Sat.Apr 20, 2024 - Fri.Apr 26, 2024

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What China’s latest retail sales reveal about changing consumer spending

Inside Retail

Reporting by the business media of retail sales and other economic data produced by governments in developing Asia is often too trusting. The official numbers are usually reported unquestioningly, yet they can be deeply flawed for a number of reasons. Occasionally it is worth reminding ourselves that they need to be taken with a pinch of salt, sometimes a handful of it.

Consumer 147
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Why my Retail Finance Team Loves AI

Retail TouchPoints

For me, the great thing about working in finance is getting to make decisions that touch all aspects of the organization. Finance really places you at the center of everything, where decisions you make play a pivotal role in sustaining long-term business success. That is, at least, the theory. The reality is that, for teams that rely heavily on manual workflows, financial management can be not just burdensome but downright soul-sucking.

Finance 264
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Spotify Faces Disruptions After Layoffs

Retail Wire

During Spotify's recent earnings call, CEO Daniel Ek acknowledged that the company's decision to lay off employees last December had a more substantial impact on operations than initially anticipated.

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The Backroom: With more closures ahead, what’s next for Macy’s?

Retail Dive

Under a new CEO, the iconic department store is fielding a $6.6 billion takeover offer, shuttering another 150 stores and fighting to stay relevant.

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Turn Payments Into Personalization: Unlock the Value of Transaction Data

Speaker: Loreal Lynch, Everett Zufelt, and Michaela Weber

Once upon a time, in the vast realm of online commerce, there lived a humble checkout button overlooked by many. Yet, within its humble click lay the power to transform a mere visitor into a loyal customer. 🧐 💡 Getting checkout right can mark the difference between a successful sale and an abandoned cart, yet many businesses fail to make payments a part of their commerce strategy even when it has a direct impact on revenue.

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Top Global Artificial Intelligence Markets

LS Retail

©iStock/Adrian Vidal This report, " Top Global Artificial Intelligence Markets ," presents a brief overview of top Al global hubs outside the United States. Each country includes an Al ecosystem overview, government incentives and policies, education and research institutions, leading events, and industry groups. The initial markets for this report were selected based on global rankings, the highest number of Al companies concentrated there, venture capital, and related research institutions.

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Simon Adds VIP Suite to Kick Off Woodbury Common Expansion

Retail TouchPoints

Mall operator Simon revealed big plans to expand its Woodbury Common Premium Outlet center in Fall 2023, including the addition of 155,000 square feet of retail stores and restaurants, a 200 -key luxury hotel, a second parking facility and upgraded amenities. To cement the center’s image as a luxury destination, the first enhancement will be a VIP Suite featuring multiple private spaces with their own dressing rooms, an upscale lounge area and a private kitchen.

More Trending

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GM Reports Surge in Profit on Gas Car Sales

Retail Wire

Although General Motors has had trouble selling its electric cars, a recent report indicates that the increase in sales of gas-powered vehicles helped the company generate a profit.

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2024 VM and Display Show: A Fusion of Creativity, Sustainability, and Retail Innovation

Retail Focus

The 2024 Visual Merchandising and Display Show, hosted on April 16-17 at the Business Design Centre in London, provided a comprehensive look at the future of engaging retail spaces through innovative design and display. The exhibition showcased an incredible range of products and technologies designed to redefine the potential of physical retail spaces.

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Ikea Creates Training Ecosystem to Support AI Literacy for 3,500 Employees

Retail TouchPoints

Ingka Group , parent company of Ikea Retail , has set ambitious targets for boosting the AI literacy of its organization, including AI training for approximately 3,000 employees and 500 executives. The initiative will include a variety of courses, tailored to the needs of employees at various levels and in different phases of their AI journeys, with the overall goal of embedding a deep understanding of AI within the organization and ensuring that Ikea values are reflected in the ways the technol

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Coffee chain Single O expanding Japanese footprint after early success

Inside Retail

Sydney-based coffee roaster Single O will open Ryogoku Roastworks, its second cafe in Japan on Friday, replacing the brand’s existing roastery. In a further sign of ongoing expansion in Japan, Single O will launch its Shibuya coffee bar in July. The new roastery and cafe will serve Single O’s signature coffee Reservoir and will feature self-serve batch brew taps, and a breakfast and lunch menu.

Wholesale 277
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Get MACH Ready: Preparing Your Business for Digital Transformation

Adopting MACH technology means more than implementing new platforms. This type of digital change affects your organization at every level and requires a thoughtful approach to navigate challenges that crop up. The Get MACH Ready report, co-authored by MACH Alliance member Scott Canney in collaboration with Orium, commercetools, and Contentstack, will provide you with strategies to prepare your organization for a digital transformation.

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Delta Air Lines Increases Pay as Unionization Attempts Continue

Retail Wire

Delta Air Lines is upping the pay for its nonunion workers, including flight attendants and ground staff, as it faces another unionization attempt.

