Employees play a crucial role for retailers: they interact daily with customers, they are often in charge of vital processes and they act as brand ambassadors. For this reason, it only makes sense that staff members should be included in any large events in which merchants participate, and the 2013 Retail Pro Global Conference is no exception.

Retail Pro Business Partners and Customers that are interested in attending this year's event, which will take place in Barcelona, Spain, at the Hesperia Tower from October 18 – 22, should consider bringing their staff members. There are many benefits to including employees in the event – for example, they will have a better understanding of the Retail Pro products and solutions that their companies use. In addition, staff members will be able to see how these systems work firsthand and talk with other users, allowing them to develop ideas of how to better use and tailor the solutions to their businesses.

Besides gaining deeper understanding of the solutions that boost their employers' operations, retail staff members will benefit from the 2013 Retail Pro Global Conference by feeling more engaged, ultimately enhancing their morale and loyalty. Taking trips with employees is a great team building exercise, one that will improve working relationships. Registration information can be found at https://www.retailpro.com/Community/2013Conference/Registration.php.

This entry was posted by Retail Pro on Thursday, April 18th, 2013 at 4:32 am .

For retailers with a specialty niche or for those that simply want to streamline their operations, Retail Pro 9 is the ultimate retail management software solution available to help merchants make their processes and procedures more efficient. A webinar for interested professionals who want to learn all about the technology will be held tomorrow between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m. PDT, and registration information can be found at https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/777786258.

The webinar will cover all of the benefits, capabilities and features of Retail Pro 9, which will be presented by the Director of Retail Pro University, Ket Venethongkham. Attendees will be able to see how Retail Pro 9 can significantly boost their operations through its flexibility and customizable aspects. This means that merchants can shape their software solution to best fit their needs.

Retail Pro 9 provides businesses with the tools needed to enhance the various aspects of customer management, including retention and loyalty. The software also gives merchants better insight into their inventory processes, allowing them to improve upon current procedures and make changes based on consumer demand. In addition, all of this information – and much more – can easily be produced in accurate reports for companies that need to access their vital data. Sign up now to guarantee a spot for tomorrow!

This entry was posted by admin on Wednesday, April 17th, 2013 at 3:02 pm .

Retailers know they can offer the best products for consumers, but if they are lacking in the customer service department, their retention and loyalty efforts can take a big hit. For this reason, merchants are aware of how crucial it is to provide excellent experience for shoppers, both in stores and online. This has become especially vital as individuals are taking to the internet to voice their opinions and reviews of brands, which many patrons research and view before deciding whether to purchase from companies. While retailers can't control every review that is posted on the web, there are steps they can take to react to negative opinions and use positive ones for their benefit.

Reviews are vital for business
Marketing Land cites a study from Dimensional Research and Zendesk, which found that most consumers read online reviews before making purchasing decisions. Ninety percent of respondents stated they have been influenced by positive online reviews for brands, while 86 percent said the same for negative reviews. The report also revealed that patrons are slightly more likely to post about their bad experiences than their good ones.

Among the channels shoppers use the most for making their opinions public are social media platforms, such as Facebook, and online review sites. Customers also take to retailers' websites to share their experiences, both positive and negative ones. Additionally, there are several things that constitute a bad experience, the research found. Consumers are likely to voice negative opinions about merchants when they deal with unpleasant employees, ask questions or explain issues several times and not have their problems resolved.

Fortunately, there are steps that retailers can follow to turn patrons' unsatisfactory experiences in positive outcomes, both for themselves and customers.

Take the good and the bad
Business 2 Community suggests that brands frequently monitor the "online buzz" that pertains to their operations. This can be accomplished on social media pages, review sites and companies' platforms. Another way to boost merchants' reputations is by responding quickly to web reviews. If posts are positive, thanking customers for their patronage shows they are appreciated. If opinions are more on the negative side, asking what can be done to rectify these situations gives businesses the chance to interact with dissatisfied consumers, improving the chances of building retention and loyalty.

This entry was posted by Retail Pro on Wednesday, April 17th, 2013 at 5:48 am .

American consumers are slowly becoming more confident in both their own financial conditions and the country's economy, which has recently translated into increased sales for retailers. However, March's sales figures took a bit of a downturn. Despite this, consumer spending levels remain steady, research has found.

According to the latest statistics from the Commerce Department, retail sales declined slightly in March, marking the second time in three months that these figures have fallen, Reuters reports. Overall, sales decreased 0.4 percent during the month. Analysts say this drop could be the result of increase payroll tax increases that went into effect at the beginning of the year, as many consumers now have less take home pay than in previous months.

