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With the summer season fast approaching, marketers are once again gearing up for the next big cultural moments that will help drive awareness and sales. While events like the back-to-school season or NBA Playoffs and return of football remain a focal point in seasonal engagement strategies for some, todays most impactful opportunities for marketers are less about the static calendar and more about cultural conversations.
Brett Blundys latest venture, Lays, is looking to reinvent a category hes had a storied past with lingerie. Once again, Blundy has partnered with Ray Itaoui to scale Lays into a global brand. Blundy and Itaoui co-invested in Bras N Things in the buyback, before selling it to Hanes for $500 million in 2018 and co-invested in premium lingerie brand Honey Birdette, before selling it to Playboy for $443 million in 2021.
Earlier this spring, Amazon and Walmart released investor updates within one day of each other that presented an interesting juxtaposition of how the two companies approach innovation: The long and short of it is that Amazon is a Why company, while Walmart is an And company. Walmart CEO Doug McMillon in an April 9 update following the companys investment community meeting: Were an and company.
When it comes to retail, few categories are as lucrative, or as difficult to navigate, as the cannabis sector. According to analytics firm Statista , revenue generated from the cannabis market is forecasted to reach US$45.35 billion in the US by the end of 2025. Revenue in this retail sector is expected to rise at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2.24 per cent, leading to a market volume of US$49.56 billion by 2029.
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.
As part of the ongoing corporate restructuring following its March 2025 bankruptcy declaration, Hudsons Bay has agreed to assign up to 28 store lease locations in Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia to Ruby Liu Commercial Investment , a corporation indirectly controlled by billionaire Canadian mall owner Ruby Liu. An affiliate of the purchasing company is an existing landlord at three of the leased locations in British Columbia, which are included in the transaction.
In 2025, retail is definitely a battleground where the customer experience (CX) can make or break a brand. In an industry where 86 per cent of consumers are willing to pay more for a great experience, yet only 22 per cent feel that retailers truly understand their needs, the gap between expectation and execution is massive. It’s not all doom and gloom, however, there are amazing retailers out there that create immersive, seamless, and personal experiences and win by changing shoppers into
McDonald’s has announced that CosMc’s will soon be no more. According to UPI , the beverage-focused concept store will shutter its five pilot locations in the coming weeks, 18 months after it was first launched. However, all is not lost, as some of the beverages will be added to the menus of more than 13,000 U.S. McDonald’s locations after the final CosMc’s are shuttered.
McDonald’s has announced that CosMc’s will soon be no more. According to UPI , the beverage-focused concept store will shutter its five pilot locations in the coming weeks, 18 months after it was first launched. However, all is not lost, as some of the beverages will be added to the menus of more than 13,000 U.S. McDonald’s locations after the final CosMc’s are shuttered.
More than 80 per cent of Australian consumers use digital aids during their shopping journey, regardless of whether they complete their journey online or in a physical store. The most common aids, according to research commissioned by Shopfully, include promotion hunting, product searching, or price comparison. So, how should retailers respond to the trend, and what are the potential risks of such tech-driven journeys?
Retailers are no strangers to tracking every item on the shelf, but most still ignore the true value of their digital shelves. Your product images, promotional videos, branded templates, and SEO content arent just accessories to your brand, but also assets with measurable impact. When treated as stock, these resources can significantly sharpen your competitive edge.
While digital shopping channels, such as TikTok Shop, continue to thrive in todays omnichannel retail landscape, a strong customer preference for in-store shopping remains. Data released by American bank holding company Capital One confirmed that 72 per cent of consumers shop in stores on a weekly basis. On top of that, Capital One forecasts that 80.8 per cent of retail sales are expected to occur in brick-and-mortar stores throughout this year.
Davids Bridal has introduced a bold new vision for bridal shopping with the launch of its first Diamonds & Pearls store. This innovative concept delivers a one-of-a-kind customer experience, reimagining what it means to say yes to the dress. Davids Bridal will debut its groundbreaking Diamonds & Pearls concept store in Delray Beach, Florida, on May 29.
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
When Adwaita Nayar co-founded Nykaa alongside her mother, Falguni Nayar, in 2012, India was a conspicuous outlier in the global beauty landscape. Despite being one of the worlds largest and youngest consumer markets, it lacked a unified retail platform for beauty, and it was no equivalent to Sephora, Ulta, or even a drugstore chain like Boots. Imagine being in a country where there was no one place where you could find beauty products, Adwaita Nayar, co-founder and CEO of Nykaa Fashion, shared d
Salesforce, a company known for its wide-ranging customer relationship management (CRM) software and recent purchase of Slack (in 2021, for $27.7 billion, according to CNBC ), is now set to make another major acquisition in a deal worth approximately $8 billion in equity value. In a May 27 press release announcing the agreement, it was noted that those who hold Class A and Class B-1 common stock in Informatica will receive $25 in cash per share as part of the terms of the buyout.
Dairy Queen is partnering with Warner Bros. to release an all-new “Superman”-themed menu featuring both sweet treats and food for superhero fans. The film, which is set to drop July 11, 2025, will be the first in the “Gods and Monsters” DC Universe reboot. Let’s look at what we know about the fast-food chain’s newest offerings.
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.
