Strategies for Economics of Retailing

There's a lot of talk about the need for retailers to shift their operating strategies due to the down economy. The necessity to evaluate retail business solutions and employ new tactics and strategic inititives with technology is more crucial than ever in order to meet today's challenges.

The key areas for retail success hinge on the retailer's ability to control inventory, streamline purchasing and receiving, improve customer and vendor management, integrate accounting and eCommerce, and use reporting features that give them insight into their retail business.

The most important approach to transform the business of retailing then is implementing a strategy that focuses on those key things. Lucky for retailers, a good POS software system like Retail Pro and CounterPoint have the features and tools that put a retailer in control.

The landscape of economics may change, and a retailer needs to navigate through anything. If a retailer is using a comprehensive POS system, this is what they can leverage in not just the current economic climate, but in any kind of economic times.

Lift Your Retail Spirits

In an article "How to Lift Your Retail Spirits" by Matt Parmaks, he talks to retailers about getting back to basics to ensure retail success. We published this in our "Retail Buzz" in Dec. 2008, as we thought it timely to help retailers take a look at some things they can do to improve their business.

If you subscribe to our quarterly publication, The Retailer Report, last month we published an article "Weathering a Storm In the Retail Business" by Kevin McAdam. This was actually a chapter in Kevin's eBook "Succeeding in the Retail Business During Economic Stress."

Another related article that you might find helpful is What Retailers Can Do in a Down Economy by Scott Kreisberg.

Successful strategies have proven to lift retail spirits because, all in all, when you're looking at solutions instead of the problems, you'll be much better off.

Relax in our Technology Pavilion at MAGIC

MAGIC Marketplace
February 17, 18, 19
Las Vegas Convention Center
Booth# 17031 North Hall

One Step Retail Solutions is doing something new and exciting at MAGIC Marketplace this year and invites retailers to come by, get some free coffee and relax in their Technology Pavilion located in the North Hall, White section of Woman's Apparel.

The Technology Pavilion is a large and comfortable space filled with cushy couches and chairs for retailers to get off their feet, take advantage of complimentary coffee at the coffee bar, and have Wi Fi access to download email.

One Step staff will be showing the latest HP hardware, Panasonic security cameras, the new Quadrox security system, Retail Pro and CounterPoint POS software, and BizCampaign, a way to centralize and coordinate all your marketing functions.

Contact One Step that you're coming! (800) 266-1328, or send Email to sales@onestepretail.com.

Webinar: Truth About the Retail Economy in 2009

One Step Retail Solutions is hosting a live Webinar, "The Truth About the Retail Economy in 2009 - How to Make this Year Your Best Year Ever"

Date: February 10, 2009
Time: 11:00AM to 12:00PM PST.

Space is limited.Reserve your Webinar seat now at:https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/720110200

Join retail expert and author Kevin McAdam for a 45-minute discussion on the cold hard truths about creating retail success during tough times.

Find out:

• The 5 most important Retail Key Performance Indicators for you, how to read them and how to interpret them.
• The numerous ways you can use the technology you already have to increase profits.
• The 5 decisions any retailer has to make about his inventory.
• The biggest obstacles to retail growth during recession and how to overcome them.

Having shepherded retailers successfully through the past economic recessions over the last 23 years, One Step Retail Solutions knows how to take advantage of the economic climate to make 2009 your best year ever.

Join Kevin McAdam for this fast-paced live webinar to find out how to make this year your best ever.

After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the Webinar.

Reserve your seat now:
https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/720110200

Sports Apparel Case Study

One Step Retail Solutions performed another Retail Pro case study with Sportech, an athletic footwear and apparel store in Port Chester, NY. The store opened 16 years ago and manager Soung Kim talked about her experience with Retail Pro:

"We got on Retail Pro in 1995. You can figure the math there but that's the only system we've used. The store, when we first got it, was about 2000 square feet and now we are at 5600 square feet, so keeping track of our inventory has definitely helped us make larger profit margins, as well as not over-purchasing, so we were able to turn out a profit and expand the store. "

See full case study at:
http://www.onestepretail.com/profiles/sports_apparel.php

Swimwear Case Study

In a case study with Gone Bananas located in San Diego, CA, owner Tom O'Hara speaks about his experience using Retail Pro point of sale software.

When asked about financial benefits, Tom said:

"We have now grown to where we're one of the largest single operations of swimwear in the US. Sales and profits have increased to levels which we would have never dreamed of. We're also online now and have synched our online store to our inventory. This feature of Retail Pro makes the online sales aspect of our store much easier. We'll be seeing more sales through the Internet as well."

