R e t a i l  T e c h  T a l k

October 2024

A Few Articles from In and Around the Retail Technology Industry

TikTok Becomes Key Shopping Channel: Lightspeed Report

Article Curated from Retail Insider, Oct 3, 2024

A new report by Lightspeed Commerce Inc. indicates 28 per cent of Gen Z and young Millennial (18-34) Canadian shoppers rely primarily on TikTok for their shopping needs.

In a news release, Lightspeed said retailers hoping to make the most of the upcoming holiday shopping rush should keep generational differences top of mind.

Online retail stores and websites (35 per cent), review websites (31 per cent), referrals (28 per cent), and Instagram (27 per cent) join TikTok in top-ranked preferences for the 18-34 shoppers, signalling the importance of social media as a critical part of retailers’ marketing strategies to reach a younger demographic, added the report.

“Retailers need to understand where shoppers are, and how they behave in order to properly address their needs. With those insights, they can assess and get creative with how they connect to generate a smooth shopping experience. To slay the holiday retail game, retailers should stay ahead of trends,” said Dax Dasilva, CEO of Lightspeed.

Lightspeed’s State of Retail Report reveals that the ways different generations are shopping varies – significantly– and the importance for retailers to be prepared to meet them where they’re at.

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National Retail Solutions (NRS) Launches “Marty’s Minutes, C-Store Basics 101” Video Series

Article Curated from RSPA, Sept 27, 2024

National Retail Solutions (NRS), a leading provider of point-of-sale (POS) systems and merchant services for independent retailers, is excited to announce the launch of “Marty’s Minutes, C-Store Basics 101,” a new educational video series for convenience store owners and managers.

In collaboration with industry veteran Marty Glick, Executive Vice President of Divisional Sales at National Convenience Distributors, NRS has created a series of short, informative videos covering everything related to convenience store operations. The series aims to provide valuable tips and tricks for effectively managing, stocking, and arranging convenience stores.

“We’re incredibly excited to collaborate with Marty Glick on this project,” said Elie Y. Katz, President and CEO of National Retail Solutions (NRS). “Independent merchants often lack the resources of larger chains, such as extensive back-office support or substantial marketing budgets. Marty’s three decades of experience in the convenience store industry make him the ideal person to share practical, actionable advice through our NRS Marty’s Minutes series. Our initiative reflects our commitment to empowering small business owners with the knowledge they need to run their stores more efficiently and competitively.”

Marty Glick brings over two decades of experience in the consumer goods industry to the series. Currently managing a sales force of over 250 professionals covering 14 states, with annual sales exceeding $3 billion, Glick’s insights are rooted in practical, real-world experience.

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Born Digital: How Generation Alpha will be Reshaping Retail

Article Curated from Retail Insider, Sept 25, 2024

Generation Alpha, children born from 2010 and onwards, is already having a significant influence in the retail industry. This generation, with the oldest just entering teenage years, sets apart from others with unique beliefs, values, and behaviours that will soon transform how retailers operate. 

To ensure a successful future, retailers must adapt to Generation Alpha’s preferences such as advanced technology, sustainability, and a seamless integration of shopping channels with personalization being a crucial aspect. By aligning new strategies with the transforming needs of shoppers, retailers will be able to remain competitive – if not, retailers will simply become irrelevant. Graham Heuman, retail insights lead at JC Williams Group, discusses in depth about Generation Alpha, what they are looking for, and challenges for retailers as the demographic becomes closer to working and shopping independently. 

“Generation Alpha has always had access to advanced technology, making them incredibly skilled at navigating digital platforms. They expect seamless integration between online and offline experiences and have a strong preference for personalized interactions. Retailers who fail to meet these expectations risk becoming obsolete in a rapidly evolving market,” says Heuman. 

Understanding Generation Alpha

As understanding Generation Alpha is necessary for future growth in retail, the JC Williams Group is collaborating with consulting firms globally to gain research into the next generation. Partners from North America, Europe, South Africa, and Asia are collaborating on this research project, which will be conducted through a survey that has yet to begin. Heuman says the company aims to gather data that will help retailers innovate for the digitally savvy and sustainability-focused generation. Since the JC Williams Group cannot directly reach the target demographic, parents will complete the surveys.

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10 Free & Creative Marketing Ideas for Small Businesses

Article Curated from LocaliQ, Sept 17, 2024

Small businesses are often called the backbone of the US economy. Research shows that over half of Americans own or work for a small business, and small businesses account for nearly half of the economic activity in the US.

But small businesses don’t generally have the marketing budgets of their bigger competitors. That means they need to be strategic—and sometimes creative.

To get you started, we’ve rounded up 10 free and creative marketing ideas that any small business can use to punch well above its weight.

To find the best marketing ideas with a real-world record of success, we reached out to several pros who know how to build a small business. Here are their top tips.

1. Showcase your work

Showing the results you get is always better than telling people how great you are.

In other words, find ways to showcase your products or services and how they will benefit potential customers instead of simply telling them about those benefits.

For Ben McInerney, arborist and founder of tree service comparison site GoTreeQuotes.com.au, that meant cleaning up fallen leaves and trimming overgrown edges in yards within his community. He then left a business card with a note about what he had done.

“This approach not only showcased my work but also built goodwill,” he said. “Within a month, I had secured five new regular clients—a 500% return on my time investment.”

Social proof like this, whether it’s a testimonial or a gallery of images from previous jobs, is one of the best free marketing ideas available.

2. Position yourself as a local expert

Another way to highlight your expertise is to find relevant consumers on platforms like Facebook, Reddit, and LinkedIn and offer tips and answer questions. This tactic helps position you as a local expert and keeps your business top of mind when those consumers need related products or services.

Michael Gilmore, co-founder of promotional product manufacturer Vivipins, called Facebook Groups “a goldmine for small business owners looking to expand their reach.”

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