Shopping lists are checked off, class schedules are set and many U.S. students are back in school. For parents, this moment may be welcomed with a deep sigh of relief. And for retailers, it’s time to analyze the success of back-to-school sales strategies and tactics.

Revenue in airports increasingly comes from non-aviation sources. In fact, up to 50% of total revenue can come from other activities, including airport retail. It is expected that this trend is only set to grow, with predicted worldwide growth of over 40% between 2010 and 2015.

Whether pens, pencils, paper, shoes, clothes or even just a stylish new bag, a new school year means it’s time to go shopping.

Irisys’ checkout management and people counting solutions change the way consumers shop, increasing profits and customer loyalty for retailers. And with more than 82 percent of retail executives looking to make customer service a priority in 2012 – according to a survey by the National Retail Federation – Irisys thermal-powered checkout technology may be key in improving your customers’ shopping experience.

Any retailer knows that customer service is key in building loyalty and increasing sales. In a highly competitive market, where customers have an option to shop elsewhere, low levels of retail customer service are not tolerated. This article will outline what constitutes a bad customer service experience, as verified by retail industry research.

For a building manager, knowing your building is efficient and cost-effective is key to attractive new tenants and retaining current occupants. To achieve this, building managers rely on intelligent data to make informed decisions. You need a full understanding of building occupancy to tailor decisions around specific usage. Some building managers are exploring the potential of thermal imaging technology to count people and support drives towards greater efficiency. So how does this technology create a smarter, more efficient, building?

For any retailer, precise and dependable data is essential for accurate retail analysis. Retailers need their people counting data to be accurate, so that they have a clear picture of conversion and opportunity.   

In-store or online shopping? The retail industry continues to be pulled back and forth. Some have adapted by providing both options to their customers, while others have implemented new ways to profoundly enhance the traditional shopping experience.

Retailers expect to have the most accurate and reliable people counting data as part of their retail analytics. They need this information to measure footfall, calculate their conversion, and make essential decisions for operational planning, such as queue management.  

Now that we are a few weeks removed from the 2012 NRF Convention and Expo, it’s a good time to look back and reflect on some of the conversations we had at the show.