Full case study at:
http://www.onestepretail.com/profiles/beachwear.php

Round Table for Retail Execs

One Step Retail Solutions is holding an exclusive Round Table for retail executives. The topic is "Are You Crazy Enough to Expand in This Economy?"

Kevin McAdam, author of "Success in the Retail Business During Economic Stress" will present a proven strategy that will enable retailers to open new stores and actually expand in 2009, despite all the doom and gloom economic headlines.

This special open-mic Round Table is an excellent opportunity to speak with Kevin and other retailers about expanding while everyone else is trembling.

December 10, 2008
11:00 AM (PT)

Limited to only 25 attendees! Reserve your space now!

Send Email with your name, company, title and email address and you will receive instructions to join the meeting: sales@onestepretail.com or call (800) 266-1328.

New Book Release

One Step Retail Solutions has released a new eBook, "Succeeding in the Retail Business during Economic Stress" by Kevin McAdam which offers insight and strategies for retailers suffering at the hands of a struggling economy.

Looking at trends in retailing and current industry news spouting doom and gloom, Kevin McAdam gets to the bottom line with survival strategies that help retailers adapt to changing technologies and the new realities of the marketplace.

“This book is very timely because of the current economic conditions, and Kevin really gets into the necessities of what retailers should do during challenging times,” says Scott Kreisberg, CEO of One Step Retail Solutions. “His strategies point out how retailers can not only survive, but thrive during these conditions. I can personally vouch for the validity of his strategies, since I passed on these strategies to him and have watched my clients remain profitable during three economic recessions over the past 20 years as a result.”

This book is a compilation of articles from Kevin's column in a newsletter published by One Step Retail Solutions, advising its retail customers how to get through the economic climate of decreased sales numbers.

Alicia Kreisberg, Chief Operating Officer at One Step claims, “Retailers will find this book very insightful, particularly because the approach and principles outlined in Kevin’s book are taken from the same practices we use at One Step with our clients. No matter what the economic climate is, we make sure that our clients have the tools to succeed.”

Retailers will find in-depth methodologies for such matters as weathering a storm in the retail business, increasing sales through channels of retailing, having the right product at the right place at the right time, how retailers should focus on their core strengths, and adjusting a retail business to changing economic times.

The eBook version is now available as a free download at www.onestepretail.com/retail/ebook.php.

Free Webinar for Retailers

Announcing...The Roll-up Your Sleeves, Time for the Cold Hard Facts, Make Sure You Survive the Economic Downturn FREE WEBINAR.

"How to Adjust Your Retail Business to The Changing Economic Times"

Date: November 12, 2008
Time: 11:00 AM (PT)
For: Retail business owners and managers

With our hand on the pulse of retail, we told you back in March what you needed to do then to thrive in the coming economic downturn. Many retailers took this to heart and are growing and expanding. What can you do now that the economic bad times are here? Adjust. Find out how in this hard-hitting, no holds barred, confront the facts, 1-hour webinar.

Join Kevin McAdam, author, speaker, Vice President of One Step Retail Solutions and co-founder of the Retail Technology Resources Group for this new retail-business-owner specific, 1-hour time investment, survival course.

In this webinar you'll find out about:

• How you can increase your bottom line, even while sales are decreasing.
• The 5 things that you must have going for you to ensure your staying power.
• The 2 most important assets that retailers have and how to make them work for you.
• The 14 biggest obstacles to retail store survival.
• Real life examples of how some retailers are able to expand during hard economic times while others go under.

This will be the best hour you could invest to ensure your business survives! You will learn why 87% of retail businesses fail and how you can avoid being one of them!

Be quick! RSVP now...Go to www.onestepretail.com/webinar
Registration is free, but required. Limited space- only 200 spots available!

Retail Pro Business Partner Award

Retail Pro, Inc. announced its awards for Global Business Partner of the Year and Global Top Sales Award at its annual Business Partners Conference in San Diego, California. The winner of both awards was One Step Retail Solutions.

“Once again, One Step Retail Solutions has proven itself to be an outstanding business partner and brings to its clients, some of the leading specialty retailers in the world, the benefit of excellent advice, service and support,” said Retail Pro’s Ken Sapp, Senior Vice President for Global Sales.

In accepting these awards, One Step COO Alicia Kreisberg stated, “This is definitely a team effort and we think our team is the best around. We also know that our success is based on the fact that our purpose is to improve how retailers run their business by using technology to boost efficiencies and collect valuable information that can help them make the right business decisions. We give each retailer personalized attention and ensure the technology they chose fits their individual business needs."

One Step Retail Solutions has been Retail Pro’s Global Business Partner of the Year for the last two years and was also awarded the Inc 5000 award for 2007, as one of the 5000 fastest growing companies in the US.

New Retail Survival Test

One Step Retail Solutions has just launched an online Retail Survival Test to help retailers measure their store's future success in the economic downturn.

