The Super Bowl is more than just a game—it’s an experience. From the energy of the crowd to the halftime show and, of course, the merch, every element plays a role in making the event unforgettable. But what if we told you that the future of stadium shopping is changing just as fast as the game itself?

Super Bowl LIX: The Biggest Game of the Year

Super Bowl LIX is set to take place on February 9, 2025, at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana. This year’s championship showdown will see the Kansas City Chiefs face off against the Philadelphia Eagles in what promises to be a thrilling rematch. With millions of fans tuning in worldwide and thousands attending in person, the demand for fast, seamless experiences—both on and off the field—has never been higher.

Faster Checkouts, Happier Fans

At Teamwork Commerce, we understand the importance of efficiency, especially in high-traffic environments like stadiums. That’s why we’ve partnered with EXO to bring RFID-powered self-checkout solutions to large-scale events, ensuring fans spend less time waiting in lines and more time enjoying the action.

Stadiums and arenas hosting major sporting events need cutting-edge technology to handle peak crowd surges. Traditional checkout processes create bottlenecks, leading to frustration and lost sales. With EXO’s RFID self-checkout technology, fans can grab their favorite team’s merchandise, scan all items instantly, and complete their purchases in under 32 seconds—three times faster than barcode scanning.

Proven at NFL and MLB Stadiums

Teamwork Commerce and EXO have collaborated to enhance the retail experience at NFL and MLB stadiums, as well as major industry events like NRF. By leveraging Teamwork Commerce’s robust point-of-sale solutions and EXO’s self-checkout technology, stadiums can maximize efficiency, increase revenue, and enhance fan satisfaction. Retail teams benefit from streamlined operations, while customers enjoy frictionless shopping.

The Future of Stadium Retail

With the continued evolution of retail technology, we expect to see more stadiums adopting self-checkout to keep pace with modern fan expectations. As RFID technology becomes more widespread, fast and seamless transactions will become the standard, not the exception.

So, whether you’re gearing up for the Super Bowl, catching a game at your favorite NFL or MLB stadium, or attending a major retail event, keep an eye out—you just might experience the speed and convenience of an EXO & Teamwork Commerce integration firsthand.

Ready to learn more about RFID-powered checkout for your venue? Let’s talk!

From unexpected political shifts to surprising technological breakthroughs, 2024 witnessed major global developments across different sectors and retail is no exception. With ongoing economic uncertainty, predicting what’s next isn’t easy in the retail arena, where consumer behavior is constantly evolving.

As we step into 2025, we take a closer look at the recent retail developments and explore what the year might look like for the retail industry. In this blog, we detail three key trends likely to shape the future of retail…

AI Waves to Watch: AI Agents, Generative AI

In 2025, AI’s role is likely to expand further. Instead of simple and generic use cases, more sophisticated, personalized and integrated utilization of AI will provide brands with a competitive edge. According to NRF, 2025 is the year of the AI agent. Digitally the tech can influence sales by 60%, and this number is only likely to increase with AI agents learning to tailor recommendations, improve decision-making, and manage replenishment tasks. Similarly, generative AI is also set to revolutionize the industry in 2025.

To facilitate highly tailored interactions, brands will need to integrate AI into their existing systems for the tech to have real-time access to accurate data. Teamwork Commerce is working with Google Cloud to develop new generative AI features in its industry-leading mobile Point of Sale (mobile POS) and Order Management System (OMS). 

The partnership aims to provide retail associates with a generative AI assistant within their mobile POS devices. The AI assistant will be designed to help staff answer customer queries quickly and seamlessly.

Conscious Purchasing

In addition to the evolving technology landscape, it will be no surprise to the retail industry to hear that there will be continued developments and changes in consumer shopping behavior. In the last couple of years, economic uncertainty has led consumers to become more conscious of their purchasing habits – both from a budget lens and sustainability perspective.

According to a recent PwC survey, 22% of global shoppers plan to spend more consciously, seeking eco-friendly products and transparent practices moving forward. This trend is only expected to become more popular. What does this mean for retailers? With customers becoming more conscious about prices and the sustainable impact of purchases, retailers must align themselves with these consumer values. One example comes through, rental fashion, which is allowing customers to experience the freedom to wear what they like for a more eco-friendly alternative. According to British Vogue, renting one item can reduce up to 24% water usage, 6% energy and 3% CO2 emissions compared to buying a new item.

Brands that create sustainable offerings, products and operations can stand out and increase their chances of winning consumer loyalty. In 2025, the industry will likely see more retailers adopt eco-friendly practices to appeal to conscious consumers.

