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Use Retail Trends to Improve the Customer Experience

February 12, 2019Andy Wojtowski — Posted in TechTOPICKS

As we move into the New Year, retailers are focused on the bottom line, working to continue the fight against online shopping and improve in-store sales. There are many debates over the best way to do this, but ultimately, it’s pretty simple. By paying attention to retail trends and continually adjusting sales tactics to better meet customers’ needs, retail stores can be see greater success in 2019.

Customer Experience

This one seems like a no-brainer, but it is the most important aspect of improving retail sales and success. Brick-and-mortar retail continues to trend toward a more interactive, fun and engaging customer experience. Ultimately, making the shopping process fast and easy, with knowledgeable sales staff and product in stock, is the best way to boost customer loyalty and increase sales.

Smaller and Pop-Up Stores

In recent years, a number of larger retailers have experimented with smaller or specialty stores. Whether to fit into urban spaces, to offer specialized products, or to host one-off events, these unique formats allow retailers to be more nimble, to reach new customers and to build brand awareness with specific and targeted audiences. If a small store isn’t in the budget, consider partnering with a like brand to host a pop-up during a key shopping weekend, such as Mother’s Day or back to school.

Reach and Diversify

So what if your store has traditionally only carried a select product line? Think about what else your customers could want and need, and sell that too. Many retailers are introducing new product categories as a way to increase average sales. This will also help to make customers happy by providing more of what they want in one place.

By incorporating one or more of these retail trends into your strategy for 2019, you could offer customers a better experience, ultimately getting them to spend more and come back.

Retail Tech carries a wide variety of new and refurbished POS equipment. We offer installation and staging, PoS printer repairs, and more. If you need help choosing a POS system, contact our POS systems specialists for help finding the perfect point of sale solution for your small business.

Key Considerations when Choosing a POS System

January 30, 2019Andy Wojtowski — Posted in TechTOPICKS

For restaurants and retail stores, a point of sale (POS) system can be a powerful tool to increase efficiency, customer service and sales. But the benefits of a POS system are only fully realized if the system is tailored to the business and its needs. This is why choosing a POS system is so important – and why we’re offering guidance on the selection process, as laid out by cashdrawer.com, in today’s blog post.

Does the POS System Have a User-Friendly Interface?

If your POS system is simple and easy to learn, it will be much faster to train new employees. In industries with high turnover rates, this can save a significant amount of training time and associated costs. Further, a system that can easily handle multiple payment options, split checks, and make other aspects of the payment process go more smoothly will improve the customer experience.

Does the POS System Provide Analytics?

Analytics are an important part of understanding store performance and customer trends – and ultimately increasing sales – in both retail stores and restaurants. Many systems also integrate employee management. This permits a deeper dive into performance and whether certain employees impact revenue in a positive (or negative) way. When choosing a POS system, ensure that it incorporates the analytics you need to run your business.

Is the POS System Secure?

Security continues to be a huge issue in many industries, including retail. There are important steps that all retail managers should take to prevent POS security breaches, but it’s essential to keep security at the forefront when choosing a POS system. The key is to select a system that balances convenience with protection. This allows for a fast checkout while keeping customer information safe.

Focus on Inventory and Pricing to Maximize Sales

January 24, 2019Andy Wojtowski — Posted in TechTOPICKS

Shoppers tend to have heightened expectations when shopping at a brick and mortar retail store. This can be both good and bad for retailers who are looking to maximize sales. On the positive side, a happy shopper who had previously only shopped online, but who has a positive in-store experience, is more likely to become a regular customer. On the negative, busy shoppers who can’t find what they want will leave unhappy and without spending a cent.

There are three lessons to keep in mind as retailers look to improve the customer experience and maximize sales in the year to come.

Keep shelves stocked

This seems like a no-brainer, but this can be a challenge for many retailers who are struggling to find a balance between online and in-store inventory. But shoppers who can’t find a specific item, color or size will leave frustrated, and that negative experience may deter them from ever returning. Ensure that shelves remain stocked, and if that’s not possible, offer similar alternatives or consider discounts for unhappy shoppers.