The retailer will find out how healthy their store operations are and what their chances of making it through the next few years of business and come out the other side thriving.

Take the Retail Survival Test and see how your store measures up against the leading survival indicators and success predictors. You'll receive a score and analysis of your store's results by email immediately following the test.

Take test now >>

Retail Pro 2008 Users Conference

Retail Pro users should be getting ready to rock 'n roll at the 2008 Retail Pro Users Conference in San Diego, CA next month from Sept. 14 through Sept 16 at the Hard Rock Hotel.

Anyone who uses Retail Pro will find this year's conference highly informative and a must attend event. Focusing entirely on current users and potential users, Retail Pro will deliver an exciting, educational, and eye-opening conference.

To register, go to www.retailpro.com/2008uc

Call us at One Step Retail Solutions to let us know you're coming! (800) 266-1328 or send email to sales@onestepretail.com.

Coming to MAGIC and MRket

One Step Retail Solutions will be at MAGIC Marketplace and MRket this August and wants to show retailers how POS can give them an advantage through down-turning economies and increase the chances for success.

MRket - August 24-26
The Venetian Hotel in Venetian Ballroom in Las Vegas
We're in the MRket Zone in WiFi Lounge

MAGIC - August 25-27
Las Vegas Convention Center & Las Vegas Hilton
Booth # ME-2627 in Central Hall

Contact One Step for a no-obligation discussion with a retail expert to find out how POS could make the difference in whether you will still be operating next year or in the next five years.

Call (800) 266-1328 or send Email.

New Radiant Counterpoint Business Partner

Yesterday One Step joined up with Radiant Counterpoint as Business Partners. See the photos:

More news on this to come!

L.A. Roadshow Photo Montage

Watch this photo montage of our L.A. Roadshow ...

The Roadshow at The Grove

One Step Retail Solutions is presenting The Roadshow at The Grove in Los Angeles, CA. This is a popular event among One Step's customers, and is hitting the road to present the event in key cities. The last event was a Meet & Greet in San Diego and the L.A. Roadshow will be followed with a roadshow in New York.

Speakers from One Step include:
Peter Pishko, VP Operations
Kevin McAdam, VP Sales
Charles Wood, Director of Tech Services

Special Guest Speakers include:
Mike Yanchison, SonicWALL
Rebecca Ramme, UniteU
Michael Dattoma, The Bart Group
Hewlett Packard speaker TBA

It's a day designed to bring together our clients, our staff and invited vendors to network and exchange ideas to motivate and inspire you.

When: June 18th, 9 AM to 5 PM
Location: The Grove, at Third & Fairfax, Los Angeles, CA
(free valet parking)

Limited seating! RSVP to chepner@onestepretail.com or call 818-543-4777 Ext. 4125.

Click here to see full details of event.

Free Retail Tech Check

One Step Retail Solutions wants you to prosper in today’s economy and be a cut above your competition. Discover what you can do about it and how to better manage your retail operations, no matter what the economy is doing. Our Retail Tech Check is a complimentary service provided by our retail consultants who are experienced in retail business and operations.

One Step's retail experts will look over and assess your specific retail business, current business processes and technology, and challenging areas. Our consultants don't stop there however. They inform you how to overcome any weaknesses and enhance your strengths using a technology strategy that can take you beyond the norm you're used to.

Click here to get a free Retail Tech Check

New Retail Whitepaper Released

One Step Retail Solutions recently published a new retail whitepaper, updated from report "The 5 Biggest Challenges Retailers Face Today". The new whitepaper entitled "The 6 Biggest Challenges Retailers Face Today" expands on today's challenges and contains updated and new research in the retail industry.

Download a complimentary copy at:
www.onestepretail.com/retail/6bc-whitepaper.php

New Retail Pro video

Retail Pro, Inc. recently released a new video about how retailers are using Retail Pro point of sale software in their business. Watch this fun 5 minute video and see for yourself how Retail Pro is the POS system of choice for many retailers worldwide.

Retail Webinar-on-Demand

Today's economy is on shaky ground for retailers. One Step Retail Solutions' new Webinar-on-demand informs retailers what they can do to prevail in "How Retailers Can Thrive in Today's Challenging Economy."

Find out how to prosper in today's economy and be a cut above your competition. The economy is cycling down. Learn how this is affecting retail and what you can do about it to help you better manage your retail operations and prosper, no matter what the economy is doing.

This webinar discusses:

• The current outlook for retailers
• Getting through extended slow seasons
• Capitalizing on your strongest assets - your customers
• Maximizing profit margins with your inventory
• The competitive advantage of a POS system
• Investing in the infrastructure of your business.

Watch this webinar!