Hybrid shopping to increase

With conscious purchasing, how customers shop has also significantly evolved over the last few years with Buy Online, Pickup In-Store (BOPIS) and Buy Online, Return In-Store (BORIS) becoming popular shopping methods. Over the 2024 shopping period, online purchases were up 6.7% compared to the previous year – thanks to the growing popularity of shopping methods such as BOPIS. Similarly, Salesforce data revealed that BOPIS orders doubled during the weekend before Christmas, making up nearly 40% of all online transactions.

In 2025, the trend of hybrid shopping is only set to increase. According to Statista, in the US alone, the click-and-collect market is expected to surpass $154 billion by 2025. Retailers need to invest significantly in blending their online and physical stores to deliver a seamless shopping experience. Everything must be integrated with cutting-edge technologies that facilitate accurate information in real-time, from supply chains to different shopping channels such as physical stores, e-commerce websites, mobile applications, and social commerce platforms.

What’s next?

In 2025, as expected, AI is already starting to dominate much of the conversation within retail. Although, the discourse around the technology throughout NRF 2025: Retail’s Big Show, demonstrated that the sector’s expectations around the technology have simmered down compared to last year.

The industry can expect to see unique use cases of tech that will redefine both retail operations and the customer shopping experience. Meanwhile, conscious consumerism will likely continue to make the market more competitive.

 One key takeaway for retailers is to remain aligned with consumer values and equipped with the latest technology to cater to shopper needs. By deploying an all-encompassing retail tech stack, brands can operate their entire retail ecosystem from one software platform.

Are you looking to invest in the right technology for your retail business? Get in touch.

The retail industry once again came together this year for three action-packed days in a wintery New York. NRF: Retail’s Big Show has come to be known as the curtain raiser for the year for the sector, where retailers, tech vendors and general retail enthusiasts gather to get an early taste of what is to come over the next 12 months. 2025’s edition did not disappoint.

With a range of insightful speaker and panel sessions, thousands of exhibitors and one unforgettable performance from Flo Rida, Retail’s Big Show truly kicked off the year in style.

In our latest blog, we outline the three key takeaways to carry with us following the event…

Refocus Around AI

Artificial Intelligence dominated last year’s show at NRF 2024. Following the hype of 2023’s ChatGPT emergence, AI was all anyone could talk about at last year’s event. Yet many conversations lacked substance. The technology became a victim of its own popularity, with many brands planning to use AI, but perhaps pushing the button a little early on their communication about it. It was still very new, and everyone wanted to be the first to make a success of AI deployment in retail. However, in the months following last year’s show, it soon became clear that there is still a long way to go before AI really does take hold. 

This year’s event was different. The industry has learned more and many have relaxed their stance on AI. It was still a driving theme, but exhibitors and speakers were more understated in their approach. Brands such as NVIDIA demonstrated how they are using AI to help humans make better decisions, faster, and to operate more efficiently. However, on the whole, it is clear AI is coming. There is a huge amount of work going on behind the scenes for many organizations, and most importantly, brands now have a more realistic view of their use cases than they did last year.

RFID is Taking Retail By Storm

Conversely, one technology that has been around for decades, but has only recently started to grow in popularity, is RFID. The last few years have seen the technology – which has historically been viewed as an expensive deployment that struggled to deliver return on investment (ROI) – surge in demand. Why? The industry is starting to see its value outside of pure inventory management. That was one clear theme at NRF 2025. 

With such a heavy focus on customer experience within retail, RFID is allowing retailers to get creative with their use of the technology. Typically, initially deployed to provide a real-time view of inventory, RFID provides retailers with a significant amount of high-quality data around their stock. In turn, brands are now utilizing this capability to enhance experiences. RFID-powered self-checkout has become a popular area of interest, with our own demonstration of the technology at NRF 2025 driving audiences to the Teamwork Commerce booth. The technology has a huge amount of potential, and with more brands now RFID-tagging products, the technology is becoming easier to integrate, and its ROI capabilities are becoming clearer to see.

Find out more about how RFID can help retailers deliver ROI here.

The Right Payment Tech Benefits Both Customer and Retailer

Physical retail has proven over the last few years that it will never disappear. Its resurgence, particularly following COVID-19, has arrived through a strong push towards experiential retail, which focuses on ensuring customers feel valued in-store and receive high-quality experiences that can’t be replicated across any other sales channel.

