The warm summer months have not only lured people out of their homes to take advantage of the pleasant weather, but it seems as though the season has also resulted in a pick up in consumer spending. For retailers throughout the United States, this is welcome news, as they stock their shelves with summer merchandise to bring in more patrons and boost their sales.

According to recent data from Thomson Reuters, U.S. retail stores that have been open for more than a year have released their initial reports for June's sales, and most saw a strong rise in their revenues. While the official statistics have yet to be released, Reuters noted that analysts have forecast a 3.6 percent overall increase from May's retail sales. Retail sales jumps of more than 3 percent are indicative of solid consumer spending, the news source explained.

Dow Jones Business News reported that improving weather conditions following a particularly cold winter are one contributing element to better retail sales. U.S. merchants are anticipating even better sales in the coming months, as many gear up to begin their back-to-school campaigns.

This entry was posted by Retail Pro on Friday, July 12th, 2013 at 9:51 am .

When consumer demands change, merchants make every move to meet the new wants and needs of their shoppers. Now, individuals are using mobile technology in their daily lives, and this has made it's way into the retail industry as patrons want mobile options when browsing for and purchasing products, whether in stores or online.

For retailers that have yet to implement mobile solutions into their operations to accommodate consumers, now is the time. Waiting to adopt the technology could result in lost business and lower sales, as shoppers turn to other companies that are offering the mobile features they are looking for. Besides boosting sales and revenues, Business 2 Community wrote that mobile technology provides other benefits for retailers, mainly in the form of increased customer loyalty.

Developing loyalty initiatives that can be used on mobile devices is an effective way to establish strong relationships with shoppers and offer them the products and services they want, the source asserted. In addition, giving patrons the ability to use their gadgets throughout the entire purchasing process, such as through mobile point of sale solutions, provides more convenience, which is another element that goes a long way at creating more loyal consumers.

This entry was posted by Retail Pro on Friday, July 12th, 2013 at 8:03 am .

Much like their marketing strategies, sales procedures and product development efforts, retailers put a lot of time into creating the ideal customer experience. This differs among businesses, as the varying merchandise and target audiences mean there are a wide range of consumer needs and wants. However, merchants know how important it is to offer the best possible service, as this is one of the key ingredients for boosting retention and loyalty.

On the other hand, many companies may not be aware of what exactly it can cost their operations when a shopper is dissatisfied with his or her experience. Not only does a business stand to lose that specific patron, but he or she could spread the word about the poor service and results they received. Having this knowledge is vital for developing and improving upon current customer experience management strategies.

Don't make service resolutions difficult
When customers seek out a solution to the issues they are experiencing, whether with an actual product or a related factor, retailers need to be available to offer answers and fix these problems as quickly as possible. WhaTech explained that consumers are looking for fast and convenient options for resolving their issues, and companies often fail to provide this. Making patrons jump through hoops to speak to a service representative or find the right answer only stands to increase their frustration, something that could certainly turn them off from a brand, the source asserted.

WhaTech cited a survey by call center technology firm which found that 82 percent of consumers were likely to stop doing business with a company if they had to put in too much effort to fix their issues. That is a significant number of patrons, and it only would take one bad experience for them to swear off a merchant forever.

Continuous service improvements are needed
To ensure that they continue to provide excellent customer service and experiences, retailers need to frequently revisit their strategies and make improvements right when they are needed. Collecting feedback from shoppers is one of the best ways to gauge how they feel about the service they are receiving. In addition, providing multiple communication channels gives businesses the ability accommodate customers through their preferred platforms. This can eliminate any extra unnecessary steps that could possibly lead to dissatisfaction. Also, having a strong retail management software solution in place gives companies the tools needed to oversee their customer service efforts.

This entry was posted by Retail Pro on Friday, July 12th, 2013 at 4:33 am .

It's not a trend that took retailers by surprise – ecommerce has steadily made its way to the forefront of the industry as consumers have gone online in increasing numbers to research, compare and purchase products. For many merchants, this shopping preference was taken in stride, and companies adopted solutions and strategies to accommodate their Internet customers. For some brands, however, the move to the web has not been fully embraced, and these companies risk losing out on valuable business and customer retention. Fortunately, with the right solutions and enough dedication, merchants can get their operations online and running, giving them ability to be at the forefront of the industry and perhaps even outlast their competitors.

