by David Mayer Physical retail has been in decline for more than a decade. While grocery saw a temporary reprieve during the onset of COVID-19 as shoppers stockpiled and avoided restaurants, March 2021 will likely see year-over-year declines as the world returns to pre-pandemic norms. To continue to thrive, retailers need to address the core […]
retail sales
How Shopping Appointments Could Help Retailers Survive the Holidays
by Shannon Flynn The holiday season presents some challenges and opportunities to retailers every year. Now, with COVID concerns and falling sales, the coming holidays may be even more challenging. Amid this confusing time, shopping appointments could provide some needed relief. A few major retailers adopted the shop-by-appointment model early on in the pandemic when […]
Lee Valley Launches Innovative Contactless Shopping Capability
by Dynamsoft Corporation Lee Valley Tools is taking its in-store COVID-19 precautions a step further with the launch of a new mobile shopping tool, which incorporates the JavaScript edition of the Dynamsoft Barcode Reader. Integrated with Lee Valley’s website, LeeValley.com, the new tool allows for mobile contactless shopping in each of its 20 locations across […]
The Strategy Behind Coupons
Nationwide, chains and small businesses alike know the importance of a good sale to their customer base. Sales in general, especially those involving coupons, are known to draw in both new and returning customers and increase overall sales. However, the type of coupon plays a big part in how successful the campaign will be. Consumers […]
Three Tips for Retailers to Reel-In Last Minute Shoppers
by Tom Ertler, Miller Zell’s SVP and Creative Director There are shoppers who make their lists, check them twice and have their gifts bought, boxed, wrapped and bowed well before the big day of the season. And then there are the rest – the procrastinators, either too busy to shop early or too perplexed by […]
AI’s Role in Helping Retailers with Holiday Pricing & Promotion Strategies
by Jeff Smith In an increasingly competitive landscape, independent retailers face unique challenges. Where once their competition consisted almost solely of nearby physical stores in the same retail sector, today they face an unprecedented and fast-changing array of competitors, from online giants to specialty stores and global discounters. But there is good news as well. […]
Amazon Prime Day Boosts Sales Across Entire Retail Industry
Amazon Prime Day is an annual sale event for Amazon members typically held in mid-July. Prime Day, though recently founded in 2015, quickly grew to one of retail’s biggest shopping days. In 2018, Prime Day brought in over $4.2 billion in sales, with 40 percent of consumers making impulse purchases. The sale includes Amazon’s private […]
2019 Economic and Consumer Outlook
The overarching theme of retail consumers in 2019 is high expectations. Higher consumer confidence, higher wages, innovative startups and emerging technology all contribute to unrelentingly high standards. But, for all of those same reasons small businesses are in a better position now, more than ever, to exceed consumers’ high expectations. Here’s a deeper dive into […]
Brick and Mortar Purchases Account for 83% of Holiday Spending
This holiday season, mobile may have stolen the headlines, but brick and mortar stores continue to steal the sales. Online shopping during the holiday season approached $125 billion. But, according to Adobe, 83 percent of holiday shopping was done in-store. What may come as a surprise is that Millennial and Gen Z shoppers are leading […]
2019 Retail Predictions
Every year, Independent Retailer turns to the experts and asks “What’s Next?” Read on for industry expert takes on challenges retailers will face in 2019, where retailers should focus their energy, how to shake things up this year, and what to prioritize. What will be the biggest challenges retailers face in 2019? Are these […]