 Exhibitors at NRF 2025 had this all on display, with solutions spanning across point of sale (POS), personalization and virtual displays, but it was the payment side of in-store experiences that stole the show at New York’s Javits Center. Of course, much focus remained on the hardware – from previously mentioned RFID-powered self-checkout to mobile solutions such as iPhone POS helping retailers to reduce in-store queuing and ensure seamless in-store experiences. 

However, financial technology provider, Adyen, took this one step further – proving that the right platform will pay dividends in both customer experience and retail efficiency. Hosting a panel with customers GUESS, Estee Lauder and Patagonia, each brand detailed their journey in finding the right solution to creating fast, reliable checkout, while ensuring business performance with Adyen – putting customers first without compromising on speed or reliability.

What’s Ahead in 2025?

If there is one takeaway to carry away from the frosty scene of New York in January, it’s that while some technologies might focus on enhancing retailer operations, and others focus on delivering high-quality customer experiences, today’s retail environment demands both. Retailers should consider their entire operation when it comes to deploying new solutions. With the capabilities of modern retail technology, there is no reason why any integration shouldn’t benefit both customer and retailer.

 With so much on display at NRF 2025, the year ahead promises to be one filled with experimentation and innovation. And who knows? Maybe this year we’ll crack AI.

 Interested in finding out how Teamwork Commerce can help your retail brand deliver high-quality experiences and operational efficiency? Get in touch today.

Today, it’s becoming popular for many to borrow clothes for a limited time instead of making the full purchase. By renting clothes for the short term, customers can experience the freedom to wear what they like for a more eco-friendly alternative. They can access a variety of items, whether that’s for a special occasion or everyday wear.

According to Statista the revenue of the rental apparel market was $6.26 billion in 2023 and is expected to grow to $7.45 billion by 2026. This is driven by many factors including sustainability preferences, economic appeal, and cultural shifts.

Access over ownership

The new concept of ‘access over ownership’ has gained traction. Within the consumer environment today, minimalism has become a trend and is seen as the ideal way to live promoted through social media and advertising. Following on from the minimalist lifestyle, individuals aren’t as concerned about owning luxury items and would rather have the ability to access a wider range of items that they normally are unable to afford. Due to the anti-consumerism approach, individuals prefer to have access to experiences over goods and renting will aid consumers in doing so.

Renting for a greener future

Sustainability should be a primary focus for brands today. Many consumers have environmental concerns as to the impact their purchases have on the environment and the story behind the material sourcing. Shoppers need clothing that aligns with their values and beliefs, knowing it has been sourced responsibly. Lowering the demand for the constant turnaround of new clothing items is where rental fashion comes into play and supports the conscious consumer.

By promoting the reuse of clothing items, rental platforms can ensure that clothes are used multiple times by different users, extending their longevity of garments while decreasing overproduction, and landfill waste – all of which act as key elements when adhering to becoming more sustainable.

Shoppers are frequently on the lookout for new clothing items, and with social media and influencers promoting, there is a constant demand for fresh garments resulting in fast fashion. A large percentage of individuals often buy clothing that they will only wear once before disposing of. One in three women believe their clothing is ‘old’ after two wears, which highlights the negative environmental impact this can have. The rise and recognition of fast fashion have acted as a force multiplier for the rental fashion industry.

Renting clothes not only reduces waste and lowers the carbon footprint but also acts as an overall more sustainable solution. According to British Vogue, renting one single item can reduce up to 24% water usage, 6% energy and 3% CO2 emissions compared to buying a new item. Buyers and sellers are therefore able to prolong the life of clothing.

Luxury for Less

Following on from fast fashion, items for special occasions like weddings and parties are typically only bought for the event and then disposed of. However, renting an occasion-specific garment is a better alternative for those who are looking to get better value for money and have a positive sustainable impact.

Luxury fashion is traditionally seen as the more expensive and exclusive side of fashion. This is where the role of rental fashion can come into play and allow shoppers to rent luxury items for special occasions. This allows them to wear or use something of luxury, for a limited period, that customers may not typically be able to afford. Many platforms such as Hurr, Rent the Runway and My Wardrobe HQ, rent out high-end pieces of clothing to customers. Providing the exclusivity from top designer brands that a customer usually wouldn’t be able to afford, broadens the customer base and provides opportunities.

The Role of Technology

Rental fashion platforms can utilize technology to amplify their operations. Technology has a huge presence in the retail sector, and deploying the right technology provides the opportunity to grow fashion rental platforms.

