Trick or Treat: are you ready for Halloween? Halloween is on the horizon, and as consumers prepare for several spooky festivities ahead of the big day, retailers continue to ready themselves for a busy end to the year. Feeling inspired to get into the spooky spirit – we have created a guide for retailers to help them navigate the upcoming period, with retail’s top current trends in mind.

Grab your pumpkin-spiced latte and settle in. Here are 3 tricks and 3 treats that will help businesses avoid the retail graveyard this Halloween Season…

1. Delivering High-Quality Customer Experience

TRICK – Operating on a skeleton crew

As we approach the festive period, the ongoing labor shortage continues to negatively impact retailers. With many expected to struggle to keep up with heavily increased in-store traffic ahead of the holiday season, retailers must beware of the consequences of understaffed stores, leading to poor customer experiences and a loss of sales.

TREAT – Delivering a spooktacular customer service

Equipped with Teamwork Commerce’s Mobile Point of Sale (POS) solution, retailers can deliver exceptional shopping experiences through streamlined checkout from anywhere in-store, tailored interactions, and access to real-time stock and order information. Amidst the ongoing labor shortage, efficient and effective in-store associates allows retailers to easily manage the demand of busy stores, ensuring optimal sales, satisfied customers, and brand loyalty.

2. Ongoing Shrink Challenges

TRICK – Thieves that go bump in the night

The retail industry has been grappling with rising in-store theft for a long time, but throughout 2023, the issue has only continued to grow. Theft has the potential to scare a number of retailers over the next few months as the wheels begin to turn on the end-of-year retail rollercoaster.

TREAT – Keep the monsters at bay with secure checkout

Shrink will disappear completely, but with concerns continuing around in-store theft, RFID-Powered Self Checkout presents a viable solution to maintaining security during a busy period.

With products equipped with RFID tags at item-level, our RFID-Powered Self-Checkout allows all items in a shopper’s cart or basket to be automatically scanned, immediately, once they are placed in a designated area. Not only does this significantly reduce transaction times and improve the customer experience, it greatly enhances in-store security, with RFID tags capable of triggering alarms if not deactivated during checkout.

3. Creating Convenience

TRICK – Frightful fulfillment options

Today’s consumer expects to be able to shop on their own terms – whether online, in-store, or through a mix of both, such as Buy Online, Pick Up In-Store (BOPIS). Without access to convenient fulfillment options, retailers run the risk of losing customers to more innovative competitors at a crucial time of year.

TREAT – Boooooosting sales through omnichannel

With the right technology in place, retailers can make life easier for their customers. An all-encompassing approach to retail technology creates flexibility that enables retailers to deliver a number of fulfillment solutions for consumers to match their busy schedules. Whether they need same-day delivery or can pick up their order on their way home from work, customers appreciate access to options. Omnichannel fulfillment can play a significant role in developing long-term, trusting relationships during busy shopping seasons.

‘Goblin’ Up Success

As we hurtle towards the end of the year, and with key dates such as Black Friday fast approaching ahead of the festive season, a few tweaks can significantly enhance a retailer’s entire operations. With the right technology deployed, retailers can streamline processes to become more efficient, cost-effective, and to deliver exceptional customer experiences that drive success – not only over the next few months, but for the long-term.

Interested in deploying a scarily impressive retail technology solution? Get in touch here to find out more.

Taking place over the course of October, Cybersecurity Awareness Month serves as an opportunity to raise awareness around cybersecurity best practices, cyber threats and trends. Each sector should encourage cybersecurity awareness, and the retail industry is no exception.

Today, when shoppers crave personalized experiences, retailers have no option but to leverage data to tailor interactions. However, consumers are conscious of how their data is used. In fact, according to Statista, 39% of customers globally believe that providing clear information on how consumer data is used would help the company build trust. In his recent Forbes article, our VP of Product Development Sergey Kozhevnikov opines that personalized service is important for creating high-quality experiences, it should never come at the expense of security.

