As shopping habits and consumer expectations change, Aptos asks retailers how they are planning for the store of the future.

In a recent Twitter poll aimed at British, French and Italian retailers, Aptos found that upskilling store associates was the primary in-store investment priority for the next three years across all three countries, taking an average 38% of the overall vote – standing out against other strong contenders.

This finding demonstrates the widespread acknowledgement from retailers that stores need staff that are capable of more than simply making transactions or assisting on the shop floor.

“A store’s appeal in today’s retail landscape is in face-to-face interaction as this cannot be replicated on screen”

Other options in the survey only reinforce how important upskilling staff is for retailers, as they look to add food and entertainment options, as well as more personalised experiences for shoppers.

In stores, it is the staff who are tasked with delivering these new experiences, which requires new skills to do so in a way that is engaging.

A store’s appeal in today’s retail landscape is in face-to-face interaction as this cannot be replicated on screen. Therefore, upskilling staff is vital for making a shopping experience special.

Tech training
One significant way in which store associates should be trained for the future is through the use of technology.

Frontline staff should not only be able to provide information about the products on display within the specific store, but also have access to omnichannel services.

The store associate of the future should be able to order products on the spot for a customer – either ordering online for delivery to their home or store, or finding the product to pick up from a different store nearby.

At the point of sale, assistants should also be able to seamlessly make any transaction, including returns, establishing a reputation for frictionless customer journeys in-store.

Luggage retailer Tumi equips all staff with the ability to take returns of goods purchased from any location, including department stores. By connecting the points of sale across its retail ecosystem, and ensuring staff are fully trained on all technology, transactions are made easily, which helps to build loyalty to the brand.

Creating an experience
Store associates are a key component of the omnichannel experience, offering end-to-end customer service whether the product was bought online or in-store.

Arming them with the right technology and the training to use this will help, but retailers also need to develop the soft skills of staff, improving their sales technique and understanding of customers’ needs.

Health and beauty retailer Lush has honed this to a fine art. Store assistants are mobile points of sale, using tablets to access product information and make transactions, leaving them free to interact with customers.

“Retailers also need to develop the soft skills of staff, improving their sales technique and understanding of customers’ needs”

Store associates with the right attitude and the right technology are integral to the creation of a desirable in-store experience – which is why retailers in Britain, Italy and France alike view upskilling as the top priority for the next three years.

Alibaba has opened its first physical store in Europe on institutional landlord Intu’s Xanadú scheme in Madrid.

The AliExpress store is a collaboration between two Chinese businesses: retail giant Alibaba Group and D.Phone, a mobile phone and accessories retailer.

D.Phone will serve as a strategic partner in operating the store and assisting AliExpress with commercial innovation.  

According to Intu, the store will combine physical and online retailing, and offer a “vast range of technology and electronics products, including small appliances, household items and wearables”.

by Sriram Kumar https://blog.intouch.com/

Technology continues to change the rules of engagement and consumers are more demanding. Getting them to notice amid all the noise in the market, both online and brick-and-mortar, is a great challenge.

Read more on Intouch blog

FAO Schwarz is coming to town and just in time for Christmas. Arnotts, Ireland’s largest department store, is delighted to announce the arrival of the world’s most magical toy store to its Henry street location in October, later this year.

SCT have been providing support services to Arnotts and Brown Thomas for many years. The FAO Schwarz should be a very exciting project for Arnotts and Brown Thomas.

Grocery sales have declined for the first time since June 2016, according to the latest data from Kantar Worldpanel.

Sales fell 0.5% year on year for the 12 weeks ending 14 July 2019 as they failed to keep pace with a record summer last year, which was boosted by the men’s football World Cup and a prolonged period of good weather.

All the major grocers recorded a sales fall, with Morrisons recording the largest drop of the big four as sales dropped 2.6% during the 12 weeks to 14 July.

Ocado was the standout performer during the period as it increased sales by 11.9% due to customers buying from the online grocer more frequently.

All good things must come to an end, even Windows 7. After January 14, 2020, Microsoft will no longer provide security updates or support for PCs running Windows 7. But you can keep the good times rolling by moving to Windows 10.

You can continue to use Windows 7, but once support ends, your PC will become more vulnerable to security risks. Windows will operate but you will stop receiving security and feature updates.

Microsoft 365 Business comes with a free upgrade for users with a Windows 7, 8, or 8.1 Pro license on their device. By purchasing Microsoft 365 Business your users can upgrade all of their old Windows Pro licensed devices at no additional cost.

SCT’s dedicated projects teams have completed many Windows 10 upgrades during and after normal business hours to ensure no disruption to the business. SCT will work in conjunction with a company’s IT department allowing the IT support staff to carry out their normal duties during the upgrades. SCT can also recommend and install the appropriate hardware for Point of Sales (POS) and Office requirements to run on Windows 10.

GERMAN RETAILER LIDL has announced that it will begin to offer customers in-store recycling stations in order to reduce packaging waste. 

The supermarket chain said that segregated recycling stations will begin to be introduced at the end of customer checkouts in all of its 160 Irish stores from the beginning of next month. 

It said that it anticipated that rollout would result in tonnes of plastic, cardboard and other materials being recycled across their store network.

Plastic packaging is a big contribution to Ireland’s waste, with consumers becoming increasingly conscious over single use plastics like straws and cutlery. Lidl discontinued sales of these and similar items last year. 

The company said that it had trialed recycling stations in three Lidl stores in Gorey, Greystones and Ballycullen and that they had been a big success. 

“We know from Repak research that Ireland is one of the leading recycling countries in the EU for packaging recycling, however Ireland’s EU target for recycling is to increase to 65% by 2025,” Lidl Ireland’s Managing Director JP Scally said in a statement.

“We want to play our part in supporting the country to achieve this target through our recycling stations nationwide,” he added.