The science of hooking customers
To build a loyal customer base, it’s not enough to offer a good product — retailers need to offer a habit-forming product. Author Nir Eyal shares what he’s learned about consumer habits and behavioral design. Read more …
7 tips for growing a small retail business
Good news for small retailers – there’s never been a better time to grow your company, and a survey from American Express says growth is the No. 1 focus for small businesses. During the Small Business Experience session at Retail’s BIG Show, experts including Rhonda Abrams and Nikki Baird...
5 Easy Steps to Figuring Out Your Ideal Profit Margins
As a business owner, if it is costing you more money to create your product than you are making when you sell it—you have problems. But how do you calculate your ideal profit margin? And once you do so, what are some ways to maximize it easily? Read more...
It’s Going to Be a Big Year for Small Business
According to Manta’s Wellness Index survey, 69% of small-business owners said the second half of 2015 was a huge success, and a whopping 83% are optimistic about business prospects for the first half of this year. Read more …
Mobile will play a major role in grocery this year
Food retailers will put a bigger emphasis on mobile technology than ever before, experts say, as retailers including Kroger update their mobile applications to include features such as location-based grocery lists and personalized offers. “Creating greater ease in shopping is what consumers are looking for,” Siteminis CEO Marci Troutman...
Food Delivery Trends in 2016
The traditional methods used for delivering food from farm to table will shift to include new players, more technology and increased transparency in 2016, according to analysts. Alongside this shift in delivery will be the evolution of products featured in the center of the grocery store. In response, supply...
Small Businesses Receive Permanent Tax Break on Equipment Purchases
The massive tax and spending bill passed by Congress earlier this month also included a provision that includes a large tax break for small businesses that, until now, has been temporary. With the now-permanent tax break, small businesses can write off up to $500,000 a year worth of equipment...
Meal Kit Companies Struggle to Manage Scale, Consumer Needs
Meal delivery services may experience a shake-up in 2016 due to the launch of too many concepts trying to grow too quickly. The segment still has room to expand, but many services are too expensive for the average consumer. Companies like Good Eggs, which had to lay off 140...
The rise of online and mobile fraud
While the spread of chip-based EMV credit cards will make it more difficult to create counterfeit cards and could help reduce in-store fraud, it will do nothing to prevent fraud online. Online transactions generated 55% of fraud experienced by merchants that accept online payments, up from 42% in 2014....
Your mobile reach matters
As more consumers turn to online searches from their smartphones to find small, local businesses, it’s imperative that you’re making the most of mobile channels. Increase your online presence to better reach potential customers by utilizing some simple, yet significant devices to engage this growing mobile audience. Read more...