Provide choices

This goes hand in hand with stocking shelves. Offering many different choices, especially for popular product types, will keep customers happy and will boost sales when those more popular items go out of stock. Think a lesser-known all-in-one pressure cooker in place of a sold-out Instant Pot.

Make products available online

Online shopping continues to grow more popular. Leverage this traffic by making products available for sale online. Get online shoppers into the physical store by offering incentives like free in-store delivery.

What else can help to maximize sales? An integrated, highly functional point of sale system. Retail Tech carries a wide variety of new and refurbished POS equipment. We offer installation and staging, PoS printer repairs, and more. Contact our POS systems specialists for help finding the perfect point of sale solution for your retail store.

Turn Holiday Shopping into Year-Round Success

December 6, 2018Andy Wojtowski — Posted in TechTOPICKS

The holiday season creates many opportunities for small business success. During this busy shopping season, especially with the recent movement to “shop small,” local retailers can attract new customers, increase sales, and build momentum for the year to come. However, those things don’t just happen by accident – it takes strategic effort to turn the holiday shopping season into long-term success. We’ll discuss a few tips here, courtesy of Total Retail.

Adopt Key Marketing Tactics

Email marketing remains an important tool in keeping former customers connected and excited about a small business and its products. Consider sending periodic email newsletters with product suggestions, event information and special offers. Integrate your email marketing platform into your point of sale system, if possible. Make your contact list a priority – offer a discount for signing up, and you’ll be able to keep in touch with those one-off holiday shoppers year-round.

But how can small businesses attract new customers? Social media is a huge tool here. Focus on developing relationships with holiday shoppers rather than simply building an audience. In-store events are another great way to get more traffic, and to establish those essential customer relationships.

Be Socially Responsible

Social responsibility goes hand in hand with the movement to shop small. Customers want their dollars to make a difference, especially during the holidays. By allowing them to support causes through their purchases, you’ll ensure they leave with a positive impression and want to come and shop again.

Be Unique

The retail market is cluttered, and it can be challenging for small businesses to be seen and heard. Find what makes your store unique, and develop a retailing and marketing strategy that plays up your individuality. Customers will feel like they’re experiencing something special, and word of mouth will help your business grow.

Retail Tech carries a wide variety of new and refurbished POS equipment. We offer installation and staging, PoS printer repairs, and more. Contact our POS systems specialists for help finding the perfect point of sale solution for your retail store.

Maximizing the Checkout Experience

November 1, 2018Andy Wojtowski — Posted in TechTOPICKS

In today’s retail market, it’s important to take advantage of every opportunity to increase sales and build customer engagement. However, many retailers aren’t fully maximizing one of the most important aspects of the customer experience: the checkout.

In a recent study of grocery customers, participants rated the checkout as the most important part of their shopping experience – even above the friendliness of store associates. In addition, 70 percent of customers say that checkout influences their perception of a store more than anything else, and nearly 80 percent say that having a bad experience at the check out makes them less likely to shop at the store again.

So what can retailers do to improve and maximize the checkout experience? We’ll share a few tips.

Keep Items in Stock

The checkout can be a powerful tool in boosting average and overall sales. Reports show that 77 percent of customers find additional products to purchase while waiting in line to check out. Failing to take advantage of that buying potential can mean a significant loss in revenue. But that is exactly what happens in many stores.

An astonishing $500 million in sales are lost at every year at grocery store checkouts alone, due to out of stock and misplaced inventory. Simply, when customers can’t find the specific items they want, or when price information is missing, they won’t make those additional purchases.

Update Inventory Processes

Retailers have no real way of tracking checkout items – and keeping them in stock – when using old and outdated inventory processes. There are new smart technologies that can help identify and correct compliance issues. An integrated point of sale system is also an essential tool in maintaining a well-stocked checkout.

Maximize Branding Opportunities

At the checkout, retailers have a captive audience. It’s the perfect opportunity to inform customers abut new products and display relevant advertising. Survey participants say that seeing such branding would motivate them to either purchase the product immediately or look for it on their next visit

Ready to improve the checkout experience? Retail Tech is there to help with a wide variety of new and refurbished POS equipment. We offer installation and staging, PoS printer repairs, and more. Contact our POS systems specialists for help finding the perfect point of sale solution for your retail store.