In this blog, we’ve taken a look at some simple steps retailers can follow to keep crucial data secure while using it to tailor customer experiences.

Keeping the Crucial Information Safe

Retailers must understand that it is better to be safe than sorry. In the wrong hands, highly sensitive data – such as payment details and personal information – can be used to extort companies and even the consumers whose information has been stolen. As a result, retailers face multiple consequences that negatively damage their reputation, sales, and consumer retention.

Customer Relationship Management (CRM) is one of the most important tools that retailers can use to collect and store personal data of their customers. However, they must choose their CRM tools wisely. Retailers must leverage a CRM tool that complies with regulatory requirements and keeps sensitive information highly secure. Teamwork Commerce is SOC 2 Type 1 accredited which serves as a benchmark for its ability to safeguard its clients’ data.

Our Mobile POS software features an integrated Secure CRM that uses the highest level of security to protect customer data and complies with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). The technology supports GDPR through tokenization, with customer data located centrally making data security simple, easy and compliant. With our solution, retailers can securely store customer data in a separate repository and empower staff to use it when required without revealing or importing it to a local system.

3 steps to Futureproof Cybersecurity

Retailers can deploy the most effective security solutions, but can still fall victim to hackers’ advanced techniques. Cybercriminals continue to become more sophisticated in their attempts through phishing, insider threats, and malware. To ensure 360-degree protection, retailers need to take additional measures:

1. Mitigate human error

Humans are the weakest link in any business when it comes to cybersecurity. In order to minimize the risk of mistakes and negligence, retail companies should provide appropriate training to their employees that helps them understand risk and keeps them vigilant against any threats. This could include best-practices sessions, strong password techniques and identifying phishing emails. According to CISA, one recommended practice for organizations is to conduct a mock phishing simulation with employees, and recap lessons learned throughout the month.

2. Use multi-factor authentication

When their reputation, along with customers’ crucial information, is at stake, retailers cannot afford to rely on single-password access, no matter how strong it is. They must take advantage of modern security measures such as multi-factor authentication to set the seal on their cybersecurity across their entire operation.

3. Make regular updates

By performing timely updates and maintenance on a regular basis of their tech deployments, retailers can ensure they have the latest security patches and updates on their devices. As part of this, automating updates is one way that retailers can seamlessly keep their technology stack up to date and ensure they continue to provide the best possible service to customers while remaining cyber-secure. Additionally, retailers should also perform manual checks to ensure there are no gaps, and keep operating systems, antivirus software, web browsers, and applications updated.

Final Resolution on Cybersecurity for your Retail

2023 marks 20 years of Cybersecurity Awareness Month. However, rising cyberattacks clearly indicate that there is significantly more to be done in the industry to strengthen cybersecurity. It is essential to understand that cybersecurity is a shared responsibility and every sector, organization, and employee must play their part to promote cybersecurity best practices and minimize risks. Retailers who take a holistic approach and utilize cutting-edge solutions in combination with additional advanced measures and strategies can bolster their cybersecurity as well as customer trust.  

To know more about our secure CRM, book a live demo here.

The summer is coming to an end, and it’s a time when many consumers start to breathe new life into their wardrobes, preparing for colder temperatures with fresh fall collections. As the year hurtles towards its close, the festive shopping period is soon to kick off with the traditional curtain raiser, Black Friday, arriving in November. Retailers must prepare to make the most of this busy time of year.

Creating offers that customers find hard to resist, and introducing exciting collections to spark shopper enthusiasm are essential to captivating consumers. However, to drive sales during this period, retailers need to be able to create seamless experiences while remaining efficient. Technology can play a pivotal role in driving success.

In this blog, we’ve highlighted three key ways retailers can leverage technology to finish the year with flair…

The summer is coming to an end, and it’s a time when many consumers start to breathe new life into their wardrobes, preparing for colder temperatures with fresh fall collections. As the year hurtles towards its close, the festive shopping period is soon to kick off with the traditional curtain raiser, Black Friday, arriving in November. Retailers must prepare to make the most of this busy time of year.

