Two middle-aged engineers named Gordon Moore and Bob Noyce quit their jobs in order to ponder what might possible - to imagine, to question, and to do wonderful in pursuit of a better future. That quest began 50 years ago on July 18, 1968 with the incorporation of Intel (short for integrated electronics).

Initially, Intel made computer memory, but in 1971 Intel’s invention of the microprocessor was truly game-changing. Now, the technology wasn’t just about storing data, it was about processing that data.

Posted: 9/6/18

We all strive to do more with less by simplifying daily tasks, whether it be finding a faster or less stressful commute route or meeting our shopping needs quickly with minimal hassle. Retailers who recognize this universal need in their customers provide ways to speed up and facilitate customer shopping journeys in and out of their stores.

Despite increased efforts to reach out to new and existing customers via in-store apps, beacons, or digital displays along with omnichannel marketing efforts, retailers may miss out on straightforward methods to increase relevance to their customers.

Posted: 9/4/18

While attracting new customers is necessary to achieve added revenue streams and increased profitability, customer retention is essential to your store’s ongoing operations.

The financial experts at Forbes* have identified several different strategies that will boost your ability to retain customers and sell more devices and tech products.

Posted: 8/21/18

As summer begins to wind down, many families are considering the purchase of a new PC or laptop computer. Knowing what to look for can help your customers make the most effective use of their financial resources and provide them with the computing power needed for work, school, and play. 

The National Retail Foundation* (NRF*) estimates this year’s back-to-school and college spending is projected to reach $82.8 billion. The economy is up, and consumer confidence is up, so this is a great time to get your PC sales up.

Posted: 8/8/18

There is no single way to create a great customer experience, but your stores must have a strategy in place to create those experiences on a consistent basis. Immersing your existing customers in a satisfying shopping experience produces innumerable benefits. These include more engaged customers, easier upsells and cross-sells, cutomer referrerals, and more. 

The key to achieving these and many other advantages comes from engaging customers on an emotional level. That's because the vast majority of everyday decisions are made emotionally not logically.

Posted: 7/19/18

There is much to be learned about how to re-tool or re-design your retail employee training programs as suggested from a recent survey¹ by Ipsos* commissioned by Axonify* to assess the effectiveness of employee training from the employee's viewpoint.

Survey findings were derived from responses by employees from Millennials to Baby Boomers across several industries including retail. With respect to training in retail, two important differences stand out from other industries.

Posted: 7/9/18

According to U.S. Census Bureau data, 90.5 percent of retail sales in Q1 2018 were offline.¹ Stores making an effort to blend their customers' online and offline shopping experiences realized an increase in in-store sales.

There are estimates that in 2020, more than 80% of retail sales in the U.S. will still happen in brick-and-mortar locations.³ So, there is little doubt that in-store sales will remain king over online sales. There is a significant multiplier effect on per customer sales when the customer is helped by a sales representative. Customers clearly value face-to-face human expertise when committing to purchase.

Posted: 6/29/18

Adding tangible value to sales associate training with gamification is a continually accelerating trend. Gamifying learning has application across the spectrum of staff training programs including new hire onboarding, product expertise, sales skills, customer-first orientation, company branding, and more. 

Gaming elements foster better retention, motivated learners, and cohesive teams.

Online learning platforms, also referenced as eLearning, provides efficient, consistent training but by itself, often fails to supply an emotional connection to significantly improve learner self-motivation and engagement. Gamifying techniques, however, can radically enhance your employee training.

Posted: 6/25/18

All of us acquire new skills and absorb new information through multiple sensory channels including auditory, visual, and tactile. However, it’s important to note the predominant channel for 65 percent of people is through visual content while auditory learning comes in at 30 percent.¹ 

Not only is visual presentation the preferred method of learning, many expect it to be the method used to deliver new information to them. This is particularly true of your employees who have grown up in the digital age.

Posted: 6/8/18

The most effective team of sales associates is a cohesive unit of individuals with high-energy, self-confidence, a consistently positive attitude, and creativity. These units are led by managers who exhibit these attributes and act as role models for the team.

Here are a 12 tips some successful retail managers use to create these teams.

Posted: 5/22/18