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Martech advancements are amplifying the opportunity to understand the behaviours, needs and preferences of consumers and convert into the right message in the right channel at the right time. Analysing the vast amounts of data from various sources informs strategies to predict trends, personalise content and optimise campaign delivery in real time. The influence of AI technologies is unquestionable, but AI isn’t the only challenger to traditional digital media.
Easing inflation, the looming threat of potential tariffs and heavy discounting saw Americans spend in record numbers over the Thanksgiving weekend, with U.S. retail sales (excluding automotive) up 3.4% on Black Friday according to Mastercard SpendingPulse , which measures in-store and online retail sales across all payment types. Online sales saw an even bigger bump, with Adobe Analytics reporting a new milestone for ecommerce on Black Friday as consumers spent a record $10.8 billion online, up
Collins Foods booked slightly higher revenue in the half-year ended October 30, reflecting modest growth in Australia and softness in Europe. The fast food chain operator saw revenue from continuing operations rise 1.2 per cent year over year to $703.5 million. KFC Australia’s revenue increased 2.7 per cent to $536.8 million, thanks to six net new restaurants during the period.
Leem, the international womenswear brand celebrated for its stylish and modest designs, will open its first permanent UK store at Westfield London, White City on 15 December 2024. This development follows the overwhelming success of Leem’s pop-up shop at the same location and represents a significant milestone in the brand’s strategy to expand its presence across the UK.
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.
Retail is undergoing a seismic shift, driven by technological advancements and changing consumer expectations. Digital transformation has emerged as a necessity for businesses to stay competitive and thrive in the modern market. In this comprehensive guide, we will explore the core components of retail digitization, highlighting its transformative benefits, potential challenges, and provide practical steps to help you step up your digital game.
Woolworths Group said its Australian food sales have been negatively affected by about $50 million due to industrial action, as workers seek pay rise in excess of 25 per cent over three years. “Until the industrial action is resolved, a further impact to sales is expected,” the supermarket chain said in a statement. “The full financial impact at this stage is unknown.” The United Workers Union (UWU) launched an indefinite strike action at four Woolworths sites on November
Hungry for luxury, Louis Vuitton fans? Head to 57 th Street in New York to not only shop the brand’s fashionable creations but eat them too. Louis Vuitton has opened a new five -floor flagship designed to combine luxury retail, culture and gastronomy, according to a company statement. The store is meant to be a temporary destination as the brand’s historic Fifth Avenue flagship undergoes a three -year renovation process.
Hungry for luxury, Louis Vuitton fans? Head to 57 th Street in New York to not only shop the brand’s fashionable creations but eat them too. Louis Vuitton has opened a new five -floor flagship designed to combine luxury retail, culture and gastronomy, according to a company statement. The store is meant to be a temporary destination as the brand’s historic Fifth Avenue flagship undergoes a three -year renovation process.
The 2024 edition of MAPIC concluded with a variety of discussions and showcases from the retail and property sectors. This year’s event attracted 4,400 participants, including 1,800 retail representatives—a 12% increase compared to 2023—demonstrating robust interest and activity in the industry. LeisurUp: Integrating Leisure and Retail A key highlight of MAPIC 2024 was LeisurUp , the dedicated space for leisure and immersive experiences.
In 1982, Martha Stewart made her entrance onto the mass-market stage with the publication of her book, Entertaining. She has since gone on to write 99 more , not to mention becoming the first female self-made billionaire in American history when she took Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia (MSLO) public in 1999. Widely considered to be the “original influencer,” Martha Stewart has skillfully used her good looks, personal stories and skill to build a massive following, well before social media made t
Nikita Karizma, a British-Indian fashion designer, leads her eponymous London-based brand. Inspired by her family’s three-generation Indian saree business and its cultural significance, she creates designs celebrating individual identity. Starting with a £2000 custom order from British girl group Little Mix after graduating from the London College of Fashion, the brand has evolved from custom pieces to a ready-to-wear label.
After a +4.8 percent year-on-year boost to in-store traffic on Black Friday (29th Nov 2024), footfall on the Saturday of the Black Friday weekend (30th Nov 2024) rose +1.4 percent compared to 2023 Shopper traffic on Saturday (30th Nov 2024) delivered a +30.8 percent week-on-week jump, with the High Street seeing the greatest footfall gains, rising to +39.9 percent compared to the week prior After a stellar performance over Friday and Saturday, store visits dipped on the Sunday of the Black Frida
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.
The final quarter of the year, also known as Q4, is a make-or-break moment for many product manufacturers. With a slew of high-impact shopping events driving consumer spending, this is your prime opportunity to maximize revenue, build brand awareness, and move products off shelves quicker than at any other time of the year. This post will explore the top 4 shopping events of Q4— Black Friday , Cyber Monday , Small Business Saturday , and Super Saturday —and provide actionable strategies for how
There are many elements that must come together to create great retail. Among the most crucial are not location, range, sales, store layouts, delivery, competitive prices, or even engaging staff. Instead, it’s how retailers package these components into a retail experience and effectively communicate these benefits to their audience. Great communications are the secret sauce for retailers.
Hundreds of retail workers have taken part in free training from the charity Retail Trust to help protect them against an expected rise in abusive incidents over Christmas. Part of work to help shop staff and delivery drivers feel safer during the busy festive shopping period, more than 1,300 people from over 200 retailers registered for the masterclasses on managing challenging situations in London and online earlier this month.
Asda is at risk of being forced to refinance its multi-billion pound debt pile ahead of a steep repayment owed to former owner Walmart. The supermarket’s looming £900m bill due by 2028 could threaten the chain’s entire capital structure, according to credit rating agency Fitch. Fitch said Asda may need to refinance in order to repay the debt, which consists of £500m for Walmart’s remaining stake and £400m in interest.
