One Step Retail Solutions sees specialty retailers continue to implement integrated Retail Pro gift card programs at record rates for the coming holiday season.

Los Angeles, CA – According to a National Retail Federation survey, gift cards have become the number one selling item at retail stores. As the holiday season hits, One Step Retail Solutions (www.onestepretail.com) has been providing integrated gift card programs for several years. With the adaptation of new technology for online management through retail POS systems however, rates of acceptance of integrated gift card program has skyrocketed.

Kevin McAdam is the Vice President of Sales at One Step Retail Solutions, a company servicing the technology needs of independent retailers for over 20 years. According to Kevin, “Gift cards have really been widely accepted as a gift for all seasons that is nicely received by all.” “Now with the technology to integrate these programs with point of sale systems in an inexpensive fashion; independent retailers are at a competitive disadvantage if they don’t have gift card programs.”

The National Retail Federation reported that this year’s holiday gift card sales will reach record-high sales to $35 billion, continuing year over year at over 50% sales growth since gift card programs first rolled out in 2004 and 2005.

Retail chains also have made a big effort to upgrade to more sophisticated software such as Retail Pro at the point of sale to process gift cards. Retail Pro is a highly sophisticated point of sale software that includes the capability to integrate gift card programs.

Archstone Consulting survey shines some light on the gift card phenomenon for independent retailers. They state that around 56 percent of gift cards are used in the first 30 days of being bought and that more then 50 percent of consumers spend more then the value of the gift card when shopping. As a result this brings in more revenue and shoppers for the normally dry month of January.
About One Step Retail Solutions
One Step Retail Solutions (a.k.a. One Step Data) is one of the nation’s leading resellers of point of sale / inventory control systems for retailers. The company is a founding member of the Retail Technology Resources Group (RTRG) and has been servicing the technology needs of the small to mid-size retailer since 1985. It is headquartered in Phoenix, AZ. with offices in Los Angeles and New York. Website: http://www.onestepretail.com.