Retail Focus

JULY 3, 2023

Brands and retailers rely on the supply chain so that they can continue to operate and get products to customers. However, with fresh challenges, a cost of living crisis and many other factors getting in the way, the supply chain for many of these brands is struggling, which is impacting operations all over the globe. The supply chain in the UK has been in crisis since 2021 and in the year ending June 2022, it was estimated to have cost small and medium-sized businesses £3.9 billion , which only

Fulfillment 130

Fulfillment Shipping Management Promotions 130

Retail TouchPoints

JULY 3, 2023

Rhode Island-based jeweler Alex and Ani reportedly closed 20 stores and vacated its headquarters in East Greenwich, according to The Providence Journal and other media outlets. The retailer “has implemented a work-from-anywhere model that allows Alex and Ani to hire talent all across the country,” according to CEO Scott Burger, and will explore “future alternatives for office space.” “Alex and Ani has been reimagining various aspects of our company over the past few years,” said Burg

Location 285

Location Consumer Store Operations ATS 285

Inside Retail

JULY 3, 2023

Scentre Group is looking for an investor interested in taking a 50-per-cent stake in its Westfield Whitford City shopping mall in WA. The centre is located 20kms north of Perth in the coastal suburb of Hillarys and is expected to fetch around $250 million. Anchored by Coles, Woolworths and Aldi supermarkets along with Kmart and Big W, the mall underwent an $80 million redevelopment in 2017 when a dining and entertainment precinct, an eight-screen Event Cinemas and a bowling alley were added.

Supermarket 245

Supermarket Shopping Location Planning 245

Retail TouchPoints

JULY 3, 2023

European lifestyle brand Snipes kickstarted its U.S. debut in 2019 through the acquisition of KicksUSA , which gave the retailer access to 63 stores and an ecommerce platform. However, reaching its current level of success — 308 U.S. stores and 12X digital revenue growth over the past few years — has required Snipes to reimagine the approach it took in Europe while powering operations with a strong technology stack. “ If you asked our CEO pre-pandemic who we were, he would say we are a marketing

Management 260

Management Payment Services Drop-Shipping Marketing 260

Speaker: Loreal Lynch, Everett Zufelt, and Michaela Weber

Once upon a time, in the vast realm of online commerce, there lived a humble checkout button overlooked by many. Yet, within its humble click lay the power to transform a mere visitor into a loyal customer. 🧐 💡 Getting checkout right can mark the difference between a successful sale and an abandoned cart, yet many businesses fail to make payments a part of their commerce strategy even when it has a direct impact on revenue.

Checkout

Inside Retail

JULY 3, 2023

Japanese lifestyle brand Uniqlo will launch its first physical location in Canberra later this year, following demands from Canberra residents. The 1210sqm store will feature the entire LifeWear range, including ’23 Spring Summer Collection, six self-check-out machines, and 12 changing rooms for consumers to try on the apparel. The company is looking for roles including sales associate partner, store administrator and alterations specialists.

Apparel 244

Apparel Location Planning Consumer 244

Retail TouchPoints

JULY 3, 2023

1-800-Flowers.com will replace its current CEO, Christopher McCann, with a familiar name and face: Jim McCann, who led the company as CEO from inception through 2016. Christopher McCann is stepping down for personal health reasons, effective immediately, but will remain on the company’s board and as an officer of various subsidiaries. Jim McCann will retain his Chairman role along with regaining his CEO title.

ATS 256

ATS Management Marketing 256

Retail TouchPoints

JULY 3, 2023

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has proposed a new rule to crack down on fake online reviews, which the agency noted are likely to become more prevalent with the rise of generative AI. If passed, the new rule would ban the use of fake reviews in online listings as well as the suppression of negative reviews and paying for positive reviews. The formal rule proposal follows a series of case-by-case enforcement actions taken by the FTC, including a settlement with Fashion Nova for $4.2 million f

Advertising 244

Advertising Consumer Fashion Management 244

Inside Retail

JULY 3, 2023

The GS1 barcode, born on April 3, 1973, has been an indispensable force in shaping the world over the past 50 years. Originally conceived as a universal standard for product identification in retail, a joint effort among grocery industry leaders, paved the way for the formation of the GS1 global organisation we know today. Though often overlooked, the barcode’s impact is immense, with more than 6 billion scans conducted daily worldwide.

