Retail Focus
OCTOBER 17, 2023
Regular readers of Retail Focus will remember a recent article that focused on surfaces in retail and how shops and other venues can utilise these as part of their marketing strategy to help drive more sales. However, the reality is that these surfaces can be used for much more than simply pointing customers in the direction of special offers or promoting seasonal sale events.
Inside Retail
OCTOBER 17, 2023
Brazilian Acai cafe Oakberry is expanding its reach across Australia by opening seven new stores in the coming months. The company has already opened new stores in Cairns, Paradise Point, and Terrigal and plans to launch additional locations in Perth CBD, Circular Quay, Hawthorn, St Kilda, Wollongong, Clovelly, and Maroubra. This expansion brings Oakberry’s store count to 45 across NSW, QLD, WA, VIC, and SA.
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Retail TouchPoints
OCTOBER 17, 2023
In its original incarnation, Bed Bath & Beyond (BB&B) was defined by its in-store experience: exploring exactly what was included in the “beyond” category, checking out the gizmos and gadgets near the cash wrap and then redeeming those ubiquitous 20% off coupons at checkout. In contrast, Overstock.com , which purchased BB&B’s intellectual property following the chain’s bankruptcy earlier in 2023, is an ecommerce pure-play with long-ago roots as a liquidator.
Inside Retail
OCTOBER 17, 2023
Australian lifestyle retailer Country Road has opened its flagship shop in the centre of Ballarat in conjunction with local architecture and interior design firm Moloney Architects. According to the brand, the regional flagship exemplifies its commitment to innovation and ethical design across its collections and retail spaces, with energy-efficient technologies, recyclable materials, and waste reduction programmes included in the store. “Country Road Ballarat is more than a store; itR
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.
Retail TouchPoints
OCTOBER 17, 2023
Phone-based customer service, or voice, is well established as the most commonly used and the most tightly managed customer service channel. Entire service teams are dedicated to keeping down the high costs of phone support by practicing what the industry refers to as deflection, all while customers make their dissatisfaction with the channel clear.
Inside Retail
OCTOBER 17, 2023
Australian knitwear brand Mia Fratino is on a mission to disrupt the fashion industry and change for the better the way stores – and consumers – buy clothes. We speak with co-founder and creative director Amy Jones about the brand’s no-sale policy, and rethinking the seasonal calendar. Inside Retail : Tell me about your brand, Mia Fratino, and how it started.
Experience Retail Today brings together the best content for retail owners from the widest variety of industry thought leaders.
Inside Retail
OCTOBER 17, 2023
Former Brand Collective and PAS Group CEO Eric Morris has joined tech-driven delivery company Deliver In Person as an advisory board member. Deliver In Person is a technology-enabled personalised delivery service provider utilising AI-driven algorithms and predictive analysis to optimise routes and reduce travel time in serving online retailers. Morris started his advisory group Albany Advisory in July, after he departed Brand Collective. “I’ve always been closely involved with retai
Retail TouchPoints
OCTOBER 17, 2023
The Vitamin Shoppe will update its point-of-sale and promotions capabilities chainwide with solutions from Jumpmind. The retailer will deploy Jumpmind Commerce, a cloud-native, mobile-first POS solution, and Jumpmind Promote, for unified promotions across both physical and digital experiences. “Jumpmind’s Commerce and Promote solutions will assist in our transition from legacy systems to a modern, API-first approach,” said Scott Devlin, CIO of The Vitamin Shoppe in a statement.
Inside Retail
OCTOBER 17, 2023
Great product diversity, changing consumer demands, and the expansion of e-commerce have turned inventory management into a major pain point for retailers. Poor inventory management results in overstocking and under-stocking, impaired cash flow, and losses from theft and spoilage. Getting inventory management right can be a huge competitive advantage.
Retail TouchPoints
OCTOBER 17, 2023
The holidays are a time of joy and charity, but they are also a time of stress, overeating/drinking/indulging, money worries and family squabbles. To help moms and other caregivers manage the less pleasant side of this season, Zulily is offering a limited-edition electronic button that plays five empowering messages from Jonathan Van Ness of Netflix’s Queer Eye.
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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
Inside Retail
OCTOBER 17, 2023
US cookware brand Our Place is making its pureplay debut in the Australian market with a range of toxin-free and eco-conscious kitchenware. The brand’s core philosophy centres on the idea that home cooking can unite people and foster connections around the dining table. Founded by women and immigrants, the company says it greatly emphasises cultural diversity and inclusivity.
Retail Focus
OCTOBER 17, 2023
As well as showcasing the world’s largest range of seasonal and festive decorations, the upcoming Christmasworld (26-30.01.24) also hosts an outstanding programme of events guaranteed to excite and inspire. The wide-ranging special presentations and talks explore the latest developments in the consumer goods sector, including key themes such as sustainability, lifestyle & design, future retail and display ideas for your point of sale.
Inside Retail
OCTOBER 17, 2023
As Southeast Asia gears up for a significant rebound in consumer confidence, businesses must adapt to a paradigm shift in the way consumers prioritise their ‘wants’ versus their ‘needs’ According to a comprehensive report released by Meta , Bain & Company, and DSG Consumer Partners, a new hierarchy of consumer needs is emerging and challenging traditional definitions of discretionary and non-discretionary purchases.