Creating offers that customers find hard to resist, and introducing exciting collections to spark shopper enthusiasm are essential to captivating consumers. However, to drive sales during this period, retailers need to be able to create seamless experiences while remaining efficient. Technology can play a pivotal role in driving success.

In this blog, we’ve highlighted three key ways retailers can leverage technology to finish the year with flair…

Improve Customer Satisfaction

There is no denying that to drive long-term success, retailers must focus on earning consumer loyalty. One way retailers can achieve this is by creating high-quality shopping experiences. Personalization is one key element that can be utilized to deliver this, but in order to incorporate it effectively, retailers require the best tools available. Teamwork Commerce’s Mobile Point-of-Sale (POS) solution empowers retailers to create tailored interactions and high-quality experiences by enabling them to provide: 

Unparalleled Experiences

The Mobile POS solution uses cloud technology that supports a centralized database with real-time data across all channels. From the customer’s purchasing habits to their dog’s name, our technology provides in-store associates with all relevant customer information at the touch of a button. Store associates can greet customers with personalized interactions and engage with them in more meaningful ways. What’s more, the software runs on full-featured iOS smartphones or tablets anywhere in the store – even in offline mode. This allows store associates to serve customers from any part of a store without having customers wait in queues.

Personalized Discounts

Gone are the days of the “one discount fits everyone” strategy. Today, to differentiate themselves from their competitors, retailers need to offer customized discounts. Promotions that matter to their customers – on products they love. With the Mobile POS deployed, retailers can curate special fall and festive discounts for shoppers based on their purchase history, frequency and preferences. The solution features an integrated sales engine that automatically calculates all promotions and rewards, creating the best offers and leaving customers satisfied.

Enhance Operational Efficiency

To create unparalleled experiences this fall and make the most of the upcoming festive peak, retailers need to streamline back-end operations well in advance. With Teamwork Commerce’s Reporting & Analytics solution, retailers can achieve this and drive:

Increased visibility

From in-store inventory and warehouse stock through to live store performance and sales analytics, the software allows retailers to view all this information in real-time from anywhere in the world. This is extremely crucial in today’s rapidly evolving retail environment, where decision-makers need to make multiple decisions frequently based on trends and changing shopping behaviors. For example, retailers can track if any item at any store is selling fast and allocate more stock at just the tap of a button.

Meaningful insights

In addition to offering real-time insights, the solution also provides customized reports and recommendations based on historical data. Retailers can use these reports to make impactful decisions, faster. If an item has not been performing well, retailers can use promotions to encourage purchases. Conversely, if a particular item was fast-selling last fall, they can restock it and maximize customer interest. 

Streamline Inventory

The importance of streamlined inventory can not be overlooked. In fact, due to out-of-stock items, retailers missed $82 billion of potential sales in 2021. Retailers need to leverage inventory tools beyond only tracking stock availability. Teamwork Commerce’s Inventory Management solution allows retailers to:

Control and Optimize Inventory

Our solution allows retailers to manage and control where inventory is assigned and how it will be fulfilled, in seconds. What’s more, they can put aside defective items, mark them damaged, and remove them from the on-hand inventory to ensure customers only receive high-quality items. This not only improves customer satisfaction but also helps retailers earn consumer trust in the long-term.

Analytics for Procurement

The state-of-the-art solution is capable of generating meaningful inventory-related recommendations. The solution can tell retailers what to order and when to order more, providing them with customized recommendations based on trends and historical performance data. This not only streamlines procurement processes but also reduces the amount of landfill waste and helps retailers remain cost-effective by preventing retailers from ordering excessive inventory.

Epilogue

With exciting festivals on the horizon, retailers are likely to experience a hectic interval, but a period full of opportunities. To bump up their sales and close the year in style, retailers need to deploy the latest solutions to dazzle customers with top-tier experiences.

