At the intersection of merchandising and technology sits an acronym for the ages. “RFID,” or Radio Frequency Identification. It’s the culmination of 20th century panic frenzy among citizens terrified of Big Brother and micro-chipping. It’s an intrusive, anti-individualistic form of cataloging. But in the business world, it’s something different: a life-saver.

RFID’s early commercial applications centered around the supply chain, in a B2B mode. Checking in stock, tracking its movement between warehouses, and processing returned merchandise — these were all improved immeasurably by the chip technology.

Think of RFID as a wireless data capture accomplished through tags known as transponders. Eliminating the need for bulky equipment to “read” this data, the software associated with RFID handles that bulk communication.

But now the RFID picture has expanded, and there are great benefits in store for ecommerce figures. Macy’s discovered those as it evolved from a straight brick-and-mortar biz to an enviable online retailer. RFID tracking was so successful there, it resulted in a 200 percent surge in their fashion sales. Not too shabby.
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Sweetening the pot is a predictable drop in costs associated with RFID chips. Over the last 13 years, its prices have sunk 90 percent. With this incentive, the question becomes obvious: why not automate?

Using inventory management as a business tool can actually save your business.
 
It’s a concept as old as time: you can’t sell what you don’t have. That’s a lesson many ecommerce vendors are learning the hard way.

Overselling your products without tracking your ability to fill orders can quickly sour customers on current and future visits. No one wants to see “out of stock” after they’ve made an initial selection. And no, it doesn’t entice with the knowledge that they’ve chosen a popular item. They will go elsewhere.
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For merchants navigating the ecommerce jungle, challenges are plenty. Conquering inventory issues can help assure a seamless experience for customers while keeping you apprised of what is a big seller and what is a shelf-hanger.

Has sending the kids back to class dampened your summer joy? Cheer up. The school calendar doesn’t jive with the seasonal calendar, and there are still a few weeks left to soak up the sun in a fashionable outdoor setting.

Even early fall offers an impressive number of warm days that beckon to the back yard for some outdoor cooking and entertaining. And here’s where it gets fun: there’s a whole lot of options for outfitting your digs.
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If you thought grill design was a fixed entity, get a load of this amazing find. The Big Green Egg turns barbecuing on its head, so to speak, by refashioning an old classic. Science and culinary experience led its architects to emulate a traditional cooking process and update it with technology that ensures a quality result. 

Fall has arrived. Figuratively, if not literally.
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How do we know? There are a few ways, not the least of which is the rapid onslaught of all things pumpkin spice. Another, a flood of emails encouraging me to buy sweaters and all manner of fall decor. On top of that, Labor Day has come and gone, marking the unofficial end of summer. And now it’s open season on all things Autumn.