When Internet shopping, quickly followed by mobile commerce, recently became popular among consumers, many professionals within the retail industry feared that brick-and-mortar locations would be obsolete. However, that just isn't the case, as shoppers have shown that they still prefer to visit retail stores to browse for and buy merchandise. But if companies want to capture new business, they may want to consider incorporating several web-based options into their physical storefronts.

CBX Strategist Crosby Remwick writes in an article for Chain Store Age that retail is all about convenience – consumers want to quickly find their sought-after products in the most efficient means possible. And while the Internet and mobile devices do offer a large amount of convenience, brick-and-mortar locations still serve this purpose as well. Remwick explains that the role of stores is changing, as they are becoming more social thanks to the emergence of the web. Shoppers are letting merchants know what they want in-store, and many businesses are making the move to provide  these elements in order to boost retention and loyalty.

But if retailers want to truly be successful, then they will have to focus on effectively overseeing both their stores and online platforms. Fortunately, with solutions such as retail management software, companies can ensure that they are able to give customers what they are looking for across all channels and platforms.

When Internet shopping first became popular, there was a clear distinction between going online to browse for and purchase products and doing the same at retailers' brick-and-mortar locations. However, merchants with physical storefronts quickly realized the benefits of having both options available for patrons, and now, ecommerce companies are increasingly opening up stores to accommodate consumers.

Going offline has resulted in many advantages for merchants that were previously only on the Internet, writes Forbes. While consumers do prefer the convenience that ecommerce provides, there are times when individuals want to visit physical storefronts to test out products and get quick answers to their questions, the source explains. Another reason why web retailers are making the move to brick-and-mortar is the fact that most store-only companies have launched their own websites, giving themselves a leg up over their strictly online counterparts. To attract new customers and satisfy existing patrons, ecommerce businesses are going off the Internet.

Learning to oversee aspects of both in-store and online operations can seem daunting for many companies, but by adopting an effective retail management software solution, merchants can maintain control over both channels while having access to important data and details.

When it comes to shopping online, many consumers prefer this channel as it provides more convenience, fast transactions and easier product comparison. However, perhaps one of the only downsides to ecommerce is the fact that customers can't actually try out or see an item firsthand before making a purchase. While many patrons are satisfied with merchandise bought online, there are some who return their products, creating somewhat of a headache for retailers.

Internet Retailer reports that there are several reasons as to why customers may want to return an item. It could be because merchandise descriptions on businesses' websites are not detailed enough and fail to give shoppers all the necessary information. It also could be due to ineffective customer service or inaccurate processes within the shipping and delivery phases. Whatever the issue, merchants want to combat rising return rates, and the source suggests that companies can do this by implementing the most up-to-date technology solutions to ensure that all data is correctly recorded and analyzed.

By having access to information related to product returns, firms can pinpoint any problem areas and make improvements. Adopting an effective retail management software solution can keep all data in one place, giving merchants more insight into their sales and return rates.

Some people are made for a career in customer service, while others may not be best suited for a job that deals daily with consumers. However, that doesn't mean that valuable people skills cannot be learned by the latter group, and for retailers, offering training opportunities may be just the thing needed for providing exceptional experiences for patrons.

In a blog post, the National Retail Federation Foundation's Senior Director Angela Elder writes that merchants know how important it is to have staff members who know what excellent customer service is. Without these kinds of workers, businesses can set themselves up for failure as patrons will be turned off by bad service. However, Elder asserts that by offering training classes and seminars on best practices for customer service, merchants can boost their retention and loyalty rates by showing they are focused on caring for their shoppers.

Many big brands, such as Macy's, Starbucks and Wal-Mart, are following this method by providing educational opportunities for staff members to enhance their service skills. Elder writes that these companies are offering incentives for employees who participate, which is something that other retailers can do to motivate their workers.

"We see retail companies invest in new technologies, website features, and in-store experiences all the time to try to get ahead," she said. "It only makes sense that employee training programs are following suit."

The retail industry was hit hard by the economic recession a few years ago, but now that conditions are improving, so too are the outlooks of those within the sector. Boosts in confidence are being seen not only with investments in new solutions and systems, but also through job creation as merchants are hiring more employees to improve their operations.

A recent statement from the National Retail Federation (NRF) lauded the latest findings from the U.S. Department of Labor – retailers added an approximate total of 29,000 jobs last month. This is significant growth for an industry that saw sharp declines during the economic downturn. With these results, analysts are expecting that job creation will continue in the coming months. This forecast is fueled by rising consumer confidence and spending.

"Finally some reassuring news on jobs and the economy," said NRF chief economist Jack Kleinhenz. "Today's solid employment news combined with positive March revisions may bode well for the broader economy and portend steady retail sales in April. Retailers are continuing to find innovative ways to engage shoppers with the right mix of products, inventory and employment to meet their customers' demands."

Retailers know that without motivated and happy staff members, their operations could be put at risk. This can come in the form of dissatisfied customers due to poor service or financial losses resulting from worker error, whether intentional or by mistake. For this reason, it is vital that merchants take steps to keep staff members happy and dedicated to their jobs.

During the economic recession which began years ago, many businesses were forced to let go of workers due to financial strain. However, now conditions are steadily improving, which means that companies are picking up their hiring efforts once again. This increase in employment is certainly present in the retail industry, but in order to attract and retain the best staff members, merchants need to put more focus on keeping their employees satisfied.

