Trending Articles

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Why In-Stock Visibility Should be Retail’s Top Priority in 2025

Retail TouchPoints

As we look ahead to the retail challenges and opportunities in the second half of 2025, one priority will be central: in-stock visibility. The ability to see — accurately, in real time — what is and is not on store shelves has moved beyond a routine operational consideration and become a strategic imperative. Advances in augmented reality (AR), artificial intelligence (AI) and leveraging data insights are enabling retailers and consumer packaged goods (CPG) companies to become more proactive in

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Why some rebrands thrive and others flop: Insights from a creative director

Inside Retail

Over the years, I’ve worked on dozens of brand transformations. Some major, some minor, some wanting to be minor and ending up major, and the other way around. Whether big or small, brand overhauls aren’t to be taken lightly. They require time, money, energy and alignment across a number of moving parts. And the stakes are high. Get it right and you could catapult your brand into a new era of growth.

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What the Woolworths-Endeavour tech split reveals about modern retail strategy

Inside Retail

When Woolworths spun off Endeavour Group in 2021, the move was widely seen as a textbook case of value creation with an objective to enable the liquor and hotel arm to pursue growth on its own terms. However, shared technology lingered beneath the surface, presenting a far more complex problem than originally imagined, as recently reported in The Australian Financial Review.

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Effective Holiday Marketing Tips to Boost Your Seasonal Sales

Small Biz Trends

Key Takeaways Start Early: Launch holiday marketing campaigns ahead of the peak season to increase brand visibility and attract customers before the rush. Leverage Social Media: Consistently post engaging content, use targeted ads, and interact with customers through polls and contests to maintain interest. Create Unique Promotions: Develop limited-time offers and loyalty programs tailored for special occasions to encourage urgency and repeat business.

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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.

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Primark launches mannequin to represent wheelchair users

Retail Gazette

Primark has unveiled its first seated mannequin designed to represent a manual wheelchair user, as part of its commitment to inclusion and better representation on the high street. The mannequin, which is named “Sophie” was inspired by and co-created with British television presenter and wheelchair user Sophie Morgan. The mannequin will be launched in 22 of Primark’s flagship stores, including Oxford Street and Birmingham, and will be featured in displays showcasing the brand’s adaptive range a

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Home & Gift 2025 sees huge growth in key visitor types and record rebooking

A1 Retail

Home & Gift 2025 concluded this Wednesday on a resounding note of success, having united thousands of buyers, brands, and creatives across four vibrant and inspiration-filled days, reaffirming its position as the UK’s essential summer showcase for the retail industry. Celebrating its 65th edition, this landmark show combined record-breaking attendance, standout creativity, and unmistakable feel-good energy across the Harrogate Convention Centre and the grounds of the DoubleTree by Hilton Har

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June retail sales outperformed expectations

Inside Retail

Australian retail sales rose 4.9 per cent year on year in June, a higher-than-anticipated increase, according to data released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).  The increase was primarily due to end-of-financial-year (EOFY) sales, more purchases of winter clothing and the release of new products such as the Nintendo Switch 2, said KPMG chief economist Dr Brendan Rynne.

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Optimize Order Fulfillment in E-Commerce – A Step-by-Step Guide

Small Biz Trends

Optimizing order fulfillment in e-commerce is crucial for improving efficiency and customer satisfaction. To start, you’ll want to implement real-time inventory tracking to avoid stockouts and overstocking. Next, consider automating your order processing to minimize human error and increase accuracy. Furthermore, streamlining shipping by choosing multiple carriers can improve delivery options.

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Co-op becomes first UK grocer to launch Deliveroo Express

Retail Gazette

Co-op has become the first UK grocer to partner with Deliveroo’s new white label Express service as the convenience retailer expands its rapid delivery offering. The move will see Deliveroo handle back-end logistics and fulfilment for orders made through the convenience chain’s own online shop, with deliveries promised in as little as 60 minutes.

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Retail’s Planning Gap: What Buyers Need To Know in 2025

Retail Assist

Forecasting remains one of retail’s biggest challenges, and the price of getting it wrong is steep. According to McKinsey , demand forecasts are off by an average of 30%. That means, for a retailer buying £10 million worth of stock, that could mean £3 million in over- or under-ordered inventory. Planning the right product range isn’t just about knowing what sold last year.

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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.

