MONTREAL, QC--(Marketwired - Jul 15, 2015) - The $11 billion children's and infants' clothing segment is expected to experience steady growth over the next five years, and retailers in the space are retooling now to take advantage of this emerging opportunity. Case in point: Youngland Kiddie Shops has implemented retail technology solutions from Aptos, Inc., (formerly Epicor Retail) -- via a Cloud delivery model -- to support its retail operations.
With 17 stores under the Kid City banner, Youngland Kiddie Shops is a family owned discount retailer of children's apparel started in the Bronx in the late '50s. Kid City locations are found in regional urban malls, with the average store size spanning an impressive 10,000 square feet.
After a thorough evaluation and selection process, Youngland selected Aptos retail solutions -- including Store and Mobile Store (Point of Sale), CRM, Merchandising, WebIM (Inventory Management), and Sales Audit -- in a Cloud delivery model. Youngland selected Aptos™ due to its easy-to-use customer analysis, mobility and superior sales audit functionality. By leveraging mobility, the Cloud and Aptos' market leading solutions, Youngland is building the platform for future growth by engaging customers differently.
"We saw tremendous value in Aptos' expertise and its proven Cloud offerings," said Jack Shamosh, president, Youngland. "We're a small retailer looking to grow, and Aptos offers solutions I can use today and those I can 'turn on' tomorrow when I'm ready. The system is broad so my business can easily grow with the Aptos Cloud; this was a very important consideration. We also see the solid stability of the core system plus enhanced inventory management as being critical to driving business and profits.
"Each of our stores had its own databases running on antiquated systems, so we knew there was a lot of room for improvement, and we recognized the opportunity to learn more about our customers and move our business forward by improving our technology," said Shamosh.
Aptos is committed to helping retailers engage customers differently, and at Youngland, one of the most visible changes consumers will experience is an improved shopping convenience, as associates are now able to create and complete transactions from the sales floor, dressing room, or even the sidewalk. Fully mobile-enabled for easy deployment and use on Apple® iPad®, iPod® and Windows® mobile devices, Aptos Mobile Store brings information directly to sales associates' fingertips to better serve customers from anywhere on the floor. The solution also provides Youngland store personnel greater efficiency in day-to-day inventory management functions such as receiving, shipping, and physical inventory processing.
Further, to ensure relevant and informed engagement via more personalized service, Youngland is leveraging Aptos CRM to collect and track customer data and better understand customers' buying habits. This is important, says Shamosh, as it's not uncommon for a Kid City customer to span 10 to 15 years. To streamline the management of the 15,000+ SKUs carried by the retailer, Aptos Merchandising is giving Youngland advanced tools for ordering, pricing, distribution, and merchandise management as well as synchronizing and integrating purchasing, pricing, receiving, allocation, replenishment, and inventory management.
"The Cloud delivery model is ideal for retailers such as Youngland who want to focus on growth, as opposed to administering technology," said Noel Goggin, chief executive officer for Aptos. "With Aptos, Youngland now has the ability to nurture the business, leverage new operational efficiencies and make meaningful connections with Kid City shoppers, while harnessing the speed-to-market benefits of the Cloud."
Aptos: Engaging Customers Differently
In an era of virtually limitless choice, sustained competitive advantage only comes to retailers who engage customers differently -- by truly understanding who they are, what they want and why they buy. At Aptos, we too, believe that engaging customers differently is critical to our success. We are committed to a deep understanding of each of our clients, to fulfilling their needs with the retail industry's most comprehensive omni-channel solutions, and to fostering long-term relationships built on tangible value and trust. More than 500 retail brands rely upon our Singular Commerce platform to deliver every shopper a personalized, empowered and seamless experience... no matter when, where or how they shop. Learn more: www.aptos.com.
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