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.

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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

Retail Traffic Trends #63: Changing consumer trends

Despite lackluster foot traffic on what are usually high traffic days, holiday sales in the U.S increased 11% from 2019.

What this data doesn’t capture, is all of the people who bought online but still went to the physical store, whether going inside or curbside, to pick up their order.

This week we dive into consumer trends that are slipping through the data and changing the shopping experience.

THIS WEEK’S HIGHLIGHTS

  • DOORCOUNTS WEBINAR TODAY: Join us today at 12 pm EST for our weekly webinar. CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR WEBINAR.
  • Changing shopping trends: How relationship commerce is reshaping retail.
  • The world of returns: Why 16.6% or $761 billion in merchandise sold in 2021 is expected to be returned.

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 03 Retail Foot traffic 2022

FOOT TRAFFIC TRENDS

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

Five Trends Changing The Way Customers Shop In 2022

According to data from Sensormatic Solutions, Thanksgiving foot traffic was down 90% in 2021, and traffic on Black Friday was down 28% from 2019.

Even with lackluster foot traffic on what are usually high traffic days, holiday sales in the U.S increased 11% from 2019.

As we said earlier, foot traffic data doesn’t capture all of the people who bought online but still went to the physical store and utilized curbside pickup. Although foot traffic data may not show it, emerging trends such as BOPIS and curbside pickup have changed the way consumers shop.

While online shopping isn’t new, the trend of shopping on mobile devices has skyrocketed in the last few years. According to Shopify’s yearly reports, mobile orders have accounted for over half of Shopify’s sales since 2014.

Not only has the way people shopped changed, but the beliefs that fuel their purchase has also changed.  In the U.S., 71% of millennials say climate change is our most pressing social issue and are more likely to buy sustainable goods.

Click Here to read about more trends that are changing the way consumers shop.

The world of returns

Total retail sales reached $4.583 trillion in 2021. Out of the $4.583 trillion, 16.6%, or $761 billion in merchandise is expected to be returned.

In general, the total rate of return has increased since the 10.6% reported in 2020. A major reason for the increase in returns is due to the increase in e-commerce sales in 2021, which have a higher rate of return compared to in-store purchases.

For every $1 billion in sales, the average retailer incurs $166 million in merchandise returns.

 

The industries expected to see the most returns are Auto parts (19.4%);
Apparel (12.2%); and Home improvement and housewares (tied at 11.5%). 
Thankfully, retail analysts expect consumers to return to shopping in-store more than we saw in 2021.

Click HERE to learn more about what analysts expect to see in 2022.

Retail Snippets

Study: Why marketplaces attract valuable ‘power shoppers’.

Today in Data: How relationship commerce is reshaping retail.

The frontier: These 10 brands are proving physical stores still matter in 2022.

A new look: Retailers use digital blueprints to reinvent the physical store experience.

RANDOM IRRELEVANCE

Wordle: The best starting words to use and other game tips.

Regeneration: Scientists were able to regrow frog legs. Will it pave the way for regeneration in people?

Digital stylist: This extremely toxic lake could show us how life may have survived on Mars.

Read More

Retail Traffic Trends #62: Retails AI assist

From furniture for lease becoming the hot new commodity, to AI transforming how we forecast demand, the retail world is changing at a fast pace.

In the last few months, 27% of consumers shopped using a blend of physical and digital channels, making it increasingly important to have the data you need to understand where shoppers came from and where they are going.

THIS WEEK’S HIGHLIGHTS

  • DOORCOUNTS WEBINAR TODAY: Join us today at 12 pm EST for our weekly webinar. CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR WEBINAR.
  • Join us at the Las Vegas market: Come join us at booth 33 to join our team for a chat!
  • Retails AI assist: Using AI to turn data into future trends.
  • Webinar recap: Click HERE to watch last week’s webinar.

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 03 Retail Foot traffic 2022

FOOT TRAFFIC TRENDS

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

Retail’s AI assistance

As we touched on last week, hybrid shopping has become increasingly popular with 27% of consumers shopping a blend of physical and digital channels in recent months.

One of the main benefits of a combined approach is all of the data derived from online shopping.  Unlike at physical locations, it is hard to tell where the shopper came from or what drove them to go to that location.

Over the last few years, new AI integrated software have started to allow retailers to better understand their data and analyze trends. 

In a recent blog post, Google recommended retailers harness data and AI for demand forecasting with its Vertex AI solution and highlighted additional technologies designed to help retailers compete in a turbulent market.