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Martha Stewart Opens Second Dubai Store, Eyes Further Expansion in India and the Middle East

Retail TouchPoints

Following a “soft” and relatively quiet opening at Dubai’s City Centre Mirdif in May, Marquee Brands , owner of the Martha Stewart IP, opened a second brick-and-mortar store at the Dubai Hills Mall earlier this month, according to WWD. A third location is slated to open at Mall of the Emirates later this summer. Quoting Marquee Brands officials, WWD reported that additional stores will be rolled out in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and India, but the specific timing has yet to be determined.

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EOFY online sales surge in anticipation of rate cuts, report finds

Inside Retail

Australians spent $19.2 billion in online purchases last quarter, a result of anticipated rate cuts and easing inflation, according to a report by Australia Post. End of financial year (EOFY) sales drove a 15 per cent surge in online spending, as compared to the same period last year, with 7.9 million households choosing to shop online. Online marketplaces saw Australians spending $4.2 billion, while department stores saw a 28 per cent increase in online sales.

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What Is a Retail Inventory Tracking System and How Does It Work?

Small Biz Trends

A retail inventory tracking system is crucial for managing stock levels and sales efficiently. It uses technology like barcodes and RFID tags to monitor inventory in real-time, automating updates and alerting you when stock is low. By integrating with point-of-sale systems , it guarantees accurate record-keeping. This system likewise analyzes sales data for better forecasting.

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Aldi remains ‘highest-paying’ supermarket as it boosts staff pay to over £13 an hour

Retail Gazette

Aldi is set to become the first supermarket to pay its store assistants at least £13 an hour as it boosts pay for the second time this year. The German discounter, already the highest-paying in the UK, will increase its minimum hourly rate to £14.33 for those working within the M25 from 1st September 2025. The increase is on top of an earlier pay rise in March, which saw store colleagues paid a minimum of £12.75 an hour nationwide, and £14.05 an hour within the M25.

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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.

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Co-op serves up next-gen ‘on-the-go’ micro store format

A1 Retail

Co-op has today announced the launch of a new chain of food-for-now stores, strategically situated in high foot-traffic locations and designed to champion the convenience retailer’s ‘on-the-go’ expertise through a unique and innovative format. A UK first for a national grocer, and unlike any other store in the Co-op’s estate, the new ‘on-the-go’ format is around one-quarter of the size of its typical convenience shops* with new operating hours and a dedicated range that serves the demand for the

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Edible Launches Digital Marketplace for Non-Perishable Gifts

Retail TouchPoints

Edible Arrangements has partnered with the tech-forward gifting platform Goody to add a curated selection of non-perishable third-party gifts to its website, designed to complement its own taste-tempting offerings. Powered by Goody’s Commerce API, the launch allows Edible customers to shop for food-adjacent items from brands including Carbone, Ghia and Homesick Candles.

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Retail media, AI and click-and-collect: Chemist Warehouse’s e-commerce evolution

Inside Retail

At Thursday’s Online Retailer Conference & Expo , Leteesha Serzycki, head of digital and e-commerce at Chemist Warehouse, shared a rare insight into the pharmacy retailer’s seismic e-commerce transformation, from homegrown infrastructure to a composable commerce powerhouse. The talk, moderated by Commercetools’ Sophie Stefanetti, also featured Shiri Mosenzon Erez, chief product officer of Commercetools and Hayley MacKay, retail account director of Google Cloud, revealed how Australia’s disco

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7 Essential Tips for Designing an Effective Retail Shop Floor Plan

Small Biz Trends

Designing an effective retail shop floor plan is vital for enhancing customer experience and boosting sales. You need to take into account factors like customer flow, product placement , and the overall shopping environment. For instance, creating a decompression zone at the entrance helps customers adjust before they navigate the store. Furthermore, strategically positioning high-demand products can encourage exploration and increase visibility.

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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

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Retail’s Finest to Take Centre Stage at 2025 Creative Retail Awards in Spectacular New Theatre Venue

Retail Focus

The Creative Retail Awards has announced the 2025 shortlist, showcasing innovation and excellence across the global retail industry. This year’s ceremony will introduce a dramatic new setting, taking place at London’s newly opened Emerald Theatre on 25 September 2025. With over 20 categories spanning visual merchandising, store design, digital integration and sustainable design, the Awards continue to highlight the strength of the retail design sector.

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£300M M&S Breach Exposes Insurance Gaps Across Retail Sector

365 Retail

Following National Insurance Awareness Day at the end of June and the high-profile Marks & Spencer cyberattack, Clear Insurance Management is urging retailers to take immediate action to protect against escalating digital threats. In the case of the recent M&S cyber incident , only £100 million of cyber insurance coverage was in place, which was far short of the £300 million in damages incurred, leaving the retail giant significantly underinsured.

