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.

Point of Sale (POS), traditionally, is a quite straightforward technology. Any system that enables transactions between the retailer and the customer can allow a business to complete its sales and operate without too many issues.

However, in a digital-first world, where retailers are turning to technology to gain an edge over their competitors, a traditional POS system is no longer a viable option. At every touchpoint – especially at the point of sale – retailers need to be delivering a flawless and efficient customer experience in order to keep up with evolving needs of today’s demanding consumer. The choice is either adapt or be left behind.

As a result, retailers now leverage some of the most innovative technologies at their point of sale in order to attract and retain customers. In fact, the best technologies even make their own lives easier. A Mobile POS system does exactly that.

No longer just the simple, transactional system that only conducts transactions, here are 3 reasons why Mobile POS will transform retailers’ operations…

1)    Frictionless User Experience

Technology is designed to make life easier for everyone; and that is exactly what Mobile POS can deliver today. Retailers need an enterprise POS system with the flexibility and appearance of a mobile device.

Teamwork Commerce’s Mobile POS technology operates exclusively on cutting-edge iOS devices. The Apple interface – something that many are familiar with – provides a simple and quick user experience. As a result, in-store associates can be trained quickly.

Retailers can install the POS app directly from the iOS app store, before activating and running the complete POS system. They can also check inventory and print shipping labels for fulfilment purposes directly from the app.

The technology is also easily integrated with new payment providers, and devices can be connected and implemented to expand payment functionality with a range of payment methods, such as credit cards, card readers and contactless payments.

With the solution deployed, in-store associates gain access to easy-to-use devices that can be activated or deactivated as needed, all designed to make the transaction process easier for both employee and customer.

2)    Streamlined In-Store Processes

Functionality is a key aspect of any modern retail device, and the ideal mobile POS solution should be able to integrate seamlessly with a retailer’s wider technology stack, including: customer relationship management (CRM) tool, inventory management systems, order fulfilment technology, and reporting and analytics solutions.

With these integrations, the Mobile Point of Sale solution provides a significant amount of information, in real-time, all in one place. Ultimately, in-store associates can be kept up-to-date on all operations, allowing them to both complete tasks and serve customers more efficiently.

Importantly, Mobile POS devices are not tied down to specific locations in-store. Deployed on tablets and other mobile devices, associates can complete transactions from anywhere in-store. This allows retailers to minimize queuing times and serve more customers, faster, enhacing the shopping experience.

3)    Happier Customers

Customer experience is everything. Without the need to queue, and with access to instant real-time information from in-store associates, Mobile POS allows customers to experience high-quality customer service. However, when deployed alongside the latest CRM and clienteling technologies, staff can also personalize their approach to individual customers based on previous interactions.

From shoe sizes, to product preferences, all the way through to the name of a customer’s dog. Teamwork Commerce’s CRM and clienteling solutions seamlessly integrate with the Mobile Point of Sale to help retailers create bespoke customer experiences. This enables retailers to take their customer service to another level.

In-store associates can check-in on a customer, tailor their approach and make meaningful recommendations based on customers’ previous purchases, and provide real-time information regarding promotions, inventory levels and product location. They can then help shoppers source their desired items and complete the transaction on the spot.

With the Teamwork Commerce technology in place, customers can receive a warm, personalized welcome, they can be served quickly and get offered the most relevant items. They can achieve all this within minutes without having to wait in long lines. They can even earn a few loyalty points along the way.

Mobile POS provides high-quality customer service, which in turn breeds trust and loyalty from customers. New customers become retained, they tell their friends about their experiences; the friends then visit the store, and a virtuous cycle of great customer service begins.

More Than Just a Checkout

It is easy to look at POS technology as nothing more than what it says on the tin: Point of Sale. However, with the right tools, it can become so much more. With Teamwork Commerce’s Mobile POS integrated with wider retail technologies, retailers can evolve their entire in-store offering to significantly streamline their own operational processes, while creating highly personalized and efficient customer experiences. This, ultimately, delivers long-term retail business success through a happy, loyal and retained customer base.