As supply chain issues continue to cause all of us troubles, being able to more accurately predict future trends will help ease some of the shipping nightmares.

Furniture on lease

After testing in 6 different markets, Ikea is seriously considering offering furniture for lease in all of their stores across the country.

Renting office furniture has a long history, but remaining residential furniture is a new trend we are beginning to see.

Ikea’s trial found that younger generations, who are more mobile and on the go, showed strong interest in leasing furniture as they have no idea when they will be moving next. Conversely, the trend also appealed to people who do not have the money to furnish their entire house but want nice pieces of furniture in their home. 

For retailers, furniture for rent extends the life of furniture and offers a way to continue making money off of the same piece of furniture without selling it.

As Ikea is on the path to becoming a circular business by 2030 by using recycled and reused materials, furniture for lease is a step in the right direction when keeping sustainability in mind.

Retail Snippets

Best of NRF 2022: Top 10 Takeaways from the National Retail Federation conference.

Change of expectations: 5 ways buyer expectationswill change retail in 2022.

Hidden in the data: Retail sales rebound but challenges remain, data finds.

New avenues: 7-Eleven introduces a subscription delivery service.

RANDOM IRRELEVANCE

Wordle explained: Everything you need to know about the word game that is taking over.

Mars quake: Cameras discover boulder tracks with evidence of earthquakes on Mars

Digital stylist: Amazon to open fashion store where algorithms suggest what to try on.

Read More

Retail Traffic Trends #61: A Hybrid Future Awaits

Hybrids are becoming the new thing everyone wants. From hybrid cars to hybrid retail stores, consumers are looking to get the best of both worlds.

While many stores went hybrid based on necessity when Buy Online Pick Up in Store became the new trend, many stores are going a step further by creating e-commerce pick-up areas.

This week we look towards the future of retail and see what other retailers are already doing to become the best of both worlds.

THIS WEEK’S HIGHLIGHTS

  • DOORCOUNTS WEBINAR TODAY: Join us today at 12 pm EST for our weekly webinar. CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR WEBINAR.
  • Social shopping: How shopping on social media has gone from gimmick to necessity.
  • Hybrid retail: Why companies are adding e-commerce areas into their stores.
  • Webinar recap: Click HERE to watch last week’s webinar.

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 01 Retail Foot traffic 2022

FOOT TRAFFIC TRENDS

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

Social shopping

While physical stores will continue to be the bread and butter for consumers, shopping on social media is becoming an increasingly popular way for people to buy new goods.

Social shopping was once seen as a gimmick, but now a recent report by Accenture predicts that by 2025 social commerce will reach $1.2 trillion, up from $492 billion in 2021.

Social commerce has passed the adoption phase and people have begun to fully accept it as a new way to shop.

Influencers, which are a major part of social commerce, are continuing to push products to their audience of like-minded people. 59% of respondents reported that influencer posts have influenced them to make a purchase from social media in 2021.

When in doubt, giving consumers another avenue to buy from you is always a good idea.

Hybrid retail

Touch, feel, and smell are all senses that continue to bring shoppers alike back into physical stores.

As it turns out, 72% of retail shoppers use the store as all or part of their primary purchase method.

 

Compared to other age groups, Gen Z consumers (ages 10-25) surveyed are most likely to be a ‘hybrid shopper’. When it came to physical shopping, the top reasons people shop in-store included touching and feeling products before buying them (50%), picking and choosing their products (47%), and getting products right away (43%).

When it comes to online shopping, a majority of people find it easier to do their research from the comfort of their home before getting the instant satisfaction of buying in-store.

As hybrid retail continues to take form, we will continue to see retailers include e-commerce experiences in-store, such as a pickup lounge or digital catalogs.

Retail Snippets

Final push: Holidays sales hit a record $886.7 billion, says National Retail Federation.

Resale: Resale Set To Be Star Of Retail In 2022 For Consumers And Brands.

Supply: Everything you need to know about the retail supply chain in 2022.

Landlords: The lure of single-tenant retail properties grows in popularity.

RANDOM IRRELEVANCE

Watch: Huge Tonga underwater volcano eruption captured in stunning satellite video.

Pig heart: The science behind the first successful pig-to-human heart transplant.

A new world: A new planet as big as Jupiter was discovered by ‘citizen scientists’.

Read More

Weekly webinar 1: Floorboard

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

This week we focus on the floorboard and share best practices to make the most out of your time and turn your your foot traffic into more sales.

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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