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KIKO Milano Opens its Doors at Braehead

Retail Focus

Braehead, one of the UK’s most popular retail and leisure destinations, owned by property company SGS and asset managed by Global Mutual in conjunction with Savills as property managers, is pleased to welcome beauty brand, KIKO Milano, to the centre as the store opens its doors to customers. KIKO Milano, the Italian cosmetics brand, has opened a c.1,000 sq ft store stocking its range of beauty products including makeup, face and body treatments.

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JLL Rolls Out Virtual ‘Shopping Bestie’ in 13 Centers

Retail TouchPoints

JLL Retail Property Management has introduced a new virtual shopper agent named Cindy , designed to make the online experience more relevant and engaging at 13 of its shopping centers across the U.S. In addition to spotlighting the center’s sales and deals, Cindy gives consumers details on the latest fashion trends, acting as their exclusive “shopping bestie.

Shopping 276
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Pool retail chains in trans-Tasman merger

Inside Retail

Pool and spa franchise network Swimart has merged with its New Zealand peer Paramount Pools to expand its trans-Tasman presence. Founded by ASX-listed Waterco in 1983, Swimart operates 70 stores in Australia and six in New Zealand, most of which are independently operated franchises. Meanwhile, Paramount Pools has five locations in New Zealand, with more than 50 years of experience providing top quality pools to Kiwis.

Location 277
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Brick & Mortar Retail Relevance: How to Stay Ahead of the Curve

Speaker: Jay Black, Senior Account Executive

Let's set the record straight: in-store retail isn't dead - it's evolving! Faced with the digital age and the demands of omnichannel shopping, some retailers are thriving while others are struggling to adapt. Join Jay Black in this exclusive session as he explores the strategies that set successful stores apart, including: Crafting unique and unforgettable in-store experiences 🛍️ Mastering the art of retail demands 🛒 Navigating inventory challenges in today's climate 📦 an

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FTC Refunds Ring Customers $5.6 Million for Video Privacy Issues

Retail Wire

The FTC is giving back $5.6 million to consumers due to a settlement with Ring, an Amazon-owned company. The issue arose when Ring failed to protect customers' private video footage from unauthorized access.

Consumer 179
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Major brands invest in Derbion with new concept stores

Retail Focus

JD, New Look and Ann Summers are set to open new concept stores at Derbion, the Midlands retail and leisure destination, following a combined investment of over £5 million. The investment forms part of Derbion’s continuing growth strategy to reposition and support existing retailers alongside new lettings. By actively managing the centre, Derbion has unlocked space to ensure brands benefit from the optimum footprint and location to drive footfall and sales.

Location 148
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Saks.com Launches Retail Media Network

Retail TouchPoints

Saks has joined peers like Nordstrom and Macy’s by launching a retail media network that will enable its brand partners to connect more directly with the Saks customer base through digital advertising. As Saks noted in its announcement, the retailer is one of the first in the luxury space to introduce a retail media offering. This first-mover status was likely enabled by Hudson Bay Company’s decision to split the Saks Fifth Avenue brick-and-mortar and ecommerce offerings into two separate compan

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Puma to launch compostable shoes after a two-year pilot project

Inside Retail

After two years of testing, sports giant Puma is ready to launch its compostable shoes dubbed Re:suede 2.0. Puma will create 500 pairs of the commercial version of the sneaker, which went online available for purchase on puma.com/eu and Zalando Plus this week. The commercial version was created to reflect the experiment’s findings and the volunteers’ feedback.

Returns 264
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How to Stay Competitive in the Evolving State of Martech

Marketing technology is essential for B2B marketers to stay competitive in a rapidly changing digital landscape — and with 53% of marketers experiencing legacy technology issues and limitations, they’re researching innovations to expand and refine their technology stacks. To help practitioners keep up with the rapidly evolving martech landscape, this special report will discuss: How practitioners are integrating technologies and systems to encourage information-sharing between departments and pr

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Dom’s and Foxtrot Grocery Stores Close After Merger

Retail Wire

Dom's Kitchen & Market and Foxtrot Market, two grocery chains based in Chicago, have announced the closure of all their stores. This decision comes six months after the companies merged.

Marketing 173
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Sainsbury’s eyes £1bn retail profit as it hails ‘strongest year of grocery performance’

Retail Gazette

Sainsbury’s expects strong profit growth in the year ahead as it beat expectations for its 2023/24 financial year. Pre-tax profit for the year to 2 March edged up 1.6% to £701m, topping last year’s figure, as it achieved record grocery market share gains and volume growth that accelerated in every quarter. The UK’s second-biggest grocer said it expects to make up to £1.06bn in underlying operating profit from its retail operations in 2024-25 – up from £966m last year.

Grocer 116
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Foot Locker Debuts ‘Store of the Future’ in New Jersey

Retail TouchPoints

Foot Locker has unveiled its new store format, which includes a communal sneaker try-on area to facilitate “sneaker culture” conversations and technology that provides store associates with omnichannel inventory availability data. The retailer plans to use learnings from this store, located in the Willowbrook Mall in Wayne, N.J., for additional reinvented stores it will open in 2024 , including at the brand’s NYC flagship and locations in Paris, Melbourne and Delhi.