Home Bargains has unveiled its “cutting-edge” one-million square foot automated distribution centre just outside Liverpool. The discount chain said its new 400m warehouse in St Helens, Merseyside, will operate “around the clock” to support 300 Home Bargains stores. The facility utilises order picking technology from Witron allowing for 80% of the stock picking in the centre to be automated.
Buca di Beppo management is disputing an earlier report from WTFV claiming that its new management company has filed for bankruptcy and left the company in flux. Last month, RetailWire reported that PB Restaurants LLC, the management company of the Italian-inspired eatery, filed for bankruptcy protection. Due to the lender’s prior acquisition of Buca di Beppo, Scott Shuker of Shuker & Dorris PA, who represents the business and its parent group, is involved in this matter.
Adidas warned that its customer data had been compromised as it become the latest retailer to be hit by a cyber attack in recent weeks. The sporting giant confirmed the criminals had accessed certain consumer data through a third-party customer service provider. Adidas said that no passwords or payment details had been taken by the attackers and that it was in the process of informing its customers.
Late deliveries. Split shipments. Spiraling freight costs. For home, furniture, and DIY brands, fulfillment has never been more complex—or more critical. This report outlines how a smarter, AI-ready order management system (OMS) helps you reduce shipping costs, streamline project-based fulfillment, and ensure accurate inventory across every channel.
Alo Yoga, Alo,the premium fashion and lifestyle brand renowned for its luxury activewear and commitment to mind-body wellness, is set to open its first UK sanctuary outside London at Manchesters New Cathedral Street. Recognised as the home of luxury brands in Manchester, Alo becomes the latest retailer to select New Cathedral Street for its first location in the city joining recent arrivals Arcteryx and Represent, after signing a 10-year lease to occupy a 7,018 sq ft unit.
Ive been reviewing my customer experience research , specifically the section on the future of customer service and AI (Artificial Intelligence). A few findings prove thatcustomers are frustrated and lack confidence in how companies are using AI: In general, 57% of customers are frustrated by AI-fueled self-service options. 49% of customers say technologies like AI and ChatGPT scare them. 51% of customers have received wrong or incorrect information from an AI self-service bot.
Most breaches are caused by everyday human mistakes. The 90-5-5 Concept is a framework that addresses this by shifting the conversation to proactive design.
Retail Times publishes international & UK retail news covering products, data, tech, packaging, people, research, comment and more besides! Its no secret that the UK is biscuit mad. A staggering94%of us claim to love the sweet treat – andover two in five (43%)even admit they would rather give up social media than biscuits. But theres one biscuit that continues to elude UK fans:PopeyesUS-style Biscuit.
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.
Retail Times publishes international & UK retail news covering products, data, tech, packaging, people, research, comment and more besides! TGI Fridays, the iconic American-inspired cocktail bar and restaurant chain, turned 60 in March and is marking the celebratory milestone with new and exciting experiences this year. What better way to mark the milestone than by giving breakfast the ultimate Fridays twist?
With the advent of the digital age, social media has grown beyond its initial role of connecting people and sharing updates. Although social media was not designed to generate in-store retail activity, it has been instrumental in driving brand familiarity and customer interaction.
M&S has appointed former Coles senior executive Thinus Keeve to the newly created role of retail director. Keeve, who joins on 6 June, will be responsible for all of the retail giant’s stores across the UK and Republic of Ireland, as well as central store operations. He will report into Sacha Berendji, M&S’ operations director, who will continue to have manage its retail, property, security and business continuity departments.
AI adoption is reshaping sales and marketing. But is it delivering real results? We surveyed 1,000+ GTM professionals to find out. The data is clear: AI users report 47% higher productivity and an average of 12 hours saved per week. But leaders say mainstream AI tools still fall short on accuracy and business impact. Download the full report today to see how AI is being used — and where go-to-market professionals think there are gaps and opportunities.
The Perfume Shop is expanding its retail presence with the launch of two boutique stores in the UK, marking a new chapter in the companys approach to fragrance retail. The locations, set to open in summer 2025, are Brent Cross Shopping Centre in London and Lakeside Shopping Centre in Thurrock. The initiative reflects a growing consumer demand for more tailored and luxury-focused perfume experiences.
Aldi has introduced a virtual work experience programme to support young people explore careers in retail. The free online course is open to those aged 13 or over and is designed to introduce students to the wide range of careers available industry from warehouse and store operations to office-based roles. The programme, created in partnership with Springpod , includes a series of videos and guidance from the retailer’s employees as well as interactive quizzes and activities.
Clarks has launched its latest retail space at Trinity Leeds, marking a notable addition to the shopping centres line-up. The new store occupies a ground floor location, reaffirming the footwear brands presence in the heart of Leeds city centre. This new site is designed to reflect Clarks evolving retail strategy, combining a broad product range with an enhanced customer experience.
Worldwide end-user spending on public cloud services is projected to reach 542 billion in 2025. Yet executives estimate that at least 30% of their cloud spending is wasted. That is a huge amount of budget disappearing into underused or untracked services. Two-thirds of businesses say that chasing rising cloud costs disrupts both finance and IT teams.
When it comes to driving traffic and growing your online presence, businesses often ask: SEO or PPC—what’s the better choice? This guide breaks down the key differences between search engine optimization (SEO) and pay-per-click (PPC) advertising, highlighting their pros, cons, and best use cases. Whether you’re looking for long-term organic growth or immediate visibility through paid ads, we’ll help you determine which strategy—or combination of both—is right for your business.
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