On the other hand, Deloitte's Consumer Spending Index revealed that consumer spending has remained solid over the past few weeks. Levels did fall slightly last month, from February's reading of 4.37 down to 4.12 for March, which helps explain the decreased retail sales. However, analysts say the decrease isn't bad news and levels should remain strong in the coming months.

"Consumers have maintained their level of spending in recent months and retailers should be encouraged by the economic signals," said Alison Paul, vice chairman of Deloitte LLP and retail & distribution sector leader. 

This entry was posted by Retail Pro on Wednesday, April 17th, 2013 at 4:21 am .

For specialty retailers, managing all of the ins and outs of both online and store operations can get complicated. This is why many merchants turn to various systems and solutions that fit their needs, and Retail Pro 9 is one form of technology that can help with all specialty retail processes. This week's webinar will focus on the features, capabilities and benefits of Retail Pro 9, and interested retail industry professionals can sign up for Thursday's event at https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/777786258. The webinar will take place between 8 a.m and 9 a.m. PDT.

Ket Venethongkham, Director of Retail Pro University, will be presenting at the webinar. He will showcase the many capabilities of Retail Pro 9, including its point of sale functionality, its solutions for managing customer retention and its report producing systems that provide retailers with accurate information pertaining to their procedures, revenues and performance.

Attendees of the webinar will also be able to see firsthand how Retail Pro 9 helps their businesses can benefit from the technology. Merchants are able to better maintain control of their inventory by seeing entire product life cycles. In addition, retailers can view in real-time their key performance indicators and produce vital reports, giving them better insight into their operations.

This entry was posted by Retail Pro on Monday, April 15th, 2013 at 10:51 am .

Whether it pertains to online efforts or store operations, retailers know the importance of keeping customers satisfied. Offering poor experiences can result in declines in retention, as shoppers turn to competitors to get the products they want and the service the expect. Therefore, it is essential for merchants to ensure they are providing the best possible experiences for consumers.

One tactic that seems to be bringing in results for brands is engaging patrons through social media. A significant amount of people are on these networks, and while the sites started out as tools for connecting with other individuals, companies are increasingly using them to reach out to consumers, and social users are taking to the platforms to interact with retailers.

Social sites draw in customers
Internet Retailer reports that according to research from Janrain, consumers are using their Facebook details to log in to merchants' websites. Out of the sites managed by Janrain, 57 percent of shoppers used their Facebook information to access retailers' platforms during the first three months of the year. This is a jump from the 55 percent that did so in the fourth quarter of 2012 as well as the 43 percent in Q1 last year.

This is providing a variety of advantages to businesses, the news source states. By gathering the information from consumers' social profiles, brands can create more personalized marketing campaigns and learn more about what kinds of products customers are looking for. This wealth of data used to be hard to come by, but with the emergence of social media networks, retailers are now able to better connect with patrons and put more personalized elements into interactions, both in stores and online.

In a separate article, Internet Retailer reports that industry professional Warby Parker believes Twitter is playing an increasingly important role in how companies are communicating with consumers. Merchants that have yet to use the social site are risking losing customers, as feedback and opinions shared on the network provide valuable information for brands.

Best strategies for social media in the retail industry
So what are some effective techniques retailers can use to ensure their social strategies are successful? Retail Info Systems News recommends businesses assign a specialized team for social media tasks, such as updates and responding to customer interactions. In addition, implementing policies that outline appropriate behavior on the sites creates consistent messaging. 

This entry was posted by Retail Pro on Monday, April 15th, 2013 at 4:16 am .

The Canadian economy has been struggling the past few years since the recession took hold of the northern country. Further compounding this tough situation is the fact that retail sales throughout the nation have been less-than-stellar. However, conditions are slowly improving, and analysts believe that gains in ecommerce could help propel Canada's economy to full recovery.

In an article for The Huffington Post, Elaine Mah, director for Intel Corporation Canada, explains that retailers need to adopt ecommerce platforms now or risk losing out to competitors. Mah cites several studies which found that, while Canadian merchants are aware of online shopping solutions, many aren't doing enough to leverage the technology for their benefit, mainly for boosting sales. Therefore, she asserts that more needs to be done in terms of implementing ecommerce systems into retail operations, especially as consumers now prefer to shop through the internet.

