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Looking Forward: The State of Retail in 2018 The countdown to 2018 is upon us. Retail has evolved significantly over the past year, which means that we’ve also seen multiple store closings from legacy retailers including: Staples, Banana Republic, Kmart, Sears, Gap, JCPenney, Ann Taylor, Teavana and Gymboree, among others. While uninspired reporters are callingRead more

Overview: We are well into the holiday rush and a few things have already become apparent about consumer shopping patterns. First, is that Black Friday doesn’t have the pull it once did for brick and mortar retailers. CNN reports a decrease in Black Friday foot traffic of less than 1 percent, compared to a 16.9Read more

Artificial Intelligence Boosts Bot Performance in Stores The future is already happening in retail stores across the globe. From robotic retail associates to virtual reality checkout counters — artificial intelligence is primed to shape the retail store of the future. Statista projects that by 2022, the U.S. market for surgical robots and AI will haveRead more

Is Augmented Reality the Next Addition to Omnichannel? Overview: Last month at the Shop.org conference solution providers showcased some of the newest tech in the business. Among the many exciting technologies, augmented reality has some of the most practical implications that will come to affect how retailers structure their business operations. Augmented reality is definedRead more

Introduction: Hiring retail associates is a challenge for even the most seasoned store manager or human resources representative. In fact, finding a candidate that can meet your company’s individual scheduling needs is complicated enough, without taking into account other necessary factors such as the candidate’s professional demeanor or work history. All too often in retailRead more

10 Signs That You Need a New POS System Overview: POS system updates can be a touchy topic for small business owners. You may postpone replacing your POS system due the investment required to buy a new system, but trying to hold on to an outdated POS system can lead you to lose revenue andRead more

5 Ways a Retail Helpdesk Can Boost Your Bottom Line The Impact of Customer Satisfaction: There’s no doubt about the impact of customer satisfaction to a company’s overall success. However, there’s been so much focus on personalization and new technology that many retailers seem to have forgotten one of the most important factors towards boostingRead more

Step up Your Game, Retailers: Generation Z Takes the Stage   The Low-down: It’s dangerous to think of Generation Z as “Post-Millennials,” as such a thought process ignores the distinctive characteristics and buying habits that set Gen Z apart from their predecessors. Gen Z is comprised of those born from about 1995 to 2010. SinceRead more

How Retailers Can Compete With E-Commerce Through Warehouse Fulfillment   Competing with Online Giants: Retailers can combat being edged out by e-commerce by utilizing the latest innovations in warehouse fulfillment. As retail evolves, so must supply chains. Since brick-and-mortar retailers are increasingly expected to function as quickly and seamlessly as online brands, retailers are turningRead more

Warehouse Fulfillment in an Ever-Growing E-commerce World Overview: Online retail competition isn’t limited to advertising and technology. Amazon Prime has set a precedent for fast delivery. Now other retailers, from Apple to Sephora, are scrambling to offer customers the same quick order fulfillment. Since an increasing number of e-commerce companies are shipping products in twoRead more