This holiday season may be the best in years
US consumers plan to spend around $906 per person on the holidays this year, up 16% from last year, and forecasts for seasonal spending are at levels not seen in a decade, according to a new Gallup poll. Holiday sales account for an average of 20% and as much...
The evolution of the retail sales associate
Retailers from all sectors are reworking and redefining their store strategies, with retail sales associates front and center. An analysis of retail sales associate job postings from 2007 compared with the same role posted in the last year uncovered some important trends that highlight just how the role is...
Tight labor market makes the season ripe for holiday retail jobs
The 4.2% unemployment rate is raising prospects for seasonal hiring and the possibility of a permanent position after the holidays, industry experts say. There’s also some evidence that the tight labor market is driving wage increases for retail employees on the front lines, Glassdoor Analyst MaryJo Fitzgerald said. Read...
Line Busting With Mobile POS Systems
For 10 years mobile technology has taken over the way we communicate and do business but with new technology comes higher customer expectations. Consumers want their personal technology to align with their shopping experience and businesses are struggling to keep up with their expectations. Some businesses are leading the...
5 ways knowing your audience leads to marketing success
Marketing your small business is a necessary task that can seem like a chore if you’re not sure how to reach your customers. But with a few tips, it’s an activity well worth your time. Read more …
How retailers are using customer feedback to inform business strategies
Retailers are increasingly using digital technology and social media to get feedback directly from customers, and then incorporating that information into everything from fashion design to shopping experiences. “A lot of this process involves sitting with groups like millennials and asking them what emotional incentives lead to purchase,” said...
Grocery proves a driving force for retail growth, study says
The grocery sector is one of the industries driving growth in the retail industry, with 674 groceries expected to open in 2017, based on a new IHL Group report. “The negative narrative that has been out there about the death of retail is patently false,” said IHL President Greg...
Retail store openings increase in 2017
As the “retail apocalypse” canard continues to grab the odd headline in the media, the data and the facts consistently tell quite a different story — one of an industry in transition and growing. NRF’s Mark Mathews looks at a recent report from IHL Group that shows a net...
The successes and challenges of personalized pricing
Retailers are constantly searching for the perfect combination of great-and-growing profits and rabidly loyal customers, and personalized pricing may get them there. The idea helps both online and bricks-and-mortar stores by basing prices on individual customer behavior and characteristics. Read more …
Half of millennials opt for physical stores first
Millennials may be digital natives, but they also enjoy shopping at brick-and-mortar stores, according to a survey from SmarterHQ. Half of millennials say they prefer stores as their primary shopping channels, the survey found. Read more …