The Importance of Proper Timing: Setting up Inventory Deliveries

As the saying goes, “Timing is everything.” Although selecting the right vendors and styles at the right price points is very important, establishing ideal delivery start and completion dates for inventory orders can be just as important. Before buying for any new season, you need to know which vendors have been the most profitable, along with what styles and sizes sold best in the prior seasons. No doubt you know which lines were not profitable and which items didn’t sell. But was the lackluster performance for these items really a result... 

Top Topics and Trends Discussed at Retail’s BIG Show

Scheduled to run Jan. 15 to Jan. 18, NRF sponsored “Retail’s BIG Show” is already making industry headlines and appearing as the topic of many blog posts after its first couple days of presentations and networking. As NRF blogger, Jennifer Overstreet, explains, “From business intelligence to point of service, mobile to kiosks, customer experience revolutions to supply chain optimization, the floor is buzzing with more than 400 exhibitors.” So how does one give a small, succinct summary of Retail’s BIG Show, in order to cover all the... 

Recognizing and Preventing Hidden Loss

While loss prevention (LP) professionals are usually very focused on highly visible causes of loss such as shoplifting, organized retail crime and administrative error, they are advised to also consider ‘hidden losses’ that occur without being noticed or tracked. For instance, a shopper does not receive adequate customer service and leaves the store. Merchandise isn’t replenished on the shelves, driving customers to shop a competitor. Or worst of all, lost sales from a customer for life due to a bad experience in the store. While not classified... 

2011’s Taxing Topic for Retailers: The Fairness of Sales Tax Collecting

Retailers online and offline will have more in common than they think if Congress makes a decision to support three recent legislative proposals on the topic of online sales tax. “With three bills offered in just over three months, Congress has gotten the message and is ready to act,” says Matthew Shay, NRF president and CEO. The National Retail Federation (NRF) strongly supports legislation that would make it easier for states to require all retailers (brick and mortars and e-tailers alike) to collect sales tax and to do so in the same manner. What... 

A New Year’s Retail Resolution

Why do we go through the charade of making idol promises to ourselves each year that are usually dismissed or forgotten by the time the effects of New Year’s Eve have worn off? Have you ever noticed all the new faces in the health clubs in January, sporting the cross trainers and workout wear acquired over the holidays? Most will have abandoned their physical aspirations come spring. Making resolutions for the upcoming year is a time honored tradition with roots tracing back to Babylonian times.  In 153 BC, Janus, the mythical King of early Rome...