Retail has proven to be big business, topping over $3.2 trillion dollars in sales in 2014 alone. There are over 3.6 million businesses competing for a chunk of that – and the large firms have huge marketing budgets to bring in the shoppers. What can a small business do to stand out?

Here is a list of tools that can make a retailer of any size function like the big boys:

Productivity

AirREGI is a completely free POS cash application that runs on Android tablets. It can be utilized in any type of business that has “seat” based billing, like restaurants, spas and salons, and works both online and offline. It supports 157 different currencies, taxes, time zones and supports foreign languages. And, unlike most other apps in this category, it’s backed by a $1B Japanese company, which offers a reasonable expectation of support.

WhenIWork is an easy-to-use mobile scheduling application for retail businesses. It has advanced features like TimeClock and GPS so your employees can check in via their phones, so you’ll be able to confirm that they are at your store on time. They can even request time off or shift changes via text message.

Shiftplanning is another scheduling application that offers detailed reporting, automated reminders and other more advanced features that complex retail businesses may need.

Salesforce has an offering tailored specifically to the needs of Retail businesses. Their Mobile solution helps retailers transform how they sell, service and market to customers. Retail employees can build 1:1 relationships with shoppers anytime, anywhere and on any device to make every customer feel like a VIP.

Sortly can give any small business owner a sophisticated inventory and tracking system that is easy to use. Know exactly what you have in stock and quickly locate it in inventory without any complicated setup or expensive setup fees.

Sentiment

Perch lets local businesses keep track of customers and competitors based on their reviews, social posts and promotions online. It’s a great way for a retail store to watch the social pulse of related businesses nearby.

LocalVox is an online marketing tool that puts local businesses everywhere online that helps your raise your SEO organically. It saves you time and allows you to break into a new market quickly and affordably.

Shopular is a weekly circular and deals app that is used by pretty much everyone that shops, or should be. If you have a store and you’re not using it, then stop reading this right now and sign up for it. We’ll be here when you get back. (If you are a shopper and you don’t use it, go download it now. You’ll thank us.)

Fashion

Polyvore is where trends are born. If it’s on WhereToGet, it probably originated here. If you’re selling interesting apparel or home goods, you should be on Polyvore.

Worth a mention are MomCo and SCOUT – both of these apps target a specific niche (Moms and Veteran, respectively) and allow you to advertise your business to the users of their apps – if they are currently active in your area. No matter your region, finding the right niche app to partner with can be key for your small business.

If you have the ability (and need), developing your own shopper experience app can pay off. Using platforms like StoreMode from Point Inside you can create something unique – like this app created by Taubman that allows you to navigate around while inside a shopping mall.

And lastly, while not a true “app”, every retailer should have at least a mobile optimized website, a Google My Business page and a Facebook Page, clearly stating your location, phone number and hours of operation.

If your customers can’t find you, all the apps in the world won’t help you.

Have we missed any of your favorite retail apps? Let us know in the comments.