by Meg Goodman While we like to think that shoppers will make rational and well thought out choices, behavioral economics has shown us that is not always the case. After all, consumers are human. Behavioral economics is able to trace these decisions right to the source and give them context. The field of behavioral economics […]
shopping
Robots are Finally Rolling Into Retail Stores
In April, employees of Stop & Shop, a grocery chain in New England, went on strike for eleven days. However, there was one notable exception. Marty, Shop & Shop’s newest employee, continued his work in the stores’ aisles. Marty is also a robot. At the beginning of the year, Stop & Shop deployed Marty the […]
Warm Weather’s Impact on Shopping
Aside from the economy, weather has the biggest impact on consumer behavior, according to the British Retail Consortium. Weather directly impacts shoppers’ moods, their purchasing decisions, where consumers buy, and even how much they spend. There are obvious examples of this, like higher ice cream sales on a warm summer day, or umbrella sales during […]
9 Steps to Increase Conversions on Your Website
Turning casual browsers into confirmed purchases is one of the biggest challenges for online sellers. The average conversion rate for a brick and mortar store varies between 15 – 30 percent. That may be lower than you were expecting. But, the truly shocking fact is that average conversion rates for online stores are between 1 […]
Spring into Action: How to Increase Apparel and Accessory Sales
It is not enough just to stock your store with apparel and accessories for the new season, you need strategies to move those products. Spring is a time for new beginnings, and there’s no better time to reinvent your store and optimize for sales. Here is a step-by-step guide for increasing apparel sales in your […]
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 […]
3 In-Store Merchandising Tactics to Maximize Shelf Appeal
by Simon Mitchell, Action Storage It might not seem so obvious to the customer, but there is a delicate, tactical science to arranging products in a retail space in order to boost the visual appeal of your products and, ultimately, boost your profits. We’ve narrowed it down to three vital areas with the greatest potential […]
Golden Quarter Survival Guide
by Rich Kizer & Georganne Bender It’s that time of year again: The fourth quarter – the Golden Quarter – a crucial time for every retailer. The Golden Quarter is traditionally when most retailers go from being in the red to being in the black. You just can’t afford to mess up because there are […]
How Amazon is Addressing “Try Before You Buy”
How annoying is it to buy a piece of clothing online, not like the way it fits, and then go through the hassle of sending it back? And often you have to pay extra shipping fees out of your own pocket. This isn’t the ideal situation for loyal customers, and that’s why Amazon’s “try before […]
5 Fast Tips to Sell More Apparel
Now that you have lots of great fall merchandise in stock, it’s time to sell! Here are a few quick tips to keep your sales strong throughout the season.