Retail Traffic Trends #71: Visual commerce simplified

Visual Commerce Simplified

This week we discuss visual commerce and what different retail industries can learn from other sectors.

 

The pictures you display on your store windows and website, and the quality of the content has a major impact on getting customers across the buying line.

Customers are twice as likely to purchase a product if it has a 3D product image rather than a flat image.

THIS WEEK’S HIGHLIGHTS

  • Doorcounts webinar: Our weekly webinar is back in action! Join us at 9 AM PST / 12 PM EST as we go over the Dashboard.
  • Visual commerce strategies: How brands can use visual commerce strategies to better connect with consumers.
  • Furniture industry: What can the furniture industry learn from another sector?

FOOT TRAFFIC INDEX

Here’s a look at last week’s foot traffic compared to the same time last year.

CLICK HERE to subscribe to Daily Foot Traffic Index

Week 12 Retail Foot traffic 2022

FOOT TRAFFIC TRENDS

Industry insights so you can convert your foot traffic into more sales.

Visual Commerce Strategies To Better Connect with Consumers

Just as you would greet a customer at your physical store, you now need to greet your customers as soon as they enter your digital storefront by deploying effective visual commerce strategies.

 

The term “visual commerce” refers to the strategies and tactics around using pictures, videos, animations, and even augmented and virtual reality (AR and VR) to better engage and connect with consumers as they learn about your products and brand.

 

The pictures you display on your website, and the quality of the content has a major impact on getting customers across the buying line.

 

84% of consumers say that they’ve been convinced to buy a product or service by watching a video. More recently, images and videos have even evolved further to be three-dimensional — and customers are twice as likely to purchase a product if it has a 3D product image rather than a flat image.

 

Click HERE to learn more about visual commerce strategies

What can the furniture industry learn from another sector?

As the retail industry as a whole, and more specifically the furniture industry, continues to change, Retail Dive sat down with various store owners to ask what they think could be learned from other industries.

 

John Conroy of Morrisofa Europe says, “The tech sector sells a full concept rather than a product – for example, buying an apple iPhone usually leads to buying Airpods, an iPad, apple Watch, and iPod to go with it. Why do we only try to sell a sofa, rather than a professionally designed roomset?” 

 

Another owner pointed out the importance of supplier-driven assets. Mike Whitman, the owner of Iconography, states “Decent photography is an expensive investment, and proper 3D models are even more costly. Small independents simply can’t afford to source this themselves, either in time or money. If suppliers want their products to be chosen over their competitors (either by the end-customer or by retailers), then they need to be providing that retailer support.” 

 

Each industry provides a unique take on what is going on in their world, and how the industries overlap and can learn from each other.

 

Click HERE to hear more about what can be learned from other industries.  

Retail Snippets

price of return: Smart tech is tackling the true cost of returns to the retail industry.

 

retail science: Neuroscience-backed steps for persuasive virtual sales presentations.

 

Coin collection: Retail and financial trade groups in search of coins amid a shortage.

RANDOM IRRELEVANCE

Brick by brick: How Lego continues to build a toy empire.

 

Imperfect: The longest an NCAA bracket has ever stayed perfect. 

 

Pluto: Scientists conclude that Pluto’s peaks are ice volcanoes.

Read More

Retail Traffic Trends #70: Wireless 5G revolutionizing retail

Wireless 5G revolutionizing Retail

While phones used to only do the simple task of calling, new technologies and the speed from cellular has made 5G a viable option for retailers.

5G gives the possibility of a life without internet issues at work, with many phone providers offering business plans so your team can stay online no matter where they are.

This week we look at the top trends that we will see throughout 2022 and how they will affect your team.

THIS WEEK’S HIGHLIGHTS

  • 5G in brick-and-mortar: How convenience has become the name of the game.
  • Top trends of 2022: The top 8 trends that will continue to gain momentum.
  • Future predictions: Why the death of the third-party cookie Is good for brands and consumers.

FOOT TRAFFIC INDEX

Here’s a look at last week’s foot traffic compared to the same time last year.

CLICK HERE to subscribe to Daily Foot Traffic Index

Week 10 Retail Foot traffic 2022

FOOT TRAFFIC TRENDS

Industry insights so you can convert your foot traffic into more sales.