Do you want to know how you can use technology to maximize your sales to end the year in style? Reach us here, one of our technology wizards will be happy to help you.

It’s not long since the curtains fell on New York Fashion Week (NYFW) 2023. With more than 300 shows that took place during the jampacked event, trends and takeaways from the event continue to fascinate fashion aficionados.

From Grace Ling and Jane Wade debuting runway shows, bringing fresh perspectives on women’s ready-to-wear with their collections, through to Priyanka Chopra walking on the pink carpet for the Victoria’s Secret World Tour event, New York’s Manhattan was full of buzz during Fashion Week.

The seven-day show also witnessed brands launching exciting collections, clutching innovation, unveiling strategic partnerships and embracing sustainable practices in the fashion industry.

Now that the chaos of the fashion-heavy week has come to an end, we have taken a look at 3 key takeaways from the show…

The New York Fashion Week 2023 Showcased a Fresh Approach

In recent years, fashion events have witnessed brands leveraging fancy events, collaborations and Instagrammable photo booths to fascinate shoppers. The same was evident on the streets of Manhattan this season but to a much larger extent.

Pandora enchanted audiences by creating its own charming take on Midtown’s Diamond District. The brand shaped the Lafayette Street parking lot into a VIP soiree with a pink carpet. Providing attendees with viewing opportunities in the beginning, the district was then opened to the public, offering lustrous photo booths and exciting giveaways.

Leveraging an exciting partnership, Christian Siriano surprised audiences with the first-ever cocktail couture gown inspired by Bombay Sapphire’s blue-tinged bottle. The designer collaborated with the Gin brand to bring the classic cocktail culture into fashion.

It is glaringly evident that innovative thinking not only allows designers to explore new realms of their imagination but also plays a key role in captivating the interest of Gen Z customers.

Undoubtedly, the future of fashion is Gen Z-centric and this was pretty obvious from the events in New York City. Whether through exploring unique ways to connect with the generation or aligning themselves with Gen Z values, brands at NYFW tried every way possible to appeal to the generation.

The New York Fashion Week 2023 Showed us that  Sustainability is the Future

The runways of the show clearly brought sustainability to the forefront, making it evident that sustainability has quickly become a necessity for retailers. Technology is clearly helping retailers become more sustainable and Eckhaus Latta demonstrated this perfectly at NYFW by revealing its collaboration with Unspun.

The designer is leveraging Unspun’s new 3D weaving technology that eliminates fabric scrap waste from the production process, ultimately decarbonizing fashion supply chains.

Another highlight of this season’s NYFW was Ralph Lauren’s return to the show, following a hiatus since 2019. The buzz about the designer’s return generated widespread excitement, drawing fashion insiders and celebrities to the front rows, making the runway show more than a mere fashion spectacle.

One of the standout elements of this remarkable comeback was Lauren’s adeptness at embracing sustainable fashion practices aligning with the fashion industry’s growing commitment to environmental awareness. Lauren’s collection showcased eco-conscious materials, underlining the idea that style and sustainability can coexist seamlessly.

The New York Fashion Week 2023 Highlighted Diversity & Inclusivity

Diversity and inclusivity (D&I) also proved to be a key theme at NYFW this season. In Manhattan, Lauren’s comeback also reflected a celebration of D&I. The designer’s runway featured models from different cultural backgrounds, mirroring the multicultural fabric of the modern world.

But Lauren wasn’t the only brand to highlight diversity and inclusivity on its runways. Selkie perfectly blended inclusivity in its show by including looks worn by a wheelchair user, models of all sizes, diverse skin tones, ages and gender identities. Meanwhile, Siriano garnered praise for featuring several plus-sized models of color who confidently strutted down the runway revealing form-fitting outfits.

The show has distinctly set the stage for the future where the mantra of diversity and inclusivity reverberates loudly in the industry.