E-commerce continues to grow
Internet Retailer reported that research from eMarketer revealed that e-commerce is expected to continue to expand significantly across the globe in the coming years. This certainly isn't a surprise given the strong emergence of the channel in the recent past, but the estimated figures are good information that retailers may want to know. In the United States alone, the study predicts that online shopping will account for $395.28 billion in sales by the end of this year. That represents a 12.4 percent jump from ecommerce sales seen in 2012, the source noted.

On a global scale, eMarketer forecasts that Internet purchases will reach $1.86 trillion by 2016. Over the next two years, ecommerce will continue to strengthen, but it could see a slight slowdown in 2015 and 2016, the source explained. However, this small potential decrease will not hinder retailers' ecommerce strategies, especially as several regions across the world will experience an uptick in online shopping. These include China, the United Kingdom and Germany, among other nations.

Merchants must embrace ecommerce
As consumers throughout the world increasingly go online to browse for and purchase items from merchants, companies will need to adapt to this change and implement solutions that help them accommodate Internet shoppers, Business 2 Community reported. This not only includes having a strong online presence through a website and social media channels, but merchants should also consider integrating retail management software and point of sale systems that can accept and process payments made through the Internet. Adopting this technology is one of the best ways to cater to online consumers to boost retention, loyalty and revenues.

This entry was posted by Retail Pro on Thursday, July 11th, 2013 at 8:32 am .

Due to potential legislation requiring online merchants to collect sales taxes from customer purchasing products on the web, many businesses may soon need to start figuring state and local sales taxes into their operations if the bill passes the House of Representatives. While this may seem overwhelming at first, point of sale solutions and retail management software can help ecommerce retailers ensure they are accurately collecting, processing and transmitting the right tax amounts if they are required to.

The Washington Times reported that Washington state is considering requiring online businesses to collect state and local taxes on Internet purchases. This is an idea that is supported by many states as they await the House vote. These taxes will give state governments more revenue and make the marketplace a bit more balanced, as brick-and-mortar retailers currently have to collect these taxes already. However, the source noted that many ecommerce companies are not so keen about potentially adding these taxes into their operations.

The main reason for this opposition is that collecting, processing and transferring these amounts to state and local governments can be confusing and overwhelming procedure, the news source explained. Fortunately, retailers can use point of sale software systems to help them manage the various local and state tax codes if the bill is eventually passed.

This entry was posted by Retail Pro on Thursday, July 11th, 2013 at 4:14 am .

Retailers want to know exactly how well their companies are performing – without this knowledge, how will merchants realize it's time to restock their inventories, revise their budgets or make the necessary changes to keep up with consumer demand? Fortunately, there are solutions that retailers can use to ensure their operations run as efficiently and successfully as possible.

One such technology is Retail Pro Business Intelligence – a platform that gives merchants the insight they need to improve their processes and know where their strengths lie. This Thursday, July 11, interested industry professionals can log in for the Retail Pro Business Intelligence webinar, taking place between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m. PDT. Registration information can be found at https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/873764418.

At the event, attendees will learn all about the solution from Neil McKeown, Product Manager for Retail Pro Business Intelligence and Retail Pro E-Commerce. He will discuss and demonstrate how the technology can help merchants focus more on what matters to their business through detailed reporting capabilities, fast accessibility from anywhere and its comprehensive data tools. Merchants can also customize Retail Pro Business Intelligence to fit their needs, giving them the tools needed to make business intelligence relevant their unique operations.

This entry was posted by Retail Pro on Wednesday, July 10th, 2013 at 7:20 am .

These days, many retailers operate both brick-and-mortar locations and online platforms. This gives them the chance to boost their sales, capture new business and retain existing customers. While merchants have different strategies for managing each method, there are some elements that can be used for both stores and websites.

Internet Retailer reported that, according to research from Econsultancy.com and IBM Tealeaf, more retailers are using their online channels to boost foot traffic and sales within their brick-and-mortar locations. Listing contact information, hours of operation and location addresses may be the only thing that merchants think they can include on their sites, but that certainly isn't the case, the source asserted. Other strategies include using social media networks and website updates to broadcast information about products and services in stores, as well as sending discounts and other promotional materials through the Internet that can be redeemed in physical storefronts.

