The festive period has been and gone once more but the busy day-to-day of the retail world continues. Moving into the New Year presents a slight shift in attitudes towards the in-person shopping experience. According to recent findings from popular UK brand, The Perfume Shop, 72% of shoppers often seek additional information and services in-store. Likewise, the demand for visiting stores is also reflected in most customers’ weekly shopping habits, with almost 40% of UK consumers now visiting non-food stores once a week.

With brick-and-mortar stores continuing to remain popular for shoppers, retailers are turning to innovative retail technologies such as Mobile POS and omnichannel services to further enhance their in-store offerings to customers. Creating the ultimate customer experience will be crucial in keeping up the momentum of excelling sales on the shop floor.

With the popularity of bricks and mortar shopping continuing to prevail in the retail scene, what can retailers do to set themselves apart from the competition when it comes to the in-person shopping experience? And how are retail technologies paving the way for a modernized future in brick-and-mortar stores?

Providing the Best of Both Worlds

The influence of online shopping has had an impact on the development of the in-store experience. For bricks and mortar retailers to continue to compete with the fast pace of eCommerce, they must be able to emulate the speed and convenience of online shopping. Online, visitors can complete transactions in seconds, and have instant visibility of product availability. The challenge for online sales is that customers don’t immediately receive their product. If physical retailers can replicate the seamlessness of online shopping, they have the added benefit of also handing customers their desired items right away.

With the popularity of shopping in stores on the rise, a reliable and efficient payment process is crucial, in the second quarter of 2024 it was reported that 66% of customers opted for payment through Apple Pay or other mobile POS payments in stores or restaurants. Introducing innovative tech in stores, such as Teamwork Commerce’s Mobile POS solution, can allow retailers to create a speedy and smooth checkout service. Moreover, customers can have total access to flexible payment options anywhere in-store for a convenient and accessible shopping experience.

Likewise, to replicate the visibility of stock of online shopping in stores, retailers utilizing Mobile POS combined with Teamwork’s RFID stock counter app have access to regular reporting to keep track of inventory performance and consumer shopping trends.

These technologies ensure retailers have complete control over their whole supply chain and full visibility to modify inventory levels across the whole channel at any time. With immediate visibility of stock in-store associates can also share these insights with consumers. Therefore, customers receive accurate, up-to-date information when placing orders in-store or online, creating streamlined and reliable sales opportunities that leave customers feeling satisfied.

The Building Blocks of Customer Relationships

To effectively build a positive relationship with customers and keep up with the increasing demands of in-store foot traffic, retailers need to invest in an omnichannel strategy that customers can rely on. Teamwork’s advanced Omnichannel Order Management System (OMS), creates a streamlined experience to keep up with any customer’s busy schedule.

By utilizing this technology, retailers can offer services such as Buy Online, Pick up In-Store (BOPIS) and Buy Online, Return In-Store (BORIS) to create a prompt way for customers to collect and return items with little to no effort. Recent findings have also revealed that features such as BOPIS are expected to make up nearly 20% of all eCommerce spending by 2027. Retailers must ensure a diverse shopping experience across the board. Whether a customer is browsing in-store, trying on products or choosing to use features such as BOPIS, customers value brands that can cater to their shopping needs and enable high-quality experiences.

Additionally, streamlining operations, and implementing omnichannel services in-store can help take the pressure off in-store associates and allow them to focus on providing top-tier customer service. In 2024, 88% of customers think customer service is more important than ever. Therefore, for brands to continue to not only entice new customers but also build rapport with loyal ones, customer service needs to be at the forefront of any in-store retail strategy.

The Power Of In-Person Experiences

The in-person experience is becoming a pivotal part of a customer’s shopping journey. For many retailers, the growth of in-store shopping has led to brands needing to pull out all the stops to create memorable experiences. In particular, retailers have started introducing immersive experiences inside their stores, brands such as Acne Studios, Moose Knuckles and ASICS have started redefining their retail space to encourage engagement and provide a unique experience for customers.

However, to fully embrace the new era of in-person shopping, retailers must incorporate reliable retail technologies to accompany these immersive experiences. Customer Relationship Management (CRM) platforms enable retailers to analyze customer preferences and behaviors. In doing so, brands can tailor discounts and promotions that resonate with shoppers, creating a truly bespoke experience that drives sales while encouraging customers to interact with brands and drive product purchases.

 From this data, retailers can also heighten a customer’s in-person shopping experience by recommending products based on browsing history or purchases made online or in-store. This personal approach allows store visitors to feel valued by brands and encourages customer loyalty.

Is Retail Heading Back to Bricks?

The in-store resurgence is continuing to help the retail industry evolve in 2025. Prioritizing in-store interactions as well as customer service will be key for retailers, so to ensure consumer satisfaction, modernizing the in-store experience is vital. Retail technologies such as Customer Relationship Management (CRM) and Omnichannel Order Management Systems (OMS) can open doors of opportunity for brands to go the extra mile for their customers.

