Welcome to another week of our point of sale and small retailer news roundup where we feature five interesting articles from the previous week. This week our first article might take some time to implement but the idea of having one standard barcode for all applications seems like a good one with the introduction of various types of mobile and online coupons, discounts and loyalty programs. The second article is a short but sweet announcement from our sponsor MerchantOS for their customers. We then feature an article that shows the actual number of retailers that are adopting to mobile customers and why they are doing so. Our fourth feature is an important one for any small retailer that advertises online coupons and how to avoid fraud. We end our roundup this week on a positive note showing that the outdoor signs outside your small business are still working.
1. Branding Campaign 2D-Image Barcode Could Do It All – The global trade group GS1 is pushing to create an industry standard barcode that would combine linear barcodes, 2D barcodes, mobile commerce and other barcode symbols into one 2D-image barcode. This could take as much as 20 years to implement but think how much easier it would be to have one barcode for every application that could be read at every point of sale system worldwide.
2. We Can Print Jewelry Labels! – MerchantOS has announced to their customers that they are now able to print rat tail labels (2”x1”). This will be a huge convenience for any small retailer that uses their web based POS and need to make small labels for jewelry, electronic or any small item.
3. Retail Industry Is Going Mobile – As new devices become available the retail industry doesn’t have a choice but to keep up with consumer convenience, mobile shopping. The numbers in this article proves that if you’re not considering the move to mobile in the future you may be left behind considering there was an 18% increase of smartphone users in the last quarter of 2009. The articles also states that mobile shopping increased to $1.2 billions dollars in 2009 from $369 million in the previous year of 2008 and is projected to be around $2.4 billion this year. Large retailers are jumping on the bandwagon quickly, Target announced this week that they are rolling out a program to send coupons directly to customers smartphones. As small retailers look for a way to compete they will have to start looking to the future of mobile shopping.
4. Ten Tips for Curtailing Online Coupon Fraud – To compete with bog box companies like Target mentioned above you might consider or already have in place an online coupon program. I like many consumers enjoy the added benefit of being able to grab an online coupon for my local small retailer. An online coupon program is not difficult to incorporate but they are subject easily to fraud. This article will give you ten great tips on how to avoid fraudulent activities with your online coupon program.
5. Outdoor Signs are Still Rabid Advertising Tools – Great news, your outdoor signs advertising your local small business are still working. With the population becoming increasingly busy and always on the go, what a great way to remind them you’re still there than with a large sign displaying your business name or a new sales event. Keep those signs up, keep them simple and if you have a sign advertising a sales event keep it current but let the customer know a few days or a up to a week in advance.
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