The research pointed out that more needs to be done on the part of retailers to integrate the in-store and online experience. This can include allowing shoppers to purchase their products on the web then pick up the merchandise in stores. Another method that merchants can follow is to adopt mobile point of sale solutions, giving them the ability to collect data about device-carrying consumers and use it to enhance their customer service strategies.

This entry was posted by Retail Pro on Wednesday, July 10th, 2013 at 4:39 am .

Countries across the European continent have had a rough couple of years. The economic recession that took hold of the world resulted in high unemployment rates, declines in consumer spending and general negative outlooks for many European nations. As the slow recovery continues to spread throughout the region, there have been some signs of improvement, and one of these is recent data related to retail sales.

According to The Wall Street Journal, research from Eurostat revealed that retail sales in countries with the euro as currency increased 1 percent between April and May. Although the figure is not large by any means, the rise comes after sales fell 0.2 percent during the two previous months, and it was welcome news by analysts who had predicted a much lower gain, the source explained.

The increased retail sales could be pointing to further economic improvement in the coming months, although analysts stated that there is still a long way to go in terms of getting back to pre-recession levels, the source noted.

"Spending will be soft in the coming months as … households face a number of headwinds that will keep discretionary spending muted for some months," Anna Zabrodska, an economist at Moody's, told the source.

This entry was posted by Retail Pro on Wednesday, July 10th, 2013 at 4:27 am .

Mobile devices are everywhere – people have them when they are walking down the street, when they are commuting and even when they are relaxing at home. These gadgets provide a variety of benefits for users, namely convenience when wanting to complete various tasks. For this reason, many consumers have used their smartphones and tablets when browsing for and purchasing items from retail brands.

When this trend first started happening, merchants were not sure if it would catch on. Now, businesses know that mobile devices are not going anywhere anytime soon, and if they want to accommodate patrons who prefer to shop and pay with their smartphones and tablets, steps should be taken now to implement solutions such as mobile point of sale systems into their operations.

Mobile can be used both in-store and online
Whether an individual prefers to shop at brick-and-mortar locations or online – or a combination of both – having the preferred systems in place is vital for retailers to retain customers. Mobile transactions are fast becoming a favorite way of consumers to pay for merchandise, reported Point of Sale News. By adopting mobile solutions, merchants are adding to the customer experience they provide and this in turn is resulting in higher patron satisfaction, which is key to retaining valuable shoppers, the source explained.

In addition, incorporating mobile devices into in-store operations, such as equipping employees with these gadgets, can also go a long way to enhancing customer satisfaction. The source asserted that giving associates smartphones and tablets while on the sales floor allows them to quickly answer customers' questions and look up information about products. This adds to the convenience that mobile technology provides and offers benefits for both merchants and their patrons.

Best steps for effective mobile implementation
After making the decision to implement mobile solutions, retailers must then consider which type of technology will be best for their operations and will satisfy their customers. To do this successfully, Business Solutions recommended that companies first research and compare the various options available to them. Fully understanding the capabilities, costs and upkeep of potential systems gives retailers the chance to find the right specifications for them.

In addition, the source suggested that finding a solution that can be integrated with existing and future technologies is key to ensuring that mobile technologies will be able to accommodate device-carrying consumers in the best way possible.

This entry was posted by Retail Pro on Tuesday, July 9th, 2013 at 8:09 am .

Shopping centers and other commercial properties around the United States are seeing a decline in vacancies as retailers move to open up new locations. This is indicative of an improving retail industry, as merchants regain their confidence that was lost during the economic recession and consumers boost their spending levels.

The Wall Street Journal reported that, according to data from real estate research firm Reis Inc., the average U.S. retail vacancy property rate fell from 10.6 percent in the first quarter to 10.5 percent in the second quarter. While this isn't a huge drop, it is the lowest average figure in more than three years, the source explained. As for the nation's shopping malls, the average vacancy rate also decreased from 8.9 percent in the second quarter of 2012 to 8.3 percent at the end of last month. This represents the lowest figure in four years, the news source noted.

The Reis Inc. study's findings coupled with the recent rise in retail sales in May is pointing to a strong recovery for the retail industry. During the economic recession, many merchants were forced to scale back their operations and cut their workforces all while offering affordable products for consumers who were more budget-conscious. Although full recovery has not yet happened, increasing optimism and the opening of new retail locations is welcome news for the U.S. economy.

This entry was posted by Retail Pro on Tuesday, July 9th, 2013 at 7:00 am .