[vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][minti_testimonial author=”Joey Pointer” company=”CEO, Fleet Feet”]”We rolled out an ecommerce platform and we wouldn’t have been able to do it without RICS.”[/minti_testimonial][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]At RICS, we support retailers integrating with new solutions to help grow their business. We’ve integrated with trustworthy partners offering e-commerce solutions, payment gateways, gift and loyalty solutions, EDI, Open-to-Buy Consulting, and more. These reliable and trustworthy partners connect to RICS so you can keep up with the trends of retail technology. Click here to see learn more about the current integrations with RICS software.
USING THE RICS API
We’re excited and ready to help you integrate with RICS to meet your technology needs. Due to our current development initiatives, we won’t do the custom programming of the integration. Using your development team or a partner, RICS’ API can be accessed to create custom integrations. Our services team will work with your developers throughout enablement.
WE WANT YOUR INTEGRATION SUGGESTIONS
RICS is already integrated with tools and services to help your business perform at its best. However, there are always opportunities for new integration ideas! We’re open to exploring integration suggestions with your help. Implementation often doesn’t require custom development, but it does require a validation process to ensure the 3rd party adds value and is feasible using the RICS API.
Our integration enablement process follows four steps:
Client suggests an integration
RICS enabled API access if the integration is purposeful and feasible
RICS provides acceptable API usage guidance to client and integrated third-party
RICS monitors to ensure API guidelines are met
Don’t hesitate to reach out to an Account Manager at any time to discuss initiatives like these. You can contact us at accounts@ricssoftware.com to start the conversation.
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
Do you want to increase cash flow?
Your cash flow and profitability depend on inventory productivity (i.e., does it sell or not and how fast). If you can improve this value, you can improve the profitability of your store. So, what can you do to improve your inventory productivity?
Analyze product performance
As a general rule, you can improve your cash flow by 1% for every 1 week of improvement you achieve in inventory turns. Turns are the rate at which inventory is sold within a certain time frame. This is an important indicator of how efficiently a product is moving through a sales cycle. You can use turns to discover what products sell most quickly and make you the most money (note: products selling at a faster rate usually sell at full price and higher margins). On the flip side, slow inventory turnover is an indicator of lost opportunity.
Here’s how to improve your inventory turn rate:
Analyze your turn data at the class, brand, and product levels to identify inventory performance
Mark down stale products to sell them quickly and make room for better-performing products
Invest your cash into high productivity classes, brands, and products
Making these decisions will improve your inventory productivity to increase cash flow. What would it look like if your business could increase overall inventory turn by shaving off just one week off inventory age? Find your potential cash flow increase:
Total number of sales X .01 (1% improvement from 1-week turn increase) = cash flow increase
That’s a powerful number! RICS system provides turns, return on investment, and gross margin rate of investment on our sales reports so you don’t have to mess with calculating it yourself.
No more guesswork, no more hunches.
Get control of your inventory to increase cash flow. Need more help? Click below to register for our upcoming webinar or check out our guide, Cash Flow: How To Use Inventory Management to Make More Now.
[vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]As a retailer, your technology is incredibly important to running a successful business. Whether you’re using customer data to deliver personalized messages to your shoppers, or looking up inventory for a customer on the sales floor, having a system that works for you is a crucial part of your business. When it comes to choosing a POS and inventory management system, you want to make sure you have a partner with all the functions you need.
We know that finding that perfect partner can be a challenge, that’s why we want to help you identify the top questions that can help you identify if a POS provider is right for your business.
What industries do you service?
You’re not a cupcake shop, so why would you use a POS system that was built for one? As a footwear or apparel retailer, it’s incredibly important to find a system that can support the way you do business. A system that boasts a one-size-fits-all model doesn’t give you the functionality you need to run your business. Finding a solution built for your industry means you’ll have all the functionality you need to run your store and is a proven solution for other retailers like you.
Are you cloud-based?
When it comes to how your POS system is hosted, it’s important to ask if a provider is an installed solution or is cloud-based. Installed solutions may seem like a one-time expense, but the reality is they can cost a lot more over the course of time. Installed solutions require servers that need to be maintained and lack ongoing support and software updates. With a cloud-hosted solution, you eliminate costly servers and ongoing maintenance, and move to a solution that is constantly being updated and supported. Additionally, cloud-hosting gives you the ability to access your data from anywhere so you’re not longer chained to your store when making business decisions.
What is your support model?