Olimpia Pasaye

LATAM Marketing Director

Continuing with our blog series – Five Minutes With… we get to know Olimpia Pasaye, LATAM Marketing Director, based in Teamwork’s Mexico office. Aside from being a sports enthusiast and having a healthy lifestyle, Olimpia is responsible for leading Teamwork’s marketing activities in Latin America. Here, she reveals all about her experience…

• What is your role at Teamwork Commerce?

I am the LATAM Marketing Director at Teamwork Commerce, and my role is to manage and lead the marketing and communication tasks in my region. My role requires me to be a social media planner, creative designer, and strategic content writer.

• Explain your career path. What inspired you to join the retail tech industry?

My career path started with my passion for marketing and creative design, which led to me working as a graphic designer and content creator. Gaining experience and a range of skills in these areas helped me to take on more responsibilities and leadership roles. This includes becoming a marketing manager and eventually the LATAM Marketing Director at the company.

My inspiration to join the retail tech industry began with the exciting intersection of technology and marketing. Retail tech companies are at the forefront of innovation, leveraging digital tools and data-driven strategies to enhance the shopping experience for customers. I love having a role to play in helping retailers achieve that.

• What is your favourite thing about working in the retail industry?

For me, it is the constant evolution and adaptation to consumer behaviour. The retail industry is always changing, and being a part of this environment challenges me to stay ahead of trends, come up with creative solutions, and deliver impactful campaigns that resonate with our target audience.

• What is the best career advice you have ever received?

Asking for help isn’t a sign of weakness, it’s a sign of strength.

This advice has been transformative for me because it encourages me to seek guidance and collaborate with colleagues. Embracing vulnerability and recognizing that we all have areas to learn and grow in has allowed me to learn from others’ experiences, and continuously improve as a Marketing leader.

• What is your favourite thing about working at Teamwork Commerce?

The amazing culture that the company has! From the moment I joined, I felt welcomed and supported by my colleagues. The company’s emphasis on teamwork is real. Everyone is genuinely nice, approachable, and always willing to lend a helping hand. Having a supportive and friendly work environment is crucial for fostering creativity, innovation, and personal growth.

• Who are your key role models/inspirations?

My key role models and inspirations in the marketing and business world are David Ogilvy, the founder of Ogilvy and Mather, as well as Leena Nair, the current CEO of Chanel.

David Ogilvy’s innovative approach to advertising and his emphasis on creativity, strategy, and research have been foundational principles for my marketing career. His ability to connect with audiences and create memorable campaigns is something I aspire to achieve in my own work.

Leena Nair’s leadership in the luxury fashion industry is inspiring, especially as a hard-working woman myself. Her accomplishments and ability to navigate a competitive industry are a testament to her determination and skill. As a woman in a leadership role, I look up to her as a role model to make a positive impact in my company and the marketing industry as a whole.

Rapid Fire Round…

What is your favourite…

• Book: Dare to Lead by Brené Brown
• Movie: I’m all about chick flicks and drama movies. A Love to Remember; How to Lose a Guy in 10 days; Me Before You; P.S. I Love You… And the list goes on.
• Album: 21 by Adele

Most people don’t know that I…

I’ve been vegan for the past 9 years! I consider this to be one of the most important things in my life, but not a lot of people know about this. Since I’m so used to being vegan, I just don’t think about it anymore. I love having a healthy lifestyle and a plant-based diet.

In my spare time, I…

Love playing sports! I like to play tennis, padel, soccer, do yoga and dance, among many others! I usually spend a couple of hours in the afternoon playing a sport after work.

Originally posted in Forbes

By Sergey Kozhevnikov, VP of Product Development, at Teamwork Commerce.

In today’s retail panorama, where customer loyalty is a coveted treasure, it is crucial for retailers to recognize that their interactions with shoppers extend far beyond mere transactions. Craving an air of exclusivity, shoppers expect retailers to weave personalized magic into every single interaction. From scrolling through their favorite e-commerce platforms for exciting offers to visiting in-store to touch, feel and buy their desired items, customers want their shopping journeys to be completely seamless.

