Trending Articles

article thumbnail

Exclusive: The Top 10 Best-Performing Retail Ads from the First Half of 2025

Retail TouchPoints

Even in our increasingly digital world, where almost everything is measurable, it can be hard to quantify the effectiveness of a TV ad spot. But with both brands’ and consumers’ wallets tightening in response to current economic turbulence, a high-quality TV spot that helps a company stand out from the noise can be invaluable. And so, as media fragmentation grows and performance pressure intensifies, TV measurement platform EDO has ranked the most effective TV ads from the first half of 2025.

Apparel 246
article thumbnail

If You’re Always Running a Sale, You’re Always Losing Margin

The Retail Doctor

Retailers who rely on discounts lose margin and loyalty. Learn why full-price selling works—and how staff training is the key to long-term growth.

264
264
Insiders

Sign Up for our Newsletter

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

article thumbnail

Country Road to close stores amid sales decline

Inside Retail

Fashion retailer Country Road is set to close a number of stores as declining sales push its South African parent company, Woolworths Holdings, to reduce its retail presence. Among the closures is Country Road’s flagship store in Sydney’s Queen Victoria Building, a prominent location the company is vacating to cut costs. Its sister brand, Trenery, will also shut its store in the upscale suburb of Mosman.

article thumbnail

Ensuring a greener future in retail with sustainable signage

Retail Focus

It is no secret that the retail industry needs to become more sustainable. While we have already seen significant movement in this area with the introduction of schemes such as paper-based bags and in-store clothing recycling, the onus is on retailers to do more to reduce their impact on the environment. Some often cite cost as the primary barrier when it comes to sustainability, with certain schemes requiring significant spend.

article thumbnail

Smart Tools & Strong Teams: A People-First Approach to AI in Sales

Speaker: Matt Sunshine, CEO at The Center for Sales Strategy

AI isn’t replacing salespeople—it’s empowering them. The most forward-thinking sales organizations are using AI to enhance human performance rather than eliminate it. From coaching and messaging to prospecting and pipeline accountability, artificial intelligence is giving managers and SDRs the new tools they need to work smarter, sell better, and close more.

article thumbnail

Currys rolls out crime reporting tool nationwide

A1 Retail

Currys today announces the rollout of a new crime reporting tool to all its UK&I stores to enhance store safety, following a successful trial. Currys conducted a 12-week trial, across two different regions. It identified 10 repeat offenders and resulted in three arrests. Furthermore, the tool prevented stock loss, saving over £20k worth of product.

Shopping 103
article thumbnail

Gen Alpha Is Coming: How to Prepare for the Next Generation of Payment Preferences

Retail TouchPoints

A new generation is quietly but steadily beginning to influence the future of retail, yet many merchants have yet to take notice. Born from 2010 onward, Gen Alpha has grown up surrounded by smartphones, voice assistants and digital wallets. As they move closer to adulthood and gain spending power, their expectations around payments will be higher, faster and more digitally integrated than anything retailers have encountered before.

More Trending

article thumbnail

Woolworths expands digital trolleys to more states

Inside Retail

Woolworths is expanding its Scan&Go Trolleys, Australia’s first digital trolley, to 25 more stores across NSW, Queensland, Victoria following a successful trial. The technology, which was first introduced last August at 10 NSW stores, allows customers to use their Everyday Rewards card to unlock a tablet-style device from the charging wall at the store and attach it to their trolleys.

Checkout 223
article thumbnail

Will AI Shoppers Change the Face of eCommerce?

Retail Focus

Artificial intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing many key industries, one of which is eCommerce. In recent years, business owners have started to rely more heavily upon various AI-powered tools to enhance the user/customer experience, reduce bounce rate, upgrade existing systems, enhance cyber security, boost conversions, and increase revenue. One such tool is the AI shopper or AI shopping assistant, which significantly helps consumers find what they’re looking for quicker than ever.

130
130
article thumbnail

Securing an Exponentially Growing (AI) Supply Chain

Cisco Retail

Foundation AI's Cerberus is a 24/7 guard for the AI supply chain, analyzing models as they enter HuggingFace and sharing results to Cisco Security products.