As you’re evaluating systems, it’s necessary to ask about your access to support. Is ongoing support an added cost or is it included with your basic contract? You want to go with a provider who not only gives you access to unlimited support, but also includes education as part of their support model. Whether education comes in the form of webinars or training guides, it’s nice to know you’ll be able to continue education and training on your own time.
Thinking about switching your POS? Download our free guide to learn more about choosing the right POS for your business.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row] Although online shopping is becoming increasingly popular, customers are continuing to shop at brick and mortar stores at a steady rate. Yes, online shopping has its benefits: it’s easy, it’s convenient, and sometimes it’s less expensive. But you lose the face-to-face customer experience that you can only find when shopping in the store. Often, it is the positive interactions with salespeople that keep customers coming back to your store for more purchases. These happy customers are also likely to talk about and recommend your store to their friends.
Are you looking for more ways to enhance your customers experience in your store? Read on.
1. Make a great first impression.
It is always a nice feeling when someone acknowledges your presence. A simple “hello” or “welcome” usually does the trick.
2. Get to know your customers.
Ask them questions: Can I help you find something? If the answer is no, then skip to #3. If the response is yes, get answers: Is it for you, or someone else? Is it for a specific occasion? Make sure you can help them find what they are looking for.
3. Understand some people just want to look around.
Be okay with that, but let them know you’re there to help.
4. Offer to help.
It can be difficult to know how something is supposed to be worn or used. Make sure you are assisting your customers if they are having difficulties with trying something.
5. Provide a consultation or a recommendation.
People don’t always know what shoe would be the best for their lifestyle, or if they are wearing the right size. Customers appreciate receiving honest advice from a salesperson before making a purchase decision.
6. Implement frequent buyer plans.
This keeps customers coming back into your store and incentivizes them to continue making purchases.
7. Have a referral program.
This is the ultimate gift that keeps on giving! Person A tells friend B to go to store C. A gets a reward, B gets a discount, and C gets a new customer!
8. Give out free samples.
Because who doesn’t love free stuff?
One of the easiest things to remember is the Golden Rule: treat others as you would like to be treated. Or, think of great experiences you’ve had in another store and reflect those in your own store. If your store is on point with its customer experience, then you’ll likely be better off than your competitors.
Looking for more advice? Check out our guide:3 Simple Concepts to Enhance In-Store Experience.
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
Cookie
Duration
Description
_abck
1 year
This cookie is used to detect and defend when a client attempt to replay a cookie.This cookie manages the interaction with online bots and takes the appropriate actions.
ak_bmsc
2 hours
This cookie is used by Akamai to optimize site security by distinguishing between humans and bots
AWSALBCORS
7 days
This cookie is managed by Amazon Web Services and is used for load balancing.
bm_sz
4 hours
This cookie is set by the provider Akamai Bot Manager. This cookie is used to manage the interaction with the online bots. It also helps in fraud preventions
cookielawinfo-checkbox-advertisement
1 year
Set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin, this cookie is used to record the user consent for the cookies in the "Advertisement" category .
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional
11 months
The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
PHPSESSID
session
This cookie is native to PHP applications. The cookie is used to store and identify a users' unique session ID for the purpose of managing user session on the website. The cookie is a session cookies and is deleted when all the browser windows are closed.
viewed_cookie_policy
11 months
The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Cookie
Duration
Description
__cf_bm
30 minutes
This cookie, set by Cloudflare, is used to support Cloudflare Bot Management.
_mcid
1 year
This is a Mailchimp functionality cookie used to evaluate the UI/UX interaction with its platform
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Cookie
Duration
Description
AWSALB
7 days
AWSALB is an application load balancer cookie set by Amazon Web Services to map the session to the target.
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Cookie
Duration
Description
_hjAbsoluteSessionInProgress
30 minutes
Hotjar sets this cookie to detect the first pageview session of a user. This is a True/False flag set by the cookie.
_hjFirstSeen
30 minutes
Hotjar sets this cookie to identify a new user’s first session. It stores a true/false value, indicating whether it was the first time Hotjar saw this user.
_hjIncludedInPageviewSample
2 minutes
Hotjar sets this cookie to know whether a user is included in the data sampling defined by the site's pageview limit.
_hjIncludedInSessionSample
2 minutes
Hotjar sets this cookie to know whether a user is included in the data sampling defined by the site's daily session limit.
_hjTLDTest
session
To determine the most generic cookie path that has to be used instead of the page hostname, Hotjar sets the _hjTLDTest cookie to store different URL substring alternatives until it fails.
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Cookie
Duration
Description
_fbp
3 months
This cookie is set by Facebook to display advertisements when either on Facebook or on a digital platform powered by Facebook advertising, after visiting the website.