|
|
|
|
|
Holiday Shopping Plans Include Deals,
Coupons and
Discounts
by Jack
Loechner
According
to the National Retail Federation's 2011 Holiday
Consumer Intentions and Actions Survey,
conducted by BIGresearch, holiday shoppers say
they plan to spend out an average of $704.18 on
holiday gifts and seasonal merchandise, down
slightly from last year's $718.98. The report is
forecasting overall holiday retail sales to grow
2.8% during the months of November and December
to $465.6 billion.
|
Average
Holiday Spending |
|
|
Year |
Spend |
|
2004 |
$699.98 |
|
2005 |
734.69 |
|
2006 |
750.70 |
|
2007 |
755.13 |
|
2008 |
694.19 |
|
2009 |
681.83 |
|
2010 |
718.98 |
|
2011 |
704.18 |
|
Source:
NRF/BigResearch, October
2011 |
|
In
addition, a new shopping poll conducted by Ipsos
Public Affairs shows that given the current
state of the economy, 45% of U.S adults plan to
spend less this coming holiday season than they
did last year.
Women are more likely
than men to say that they are going to be
cutting back their holiday shopping budgets (49%
vs. 39%), as are adults ages 35 and older
compared to younger adults (49% vs. 35%).
|
Consumer
Spend Planning 2011 Holiday
Season |
|
|
Plan |
%
of Respondents |
|
Same as last
year |
42% |
|
More than last
year |
11 |
|
Less than last
year |
45 |
|
Source:
Ipsos, October 2011 |
|
Many
adults are not taking advantage of online
coupons that could help stretch their holiday
dollars, with less than half saying that they
are likely to look for online coupons or coupon
codes before making a holiday
purchase.
Continue
Reading: http://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/160985/holiday-shopping-plans-include-deals-coupons-and.html
Source:
Media Post
|
4th
Quarter promotions from Radiant
System
This
month we would like to highlight some 4th
Quarter promotions from Radiant System
surrounding CounterPoint SQL and its new service
offerings: CPMobile, Customer Connect,
CPOnline & Smart Alerts:
CPMobile
Product Launch Special - Retailers who
register for CPMobile under an annual (12 month)
agreement by 12/1/11 will be offered a special
introductory price of $50/month/device for the
first year. The standard price is
$75/month/device, so this represents a $300
savings over the course of the year per
device. You can register as many devices as
they would like, using promotion code
CPMLAUNCH.
Retail
Apps Bundle Free For 2011 -
CounterPoint
customers can register for 2 of
the following Retail Applications - CPOnline,
CustomerConnect, SmartAlerts - at no monthly
charge through the end of 2011*. This limited
time offer is good for the first 200 customers
who register and is only valid if the customer
has not previously registered for the Retail
Apps they select. Customers can contact
one of Radiant System's application
experts at retailsales@radiantsystems.com or
800-932-1058 to learn more.
*CPOnline
initial set up and training fees still
apply.
Additionally,
regarding
CPOnline: CPOnline
- Stored Value Cards are here!! The September release of
CPOnline now contains the long awaited Payment
by Gift Card (SVC) feature!
Additional features also in this release
include Google Product Feed Enhancements, Import
Extra Item Info Enhancements, Import Extra Grid
Info Utility, and Shopping Cart Enhancements
(CPOnline V3).
As
always, any CounterPoint SQL questions can be
directed at Rob Freda at Rob.Freda@armsys.com or
303-738-1800
x311. |
Template
customers
To
simplify the process of adding new customer
records, CounterPoint SQL now allows you to
designate a particular customer record as the
"template customer." Whenever you add a new
customer, the values from the template customer
record are used as default values for the new
customer.
Template
customers are defined by workgroup, which means
you can set up a separate template customer for
each workgroup to define different default
customer values for each store, location, or
site.
To
create a template customer, define a customer
record with the values that you want to use as
defaults for new customers, and then designate
the Template customer # on the
Workgroups form (Setup > System
> Workgroups).
|
The
5 Words That Kill Potential
Sales
When
times are tough (and sometimes even when they're
not) we tend to channel our inner Randolph Duke and try
even harder to, "Sell, sell!"
So
why don't our increased efforts result in
increased sales? The problem often lies in words
- and the approach we take to sales as a result
of those words.
Let's
look at a few words you may be using to guide
your approach, and the words you should replace
them with:
1.
Replace Specifications with Benefits. I wanted
to cut up some fallen trees. I'm not a lumberjack and knew
nothing about chain saws. At the first store the
salesman said, "Here's an awesome saw: 50cc
engine, 9000 rpm, 18 bar..." While I understood
the terms I couldn't place them in context. (Is
9000 revolutions per minute good?) I went to the
next store and after the salesman asked me a few
simple questions he said, "This chain saw is
probably your best bet: It starts reliably, has
great safety features, the chain is easy to
remove for sharpening or replacement... you
could get a more powerful saw, but based on the
size of the trees you'll be cutting, all you
would get by spending more would be a heavier
saw to lug around."
One
salesman tried to impress me with specifications
and features and in the process just made me
feel stupid. The other understood my needs and
solved my problem. Customers only care about
specifications and features in relation to how
those qualities meet their needs. Start with
benefits, help the customer feel their needs
will be met... and then dip into specs if they
seem interested.
Continue
Reading: http://www.bnet.com/blog/small-biz-advice/the-5-words-that-kill-potential-sales/4999
Source:
BNET
|
Susie
Carmen
 Susie Carmen joined
Advanced Retail Management Systems eleven and a
half years ago. Susie is the Marketing Assistant
in the Sales Department and is responsible for
all new incoming leads, coordinating Tradeshows
and just a myriad of tasks while assisting the
Sales Consultants.
Before
working for ARMS, Susie worked for NASA in Clear
Lake/Houston. She also had her own Photography
Company & Studio. Susie has also had
previous career employment in law and medicine.
Susie
attended Metro State College in Denver,
Colorado. Susie's hobbies include creative
photography, attending concerts, dancing, hiking
and most importantly NASCAR
!
|
Advanced Retail Management
Systems
Referral
Rewards
$100 for You and
$100 for the Retailer You
Refer!
 Here's how it
works:
1.
Let
us know the name and contact information for
another retail company that is looking for a POS
system and receive a $100 Visa Gift card that
can be used anywhere Visa debit cards are
accepted.
2. Once the referred retailer
participates in a 1 hour web presentation for
CounterPoint, Retail Pro or Microsoft RMS they
will also receive a $100 Visa Gift
Card.
Contact us today with your
referral. Call Susie Carmen
at (800) 305-0461 Ext 357 or e-mail her
at susie.carmen@armsys.com. Visit our website
to register your referral at www.armsys.com
|
Follow Advanced
Retail Management Systems
on
Facebook
 Keep up with latest
happenings in Retail and your particular
POS\Inventory Control software by becoming a fan
of Advanced Retail Management Systems (ARMS) on
Facebook! Video
Clips from the ARMS staff with Tech Tips and
other helpful information coming soon!
By being a fan of ARMS, you will receive
information about your software including
special "web only" tips & tricks that won't
be given elsewhere. You'll be among the first to
learn about new release and features, training
opportunities, and links to interesting
information on the web. Connect with the ARMS
staff and our customers!
|
|
| |