As Maya Angelou said, “People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” This poignant statement holds significance in today’s customer-centric retail landscape, where creating high-quality experiences has become essential for retailers. In order to achieve this, retailers need to find ways to blend their customers’ online and physical journeys, personalize their interactions and create a completely seamless experience.

The Fusion That Retailers Need

Bringing together the strengths of online and offline shopping experiences, omnichannel fulfillment services provide flexibility, allowing customers to shop in ways that best suit them. The popularity of buy online pick up in-store (BOPIS) and buy online return in-store (BORIS) seems to only increase. In fact, the U.S. BOPIS market is expected to surpass $154 billion by 2025 from $113 million in 2023. What does this mean for retailers? Consumer demand is clearly high—and continuing to grow. Retailers must eliminate friction between channels and work to make their omnichannel offering as convenient as possible.

Retailers should be able to enable customers to seamlessly purchase an item at the click of a button and pick it up at their own convenience. The transition from app to store should not only be smooth but also satisfying. Finding a product out of stock, especially when shoppers visit a physical store to collect it, can negatively impact their shopping experience. Retailers must provide their customers with accurate inventory information and enhanced visibility of their order’s fulfillment journey regardless of whether they shop in-person, hybrid or completely online.

One way retailers can achieve this is through technology, deploying solutions that can seamlessly integrate with wider retail operations in real time. An all-in-one solution can tie together different components of a retail ecosystem into a single platform, benefiting retailers and customers alike.

Today, leveraging omnichannel technology allows retailers to streamline their entire operation from the supply chain, and order fulfillment through to customer relationship management (CRM), point-of-sale (POS) and analytics. Weaving together different retail tools, modern technologies allow retailers to automate their operations. Additionally, these technological advancements play a key role in enhancing the customer experience. Shoppers can enjoy increased visibility of retailers’ inventory and receive real-time order fulfillment updates such as accurate expected delivery dates and times.

Creating Meaningful Interactions

In addition to detailed operational information, an omnichannel solution also provides retailers with the opportunity to gain a holistic view of all customer-related information in real time, including their purchasing behavior, habits, preferences, history and feedback across all sales channels. Retailers can lean on this data to tailor their recommendations and suggest meaningful products and services, creating high-quality experiences.

If a customer often purchases items of a particular brand, has a preferred color or regularly shops from a specific collection or category, the right omnichannel solution can feed and reflect this information into wider retail solutions such as mobile POS. With this data at their fingertips, in-store associates can make relevant suggestions. This not only makes customers feel special, but it can also positively influence their purchasing decisions, ultimately boosting sales.

Instead of trying to sell items that customers may not be interested in, retailers must use a data-driven approach and suggest items of customers’ interest. This can attract shoppers’ attention, retain their loyalty and encourage them to purchase products. Omnichannel has numerous benefits, but to drive its maximum potential, retailers need to be able to implement it effectively.

Best Practices For Implementing An Omnichannel Solution

Integrating several retail technologies within a single solution provides a range of benefits, but it is also complex.

While implementing an omnichannel solution, retailers should eliminate silos and identify gaps by working closely with their technology provider. Retailers must step into the shoes of their customers to identify and embrace their customers’ needs. To better stand out in a fiercely competitive industry, retailers should also strive to deliver unique offerings that can benefit their customers, such as same-day fulfillment options or highly personalized in-person interactions.

The implementation process requires architectural expertise, and retailers must partner with technology vendors who have a proven track record of implementing similar solutions within the industry. Retailers must also identify clear goals and pain points before purchasing and implementing any solution.

Finally, retailers need to understand that technology implementation is not a one-off exercise. Instead, it is an ongoing process where both the retailer and the vendor must work together to drive successful results. It is essential that retailers review and upgrade their entire retail technology stack on an ongoing basis.

Omnichannel retail has clearly revolutionized the way retailers and customers engage. It has provided retailers with the ability to blend various channels and touchpoints and ultimately unlock the potential for deeper, more meaningful interactions with their clientele. A well-implemented omnichannel solution is no longer a choice but a necessity for retailers to thrive and deliver unparalleled customer experiences in this dynamic retail environment.