Catering to the Next Generation

Retailers can put all three takeaways under one overarching objective: appealing to Gen Z, the youngest and largest generation in American history, comprising 27% of the US population.

Whether through becoming sustainable or encouraging diversity and inclusivity, retailers must find ways they can align with Gen Z values to sustain their success in the near future.

Want to learn how to use retail technology to become sustainable? Get in touch here.

The arrival of fall signals the start of the new sporting season for some of the US’ biggest leagues. While the National Football League (NFL) has already kicked off, October will introduce the 2023/24 seasons for the National Basketball Association (NBA) and National Hockey League (NHL). The new season buzz presents an ideal opportunity for every franchise to optimize their branding efforts.

Merchandise plays an integral part in a sports fan’s ability to show their pride in their team. The Licensed Sports Merchandise was valued at $31.3 Billion in 2022, and whether its Patrick Mahomes, Alexander Ovechkin, or whatever NBA-based star-player trade is cooked up in the coming months (our money is still on Damian Lillard to Miami), fans will be desperate to get the names of their favourite players on their backs. Each franchise simply needs to find a way to maximize their sales in time for the new-season hype.

With plenty of time to get their arena stores in order, we’ve outlined 3 ways that sports teams can maximize merch sales ahead of the new season…

1 – Create Convenience

Convenience is everything in retail today, and omnichannel fulfilment options are enabling consumers to shop in the ways that suit them best, particularly through Buy Online Pickup In-store (BOPIS). Loyal sports fans have enough to worry about in the build up to game day. As a regular visitor to their team’s arena, BOPIS presents an attractive option. They simply purchase their merch ahead of time, and collect it once they arrive on game day.

The key to convenience lies in providing options. With Teamwork Commerce’s Order Management System, sports teams can allow their fans to purchase items as per their convenience – whether through BOPIS, completely online, or fully in-store.

Leveraging the omnichannel capabilities of our retail solution, MLB side Colorado Rockies allows its customers to not only utilize omnichannel purchasing options, but it also enables them to return items to any location in the Greater Denver area. Read the full case study here to find out more!

2 – Faster is Better

Amidst the game day hype, speed is of paramount importance for retailers and fans alike. A busy arena often results in a busy store, and visitors are equally as keen to make it to their seats in time for the start of the game as they are to purchase their goods. And they will abandon their cart if they need to.

As a result, retailers must find ways to complete sales quickly. One solution lies in mobile Point of Sale (POS). Teamwork Commerce’s cutting edge Mobile POS solution allows in-store associates to serve customers, from anywhere in-store, in seconds. No longer tying employees to checkout terminals, Mobile POS significantly minimizes in-store queue times, leading to a higher volume of sales and satisfied customers – who can make their way to their seats having completed any last-minute shopping.

3 – Reward Loyal Fans

Die-hard season ticket holders deserve to be rewarded. And one key solution to enabling this comes in the form of loyalty points. For sports teams, this could be a result of reaching certain spending targets in the arena or stadium, in-store purchases or even attending a certain amount of games. With the right Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system, sports teams can integrate loyalty schemes that reward the biggest fans.

Our Secure CRM technology facilitates loyalty schemes that create personalized discounts, promotions and rewards seamlessly. Integrating the solution with its wider technology stack, the store can utilize data and analytics to create rewards bespoke to each customer, driving optimal value and keeping fans happy.

A fan will (hopefully) never switch allegiances, but that doesn’t mean teams shouldn’t treat them when they’ve earned it!

A Long Season Ahead

The new-season excitement is reaching its peak, and sports teams need to act quickly if they want to make the most of high appetites. The sporting season isn’t short by any stretch, and teams will have plenty of time over the next 9 months to generate merch sales. However, those who invest in the right technology sooner rather than later can begin reaping the rewards immediately, keeping fans happy and optimizing revenues.

Want to learn more about how your team’s stadium can benefit from an all-encompassing retail technology solution? Book a demo here.