Experience LA Without Even Leaving the Airport

We are excited for our clients that are poised to take part in the much anticipated Tom Bradley International Terminal opening Spring of 2013 in LAX. While high-end airport shopping is not a new concept, Westfield has teamed up with Mayor Villaraigosa to bring several dozen Los Angeles favorites to this new terminal. Angelinos have been waiting for the day LAX would get a face-lift and our dreams are at least partially coming true.

The participating dining and retail locations were carefully curated and appear to bring together some of the best in LA, everything from Kitson to Umami and LAMill will give a passer through or arriving tourist an immediate taste (pun intended) of the LA scene.

La Mer, Smashbox, Fred Segal, Kitson, Umami and LAMill all within a 25,000-square-foot space? When can I book my next international flight out of LAX?!

For more information and concept images, click here.

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The Barcode: Auto-ID's Greatest Achievement

by Nate Schubert

The first barcode was first invented by two graduate students at Drexel University, N. Joseph Woodland and Bernard Silver, in the late 1940's to provide an effective means of making the retail checkout process more efficient. Since then, many barcode types have been introduced to various markets in order to meet a range of needs in many different applications including inventory control, logistics, document control, asset tracking and more. Without that first barcode, these advancements may never have been made.

The first barcode types to be introduced into industries throughout the world were known as linear barcodes. Including popular symbologies like Code 128, Code 39, UPC and Intelligent Mail, these rectangular boxes consist of narrow and wide bars that, when decoded by a hand-held barcode scanner or barcode reading software program, will output the data originally encoded within. Linear barcodes have long been an excellent choice for users who need to encode approximately 50 characters or less. Encoding more than 50 characters can result in very long linear barcodes that are difficult for many scanning devices to read.

Code 49 was the first two-dimensional barcode put into use. It was created in 1998 by Intermec, a popular manufacturer of barcode scanning devices. Since then, many other 2D barcode types have been introduced into the market. As with common types such as Data Matrix or QR Code, 2D barcodes store encoded data both vertically and horizontally which allows much more data to be encoded. In fact, some 2D barcodes boast character-encoding limits approaching 7,000 although most 2D barcode scanners are capable of reading approximately 800 characters without difficulty. 2D barcodes have opened up the automatic identification field in such a way that users can encode much more information than previously available with linear barcodes. With 2D barcodes, users can encoder letters, numbers, special characters and even complex functions that can space encoded data out into separate field.

In this dynamic technological landscape, it is hard to say what the future holds for barcode technology. That said, there is no question that this exceptional invention will continue to impact our lives in ways that we may never fully realize.

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Routes to Finding Funds for a New Retail Store [Guest Article]

Getting a business off the ground isn’t easy. Whether you want to own a boutique or are looking to run a brand new designer retail store, finding the right funding is a necessity. Starting a new business is expensive and in order to get your retail store up and running, you’ll need enough in the bank to start and stay in business.  While this is a process that requires many considerations, here are 3 of the routes you can take to find capital for your new retail store.


Credit Cards
While it is important for small business to accept credit cards, having a credit card for your business is one way to fund necessary expenses. Using a credit card can be risky if you don’t anticipate being able to pay off your balances in the near future, e.g. 90 days. A business credit card is how some small businesses have been able to fund operations and choosing the right card is important. Make sure you look for a business credit card with permanent rates that are low and an introductory rate that is even less. To keep the credit card debt you will acquire until you are able to pay it all off, be frugal and buy only what you need.


Bank Loans
There are a few different places new businesses can look for a business loan. Acquiring a loan can be a bit of a challenge, however, if your credit score is low. You’ll also need a well-put-together business plan to present to financial lenders that incorporates financial predictions to demonstrate you’ll be able to make your loan repayments. The SBA(Small Business Administration) backs loans – from the 7(a) Loan to Microloan programs – that are open to any small business, but there are a number of qualifications. In recent times, small banks are more likely to take chances on small businesses such as a new retail store.

Personal Investment
Some startups and new businesses are able to fund a new business on their own, from life savings or other means. If you can’t, turning to friends and family is an option. When you turn to your loved ones for financial backing, you’re risking your future success and their financial future. Make sure you have a business plan in place with financial projections and are able to have a contract in place. Letting those who support your new retail store ventures should be made aware of when they will receive their money again, though it could be lost, and have a clear understanding of what their financial contribution’s status is as a loan or if you’ll offer equity.
Taking these steps can help you avoid miscommunications down the road.

One of the most important things when finding funds for your retail store is making sure you estimate correctly so you don’t end up with less capital than you need or too much that results in greater debt. While it is often difficult for new business owners to get a business loan, plan out your business’s estimated startup costs, financial projections and crunch some number. Make sure you are ready to present your business plan to lenders and investors, no matter whether they are a family member or major banking institution.