• Teamwork’s Customer-Relationship-Management (CRM) service can allow rental brands to access customer preferences and view user history to provide recommendations. With this information, brands can tailor their visuals to specifically fit a consumer’s needs, providing a unique customized experience and opportunities to upsell rented pieces. The technology can also help to facilitate the seamless automation of operations through sending notifications of pick-up and return dates as well as reminders about newly available items to rent which can overall improve customer engagement

• Mobile Point-of-Sale (POS) enables brands to provide top-tier experiences, building and nurturing customer relationships. As a result, the likelihood of customers returning to rent more items can significantly increase. Teamwork’s POS devices easily integrate with new payment providers allowing customers to make a seamless transaction whether that’s at the mobile POS in-store or at a rental pop-up event, it’s practical for shoppers to check out quickly and effortlessly

• Ensuring that rental items are returned without complete and without damage is a key priority for rental platforms. Receiving faulty items back can limit unreliable customers’ ability to purchase, helping companies avoid losses. RFID tags can be used to identify whether items have been returned incomplete, damaged or replaced with duplicates. Fraud prevention is critical in rental fashion and deploying RFID is extremely useful.

Why borrowing is the new buying

Borrowing is becoming a new buying method in rental fashion, offering a cost-effective and sustainable way for customers to access items without the commitment to full ownership. By combining innovative technologies such as mobile POS, RFID, and CRM, retailers can provide customers with a seamless omnichannel experience. Shoppers can browse inventory online, reserve items, pick up items in-store or get them delivered – overall improving the customer rental experience.

To find out more about how implementing Teamwork Commerce’s technology can help rental fashion brands grow, visit here.

NRF, Retail’s Big Show, is back again for another year of exciting innovation. NRF 2025 will showcase what some of the biggest brands have to offer the retail scene. Held at the infamous Javits Centre in New York City, this year’s event is set to be a ‘game changer’ with attendees getting to hear directly from global thought leaders and gain knowledge on what will be shaping the future of retail in 2025.

With an expected 39,000 attendees and over 5,000 brands expected to be attending the event, retailers will have the opportunity to connect with some of the most well-known experts, peers, and technology leaders from across the globe. Ahead of the show, we’ve outlined three key trends that attendees can expect to witness at NRF 2025…

Focus on Interactive In-Store Experiences

The ongoing phase of the customer coming first has never been more important for retailers. For many brands, this has meant pulling out all the stops to ensure customers have an enjoyable as well as interactive experience. Reflecting on 2024, 91% of shoppers reported a positive association with a brand after attending an experiential event in-store. Therefore, attendees of NRF 2025 can expect exhibitors to prioritize sharing their knowledge on how to make the customer journey a memorable one.

Likewise, interactions on the shopfloor are becoming a pivotal part of the shopping experience. It is estimated that brick-and-mortar stores will drive 72% of the total US retail sales by 2028. With the role of brick-and-mortar stores only becoming more important, retailers will need to ensure they have the right tech on hand moving in 2025 to cater to evolving consumer needs..

At NRF, brands will have emerging technologies such as mobile point of sale  (POS) solutions on display to showcase how the customer experience can be streamlined from start to finish. By investing in the right tech, in-store associates can spend less time on repetitive and time-consuming tasks and more time on creating meaningful in-person experiences.

Teamwork Commerce will be demonstrating its Mobile POS at NRF 2025, displaying how retailers can deploy efficient POS technology, making it simple and quick for associates to operate while providing a top-tier customer experience.

Getting Ahead Of The Game With Tech

NRF has continued to showcase innovative technologies such as AI and RFID to help brands address ongoing challenges, improve the customer experience, and drive efficiency. NRF 2025 is going to be no different. Attendees can expect the launch of new cutting-edge solutions that are designed to help retailers deal with today’s issues such as in-store theft, supply chain losses, and inventory management. Also on the agenda for this year, attendees can expect to see how advancements in AI can enable retailers to deliver a personalized shopping experience for customers while streamlining operations.

Meanwhile, the show is also likely to put significant focus on theft prevention technologies. Reports from CBS have identified that the ongoing issue of retail theft is showing no signs of slowing down as the first half of 2024 saw a 24% rise in shoplifting. In fact, statistics indicate that shoplifting could cost retailers over $150 billion in 2026 in the US. As a result, retailers have started to lean on tech to identify theft attempts and mitigate them.

Previously, the show has displayed a range of anti-theft retail tools powered by RFID technology to enable retailers to keep track of stock to high-spec cameras and alarms to ensure full visibility over all processes in the store. The fight against retail theft is still a prevalent topic for retailers so it is safe to expect a lot of insights into what brands can do to stay on top of their game.