Wireless 5G revolutionizing retail

Although a wireless network doesn’t seem to have much to do with the world of retail, it has the potential to perfect the custom journey and boost your sales.

 

5G is expected to be a powerful catalyst to disrupt retail operations, from optimizing warehouses and supply chain management to transforming the in-store customer experience through personalization and product engagement. 

 

Due to the speed of 5G, the adoption rate has already proved to be higher than expected. A recent Verizon Look Forwardstudy found that more than 1/5 adults say they expect to use more self-checkout and contactless payment in a year than they already use.

 

5G also gives the possibility of a life without internet issues at work, with many phone providers offering business plans so your team can stay online no matter where they are.

 

Learn more about the benefits of 5G in retail.

2022 trends on the rise

Each week there seems to be a new trend that sweeps the industry. Despite all the changes, certain trends stand out amongst the others.

 

Here are the top trends in the retail industry this year:

  1. Selling online is non-negotiable.
  2. Omnichannel tools create more meaningful shopping experiences.
  3. Automated technology helps retailers manage the labor shortage.
  4. Same-day delivery gives retailers a clear advantage.
  5. Social commerce is one of the biggest digital trends in the retail industry.
  6. Interactive retail experiences bridge the gap between the online and offline parts of a store.
  7. The borders between retail and other industries continue to blur.
  8. Community investments from retailers may be here to stay.

Click HERE to read more about the trends that will shape 2022.

Retail Snippets

Inflation: Shoppers reach their limits on certain price increases.

 

On the rise: Retail sales will grow this year, but at a slower rate than in 2021.

 

Future predictions: Why the death of the third-party cookie Is good for brands and consumers.

RANDOM IRRELEVANCE

Farm-wheels: John Deere plans to roll out driverless tractors to farms in the coming year.

 

Pickleball: The sport with the funny name that’s sweeping America.

 

Breakfast of championsWendy’s prepares to overtake Burger King in breakfast, two years after its nationwide launch.

Read More

Retail Traffic Trends #69: Precision retail at the forefront

Precision Retail at the Forefront

This week we look at precision retail and the importance that integration has on perfecting the customer journey.

As Buy online, pick up in-store (BOPIS) continues to gain popularity among consumers, it has started to blur the lines between digital and non-digital shopper behavior.

Without collecting data on both your physical and digital traffic, there’s no way of knowing which customers are slipping by even when they are ready to buy.

THIS WEEK’S HIGHLIGHTS

  • DOORCOUNTS WEBINAR TODAY: Join us today at 9 AM PST 12 PM EST for our webinar on the Contact Manager. CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR WEBINAR.
  • Precision retail: How convenience has become the name of the game.
  • Stores at the heart of e-commerce: The power of ship-to-store.

FOOT TRAFFIC INDEX

Here’s a look at last week’s foot traffic compared to the same time last year.

CLICK HERE to subscribe to Daily Foot Traffic Index

Week 10 Retail Foot traffic 2022

FOOT TRAFFIC TRENDS

Industry insights so you can convert your foot traffic into more sales.

Precision Retail

Today, convenience is the name of the game. In a November 2020 survey, 83% of consumers say that convenience was more important than in previous years.

 

Fast forward two years, and convenience is still just as important as it was at the beginning of the pandemic. 

 

Because of shoppers increased need for convenience and personalization, many companies are going down the precision retail route. By implementing different software such as POS systems and foot traffic systems that integrate, you can see the entire customer journey and become more precise with how you approach your customer journey.

 

Buy online, pick up in-store (BOPIS) has started to blur the lines between digital and non-digital shopper behavior. A tightly integrated strategy can help you build a true precision retail experience that evolves with changing customer needs. 

 

Click HERE to learn more about precision retail.

Stores at the heart of e-commerce

At the beginning of the pandemic, ship-from-store became a popular trend for stores across the country.

 

Ship-from-store was a suitable pandemic strategy because there were thousands of shops sitting dormant and full of stock.  This is a process that was been accelerated by the pandemic and is likely something we would’ve still seen in 5 or 10 years if the pandemic never happened.

 

With the combination of the increasing popularity of BOPIS and curbside pickup, ship-to-store has become a staple in the world of brick-and-mortar. Additionally, with the correct systems in place, you can get a surplus of data when a shopper buys online and picks up in-store.