 

Author Bio: Erica Bell is a small business writer who focuses on topics such as comparing small business loans and small business credit card offers. She is a web content writer for Business.com. Find them on Facebook!

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3 Tips for Implementing Loyalty Programs This Holiday Season [Guest Blog]

According to Inc., 65% of marketers have implemented a loyalty program, and for good reason. Current customers spend, on average, 67% more than customers who are buying from your business for the first time. And acquiring those new customers costs 5 to 10 times more than selling to a current customer.

It’s quite clear just how valuable your loyal returning customers are to your business now, and in the future. While direct mailing tactics or a seasonal email campaign can keep your current customers interested, a loyalty program is the most strategic way to keep them interested and spending long after the holidays are gone.

Determine Your Customers’ Needs

The first step in creating a loyalty program is determining what your customers need. These needs may vary depending on the time of year; for example, the holiday rush is a lot more stressful and time-consuming than it is to shop for March birthdays. Figure out what your customers need from your company to get them through the holidays in one piece.

·         Be sure you’ve researched and developed an in-depth customer profile for your company. Are your customers young adults, middle-aged moms, or retirees? Each group will have different needs from a rewards program, so know which one you’re working with.

·         Know how your customers use your product or service, and then determine how you can add value to what your customer is buying. Holiday retail rewards could include free gift wrapping, free shipping, or extended terms on product returns.

·         In “The Loyalty Effect,” Fred Reichheld claims that a 5% increase in customer retention can result in a 25 to 100% increase in profitability.

Offer Actual Value

In order to turn new customers into returning customers through a loyalty program, you need to offer them something with actual value. A points system that creates unattainable goals or a promotional game they have no chance of winning will frustrate your customers and can cause them to drop out of your program, which could then potentially drive them away.

·         If you offer a points-based program, keep it simple: allow customers to earn a free item for every $50 spent, or give them $10 off for every $100 spent. For a holiday promotion to bring in more sales, consider doubling your rewards until the end of the holidays.

·         If your products tend to be purchased less frequently, or your services aren’t conducive to a points-based system, you can implement a tiered system instead that increases rewards over time or with more purchases. Offer each tier special holiday rewards, move lower-tier customers up a level for the holidays, or give new program participants a special gift for joining during the season.

·         No matter what kind of loyalty program structure you choose, it needs to provide customers with attainable, valuable rewards that they can redeem quickly and frequently.

Partner Up

There is a limit to how many rewards and discounts you can offer your customers on your own. Collaborating with another company can enable you to offer additional rewards beyond the scope of your own business and capitalize on the holiday shopping season.

·         Coalition programs are strategic partnerships formed to increase customer retention and company both for all partners involved. The coalition can last for the length of the holiday season, or become a permanent partnership.

·         If you understand your customer’s needs, you can find other companies that serve your customer and would be valuable partners in a coalition program.

Customer loyalty programs increase customer happiness and retention by offering them rewards and extra services they can use during the holidays. Whether you offer a coalition program, a points system, or a tiered rewards structure, make sure that it adds value to your customer relationships during the holidays and all year long.

Megan Webb-Morgan is a web content writer for ResourceNation. She writes about small business, focusing on topics such as business sales. Follow Resource Nation on Facebook and Twitter, too!

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Teamwork Retail Feature in POS News Blog

 

See full article HERE

For more information on Teamwork Retail

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TSC Sponsors Event to form Largest Human QR Code

On 12/2, at the Taipei City Hall, 1369 individuals came together to form the largest human QR code. This unique event was established by the Sayling Wen Cultural & Educational Foundation and iSee Taiwan Foundation, to help promote awareness of Taiwan and its tourism. Participants held up different color umbrellas to create the QR code, which can be seen clearly from an aerial view.

TSC, a label printer manufacturer who is deeply rooted in barcoding applications, sponsored the event by providing wristbands for all 1369 participants. TSC used its TDP-225W desktop printer to print out each participant’s name, team, and position on their individualized wristband, so that each person clearly knew where to stand to perfectly form the QR code. The wristbands were prepared both beforehand and onsite, allowing the event to proceed smoothly and rapidly in the rainy weather. TSC has been at the forefront of wristband identification applications for entertainment and healthcare industries, and was happy to help sponsor the event.  

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Retail Metrics Webinar Series are Now Available – Free Download

Retail Metrics, our wildly successful 6 part webinar series are now available to download for free. You will have consistent access to these educational webinars designed for the everyday retailer, both large and single-store.

View this series of 6 educational webinars for free CLICK HERE.

