Lower-priced gas allowed Americans to step up their spending at retailers in April, buying cars, clothes, electronics and appliances. The rebound from a weak March suggests consumers remain resilient in the face of higher taxes and could continue to drive economic growth this spring. Retail sales edged up 0.1 percent in April, the Commerce Department said Monday. That's an improvement from a 0.5 percent decline in March, the largest drop in nine months. The April gain was stronger when taking out the effect of lower gas prices, which reduced sales at gas stations 4.7 percent. The retail sales report is ...
The retail space offers a variety of opportunities for job seekers, from working the register to merchandising and corporate roles. So how do you make your way up the ladder, particularly when you start on the sales floor? Apploi, a mobile tool for job seekers and employers, sat down with Phil Hendrickson, who has work experience at impressive companies like Apple and Starbucks, to discuss how to grow a retail career. READ MORE AT MASHABLE
More Americans hunted for jobs in May, and more companies filled them - signs of confidence and resilience for the slow-healing U.S. economy. Industries that rely directly on consumer spending hired at a healthy pace - a sign of confidence that consumers will keep spending. Retailers added 28,000 jobs. The retail sector has added new hires for three straight months, and 12 of the last 13 months dating back. Improved retail hiring coincides with reports from the Commerce Dept. that consumer spending is up 0.4%, or quadruple recent increases seen in the industry.
A company website is a must-have in today’s Internet-driven economy. But while most companies have a website, few use them to their full potential to drive sales and revenue. That’s a shame, because websites are often a major investment in terms of time and money, and they can be a lot of work to keep updated. So if you aren't maximizing the return on investment of your site, you're missing out on a huge opportunity. Luckily, there are a few relatively simple updates you can make to your website that can have a huge impact on customer attraction and retention, ...
The retail industry added 28,000 jobs in June, according to the National Retail Federation. NRF said the industry had marked increases in every sector except furniture and home furnishings and health and personal care stores. “Today’s strong jobs report is welcomed news for the economy and may signal positive and accelerated momentum for the second half of 2013,” NRF chief economist Jack Kleinhenz said. “Payrolls came in stronger than expected, including in the retail industry, which witnessed strong gains in building supplies, clothing and sporting goods. The economy is currently stable but traction and pace remain uncertain.” VIA CHAIN STORE ...
Tapiture, a Pinterest competitor, doesn't just show you stuff you might like. In many cases, it lets you buy that stuff as well. Aside from some branded merchandise though, Tapiture doesn't keep any inventory on hand at its Venice, California, headquarters. Instead, it functions as a virtual storefront. Amazon and eBay have been doing the same thing for years, of course, but startups like Tapiture are also taking advantage of this no-investory arrangement, which is made possible through dropshipping. "We're big believers in the dropshipping model," says John Ellis, CEO of Tapiture. "We think it's the way of the future." ...
The restaurant industry hires hundreds of thousands of seasonal employees every summer, including high school students getting their first taste of the working world. One-half of all adults have worked in the restaurant industry at some point during their lives and one out of three adults got their first job experience in a restaurant, according to the National Restaurant Association. But can summer jobs in restaurants lead to bigger and better things? Research shows that nine out of 10 salaried restaurant employees started in hourly positions, and 80 percent of restaurant owners began their industry careers as hourly workers. Nearly ...
Online shopping has created an efficient and enjoyable shopping experience for its users, and now, brick-and-mortar shops are trying to do just the same — by moving the online experience offline. Kate Spade Saturday, an innovative retailer in Tokyo's fashion-forward Harajuku district, blends its online and offline worlds with in-store technology that emphasizes social sharing. Stroll through the flagship store in Tokyo, touch any of the oversized iPads embedded into the architecture and you'll get a bottomless pool of product information, including clothing price, availability, design details and styling ideas. You can point at a coveted item, share with your ...
The U.S. economy added 162,000 jobs in July 2013. The retail sector remains a big contribution to new employment, as it has been throughout the year. "You’re always going to have jobs in the retail sector,” says Michael Evangelist, a policy analyst with the National Employment Law Project. Part-time jobs, many of them in retail, contributed to 65% of the new hires. Scott Anderson, chief economist at Bank of the West, thinks concerns about the surge in part-time work might be overblown. The government’s figures on part-time jobs are highly volatile, Anderson notes. CONTINUE READING AT YAKIMA HERALD REPUBLIC
Retail sales will accelerate in 2015 and grow at the fastest pace since 2011, according to a recent forecast from the National Retail Federation. The trade group said Retail sales (excluding automobiles, gas stations, and restaurants) will increase 4.1% in 2015, up from 3.5% in 2014. The increase would mark the biggest annual growth since 2011 when retail sales for the year increased 5.1%. Non-store sales in 2015 are expected to grow between 7% and 10%. READ MORE AT RETAILING TODAY