116
116
article thumbnail

Creating Destination Retail: Design Considerations for Freestanding Flagship Venues

Retail TouchPoints

Top luxury brands burnish their images by opening stimulating and inventive in-person settings for high-end shopping corridors like New York’s Madison Avenue, Beverly Hills’ Rodeo Drive and Miami’s Design District. While it is essential to be located in these popular districts frequented by guests of all kinds, major labels often make a bigger statement when they establish venues in the tonier outlying communities that ring those major cities, often in freestanding, purpose-built retail structur

Boutique 165
article thumbnail

AI In The Aisles: The Executives Guide To Better In-Store Experiences

Speaker: Steve Worthy, MBA

The rapid rise of AI-powered displays, touchless technology, and sensory marketing is reshaping the future of in-store engagement. Yet for many retail executives, the real challenge is not identifying new tools - it is knowing which signals to trust, which inputs to prioritize, and how to architect decisions that elevate in-store leadership rather than dilute it.

article thumbnail

Handmade Things That Sell Well: Top Ideas for Crafting Success

Small Biz Trends

If you’re looking to tap into the handmade market , there are several key items that consistently perform well. Jewelry, particularly unique and personalized pieces , often attracts buyers. Art and decor, like canvas paintings and digital prints, appeal to those wanting original home accents. Candles made with aromatic oils cater to wellness enthusiasts, whereas homemade food treats create a niche for unique flavors.

Jewelry 107
article thumbnail

Aldi’s DoorDash debut: Is convenience the new ‘Good Different’?

Inside Retail

Aldi has long stood apart in Australia’s fiercely competitive supermarket sector by boasting low prices and no frills, minimal marketing. But the German-founded supermarket chain is entering a new era that embraces convenience, without compromising its core identity. In a move few would have predicted a decade ago, Aldi Australia has launched its debut grocery delivery trial, partnering with DoorDash to offer on-demand shopping for Canberra customers.

article thumbnail

How to Create High-impact Visual Merchandising with Custom Fixtures

Retail Focus

Custom fixtures transform retail spaces from ordinary to captivating by giving every display purpose and personality. They’re not simply shelves or stands—they’re crafted expressions of your brand that invite shoppers to engage, explore, and buy. Investing in well-designed, custom-built pieces helps create a consistent atmosphere that customers remember and trust.

article thumbnail

Next opens flagship store at Lakeside Shopping Centre

A1 Retail

NEXT plc hhas opened its brand-new flagship store at Lakeside Shopping Centre. At 83,000 sq ft, this expansive new retail space marks one of the largest stores in NEXT’s portfolio, delivering an elevated shopping experience designed for the modern consumer. This new concept store includes a FatFace concession – the first ever within a NEXT store – alongside dedicated spaces for Bath & Body Works and Costa Coffee, making it a one-stop destination for fashion, lifestyle, and wellne

Shopping 102
article thumbnail

Breaking The Commerce Bottleneck: Your SAP Exit Plan Starts Now

Speaker: Jason Cottrell and Gireesh Sahukar

Retailers know the clock is ticking–legacy SAP Commerce support ends in 2026. Legacy platforms are becoming a liability burdened by complexity, rigidity, and mounting operational costs. But modernization isn’t just about swapping out systems, it’s about preparing for a future shaped by real-time interactions, AI powered buying assistants, and flexible commerce architecture.

article thumbnail

The Top 10 Legal Risks Impacting the Value of a Retail Brand

Retail TouchPoints

Taking your retail brand to the next level and attracting an equity investment based on the value of your brand requires not only business acumen but strategies for brand protection. Protecting your trademarks by way of registration is only a first step. Brand identity and value must also be protected by complying with consumer protection, privacy and advertising laws.

article thumbnail

Master Effective Sales Negotiation Tactics for Better Deals

Small Biz Trends

In sales, mastering negotiation tactics is essential for closing more deals. Start by preparing thoroughly, comprehending your buyer’s needs and pain points. Build rapport through active listening and personal connections. Focus on the unique value of your offerings instead of just price. These foundational steps can greatly influence the outcome of your negotiations.

article thumbnail

Multiple retailers have been fined for misleading promotions. This could be why

Inside Retail

There have been multiple examples recently of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) levying fines at retailers for misleading promotions. In June, Michael Hill, Hairhouse and Global Retail Brands, the company behind the retail chains House and Robins Kitchen, paid fines related to promotions or events during Black Friday or the post-Christmas period last year that the ACCC found had “misrepresented the size and scope of discounts being offered to consumers.

article thumbnail

Do Product and Brand Reviews Have More Value to Consumers Than Ever?

