention has turned to the Latin American market.

Internet Retailer reported that ecommerce is a main focus point for merchants that want to expand operations within Latin America. The source conducted its 2013 Latin America 400 study and found that the total amount of Web sales in the Latin American market for 39 American-based online retailers increased 19.7 percent last year, totaling $2.25 billion. These ecommerce merchants that have expanded throughout the region include Dell, Amazon and Wal-Mart.

However, the source explained that online sales growth within Latin America is not without its difficulties. Complex and costly government regulations as well as inadequate delivery services are just a few of the challenges that retailers are facing. On the other hand, the opportunities in the region are extremely lucrative for brands that want to expand and offer their products, as consumers are looking for various merchandise and services they may not be currently getting from domestic companies, the source asserted.

For merchants that have or are planning on expanding, adopting a reliable retail management software solution can help manage all operational aspects and regions.

This entry was posted by Retail Pro on Monday, August 12th, 2013 at 5:01 pm .

When social networks like Facebook and Twitter first came on the scene, people used them to stay in touch with family and friends, upload pictures and share status updates. Now, however, the role of these platforms has significantly changed. While users still log onto these sites to talk with others, they are also taking advantage of these channels to reach out to their favorite brands.

This in turn has given retailers a new tool for marketing and promoting their products and services. And while many brands may think that they can only reach out to younger generations through social media, the fact is that consumers of all ages are accessing the websites. Internet Retailer reported that, according to a study by Pew Research Center, almost three-quarters (72 percent) of U.S. adults use social sites like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Pinterest. This is up from the 67 percent who said the same in late 2012.

The source explained that although younger consumers are more likely to interact with brands through social networks, older generations are catching on to how these platforms can put them in touch not only with family and friends, but their favorite retailers as well.

To effectively oversee all marketing and promotional campaigns on social networks and ensure they are generating brand awareness, companies can use retail management software to create initiatives, offer discounts and develop customer loyalty programs.

This entry was posted by Retail Pro on Monday, August 12th, 2013 at 12:39 pm .

Merchants are gearing up for back-to-school sales and the accompanying fall shopping season in a variety of ways, including stocking their shelves with sought-after merchandise, ramping up their marketing efforts and offering discounts and coupons. Another way in which retailers are preparing for increased sales is by hiring new employees.

According to data from the National Retail Federation (NRF), the retail industry added an approximate total of 37,000 jobs throughout July, Gourmet Retailer reported. This was part of the 162,000 positions created last month, which brought the nation's unemployment rate down to 7.4 percent from June's figure of 7.6 percent. NRF analysts stated that these gains, while not significant, are a step in the right direction as the economy – and the retail sector – continues to recover.

"While unemployment remains stubbornly high, with millions of Americans jobless or underemployed, retailers are adding to their ranks and payrolls," said NRF CEO Matthew Shay.

As merchants hire new workers, they will want to ensure they are doing everything they can to retain their top talent. To do this, Retail Digital suggested that brands offer rewards and recognition not only for staff members' sales efforts, but also for the high levels of customer service they provide. Keeping lines of communication open at all times is another way to retain skilled retail workers, the source explained.

This entry was posted by Retail Pro on Friday, August 9th, 2013 at 8:32 am .

Merchants are gearing up for back-to-school sales and the accompanying fall shopping season in a variety of ways, including stocking their shelves with sought-after merchandise, ramping up their marketing efforts and offering discounts and coupons. Another way in which retailers are preparing for increased sales is by hiring new employees.

According to data from the National Retail Federation (NRF), the retail industry added an approximate total of 37,000 jobs throughout July, Gourmet Retailer reported. This was part of the 162,000 positions created last month, which brought the nation's unemployment rate down to 7.4 percent from June's figure of 7.6 percent. NRF analysts stated that these gains, while not significant, are a step in the right direction as the economy – and the retail sector – continues to recover.

"While unemployment remains stubbornly high, with millions of Americans jobless or underemployed, retailers are adding to their ranks and payrolls," said NRF CEO Matthew Shay.

As merchants hire new workers, they will want to ensure they are doing everything they can to retain their top talent. To do this, Retail Digital suggested that brands offer rewards and recognition not only for staff members' sales efforts, but also for the high levels of customer service they provide. Keeping lines of communication open at all times is another way to retain skilled retail workers, the source explained.

This entry was posted by Retail Pro on Friday, August 9th, 2013 at 8:32 am .

Shopping for merchandise online is a preferred method for many consumers, and it seems as though the channel will only increase in use in the coming years. People like the convenience that ecommerce provides, as they can browse for, compare and buy products at home or on the go through their mobile devices. The fast point of sale transactions and simple delivery options add to the reasons why more customers are turning to the Internet for their retail needs.