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.
Deliveroo and Accessorize , the jewellery and fashion accessories retailer, have launched an exclusive partnership offering on-demand delivery of over 700 products in under 25 minutes. Known for its presence on high streets, in airports, and train stations, Accessorize is now making its collection accessible via Deliveroo for the first time. The collaboration is timed for the festive season, catering to customers seeking convenience during the busy period.
Officeworks has acquired digital education company Box of Books, advancing its business-to-business growth and expanding its education offer. More than 200 schools in Australia are currently using Box of Books, a provider of e-books and digital resources, publisher interactive accounts, as well as physical textbooks and stationery. “Box of Books is well positioned to expand as schools around Australia continue to digitise,” said Sarah Hunter, Officeworks MD. “This acquisition e
Burlington Stores plans to open 101 net-new stores during its current fiscal year, which ends Feb. 1, 2025. The value-priced retailer, which currently operates 1,103 stores in 46 states, Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico, had a strong Q3: total sales grew 11% compared to the same period the previous year, although comparable store sales only rose 1%.
Fast-growing specialty e-commerce sites such as PDD’s Temu and its rival Shein are branching deeper into the business of selling toys as many American and European shoppers prepare to seek out steep bargains during the Black Friday weekend. In previous years, Temu and Shein – which sell primarily from mobile phone-based apps – would not have been the usual places for shoppers to buy toys and other holiday gifts.
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.
Mothercare has swung to a half-year loss after sales plunged more than a quarter. The nursery specialist fell to a pre-tax loss of £1.4m in the 26 weeks to 28 September, down from a profit of £1.8m the year before. Sales dropped 27% to £21m over the period as worldwide retail revenue from Mothercare’s franchise partners decreased 12% to £121.2m.
Pre-loved fashion is having its moment, and for good reason. In the past year, 42% of U.S. shoppers have purchased secondhand items at a lower cost, with the added benefit of ensuring clothing gets a new lease of life and avoids landfills. With the sector valued at $43.9 billion in 2024 , brands in this space are flourishing. Ebay was the pioneer in the category, but we’ve seen new pre-loved brands emerge over the past decade, such as Mercari, Poshmark and Vinted.
The rise of online marketplaces has transformed the retail landscape, offering a myriad of opportunities for sellers but also presenting a set of unique challenges. In Q4 2023, third-party sellers accounted for over 60% of Amazon’s sales, underscoring the essential role these platforms play in today’s retail ecosystem. Yet, as marketplaces and sellers multiply, marketplace sellers find themselves grappling with two major challenges that hinder their ability to compete effectively.
Whether managing risk and compliance, retail media, marketing campaigns or allocating staffing resources, retailers are under growing pressure to meet the evolving needs of their consumers and stay ahead of competitors in a market flooded with promotions and campaigns. “It can be a challenge finding the right time to address the fast-paced, often siloed organisational structure of retail businesses,” explains Gavin Watson, senior industry lead, Asia-Pacific, Japan at Monday.com.
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
Sensormatic Solutions , the leading global retail solutions portfolio of Johnson Controls , has shared its first look into in-store shopper traffic for Black Friday 2024. The brand’s ShopperTrak Analytics insights platform, which captures 40 billion store visits globally each year, indicates that footfall rose +4.8% year-on-year on Black Friday (29 Nov 2024), while store visits also rose +17% rise during the week of Black Friday (16 – 22 Nov 2024 vs 23 – 29 Nov 2024).
Retail Times publishes international & UK retail news covering products, data, tech, packaging, people, research, comment and more besides! It’s called the most wonderful time of the year – but millions of over 60’s are facing a completely Silent Night – and Day – this Christmas season, with one in 10 not sure they will speak to anyone across the festive period.
Cadogan is pleased to announce that The Gingerbread City has arrived in Chelsea at its newly completed landmark development on the King’s Road, The Gaumont. The annual exhibition challenges top architects and designers to construct an entire city using only gingerbread and sweets, aiming to inspire conversations about cities and how we live in them in a fun, accessible way.
Retail Times publishes international & UK retail news covering products, data, tech, packaging, people, research, comment and more besides! Pets at Home is thrilled to announce the grand unveiling of its newly designed flagship Pet Care Centre in New Malden, on Friday 29th November – a game changing destination that sets a new gold standard for pet care.
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.
Ulta Beauty will spread joy and promote wellness with activations at Miami Art Week that include the House of Joy, a cultural and content-rich experience promoting self-expression, creativity and inclusivity through beauty. On Dec. 7 from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m., Ulta will offer beauty giveaways, hair and makeup services from Ulta stylists, photo opportunities, a permanent bracelet station and mood-boosting sounds from DJ Millie.
Retail Times publishes international & UK retail news covering products, data, tech, packaging, people, research, comment and more besides! Majestic, the UK’s largest specialist wine retailer, has partnered with fintech charity Pennies to enable its customers to quickly and conveniently donate to charity when paying by card for their wines, beers and spirits.
This episode of Amazing Business Radio with Shep Hyken answers the following questions and more: How can companies effectively integrate new technology into existing systems to enhance customer experience? Why is creating a frictionless customer experience important, and how can businesses achieve it? Why is understanding consumer behavior crucial for improving customer experience?
Retail Times publishes international & UK retail news covering products, data, tech, packaging, people, research, comment and more besides! Today shoppers are predicted to spend a whopping £3.33bn online and in-store as they hunt down the last Black Friday deals. The Shopping for Christmas 2024: The Black Friday Sales Report by VoucherCodes.co.uk reveals consumers are forecast to spend £3.67 million each minute today, stocking up on Christmas presents, electricals and the latest fashion.
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.
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