 

Click HERE to read more about the benefits of ship-to-store.

Retail Snippets

Winners and losers: How fast Fulfillment Will Determine the Winners and Losers in the Retail Industry

 

On the rise: Discount stores become more popular as inflation rises.

 

Future predictions: How the retail industry may adapt in the coming years.

RANDOM IRRELEVANCE

Clockwork: Congress weighs permanent daylight saving time in a debate as regular as clockwork.

 

Highest tea party: Group sets world record for the highest tea party at Mount Everest camp 2.

 

PokémonA rare Pokémon Charizard card sells for $336,000.

Read More

Retail Traffic Trends #68: February 2022 benchmark

Despite less foot traffic than last February, both the furniture and mattress industry saw over a 15% increase to their average tickets in February 2022.

As we head into the final stretch of Q1, let us take a moment to see what it takes to become a top-performing store.

This week we take a look at the top 20% of stores with the highest conversion rates in both the furniture and mattress industry.

THIS WEEK’S HIGHLIGHTS

  • DOORCOUNTS WEBINAR TODAY: Join us today at 9 AM PST / 12 pm EST for our weekly webinar about email campaigns in Doorcounts. CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR WEBINAR.
  • February in the furniture industry: The highs and lows for the furniture industry to start the year.
  • February in the mattress industry: How the mattress industry increased average ticket by 15%.

FOOT TRAFFIC INDEX

Here’s a look at last week’s foot traffic compared to the same time last year.

CLICK HERE to subscribe to Daily Foot Traffic Index

Week 09 Retail Foot traffic 2022

FOOT TRAFFIC TRENDS

Industry insights so you can convert your foot traffic into more sales.

February 2022: Furniture industry

February 2022 furniture industry performance metrics

February 2022: Mattress industry

February 2022 mattress industry performance metrics

Retail Snippets

6 ways NRF 2022: Retail’s Big Show reflects the growing influence of sustainability.

 

Klarna: A third of Buy Now Pay Later users say they’ve struggled to keep up with the installment payments.

 

Phygital: Four predictions for the future of brick and mortar in 2022.

 

Social commerce: Petco posts record sales in 2021 as it leans into wellness and service offerings.

RANDOM IRRELEVANCE

Taco-Flavored Jelly Beans: Brach’s latest offering has the internet talking.

 

Lost memories: Researchers discover how the human brain separates, stores, and retrieves memories.

 

Airbnb: People around the world are booking Airbnbs in Ukraine. They don’t plan to check-in.

Read More

Doorcounts™ Selects alwaysAI® as Its Computer Vision Partner for Real-Time Retail Analytics

Doorcounts and Always AI partner announcement

Doorcounts™, an Oregon-based SaaS company, and computer vision platform leader, alwaysAI®, announced a strategic partnership to provide ground-breaking computer vision analytics for brick and mortar retailers across a wide array of industries including home furnishing, mattress, footwear, quick service restaurants, and more. 

 

“This partnership enables Doorcounts™ to bring cutting-edge technology to market faster,” says Jerry Murphey, managing partner of Floorboard, LLC and the President of Doorcounts™. “An immediate benefit our current customers will get with alwaysAI® is the automatic exclusion of non-buying opportunities, better accuracy of their customers’ time in-store, and all of the business intelligence these key metrics and many others provide.”

 

“The alwaysAI® platform provides the power and flexibility needed to facilitate the transformation retailers everywhere are searching for.”

 

alwaysAI® will work with Doorcounts™ to improve the accuracy of cameras for their nearly 1,000 existing customer locations across the globe. In addition, retailers will benefit from Doorcounts™ advanced sales analytics and customer engagement tools at every step of their buyer’s journey.


“Retail innovators are using AI to create an optimized digital presence, remain competitive, and to create a seamless in-store experience to gain a strategic advantage over their competition, raise profits, and improve operations.” Says Marty Beard, Co-founder & CEO of alwaysAI®.

About alwaysAI®

alwaysAI® provides developers and enterprises a comprehensive platform for building, training, deploying, and managing computer vision applications on IoT devices. We make computer vision come alive on the edge – where work and life happen.