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Why the Second Sale Matters More than the First

Retail TouchPoints

The first purchase is cause for celebration, but it’s the second sale that really matters. That’s when a shopper starts to bring real opportunity for your brand to grow. It marks the moment when curiosity turns into commitment. For ecommerce brands navigating a competitive market, that second purchase is more than just another transaction — it’s the start of a relationship.

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Online Retailer Day 2: Coping with outside influences

Inside Retail

With heightened market volatility, global headwinds, and ever-evolving consumer needs, the ability to problem-solve is a key indicator of success among retail leaders. The second day of the Online Retailer expo saw a line-up of seasoned executives walk the audience through some of their careers’ toughest challenges and how they overcame them. Online-assisted shopping New Zealand’s The Warehouse Group found that over 70 per cent of its store sales were online-assisted, which was four times

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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.

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10 Tips to Improve Inventory Management

Small Biz Trends

Effective inventory management is essential for any business that aims to thrive. By prioritizing your inventory, tracking product information accurately, and conducting regular audits , you can streamline operations and reduce costs. Implementing technology for real-time tracking can furthermore improve efficiency. Moreover, recognizing seasonal trends aids in proactive restocking.

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Primark unveils new mannequin designed to represent wheelchair users, created in collaboration with Sophie Morgan

A1 Retail

Primark has unveiled its first seated mannequin designed to represent a manual wheelchair user, as part of its ongoing commitment to inclusion and better representation on the high street. Named ‘Sophie’, the mannequin was inspired by and co-created with British television presenter, disability advocate and wheelchair user, Sophie Morgan. Launching initially in 22 flagship stores across nine countries, including UK stores like Oxford Street East, Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, and Leeds, ‘So

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The Email You’re Not Sending Is the One Costing You the Most

I Love Fashion

Fashion Digital Marketing Agency Most ecommerce brands spend heavily on acquiring new customers. They fine-tune ad copy, obsess over landing pages, and A/B test product pages until perfection. But there’s one critical piece of the ecommerce email marketing puzzle that gets overlooked time and time again: the post-purchase email flow. According to Deadline Funnel, a staggering 74% of ecommerce brands do not have a post-purchase sequence in place.

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Stronger Bonds, Stronger Business: The Case for CRM and Loyalty Now

Retail TouchPoints

A seismic shake-up in global trade is underway as new U.S. tariff policies take hold. A 10% blanket import tax has kicked in, paired with tariffs of 25% to 100% and more on goods from major trade partners. What comes next is anyone’s guess — but the economic map is already being rewritten. The ripple effects will be wide-reaching: rising costs, retaliatory tariffs, strained supply chains and a likely pullback in consumer spending.

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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.

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How Bonds is hacking the retail calendar with its own branded sales day

Inside Retail

Australian retailers may soon no longer be content to wait for Boxing Day, Black Friday or EOFY sales to drive traffic. Instead, brands like Bonds are beginning to invent their own retail “holidays” or ownable moments that sit at the intersection of brand storytelling, loyalty and commerce. Bonds’ 24/7 Rewards Day, launched, fittingly, on July 24, is a branded campaign designed to cement brand relevance through omnichannel experience and cultural resonance. “It’s a brand claim,” Bond

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5 Essential Tips for Effective Stock and Inventory Management

Small Biz Trends

Effective stock and inventory management is crucial for maintaining operational efficiency and meeting customer demand. By prioritizing your inventory using methods like ABC analysis , you can focus on high-value items. Moreover, keeping accurate product information and conducting regular audits helps align stock levels with sales. Analyzing supplier performance guarantees you’re working with reliable partners.

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Sustainable Merchandising: Why Eco-Friendly Practices Are Good for the Planet and Your Profits

CJ Retail Solutions

In today’s world, the significance of sustainable merchandising cannot be overstated. As a consumer, you are increasingly aware of the environmental impact of your purchasing decisions. Sustainable merchandising goes beyond merely selling products; it encompasses a holistic approach that considers the entire lifecycle of a product, from sourcing materials to the final sale.

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Retail sales heat up in June as shoppers flock back to stores

Retail Gazette

UK retail sales volumes bounced back in June, rising 0.9% month on month, as warm weather encouraged shoppers to hit the high street and spend more online. The rise follows a sharp 2.8% drop in May, with the Office for National Statistics (ONS) highlighting increased supermarket sales and drink purchases during the heatwave, which made June the warmest on record in England.

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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.