Retail Focus

Shopping habits have changed dramatically with the growth of online retail and social platforms. Reviews, which once came mostly from personal recommendations or specialist publications, now appear on nearly every product page and search result. Many consumers check ratings, comments, or video reviews before buying. This raises the question: do these reviews truly hold more value now than before?

130
130
article thumbnail

Humans + Agents = Rethinking Enterprise Commerce with AI

AI agents already analyze trends, draft content, and trigger actions across leading commerce platforms. Yet most organizations still rely on workflows built for human‑only teams, losing speed, margin, and customer loyalty. Humans + Agents: Rethinking Enterprise Commerce in the Age of AI Collaboration shows how to close that gap. In one concise read you’ll see where agent gains surface first, how early adopters prove ROI, and which lean controls keep innovation moving without risking data or bran

article thumbnail

In pictures: Inside Next’s upsized 83,000sq ft Lakeside flagship

Retail Gazette

Next has opened the doors to its new flagship store in Lakeside shopping centre, featuring its first Fatface concession. The retailer said its new 83,000sq ft store marks one of its largest retail spaces and delivers “ an elevated shopping experience designed for the modern consumer” The store features Next’s womenswear, menswear, childrenswear, and home ranges, as well as integrated fashion brands.

Fashion 108
article thumbnail

Beyond Design: How Smart UX Drives Retail Ecommerce Success

Retail TouchPoints

In today’s competitive retail ecommerce landscape, where consumer expectations are shaped by experiences from major retailers and marketplaces, brands must go beyond attractive design to deliver experiences that truly convert and retain customers. Success lies in designing digital journeys that do more than look good. They must guide users effortlessly from discovery to checkout, while fostering trust, loyalty and long-term engagement along the way.

article thumbnail

Effective Store Management Software for Streamlined Retail Operations

Small Biz Trends

When managing retail operations, choosing the right store management software is vital for efficiency and growth. Solutions like Oracle Fusion Cloud Inventory Management provide real-time stock visibility , whereas Cin7 seamlessly integrates e-commerce platforms. Zoho Inventory consolidates orders across multiple channels, and Fishbowl improves inventory accuracy through barcode scanning.

article thumbnail

Why two former employees bet on bringing back Harrolds

Inside Retail

The Australian luxury department store, Harrolds, has been brought back to life by two former managers, Arasch Enayat and Gino Pagano, who completely self-funded the business’s renaissance. Founded in 1985, Harrolds started as a luxury menswear retailer and was responsible for introducing the likes of Bottega Veneta, Saint Laurent and Balenciaga to Australian shoppers.

article thumbnail

5 Tips for a Winning Category Management Strategy in 2025

Category Management is a cornerstone of a successful retail strategy. While it promotes collaboration between manufacturers and retailers to optimize category performance, challenges persist in its effective implementation due to hurdles in communication and collaboration across teams and partners, and more. In this guide, we outline five essential strategies for success in 2025 that will touch on all the essential pieces of a successful strategy and implementation.

article thumbnail

Lighting with Purpose: Shoplight’s Dynamic Design for Lululemon’s Regent Street Flagship

Retail Focus

Lululemon’s flagship store on London’s Regent Street represents more than just a retail destination, it’s a statement of intent. As the brand’s largest store in the EMEA region, covering a striking 8,923 square feet, the space sets a bold architectural tone that needed an equally ambitious lighting solution. Shoplight was entrusted with delivering a scheme that not only complemented the scale and sophistication of the store but also enhanced the brand’s dynamic retail experience.