About Floorboard, LLC. (doorcounts.com)

Doorcounts™ enable businesses to turn essential information into meaningful action that has the potential to dramatically improve results across your entire operation. When businesses can see their traffic data: Their sales teams close more, their stores run more efficiently, and their marketing keeps customers coming back for decades. 

Doorcounts™ was founded in 2012 and continues to seek innovative ways to help businesses everywhere connect to their customers and make more sales with better data. Their current customers include Ashley Furniture, La-Z-Boy, Value City Furniture, Miskelly, Airport Home Appliance, Metro Mattress, and The Good Feet Store.

Read More

Retail Traffic Trends #67: Data-driven customer experiences

Data Driven Customer Experiences

As we have seen predominately in the last few years, data drives everything.

 

One of the biggest upsides for companies that have slowly switched to digital avenues after years of purely physical selling is the wealth of data and analytics that come with digital solutions.

 

This week is all about the effect digitalization has had on the retail industry and how data is the key to perfecting the customer experience.

THIS WEEK’S HIGHLIGHTS

  • DOORCOUNTS WEBINAR TODAY: Join us today at 12 pm EST for our webinar on reports. CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR WEBINAR.
  • Customer experience: How cookies have changed the way we view customer experiences.
  • Digitalization and the effect on retail: The power of a simple keystroke.

FOOT TRAFFIC INDEX

Here’s a look at last week’s foot traffic compared to the same time last year.

CLICK HERE to subscribe to Daily Foot Traffic Index

Week 08 Retail Foot traffic 2022

FOOT TRAFFIC TRENDS

Industry insights so you can convert your foot traffic into more sales.

Data drives everything

In the most recent white paper by RIS News, Customer Experience in Retail Data: Drives Everythingthey dive deep into data from retailers across the country to see the driving forces in customer experiences.

 

82% of retailers from the recent survey name improved customer experience as their highest business priority for the year ahead, with increased revenues coming in a distant second at 43%. With people going out less frequently than before, making every customer experience as seamless as possible has become essential.

 

In particular, 63% of companies added curbside pickup and other changes in how they deliver products to customers, with more than half (57%) expecting to continue the new curbside pickup and home delivery services once the pandemic has passed.

 

Another factor that contributes to great customer experience retail is the ability to harvest large volumes of data that can inform business decisions aimed at increasing profits, improving customer loyalty, and expanding market share.

 

Click HERE to download the full white paper on customer experience.

Digitization and the effect on retail

As we’ve touched on many times in the past, digitalization has started to become a companion to physical retail, rather than a threat.

 

 Hillary Cullum, Founder of HSC Advisors, says “digitization is touching every aspect of retail. Brick-and-mortar stores are working to integrate digital technologies to help streamline the in-store experience,”

 

One of the biggest upsides for companies that have slowly switched to digital avenues after years of purely physical selling is the wealth of data and analytics that come with digital solutions.

 

The better and cleaner data comes simply by being able to track and measure what a customer is interested in because they typed it into the search. And with better data, comes better demand forecasting, store allocations, and improved assortment.

 

Click HERE to learn more about the impact of digitalization in retail.

Retail Snippets

Two-way street: Why brands may need retailers more than they realize.

 

Repurpose: To fill empty retail space, landlords turn to doctors and dentists.

 

Boycott: From vodka to soccer, campaigns to boycott Russian goods build momentum.

 

Beyond Meat: Beyond Meat shares tumble after reporting a wider-than-expected loss, shrinking revenue.

RANDOM IRRELEVANCE

The data game: What Amazon knows about you and how to stop it.

 

Security: The 20 most common passwords leaked on the dark web — make sure none of them are yours.

 

Space: The curiosity rover finds a bizarre rock on Mars that looks like a flower.

Read More

Retail Traffic Trends #66: The new norm in retail

There are endless reasons for foot traffic trends to change throughout the year, and the last three years have proven to show that nearly anything can happen in the retail world.

 

With the return of in-person attendance at professional sporting venues across the country, we are starting to see downtown foot traffic increase significantly.

 

From ever-changing foot traffic patterns to the growing popularity of grocery delivery services, this week is dedicated to discovering the new norm in retail.