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Meet Indyx, the personal style app that is solving fashion sustainability issue

Inside Retail

Fashion has embraced technology at every turn from social media to virtual change rooms, yet consumers’ wardrobes have remained analogue. A closet full of clothes and nothing to wear is an age-old problem that has only been exacerbated by the convenience of online shopping. Indyx is the latest app attempting to create a virtual wardrobe but this time around the founders, Yidi Campbell and Devon Rule, are dialled in on the real gaps in consumers’ wardrobes and its not more clothing.

Fashion 272
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How Retailers Are Transforming Customer Experiences with Data & AI

Speaker: David Azoulay, Marc Stracuzza, Román Tejada, and Guest Speaker Sucharita Kodali

Imagine a retail landscape where every interaction is personalized, every decision informed, and every opportunity maximized 🤔✨ Join us for an exploratory journey into the heart of AI-driven retail innovation. We’ll unveil the transformative potential of AI and data analytics in shaping the future of omnichannel personalization and e-commerce.

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Home Depot Holds Halfway to Halloween Sale: Skelly’s Back

Retail Wire

It's halfway to spooky season, and Home Depot is celebrating.

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Primark rolls out click-and-collect as profits soar

Retail Gazette

Primark is expanding its click-and-collect service to all British stores by the end of 2025 as its first half profits surge. Pre-tax profit across owner Associated British Foods surged 37% to £881m while the fashion retailer experienced a “significant increase” in adjusted operating profit, up 46% to £508m. Primark’s sales jumped 7.5% to £4.5bn in the 24 weeks to 2 March, as like-for-like sales edged up 2.1%.

Fashion 123
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Google Again Delays Cookie Depreciation, This Time to 2025

Retail TouchPoints

In what has become a recurring plotline, Google has once again delayed third-party cookie deprecation on its Chrome web browser. Previously scheduled to be completed by the second half of Q4 2024, Google now anticipates the change will take place sometime in 2025. This marks the third time Google has pushed back the timeline on cookie deprecation, plans for which were first announced in January 2020 , when the company committed to removing tracking tech from Chrome within two years.

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How Japan’s love for denim is influencing Levi’s premium collections

Inside Retail

The brand that invented blue jeans, Levi’s, is reaching back into its archives to sell denim fans a piece of history with its premium Levi’s Vintage Clothing (LVC) offering. Looking back in time to drive future growth is an opportunity afforded to few brands but Levi’s rich history – the business was founded in 1853 in San Francisco by Levi Strauss – offers endless stories and inspiration for the LVC collections.

Fashion 262
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Forrester Report: Demystifying The Technical Functions of POS Solutions

Understanding the intricate world of Point-of-Sale (POS) technology is a common challenge for tech buyers. When it comes to defining the functions of Point-of-Sale systems, the communications have yet to be standardized–—until now. Forrester’s new report, Demystifying The Technical Functions of POS Solutions, breaks through the noise and provides business leaders with the information and tools they need to evaluate the features of POS systems.

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Whole Foods and Amazon Fresh Offer Unlimited Deliveries for $10 a Month

Retail Wire

Amazon has unveiled a new program that allows customers of both Whole Foods and Amazon Fresh to receive unlimited grocery delivery for just $10 per month.

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WHSmith ‘in its strongest ever position’ thanks to soaring travel sales

Retail Gazette

WHSmith profit edged up in its half-year results driven by soaring sales in its travel division. Group profit before tax and non-underlying items reached £46m, up from £45m in the prior year. The retailer’s travel arm reported a trading profit of £50m, up from £47m, while its high street operations saw profit slip from £24m to £22m. WHSmith’s group sales surged by 8% to £926m on the back of a 13% jump at its travel business.

Shopping 111
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Amazon Rolls Out Grocery Delivery Subscription Nationwide

Retail TouchPoints

Following a pilot in three U.S. cities, Amazon is making its grocery delivery subscription available to all Prime members in the U.S. For $9.99 a month, Prime members will now have access to unlimited grocery delivery on orders over $35 from Amazon Fresh , Whole Foods Market and a variety of local grocery and specialty retailers, as well as number of other delivery and fulfilment options.

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Myer sacks 50 head office staff, outsourcing tech roles to India

Inside Retail

Department store Myer has reportedly fired more than 50 head office staff across its digital, IT, and e-commerce teams as it offshores their functions to India. A Myer employee who requested anonymity told Inside Retail that Myer’s GM of e-commerce Lynna Barnard and chief customer officer Geoff Ikin oversaw the decision to implement the redundancies, which due to their suddenness left employees shocked.

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Exploring the Advantages and Hurdles of Direct Store Deliveries

Direct Store Delivery, or DSD, is a common practice among global suppliers and retailers – like PepsiCo, Frito Lay, CVS, and Dollar General – and its popularity is growing, with the global DSD market expected to reach $1.19 trillion by 2027. Download this eBook for exclusive insights into direct store deliveries, challenges, benefits, and future trends.