ATS 147
article thumbnail

Asda pressures suppliers to slash prices in ‘art of war’

Retail Gazette

Asda is putting pressure on its suppliers such as Nestlé, Heinz and General Mills to cut prices as it seeks to win back shoppers. The grocery giant is involved in negotiations with some of its biggest partners as they push back against pressure for aggressive cuts, The Telegraph reported. The retailer is urging its suppliers to “share the load” amid its price war, which is designed to improve its falling sales.

Returns 106
article thumbnail

Prime Day Again Breaks Sales Records — and Offers Insight into Current Consumer Mindset

Retail TouchPoints

Despite getting off to a slow start ( by some accounts ), Amazon ’s 11th annual Prime Day event — which this year was extended from two days to four — was once again the biggest ever, driving $24.1 billion in online spend from July 8-11, according to Adobe. That’s a 30.3% increase year-over-year, and while that growth was certainly aided by the extended length of the sales event, it still represents 2X the online spend of Black Friday in 2024 ( $10.8 billion ).

Consumer 147
article thumbnail

Effective Strategies to Increase Business Growth and Profitability

Small Biz Trends

Key Takeaways Essential for Growth: Business growth is vital in today’s competitive landscape, impacting profitability and market presence. Key Metrics: Track sales revenue, customer acquisition costs, customer lifetime value, conversion rates, and inventory turnover to identify growth opportunities. Customer Experience: Elevate customer experience through personalized service and engaging retail environments to boost repeat business and attract new clients.

article thumbnail

New Research-Backed Strategies to Empower Managers as Culture & Engagement Leaders

Speaker: Beth Sunshine, SVP, Up Your Culture

When culture isn’t consistently lived out across the organization, engagement suffers—and it often starts with a disconnect at the top. In this session, Beth Sunshine, SVP of Up Your Culture at The Center for Sales Strategy, will reveal how HR and executive leaders can close the gap between vision and execution by equipping frontline and mid-level managers to become culture carriers.

article thumbnail

DFS Group to close store in Sydney as it exits Oceania

Inside Retail

Travel retail group DFS will withdraw from the Oceania market, confirming the closure of all operations in Australia and New Zealand by the end of September. The company cited “challenging economic conditions” and a broader effort to streamline global operations as reasons for the decision. In Sydney, the T Galleria store on George Street will stay open until September 10.

Marketing 195
article thumbnail

Parfetts celebrates record £733m turnover by rewarding staff

Talking Retail

Employee-owned wholesaler Parfetts is awarding its workforce the maximum 4% sales bonus following a record-breaking year in which turnover soared to £733m, up from £696m in 2024.

Wholesale 103
article thumbnail

Retail footfall declines as shoppers stay home during June heatwave

Retail Gazette

Extreme heat suppressed shopper footfall in June as consumers sought to escape the blazing temperatures, the British Retail Consortium reported. According to the trade body’s latest data, total UK footfall dropped 1.8% in five weeks to 5 July, down from the 1.7% decline in May. Retail parks saw the biggest drop in footfall, with shopper numbers down 1.1% in June compared to a 0.2% growth the month before.

Consumer 102
article thumbnail

From Store #1 to Store #300, Warby Parker Keeps its Eyes on the Prize

Retail TouchPoints

Step into a time machine and travel back 15 years, to the debut of (then) digital pure-play eyewear retailer Warby Parker. In 2010, the idea of selling prescription eyewear online seemed risky if not positively foolhardy, but the retailer didn’t just persist — it thrived. Sandy Gilsenan By 2013 Warby Parker was ready to open its first brick-and-mortar store, in NYC’s SoHo neighborhood.

article thumbnail

What Your Financial Statements Are Telling You—And How to Listen!

Speaker: David Worrell, CFO, Author & Speaker

Your financial statements hold powerful insights—but are you truly paying attention? Many finance professionals focus on the income statement while overlooking key signals hidden in the balance sheet and cash flow statement. Understanding these numbers can unlock smarter decision-making, uncover risks, and drive long-term success. Join David Worrell, accomplished CFO, finance expert, and author, for an engaging, nontraditional take on reading financial statements.