THIS WEEK’S HIGHLIGHTS

  • DOORCOUNTS WEBINAR TODAY: Join us today at 12 pm EST for our webinar on reports. CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR WEBINAR.
  • Foot traffic and the Pandemic: Weird takeaways from foot traffic in the time of COVID.
  • Grocery delivery services: Why more and more consumers are using grocery delivery services.

FOOT TRAFFIC INDEX

Here’s a look at last week’s foot traffic compared to the same time last year.

CLICK HERE to subscribe to Daily Foot Traffic Index

Week 07 Retail Foot traffic 2022

FOOT TRAFFIC TRENDS

Industry insights so you can convert your foot traffic into more sales.

Foot traffic and the Pandemic

In the final piece on location data by Propmodo, they analyze how foot traffic trends have shifted since the beginning of the pandemic.

 

Since the beginning of multi-billion dollar professional sports stadiums in downtown locations, they have provided significant financial support to the neighboring businesses.

 

With the pandemic limiting in-person attendance for a good portion of a year, foot traffic in the areas near stadiums has plummeted in the last few years. While their foot traffic usually doubles on game days, businesses started to see their sales plummet on game days.

 

With games returning to in-person,  foot traffic spiked 2-4 times during the Super Bowl for hotels, restaurants, and local retailers, stadiums, and arenas in downtown areas have a large and favorable impact on foot traffic and, as a result, economic opportunities in a variety of industries. 

 

Similar to the change downtowns have seen in the last few years, thrift stores and low-cost gyms have also seen a major change in foot traffic.

 

Click HERE to learn more about key takeaways from retail location data.

Instacart fueling online grocery market

Food delivery services have become a viable option that a majority of Americans use at least once a week.

 

On the other hand, grocery delivery services such as Instacart and go puff have had a longer adoption period than meal delivery, but are quickly gaining traction as more grocers adopt the program.

 

In 2021, conventional grocers all raised their sales with the help of sellers via Instacart’s platform, including gains of 2% for Aldi and 1% apiece for Kroger and Publix. Overall online grocery sales climbed 8% year-over-year in 2021, topping the 6% growth for the total e-commerce market but below Instacart’s 14% full-year growth.

 

Not only are grocery delivery services a great option for those who aren’t comfortable going to a grocery store, but it also reduces impulse purchases as you see your cart total as you shop.

 

Click HERE to learn more about the growing grocery-delivery market.

Retail Snippets

The anti-mall How innovative store partnerships are changing the face of retail.

 

Roblox: Why ignoring Roblox may cost brands loyalty, revenue, and a future audience.

 

Experience made easy: Creating a smooth experience for shoppers in 5 easy steps.

 

Record-breaking: Crocs revenue hits record $2.3 billion in 2021.

RANDOM IRRELEVANCE

Video: Flock of yellow-headed blackbirds drop mysteriously from the sky in Mexico.

 

Short program: A newly discovered dinosaur from Argentina belongs to a rather ‘armless’ family.

 

Space: A massive solar eruption captured by Solar Orbiter Spacecraft.

Read More

Retail Traffic Trends #65: January 2022 by the numbers

Despite having between 30 and 40% less foot traffic compared to January 2021, both the furniture and mattress industries started the year on positive notes with increases in both average ticket and conversion rate.

 

This week we analyze the data from January 2022 and see how each industry performed during the first stretch of the year

 

DON’T FORGET: Doorcounts weekly webinar starts today at 12 pm EST.  Join the Doorcounts team and learn best practices for ___________.

THIS WEEK’S HIGHLIGHTS

  • DOORCOUNTS WEBINAR TODAY: Join us today at 12 pm EST for our weekly webinar. CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR WEBINAR.
  • January in the furniture industry: The highs and lows for the furniture industry to start the year.
  • January in the mattress industry: How the mattress industry increased average ticket by 30%.

FOOT TRAFFIC INDEX

Here’s a look at last week’s foot traffic compared to the same time last year.

CLICK HERE to subscribe to Daily Foot Traffic Index

Week 06 Retail Foot traffic 2022

FOOT TRAFFIC TRENDS

Industry insights so you can convert your foot traffic into more sales.

January 2022: Furniture industry

January 2022 furniture industry performance metrics

January 2022: Mattress industry

January 2022 mattress industry performance metrics

Retail Snippets

Retail 2022: The search for the ultimate customer experience.