If companies incorporate these solutions, this could provide significant growth for Canada' economy. Retail sales have been performing better than expected recently, reports The Canadian Press. Data from Statistics Canada revealed that in January, sales amounts grew by 1 percent, accounting for $38.9 billion for the month. However, analysts remain cautious and urge businesses to see how they fare in the near future before declaring a full recovery.

This entry was posted by Retail Pro on Friday, April 12th, 2013 at 1:57 pm .

Every day, businesses deal with a variety of information, whether it pertains to their customers, their operations or other factors. To effectively manage all of this information, merchants look for various solutions. Some may rely on more traditional or manual methods, but for the best possible processes, retailers need to use technology solutions to handle their big data. This can come in the form of retail management software that stores and tracks all kinds of information – business intelligence, customer preferences and many other aspects.

Big data not a strong suit in retail industry
Although merchants are dealing with all of this information, they are not doing a good job of successfully managing it, according to retail industry professional Brian Lent, cofounder of Medio. Lent spoke with InformationWeek and discussed what he believes is a severe lack of "big data skills" within the retail sector. The importance of maintaining control over big data is growing, as consumers are now using smartphones and tablets for shopping purposes, Lent asserts.

"You can collect and store a lot of data efficiently," he said to InformationWeek. "But if you don't know how to take that data, do analytics on it, and put it into operational use, you don't get the real value out of it."

If companies take the steps now to implement solutions that allow them to collect, store and analyze data, they will be sure to see results almost immediately. This information can also be used to improve operations, such as enhanced customer service, better product lines, more accurate inventory processes and many other elements.

What data is being collected?
Although retailers are not particularly adept when it comes to collecting and using big data, many businesses are currently managing various types of information in the hopes of finding their strengths and learning where their weaknesses lie. A study by Bronto revealed that customer purchase data is one factor that merchants are collecting and analyzing to develop better marketing messages.

The research found that 84 percent of retailers are taking advantage of this information to create email content that recommends related products based on past items that shoppers bought. This approach is an effective way to boost sales as well as loyalty, as customers feel valued and appreciated by brands.

There are many ways that merchants can successfully leverage the data they have in their possession, and it all starts with the right mindset and technology solution.

This entry was posted by Retail Pro on Friday, April 12th, 2013 at 7:47 am .

When doing business with a brand, customers like to feel valued and appreciated. While this can often be accomplished by sales associates simply greeting and thanking shoppers for their patronage, the internet has now added more to the mix. Consumers are looking for personalized interactions from retailers, whether it is in stores or online.

Internet Retailer reports that research from Experian Marketing Services found that incorporating personalized components into email messages can significantly boost revenues. The study looked specifically at upcoming Mother's Day, on May 12, and recommended that merchants wanting to benefit from related sales should include personalized subject lines. By doing this, businesses can increase open rates up to 54 percent and transactions rates by 66 percent, Experian discovered.

However, personalized elements shouldn't be restricted to only emails. Customers also like this aspect when shopping at brick-and-mortar locations, according to MultiChannel Merchant. Research from MyBuys and the e-tailing group found that 40 percent of consumers are more willing to do repeat business with retailers if there are personalized communication throughout all channels. This includes emails, mobile messages and in-store interactions.

This entry was posted by Retail Pro on Friday, April 12th, 2013 at 6:41 am .

Cash registers and card readers are still prevalent within retailers' brick-and-mortar locations, but another payment form is quickly becoming preferred by many shoppers – mobile payments. Merchants are incorporating this kind of technology into their operations to accommodate device-carrying consumers who like to complete transactions with their smartphones.

The Associated Press reports that businesses across the globe are turning to mobile payment solutions to boost satisfaction among mobile customers. Some of the big-name brands include Urban Outfitters, Barney's and J.C. Penney, among others. These companies are bringing in technology that allows them to not only process payments from mobile devices, but also equip sales associates with tablets and smartphones to answer shoppers' questions and help the find the products they are looking for, the news source explains. However, just because this method may seem as though it could replace traditional cash registers and card readers, that certainly is not the case. These payment forms remain popular and will continue to be required in the future. Mobile POS solutions are just another way for brands to offer greater convenience for customers.

And while larger businesses are busy incorporating the technology, that doesn't mean that smaller retailers can't do the same. In fact, offering mobile payment options now can significantly help merchants' boost retention and loyalty among device-carrying patrons.

This entry was posted by Retail Pro on Thursday, April 11th, 2013 at 10:28 am .