Retail Metrics is presented by One Step Retail Solutions and Dan Jablons from Retail Smart Guys and covers many key topics, including: 

• Not enough cash to pay your bills?
• Too much inventory?
• Not enough of the right inventory? 
• Excessive markdowns ruining your bottom line?
• Not sure if you’re doing the right thing with your business?

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Font Face Off: Universal or Premiere Fonts?

by Nate Schubert

IDAutomation provides a wide range of linear and 2D barcode fonts which may be used in conjunction with our free font encoder tools in order to generate barcodes in a variety of environments and applications. Fonts can be very flexible solutions in terms of barcode generation, as long as the data can be properly formatted to a special string that will display an accurate and readable barcode when the particular font is applied to it. There are many different barcode types out there including linear fonts for Code 128, Code 39, Intelligent Mail, UPC and others, as well as more powerful 2D fonts for Data Matrix, PDF417, Aztec, QR Code, MaxiCode and more.

Businesses often have a need to generate more than one barcode type, which is why IDAutomation offers a few different bundled font packages. These packages are more affordable than 2 individual font packages, for those who need multi-barcode generation support. Purchasing one of these bundled font packages may be a perfect solution for your environment and desired use, but it pays to know the benefits and drawbacks before making a final decision. Please find a short summary below about each of the bundled font packages we offer including pro's and cons so that you can make the best decision possible.

Premiere Font Package

• Overview: The Premiere Fonts Package contains over 15 linear barcode and security fonts for integration into projects for document control, point of sale, logistics, check writing, mailing and more.
• Fonts Included: MICR E13B, MICR CMC-7, OCR-A, OCR-B, Security Fonts, Code 128, Code 39, Code 93, Interleaved 2 of 5, Code 2 of 5 Non-Interleaved, Codabar, Code 11, MSI Plessey, Planet, Postnet, Intelligent Mail,  RM4SCC, UPC and EAN.
• Also Includes: Fonts available in True Type, Open Type, PCL and PostScript formats as well as human readable and non-human readable in different sizes to meet various height-width requirements.
• Package Information
  Download a Demo
  Purchase Today

The Premiere Font Package contains every linear barcode and security font that IDAutomation provides separately. It is a bundled package, and so this is a more affordable option than purchasing, for example, The Code 128 Fonts and then the Postal Barcode Fonts packages. These fonts may be used in conjunction with our free font encoder tools to generate barcodes in many different operating systems and environments including Excel, Word, ActiveX, Reporting Services, Crystal Reports, Oracle Reports, FileMaker, .NET, Visual Basic and more.

For users who only require the True Type format of this bundled fonts package, IDAutomation offers the TrueType Font Package for even more affordability.

Universal Font Package

• Overview: The Universal Font Advantage Package contains a single font that is capable of generating many different symbologies to support AIM USS Code 128, GS1-128, EAN-128, Code 39, Interleaved 2 of 5, MSI, Codabar, USPS Intelligent Mail, OneCode, Postnet and Planet barcodes.
• Also Includes: Fonts available in True Type, Open Type, PCL and PostScript formats as well as human readable and non-human readable in 7 different sizes to meet various height-width requirements.
• Supports multiple languages with double-byte character sets such as Japanese, Chinese and Korean.
• Package Information
  Download a Demo
  Purchase Today

The Universal Font Package is an excellent option for companies that want to generate many different barcodes with fonts, but don't want to keep track of all of the separate packages that are included in the Premiere bundled fonts package. Different barcodes may be generated depending on the way the data in the barcode is actually encoded. This adds an element of flexibility that many companies enjoy through use in different operating systems and environments.

No matter your decision, IDAutomation is available to answer any and all questions that users may have regarding either of these special barcode font packages. We offer full pre-sales technical support and a 30-day complimentary Priority Support & Upgrade Subscription with an option to extend that support to 12 months. Test each of the above packages and let us know which benefits or drawbacks get your attention.

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One Step Retail Featured on APG Cash Drawer Blog!

 

To view full article, visit the APG Cash Drawer Blog

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Missing Facebook Posts in Your Feed

Spread the word, if you want to be able to see updates from your favorite brands, companies AND friends you need to make sure you have subscribed to them. Facebook is increasingly focusing on paid ads and algorithms to make it so that posts will show up in your feeds.

You will also note a friends or company starting to pop up in your feed IF you have visited their page recently or interacted with them. To keep these posts showing up, be sure to subscribe.

How to subscribe: When on a fan page or friends page, click the LIKE BUTTON (top right just under the cover photo) as usual and then a drop down will show up.. click "Get Notifications". You will need to click the "friends button" and "Get Notifications". It looks like this setting applies for when you are in a personal accounts and not a company pages.

Visit our Facebook page and be sure to subsribe!

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