With the back-to-school season fast approaching and the official start of the holiday shopping season only a few months away, merchants are already gearing up for these busy periods. If brands want to ensure they attract and accommodate both new and existing patrons, then putting more focus into ecommerce strategies is one of the best ways to drive sales.

Web shopping on sharp upward trajectory
It's no secret that ecommerce is steadily growing as a preferred shopping channel for a significant amount of consumers. But what may come as a surprise is the expected sharp increase of Internet commerce throughout this year and in the near future. Internet Retailer reported that, according to research from IBM, online retail sales rose 15 percent during this year's second quarter when compared to the same time last year.

There were several retail sectors that experienced more growth than others during the past three months, the source explained. For example, online apparel sales were boosted by 21 percent year-over-year thanks to markdowns. Additionally, sales of home goods saw a 56 percent rise from the same time last year, the source detailed.

Mobile becoming a main channel
While many shoppers like to research and purchase products using their home computers and laptops, another trend is steadily gaining traction within ecommerce – mobile devices. Smartphones and tablets give consumers the ability to look up information and buy merchandise at any place and any time.

A separate article by Internet Retailer revealed that a study by Branding Brand found that mobile commerce increased significantly between July 2012 and July 2013. During this time, sales made on mobile gadgets rose from 2.7 percent to 4.3 percent, representing a 59.2 percent growth. And analysts expect this figure will continue to grow, as consumers express their preference for the channel and merchants implement mobile POS solutions to accommodate device-carrying patrons.

This entry was posted by Retail Pro on Friday, August 9th, 2013 at 3:50 am .

The holidays are a time that retailers look forward to – after all, it's the busiest shopping season of the year. However, over the past few years, the weeks leading up to and in between Thanksgiving and Christmas were lackluster, as the global economic recession hit many consumers hard. Fortunately, things are looking brighter for 2013's holiday season.

According to a recent survey conducted by Baynote, 38 percent of merchants surveyed said they are expecting their sales to grow between 11 percent and 20 percent from last year's holiday. Furthermore, 22 percent of respondents are optimistic about a sales increase of 21 percent or more this year. 

However, although sales may be picking up again, the shopping season is expected to look a bit different. The study revealed that while retailers anticipate shoppers visiting their brick-and-mortar locations in large numbers, most companies expect the bulk of their holiday sales  to take place online. Baynote found that 60 percent of businesses forecast a year-over-year rise of 10 percent in purchases made through the Internet. 

Additionally, mobile growth is another expected positive holiday season trend, as more than half of respondents (53 percent) think revenues from mobile point of sale solutions will rise significantly this year.

This entry was posted by Retail Pro on Thursday, August 8th, 2013 at 10:30 am .

Many nations throughout the world were hit hard during the economic recession of the past few years. However, as conditions continue to improve around the globe, businesses that experienced a downturn are now putting more effort into enhancing their operations. For the retail industry, this means merchants are expanding into new markets, and one such region that is getting more attention from these companies is Canada.

According to CNBC, only just a few short years ago, Canada was considered by global merchants to be too small of a market in which to expand, but now this opinion has drastically changed. The source explained that now, Canada is seen as a particularly strong region for retail growth, as consumers throughout the nation have a limited amount of shopping options. For example, big-name brands such as Target and Wal-Mart have opened storefronts in Canadian cities.

But these kinds of retailers are not the only ones launching new storefronts in the Canadian market, the source stated. Luxury and high-end merchants like Nordstrom and Saks currently have or plan to have locations in cities across the nation to spur growth.

For brands that are expanding into new markets, whether domestic or foreign, having a solid retail management software solution in place ensures that operations remain as streamlined as possible.

This entry was posted by Retail Pro on Wednesday, August 7th, 2013 at 10:50 am .

Having a full understanding of their business operations is a necessary aspect for merchants if they want to see their companies succeed. And because there are so many different elements and factors that must be overseen, having a solution in place that can collect, store and analyze this information is the best way to effectively manage both in-store and online processes.

With a system like Retail Pro Business Intelligence, companies can improve their operations through the platform's comprehensive and streamlined dashboards, scorecards and other reporting capabilities. Retail industry professionals who are interested in learning more about this solution can sign up for the Retail Pro Business Intelligence webinar, taking place this Thursday, August 8, from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. PDT. Registration information can be found at https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/620555722.

At Thursday's online event, attendees will be able to see a live demonstration of the solution as well as participate in a discussion with presenter Neil McKeown, who is the Product Manager for Retail Pro Business Intelligence and Retail Pro E-Commerce. Some of the topics that will be covered include how the platform can give merchants the ability define their business goals, strategies and other elements for the most success. The system is also fully customizable and provides retailers with more visualized data reports, among many other benefits. 

This entry was posted by Retail Pro on Tuesday, August 6th, 2013 at 10:48 am .