http://www.pmcretail.com Retail news and views from Paul Mason Consulting, The Retail Systems Experts http://www.pmcretail.com/images/pmc-icon.gif http://www.pmcretail.com/ http://www.pmcretail.com/articles-comments/article44.html?src=rss http://www.pmcretail.com/articles-comments/article44.html The Mothercare group of companies is comprised principally of two retail brands - Mothercare and Early Learning Centre, which operate through three distinct channels to market: UK stores, Direct (in-home, in-store internet-based businesses and catalogue mail order) and International. http://www.pmcretail.com/articles-comments/article45.html?src=rss http://www.pmcretail.com/articles-comments/article45.html PMC uses leading edge eye tracking technology to help flooring retailer improve web site usability and understand how shoppers navigate, use and react to web sites. Key to this was PMC's use of eye-tracking software to identify how people used and reacted to the sites. http://www.pmcretail.com/articles-comments/article43.html?src=rss http://www.pmcretail.com/articles-comments/article43.html However you discuss the rise and rise of online retailing one principle remains constant - the importance of integration. That is ensuring your online, in-store, catalogue and other channels work together. And that means more than rubbing along together with the odd glitch, it means total integration. http://www.pmcretail.com/articles-comments/article01.html?src=rss http://www.pmcretail.com/articles-comments/article01.html "If the question is: 'What should we do now?' The answer is: 'Keep coming back to the business strategy' – re-confirm your plans, re-assess your position and go forward. Your strategy must include several options and deciding on the priority of those is part of your business planning. What’s sure is that for some retailers their plans will work and for others they will need to re-assess and re-schedule more often. Some will win and some will lose – but one thing is certain – those that do nothing will lose." Huw Thomas, managing director, PMC. http://www.pmcretail.com/articles-comments/article2.html?src=rss http://www.pmcretail.com/articles-comments/article2.html Huw Thomas, MD of retail systems experts PMC argues that a gap remains between those retailers that make the most out of multichannel retailing and those that could do better. http://www.pmcretail.com/articles-comments/article3.html?src=rss http://www.pmcretail.com/articles-comments/article3.html Shoppers no longer tolerate a poor online experience. Today, every online experience must be positive - in fact it should be a pleasure for the shopper. Unfortunately, too often web sites remain hard to navigate and riddled with bugs, far from ‘user-friendly’ many are ‘user-hostile’. The result is the same, users leave and head for more readily accessible competitor sites. http://www.pmcretail.com/articles-comments/article4.html?src=rss http://www.pmcretail.com/articles-comments/article4.html "During the last few months many retailers have adopted the ‘back-to-business’ mantra. This does not mean that everything in the garden is rosy. Far from it. Doubtless this will be a slow recovery that’s why the phrase ‘cautious optimism’ is most appropriate." Huw Thomas, COO, PMC. http://www.pmcretail.com/articles-comments/article10.html?src=rsss http://www.pmcretail.com/articles-comments/article10.html "In the current economic situation it's crucial to get the best possible value from your suppliers. That's not always easy. To be effective it involves benchmarking your costs against other retailers, and understanding the way suppliers think." Paul Mason, CEO, PMC