Hyken
OCTOBER 17, 2023
“Curiosity killed the cat.” According to Wikipedia , this saying first appeared in a 1598 play, Every Man in His Humour , by English playwright Ben Johnson. The following year, Shakespeare used a similar quote in Much Ado About Nothing. The intent behind this saying is “to warn of the dangers of unnecessary investigation. …” In other words, be careful pushing for more information.
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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.
Inside Retail
OCTOBER 17, 2023
Leila Naja Hibri decided to depart from the CEO role at the Australian Fashion Council (AFC) early next year, once a replacement is found. “With a well-defined vision and strategic direction in place, it feels like the right time to hand responsibility for the AFC’s next phase on to a new CEO,” said Naja Hibri. Having served as CEO for almost four years, she will remain at the council as its nominated director on the board of Seamless, a scheme that aims to create a circular clothing
Retail Dive
OCTOBER 17, 2023
Shawn Curran joins the footwear and apparel brand after three decades with Gap.
Inside Retail
OCTOBER 17, 2023
Exercise equipment retailer Peloton has named Kathryn Carter as GM of its Australian operations. Carter succeeds Amanda Gilmore, who now heads the UK operations. Prior to the new role, Carter served as GM at Snap’s Asia Pacific and Australia and New Zealand businesses, and as sales director at News Corp. “Kathryn brings great experience in growing brands and communities and will be an asset to Peloton as more Australians discover and benefit from the motivating fitness experiences th
Retail Customer Experience
OCTOBER 17, 2023
Although a seemingly straightforward task, selecting a voice to represent your company takes time and thought. With more options arriving every day, particularly with the advent of AI, companies suddenly find themselves with a wealth of options.
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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.
Inside Retail
OCTOBER 17, 2023
Eastgate Bondi Junction in Sydney’s eastern suburbs has been put on the market after nearly 30 years under the same ownership. Located in the heart of Bondi Junction, the centre has more than 15,000sqm of gross lettable space. The centre boasts a non-discretionary tenant mix anchored by retail Coles, Aldi, Kmart, and Dan Murphy’s. JLL’s Nick Willis and Sam Hatcher, alongside Stonebridge’s Carl Molony, Philip Gartland and Justin Dowers, have been appointed exclusive agents for the sale.
Retail Gazette
OCTOBER 17, 2023
Next is quickly cementing itself as one of the UK’s most prolific buyers of retail businesses after it added FatFace to its shopping basket last week. The retail giant revealed on Friday it had snapped up the retailer in a £115.2m takeover deal as the lifestyle brand became the latest to join the group’s growing list of retail acquisitions.
Retail Dive
OCTOBER 17, 2023
The Swiss athletics brand has exploded in growth over the past two years. The secret to its success is hiding in plain sight.
Retail Gazette
OCTOBER 17, 2023
Sosandar will be opening its first set of bricks-and-mortar stores in spring 2024, calling the business ‘perfectly placed’ to develop its omnichannel strategy thanks to growing brand strength coupled with consumers increasingly shopping on the high street. Providing a trading update covering the six-month period ended 30 September 2023 and an update on the expansion of its omnichannel strategy, the fashion retailer said it expects revenue to grow by 10% year on year for FY24 to £46.8
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.
Retail Dive
OCTOBER 17, 2023
Hiring is expected to be low this year, according to Challenger, Gray & Christmas, but some retailers are holding steady to prior years’ plans.
Retail Gazette
OCTOBER 17, 2023
Tesco is preparing to relaunch Paperchase in store and online in the next few weeks, just 10 months after rescuing the business from administration. Paperchase’s rainbow branding has gone up in several stores across the UK, with some aisles blocked off and posters reading: “Colour coming soon” A Tesco spokesperson told Retail Gazette: “Having acquired the Paperchase brand back in January, we look forward to bringing this well-loved name to Tesco and are excited to launch
Retail Dive
OCTOBER 17, 2023
Mulligan will leave the position early next year. Laysha Ward, the company’s chief external engagement officer, is also leaving.
Retail Gazette
OCTOBER 17, 2023
John Lewis has launched a new lifestyle brand Made With Care, curated by designers and creators who have grown up in the care system. The department store retailer unveiled the brand’s first design yesterday, at an event welcoming care experienced people, charities and partners to mark the first anniversary of its Building Happier Futures programme.
Advertiser: ZoomInfo
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.
Retail Dive
OCTOBER 17, 2023
The company filed its delayed 2022 annual report on Friday and tapped former Spanx CEO Laurie Ann Goldman to take on the chief role.
Retail Wire
OCTOBER 17, 2023
With the NBA season set to begin, StubHub reports a nearly 60% surge in ticket sales compared to the previous year, with the Los Angeles Lakers emerging as
365 Retail
OCTOBER 17, 2023
In an era where digitalisation allows consumers to order anything at any time, Just Eat Takeaway.com is stepping up its game. The company is continually evolving its technology to meet the growing consumer demand for convenience, choice, and a seamless experience. AI-Powered Assistant As part of its tech-driven initiatives, Just Eat Takeaway.com is developing an AI-powered assistant aimed at enhancing everyday convenience.
Retail Customer Experience
OCTOBER 17, 2023
A session on finding tech-savvy associates and empowering them to use technology drew a large audience at last week’s groceryshop show at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas.
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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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