Looking to create the ultimate in-store experience for your customers? Get in touch here.

From upscaling self-checkout solutions to increasing integration of AI in retail, 2024 witnessed a whirlwind of transformative retail technology adoption. It was a busy year for retailers, and tech innovation and integration within the industry will only continue to grow as 2025 progresses.

As we settle into the new year, retailers need to re-evaluate their priorities to keep up with the evolving retail landscape. In this blog, we take a look at four key considerations for retailers as they set their 2025 priorities… 

The Shift to Social Commerce

Social commerce is the buying and selling of goods or services through social media platforms, and its popularity has continued to grow over the past couple of years. Purchases made within the UK using social media platforms are expected to double in value from £7.4 billion to almost £16 billion by 2028. According to forecasts, 56% of UK users have made a purchase directly through social media, via a link on shoppable content or through an app. Therefore, as part of their New Year priorities, retailers must consider capitalizing on the potential of social commerce.

Having only launched in the UK in 2021, TikTok Shop is just one platform among many that has excelled within the social commerce space. Since launching, there have been over 200,000 active businesses on TikTok Shop in the UK. This has heavily influenced shopping behaviour on social platforms with a reported 61% of TikTok users having made a purchase either directly on TikTok, or online after seeing an ad on TikTok. Not only does this demonstrate the rapid rise of TikTok Shop, but it also shows its ability to drive repeat sales and impact consumer shopping habits.

Due to TikTok shop’s success in driving sales, retailers should consider focusing their efforts on prioritising their presence on social channels such as TikTok, pairing products with engaging content creation. Social commerce is only expected to continue to grow in 2025. Brands appear to have found the key to streamlining social transactions, and it is translating into a significant amount of eCommerce sales. A successful social commerce strategy will add another string to the bow for retailers looking to deliver effective omnichannel sales.

Creating diverse payment options

Over recent years, the ability to provide customers with multiple payment options and methods has provided retailers with a competitive edge. Today’s consumers have unique and evolving needs, and they demand payment options that allow flexibility. Whether paying through a secure link, using Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) options, or digital wallets such as Apple Pay and PayPal, shoppers are accustomed to completing purchases at their convenience. However, the industry has now reached a point where being able to offer diverse payment options isn’t an edge anymore, but a basic demand of customers that brands must cater to.

According to Statista, BNPL (buy now pay later) transactions within the UK are used by 50% (around 26.4 million) of adults. Meanwhile, options such as pay-by-link can simplify the transaction process for customers in-store. The Teamwork Commerce Pay-By-Link solution allows shoppers to pay for items through a secure URL link provided by a retailer. Retailers not only have the ability to conduct sales but can also process returns without the need for receipts – streamlining payment processes.  

Offering multiple payment systems can help brands deliver convenient shopping experiences, increasing shoppers’ likelihood of buying and returning. 

Strengthening omnichannel offerings

The ability to leverage multiple methods to make purchases has empowered customers to shop at their own convenience. Over recent years, customers have embraced hybrid shopping models and 2025 is only set to see further rise. 

The popularity of omnichannel retail offerings such as Buy-Online-Pick-Up-In-Store (BOPIS) and Buy-Online-Return-In-Store (BORIS) is growing. In the UK, these services are forecasted to surpass £30 billion in 2025. The growth of BOPIS and BORIS indicates that retailers must be ready to cater to the rising demand for omnichannel shopping experiences.

As part of their 2025 strategies, brands can prioritise adopting a holistic approach to simplify their omnichannel experiences. It is critical that retailers are able to eliminate friction and facilitate BOPIS and BORIS seamlessly, which is only possible with the deployment of integrated retail solutions that operate in real time.

AI integration

AI integration into retail operations has been on the rise. Both in 2023 and 2024, retail companies saw a two-digit growth of their sales compared to the respective previous years. In 2025, we anticipate that AI adoption in retail is only likely to increase further, transforming different areas – from supply chain operations to the customer experience.

From personalization to process optimization, brands must consider using AI to transform their retail operations in 2025. While AI is a game-changer in analyzing vast amounts of data, retailers must be able to feed accurate information for the technology to be able to deliver correct results. To achieve this, brands should consider pairing AI with other technologies such as RFID and real-time solutions that provide updated and accurate data.

The takeaway

As retailers plan their strategies for 2025, they must focus on popular trends such as social commerce, new payment methods, omnichannel and AI in their new year priorities. While many brands are already using some or all of these, those who can further advance in their utilisation of these can better cater to evolving consumer needs and thrive in 2025.

To find out more about how Teamwork Commerce can help your brand today in introducing retail technology to your everyday practices can help you succeed in 2025, visit here.

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.