Article
Big Back-to-School Highlights Need for Excellent Retail Execution
Field Agent
July 20, 2012
Shoppers are looking to re-stock supplies after a lean shopping season last year.\n
With the expectation of a big Back-to-School season, execution at the store level is critical. The good news is that Field Agent is here to help ensure that your products are out and ready for shoppers this Back-to-School season.
For perspective, the National Retail Federation (NRF) estimates that families with children in kindergarten through 12th grade are expected spend $688.62 on average for back to school items this year, up over $80 from average spending last year. This brings the total estimated spending for Back-to-School to $30.3 Billion in 2012.
NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay told several media outlets, “This is not discretionary, this is really mandatory. Parents are going to do whatever they need to do.” With such a big opportunity at hand, retailers are stepping up their marketing and merchandising efforts online and in stores.
In a Fox article around Back-to-School, Cotter Cunningham adds "There is a shift as retailers try to drive online customers into stores because they have a huge investment in their brick and mortar." Cotter is chief executive of WhaleShark Media (owner of Retail Me Not)
Many retailers are using their websites to help shoppers select, compare and purchase items, much like an online showroom. Target’s uStyler and Walmart’s Spark Studio are two great implementations.
Walmart is putting school lists online so shoppers have access before visiting the store as well as offering a special 88 cent price point for hundreds of items to support budget conscious shoppers.
With all this energy around the Back-to-School season, retail execution is paramount. With millions of shoppers pouring in to stores over the coming months, Field Agent can provide moment of truth insights and compliance data from real shoppers, allowing you to make changes at a store level before the season is over.
Oh, and by the way, did we mention that while your Shoppers are using Field Agent to provide you with insights, we are paying them cash for those insights? This is cash they could be spending on the very items that they are researching.
Here are a few areas that we can deliver for you during the Back-to-School season at any Retail location:
Promotional Audits
Out-of-Stock confirmation
Time-Sensitive Demo Audits
TAB and Circular In-Stock Checks
Shopper Experience Surveys
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SOURCESPromotional Audits
Out-of-Stock confirmation
Time-Sensitive Demo Audits
TAB and Circular In-Stock Checks
Shopper Experience Surveys
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SOURCES
