Internet sales in dramatic rise

Both Interactive Media in Retail Group and Capgemini SA have reported that Internet sales increased a dramatic 25% during December 2010, when compared to the same month for 2009, states Carrentals.co.uk.

The strongest online sales items tended to be accessories, clothes, footwear and alcohol. The head of retail consulting and technology at Capgemini, Chris Webster, explained that the current trend of consumerism is swaying to the comfort and convenience of computers. This is also expected to continue increasing as the economy bites harder and consumers are forced to make the most out of what money they have.

As online shopping increases, many outlets with online versions of their street stores are seeing increases, further supporting the reports.

A research by Point of Purchase Advertising Association UK and Ireland, and LG Electronics, shows that a further 25% of shop brands are considering putting these screens into shops this year, says Marketing Week.

This comes at a time when technological advances are making in-store environments more engaging and customer-friendly, and breaking down barriers between the online and offline worlds.

From eye-catching digital displays in stores to contactless payment facilities and touch-screen facilities, retail has become a technology driven arena, making shopping easier and more fun. And shoppers' experience of digital signage is set to move up a gear as more retailers are preparing to install touch screens in their shops, according to research

Fresh from demonstrating the latest versions of the desktop and mobile components of its LightSpeed Point of Sale (POS) system at the National Retail Federation (NRF) and International Consumer Electronics Shows (CES), Xsilva Systems has unveiled its LightSpeed 3.4 and LightSpeed Mobile 1.3, writes PR USA NET.

The latest release features a POS user interface that tightly integrates with LightSpeed Mobile, allowing transactions to be created and paid by credit card from a mobile unit, or instantly dispatched to a Mac sales station for processing alternate payment methods - a first for mobile POS.

"Mobile retail was the major theme at NRF this year, and Xsilva was at the epicenter of this retail revolution with our newest offering, LightSpeed Mobile," says Dax Dasilva, CEO and founder of Xsilva.