 

Ground-breaking tech: Discover the tech that is shaking up the retail industry.

 

Talent: Retailers and manufacturers address COVID’s psychological impact on hiring.

 

Social commerce: Snapchat’s AR shopping upgrade points to a social commerce future.

RANDOM IRRELEVANCE

Medal tracker: Keep track of the Olympic medal counterand see which country is taking the Olympics by storm.

 

Sneakerhead: Sneaker collection sells for ‘record-breaking’ $25 million.

 

Unseen light: NASA space telescope spots the most powerful light ever seen on Jupiter, helps solve a 30-year-old mystery.

Read More

Retail Traffic Trends #64: Retail goes dark

From re-purposed physical stores to the emergence of Cryptocurrency in retail, we are starting to see a blend of old and new trends making waves in the industry.

 

With increasing inflation, More retailers will be offering the option of cryptocurrency to their customers in the coming year due to better payment security, lower transaction fees, and faster transactions.

 

This week we dive into the new world of dark stores and cryptocurrency in retail.

THIS WEEK’S HIGHLIGHTS

  • DOORCOUNTS WEBINAR TODAY: Join us today at 12 pm EST for our weekly webinar. CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR WEBINAR.
  • The dark store: Giving new life to low traffic stores.
  • Crypto in retail: Why consumers are eager to pay with crypto in physical stores.

FOOT TRAFFIC INDEX

Here’s a look at last week’s foot traffic compared to the same time last year.

CLICK HERE to subscribe to Daily Foot Traffic Index

Week 05 Retail Foot traffic 2022

FOOT TRAFFIC TRENDS

Industry insights so you can convert your foot traffic into more sales.

The dark store

If an order is called into a dark store and there are no customers to hear it, you can bet your bottom dollar it still adds up to big money.

 

Dark stores, shuttered stores opportunistically converted into fulfillment centers, are the new trend retailers are following to make the most out of their lower traffic stores.

 

By early 2021, U.S. companies had taken over nearly 100 million square feet of industrial and warehouse space. An additional 376 million square feet of space was under construction, according to news reports.

 

Despite e-commerce sales expected to reach $6.5 trillion by 2023, retailers are still investing big into physical locations.

 

Dark stores allow retailers to squeeze out the most cost-effective systems for reaching more customers. 

 

Click HERE to learn more about dark stores.

Crypto in retail

As Cryptocurrency continues to make waves, it has slowly started making its way into the world of retail.

 

With inflation continuing to rise, more and more consumers are starting to see Crypto as a viable option for buying goods. Retailers such as Starbucks, Overstock, and the Dallas Mavericks have already started accepting Cryptocurrency as a form of payment.

 

Accepting a cryptocurrency that is hyper-deflationary by nature, incredibly safe, secure, and speedy, makes sense for retailers.

 

More retailers will be offering the option of cryptocurrency to their customers in the coming year due to better payment security, lower transaction fees, and faster transactions.

 

Click HERE to learn more about Cryptocurrency in retail.

Retail Snippets

Startups: The hottest retail startups in 2022.

 

The cloud: From shipping to banking, retail to gaming, see how the cloud will transform a dozen industries in 2022.

 

From strangers to friends: How to turn first-time visitors into longtime customers.

 

Mattress Mack: Furniture mogul ‘Mattress Mack’ places record-setting $4.5 million bet on the Bengals to win Super Bowl

RANDOM IRRELEVANCE

Winter Olympics: What it is like hosting the Winter Olympics without any snow.

 

Short program: USA’s Nathan Chen sets world record in the short program at Beijing Olympics.

 

Space: Astronomers spot the youngest pair of asteroids ever discovered in the solar system.

Read More

Weekly webinar #3: Reports

Our weekly webinar is where we dive deep into best practices and show how to use Doorcounts to its full potential.

This week on our weekly webinar we dive deep into the reports of Doorcounts and show the power of actionable data.

Every Wednesday we will go over a different topic and answer any questions you may have.

Register HERE to attend our next webinar on January 19th at 12 pm EST / 9 am PST.

Can’t make it to this webinar? Register anyway, and we’ll email you the recording following our presentation.

Read More

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