Job Science offers several recommendations for businesses that want to have strong employee happiness levels. One way that retailers can keep employees satisfied is by providing them with frequent training opportunities so they can enhance their skills, such as seminars and discussions on being more customer-centric or attending events that pertain to the latest industry trends. Developing incentives to reward employees for their hard work is another method to boost satisfaction, the source suggests.

Retailers know that their employees play a vital role for their operations – these workers deal daily with customers, keep track of inventory and handle financial processes, among other tasks. For this reason, merchants are looking for talented and trustworthy staff members who will help their businesses grow. Unfortunately, many companies have hit a snag when it comes to bringing on new retail employees.

According to Bloomberg, statistics from the Labor Department show that during March, the retail industry lost an approximate total of 24,000 jobs, the largest monthly decline in more than a year. The source explains that the payroll tax increases along with government fiscal policies are resulting in decreased consumer spending, which is in turn causing many merchants to reduce their workforces.

However, as the economy continues to improve, businesses will be looking to add more employees, and Entrepreneur Magazine writes that Millennials are a group that should be the focus of retailers to recruit and hire. The news source points to suggestions from the National Retail Federation, recommending that merchants should consider bringing on these younger professionals as they are looking to make a difference at the beginning of their careers. This will help fuel innovation and boost customer relationships, the source explains.

For retailers, managing store operations is much different than overseeing effective ecommerce processes. These two shopping mediums vary greatly, but consumers still prefer to use both to find and buy the products they want. For this reason, many businesses are offering both channels, and for those that haven't yet, now is the time to do so.

Bloomberg Businessweek reports that retailers that specialize mainly online are now venturing into the brick-and-mortar realm. Ecommerce may seem that it has taken over the retail industry and become customers preferred method of shopping, but that is certainly not the case, as internet merchants are realizing just how important storefronts are.

The source notes that ecommerce retailers are making the move to physical storefronts because they believe it is a great way to boost brand awareness and capture sales from consumers who otherwise may have not known about certain products and services if they didn't come across brick-and-mortar locations. But these businesses aren't forgetting about their online platforms; they are incorporating web aspects into their physical spaces, Bloomberg Businessweek explains.

To effectively manage both ecommerce and store operations, companies can use retail management software to handle all of their processes and procedures.

As consumers increasingly bring their smartphones and tablets into retail brick-and-mortar locations, some merchants may begin to think that having associates spread throughout the sales floor is no longer an effective way to provide customer service. However, that is certainly not the case, and these employees are more important than ever before.

In an article for Forbes, Wendy Liebmann writes that even though many shoppers want quick and easy transactions, which can be helped with mobile devices in stores, there is still a significant amount of patrons that want personalized and engaged service. To capitalize on this behavior, some retailers have taken a unique approach by equipping sales associates with the knowledge and even technology needed to effectively answer consumer inquiries and help them with their needs. Often, shoppers seek out employees to get advice on the best products and services, so doing away with these associates may not be the best plan of action, Liebmann explains.

To accommodate consumers who prefer to use technology, mobile POS systems can significantly boost satisfaction by allowing shoppers to use their devices to complete their transactions. In addition, Retail Digital writes that "virtual agents" or kiosks posted throughout stores give customers the ability to look up information and quickly find the merchandise they are looking for.

Although retailers throughout the United Kingdom have had a rough couple of years since the recession took hold of the nation's economy, things are looking up. Conditions are improving so much that merchants are looking to expand their operations outside of their domestic markets into foreign countries, in nearby Europe and other continents. The U.K. government is supporting this goal, as it is expected that it will lead to further economic growth.

Going across borders
The International Business Times reports that there is new initiative in place, which was developed by U.K. Trade & Investment (UKTI) and several national retailers, called the U.K. Retail Industry International Action Plan. The source explains that the program will provide 1,000 merchants with capital needed for international expansion. This money will be given out over the next two years, until March 2015. Among the markets being targeted by U.K. companies are Mexico City, Mumbai, Istanbul and Shanghai, along with other big cities.

"This International Action Plan should make a real difference. It will ensure that retailers who need help and advice get it, and that the British government's efforts to tackle barriers to trade overseas are properly co-ordinated," said British Retail Consortium director general Helen Dickinson.

The news source writes there is an increasing demand for British goods in foreign countries, which is one reason why the International Action Plan was created. Exporting U.K. products is expected to provide a huge boost the country's economy.

Domestic retail conditions improving
While the expansion into foreign markets will bring in additional revenue for U.K. retailers, these same merchants are seeing strong growth at home as well. Dow Jones reports that statistics from the British Retail Consortium revealed that retail sales throughout February jumped 2.7 percent from the same time a year prior. This represents the largest year-over-year increase in three years, the news source notes.

January's sales were also positive for U.K. companies, as total volumes climbed 1.9 percent from the previous year. Economists contribute this growth to improving weather conditions and more confidence among consumers, and there is hope that the trend will continue in the coming months.

"Against all expectations, retail sales rose this month to achieve the strongest underlying sales growth for three years," said David McCorquodale, head of retail at accounting group KPMG. "Relatively dry, if cold, weather and the occasional day of spring sunshine helped to lift clothing sales as well as drive footfall in the general direction of the department stores."