Recent TRG blog posts

David Mackley looks at why the largest retailers use technology and whether the same benefits can be realised by independent retailers.

Major Retailers have used technology for years to deliver business improvements

When hurricane Ivan was heading towards the Florida coastline, Wal-Mart knew there would be a rise in demand for Kellogg® strawberry Pop-Tarts®. Drivers delivered Pop-Tarts to stores in the area in time to accommodate the rise in demand.

It was never supposed to be this way; the store and the web site were going to ignore each other and customers would trade through one or the other, not both. Yet, here we are within a few short years, recognising that on line retail is already having a profound effect on the store and it’s going to go way past Click & Collect.

The most powerful four-letter word in the entire English language for retailers used to be “Sale”. If you weren’t making your numbers you could easily whack up a big, red Sale sign and watch the punters come in, in their droves.

The most powerful four-letter word in the entire English language for retailers used to be “Sale”. If you weren’t making your numbers you could easily whack up a big, red Sale sign and watch the punters come in, in their droves.

It was never supposed to be this way; the store and the web site were going to ignore each other and customers would trade through one or the other, not both. Yet, here we are within a few short years, recognising that on line retail is already having a profound effect on the store and it’s going to go way past Click & Collect.

An easy, cost-effective method for maximizing a company’s investment in automated expense management is the use of digital receipt filing for management of travel and entertainment (T&E) receipts.

Most retailers with a credible multi channel strategy have a plan for fcommerce (ecommerce on Facebook) but there are important points to consider before getting carried away with all the excitement that only Facebook can engender.

When it comes to online marketing, retailers often have significant opportunity to expand their presence. However, limited budgets and/or ROI goals restrict them from reaching many customers seeking the types of products and services they sell. Geo-targeting allows retailers to accomplish their goals without an overwhelming incremental investment. Here are four strategies:

1. Increase sales while maintaining ROI goals.  
Identify campaigns with low impression share. Then pull an geo report (under the "Dimensions" tab in AdWords) for those campaigns to find local markets with high conversion rates. Develop separate campaigns targeting these markets and increase your CPC bids to ensure your ad is showing up in a top position.

2. Earn market share. 
Identify local markets where competitors are attracting more customers, either in-store or online. Beyond your internal competitive intelligence here are other ways to identify these markets:

When it comes to online marketing, retailers often have significant opportunity to expand their presence. However, limited budgets and/or ROI goals restrict them from reaching many customers seeking the types of products and services they sell. Geo-targeting allows retailers to accomplish their goals without an overwhelming incremental investment. Here are four strategies:

1. Increase sales while maintaining ROI goals.  
Identify campaigns with low impression share. Then pull an geo report (under the "Dimensions" tab in AdWords) for those campaigns to find local markets with high conversion rates. Develop separate campaigns targeting these markets and increase your CPC bids to ensure your ad is showing up in a top position.

2. Earn market share. 
Identify local markets where competitors are attracting more customers, either in-store or online. Beyond your internal competitive intelligence here are other ways to identify these markets: