As a full-service retail systems provider, STJ Retail prides itself on a unique ability to define and even anticipate the needs of retail clients. We have developed a strong network of industry relationships with both retailers and suppliers and our consultants are experts in their fields. With an in-depth understanding of the issues facing retailers today and in planning for the future, STJ Retail has earned a reputation for delivering practical solutions and services that provide immediate benefits. Our customers depend on it.

Listed below are links to a selection of retail consulting documents from RIT Experts. These documents are compatible with Adobe Acrobat Reader Version 4.0 and can easily be saved on your harddisk by right-mouse-clicking on the link and selecting save target as.

Retail Consulting Publications:

	Retail Information Technology Bulletin - Q1 2009 Timed with the NRF Big Show in January, the first quarter typically offers many interesting innovations, agreements and announcements. But this is not your typical year, with most retail categories reporting declining sales, except, notably, food and beverage stores, pharmacies and personal care, and general merchandise. Retail technology followed suit, with a quiet start to the year. There were several agreements, but primarily only on point systems. And announcements were few, with one major casualty, Retail Pro (who has since found a saviour). We presume there will be several more mergers and acquisitions announced as the year progresses.   More
	Retail Information Technology Bulletin - Q4 2008 Despite the continued economic downturn, high profile bankruptcies, and sharp drops in consumer confidence and sales, retailers continued to invest in technology in Q4 2008. Several agreements were announced as retailers progressed with their plans to reduce expenses and build revenues and loyalty with help from technology. Innovation in Q4 was limited, conceivably with vendors waiting to launch new products at the National Retail Federation’s Big Show in January. There were, however, several announcements regarding the emerging use of social networks and cell phones to connect with customers, as well as activity in store and payment systems. And RFID at the item level gained momentum and has started to prove its value.   More
	Bridging The Gap: Connecting the Dots Along the Demand-Driven Retail Continuum For many years, retailers have struggled to get their people and processes connected across the demand driven retail continuum, from planning and merchandising through store operations to the point of sale. Each functional department has essentially operated on its own, with separate applications and information.   More
	Optimizing Store Execution Using Visual Merchandising Tools and Techniques Retailers of all sizes recognize that merchandise execution at store level is critical, especially those whose sales are driven by frequent promotions. However, a surprising number of retailers do not have a clear idea as to their store floor-plans, placement of fixtures, placement of stock in those fixtures, and the degree of compliance setting up POP materials in support of promotions and deals.   More
	Retail (Financial) Performance Improvement Are you constantly striving to find ways to improve your company’s financial performance? If so, you are not alone. In these competitive times, performance improvement is essential not only for winning, but for survival. There are many ways to improve performance. New strategies, business models, and better execution can all play a role. These can be enabled by the right technology and business process to significantly increase revenues and reduce costs. In fact, technology has proven that lost sales can be captured, store labor costs can be reduced, and inventories can turn much faster.   More
	Rethinking Innovation: The New Retail Business Models It is a question of survival. Competition is everywhere. Traditional retailers continue to up the ante, retailers in seemingly unrelated sectors creep into your categories, global entrants appear from abroad, and large retailers continue to consolidate to achieve economies of scale. How can retailers compete? The answer often lies in differentiation. There are many ways to accomplish this. Innovative strategies, products and services have traditionally provided the means. But recently, wildly innovative new business models have begun to emerge, with great success. Because they are innovative, they are seldom well proven, and retailers find themselves in uncharted territory. The risks are plentiful, but the rewards can be significant.   More
	Retail Information Technology Bulletin - Q3 2008 Despite the economic downturn, with soaring fuel prices and declining retail sales in many sectors, Q3 2008 was fairly active for retail technology. There were announcements of booming revenues and profits at companies like SAP, HP, Oracle, and IBM. It seems that retail CEOs are positioning themselves through technology to weather the impending downturn. Aside from announcements of agreements and implementations, most of the activity this quarter centered on store and payment solutions, with a number of innovative new technologies introduced to enhance the customer experience. And surprisingly, RFID seems to have finally found its legs, with a new mandate at Sam’s Club and several innovative related products.   More

• Retail Payments
• IBM 4690
• Consulting
• White Papers
• 
• RIT Experts
• Wardell
•