At NRF 2025, attendees can expect live demonstrations of Teamwork’s Commerce RFID Powered Self Checkout solution that streamlines product scanning allowing customers to checkout in 30 seconds or less. The solution can also trigger an alarm in case of unauthorized removal of products, mitigating shoplifting.

Understanding The Importance of Seamless Operations

Alongside a flawless customer experience, retailers need to ensure operations behind the scenes are running just as smoothly. One of the crucial trends also expected at NRF is how retailers can strive for full control over their whole supply chain. To have a clear overview of a customer’s wants and needs, inventory management and analyzing customer data reports need to become a top priority for retailers.

Only by assessing consumers’ buying habits can brands begin to unlock a deeper understanding of their customers. Deploying order management systems (OMS) makes stock easily manageable, providing retailers with real-time data for complete visibility and accuracy in order fulfilment.

At NRF 2025, Teamwork Commerce will be showcasing the capabilities of the RFID-powered Stock Counter App that ensures that inventory records are promptly updated, providing real-time visibility into the inventory status. This allows retailers to make more informed decisions based on up-to-date stock information.

The Wait Is Almost Over

The countdown for Retail’s Big Show is on. With all the exciting technology and expertise from some of the biggest retailers in the game, we are thrilled to be heading back to the Javits Center to find out what 2025 will have in store.

Looking to learn more about how RFID can transform your brand’s operations? Come connect with us at booth 4864 at NRF 2025!

At Teamwork Commerce, we are committed to partnering with industry leaders to bring cutting-edge solutions to our clients. Our collaboration with Bluebird introduces the revolutionary RFR 901 Handheld UHF RFID Reader, paired with iPhone capabilities, to streamline inventory management and enhance operational efficiency. Here’s how this partnership empowers retailers to stay ahead of the game.

Real-Time Stock Accuracy with Exceptional RFID Performance

Together, Teamwork Commerce and Bluebird bring unmatched precision to inventory tracking. The RFR 901, equipped with advanced UHF RFID technology, ensures:

• Extended Range: Detect RFID tags from up to 10 meters away for effortless inventory scanning.
• Unrivaled Speed: Process up to 1,300 tags per second for fast, accurate stock counts.

This innovation helps retailers maintain real-time stock accuracy, improving operational efficiency and minimizing stock discrepancies.

Seamless Integration with Teamwork POS

Our partnership ensures seamless integration between the Bluebird RFR 901 and Teamwork Commerce’s POS solutions:

• Instant Updates: Inventory data captured by the RFR 901 syncs instantly with the Teamwork Commerce POS system, keeping stock records accurate and up-to-date.
• Enhanced Count Management: Use the iPhone and iPad together to capture, review, and finalize count memos, streamlining the stock count process.

This synergy between hardware and software ensures efficient, error-free inventory management.

Ergonomic Design for All-Day Productivity

Long shifts demand tools that are both functional and comfortable. The RFR 901 is designed with:

• Lightweight Construction: At just 353g, it’s easy to handle for extended periods.
• Ergonomic Pistol Grip: Reduces strain during use, ensuring comfort and productivity throughout the day.

When paired with Teamwork Commerce’s intuitive software on iPhone and iPad, this solution enhances productivity while reducing employee fatigue.

Boost Productivity with Programmable Versatility

Retail environments are dynamic, and the RFR 901 adapts seamlessly to diverse needs. Its programmable trigger allows workers to toggle between:

• RFID Scanning
• 1D/2D Barcode Scanning
• Combination Scanning

This flexibility ensures your team can handle any inventory task with a single device, saving time and effort.

Tailored Inventory Management for Retailers

Our solution goes further by offering customizable inventory zones, allowing retailers to define stock tracking by store layout or region. Benefits include:

• Streamlined Processes: Organize inventory zones for faster, more accurate counts.
• Precision Across Locations: Ideal for multi-store operations, ensuring all items are accounted for.

With these features, Teamwork Commerce and Bluebird enable retailers to optimize inventory processes across all locations.

See the Teamwork Commerce & Bluebird Partnership in Action at NRF 2025

Want to experience this game-changing inventory solution firsthand? Visit Bluebird at NRF 2025 in NYC, Booth #3121. Witness how our partnership delivers real-time inventory accuracy, seamless integration, and enhanced productivity for modern retail operations.

👉 Learn more about Bluebird at NRF 2025