Checkout 130

Checkout Promotions Management Consumer 130

Retail TouchPoints

JULY 3, 2023

As consumers, we’ve learned how to adjust to and enjoy new shopping formats. Many of us have become experts at navigating an ecommerce site in seconds, and some of us may even pay for groceries via mobile apps on our smartphones. We’ve grown accustomed to these various retail touch points, and as a result, we’ve started to notice omnichannel inconsistencies that might never have occurred to us before — raising our own expectations of our favorite brands and retailers.

Consumer 225

Consumer Inventory Management Point of Sale Location 225

Inside Retail

JULY 3, 2023

Generative AI is already reshaping the retail industry in profound ways and, according to industry leaders , it has the potential to transform the shopping and retail experience. Google is one of many organisations seeking to capitalise on these innovations. Introduced to US shoppers in June this year, its virtual try-on feature matches online clothing items with models of different shapes and sizes.

Fashion 130

Fashion Accessories Returns Visual Merchandising 130

Advertisement

Adopting MACH technology means more than implementing new platforms. This type of digital change affects your organization at every level and requires a thoughtful approach to navigate challenges that crop up. The Get MACH Ready report, co-authored by MACH Alliance member Scott Canney in collaboration with Orium, commercetools, and Contentstack, will provide you with strategies to prepare your organization for a digital transformation.

Management

Retail Gazette

JULY 3, 2023

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has fined Asda £60,000 over failing to provide information for its fuel pricing probe. The supermarket was handed two fines, each valued at £30,000, for “failing to respond to a compulsory written request for information” and for sending a representative to a CMA meeting who was not equipped to provide appropriate evidence.

Supermarket 120

Supermarket Marketing Consumer ATS 120

Inside Retail

JULY 3, 2023

This week, online book retailer Booktopia announced that it has secured $8.1 million in funding through private investors and extended its Australian Financial Solutions Group loan facility, which will be used to finalise the construction of its purpose-built customer fulfilment centre. The deal will see approximately 81 million new shares issued, as well as a partial conversion of its loan to equity, and sets the business up for a period of growth in FY24, according to recently appointed chief

Returns 130

Returns Fulfillment Planning Consumer 130

Retail Gazette

JULY 3, 2023

Shoppers who prefer to use self-service checkouts may have noticed some changes of late. Retailers including Morrisons and Sainsbury’s have i ntroduced barriers in self-scan areas in some stores, where proof of purchase is required before they can exit. The gates have different means of being opened depending on the retailer, with Sainsbury’s requiring shoppers to scan the receipt, whilst Morrisons’s electronic gates open automatically when the system registers a transaction.

Checkout 109

Checkout Supermarket Fashion Shopping 109

A1 Retail

JULY 3, 2023

Jess Morris, Head European Marketplace Manager at B-Stock , comments on how the retail industry can overcome the challenges of modern-day deliveries and returns to keep customers happy and retailers from losing out. There are two main challenges that retailers are facing: Rising Customer Expectations: Customers now have higher expectations regarding delivery speed, accuracy, and convenience.

Returns 98

Returns Shipping Fulfillment Advertising 98

Speaker: David Azoulay, Marc Stracuzza, Román Tejada, and Guest Speaker Sucharita Kodali

Imagine a retail landscape where every interaction is personalized, every decision informed, and every opportunity maximized 🤔✨ Join us for an exploratory journey into the heart of AI-driven retail innovation. We’ll unveil the transformative potential of AI and data analytics in shaping the future of omnichannel personalization and e-commerce.

Customer Experience

Retail Gazette

JULY 3, 2023

JD Sports has signed its first franchise agreement as it looks to expand its presence in the Middle East under its five-year global growth strategy. The sportswear retailer has inked a 10-year partnership with Dubai-headquartered wellbeing company GMG. As part of the deal, the business will open around 50 stores with the JD fascia in the United Arab Emirates, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Egypt by 2028.

Promotions 104

Promotions Management Consumer Marketing 104

Miller Zell

JULY 3, 2023

Back-to-school/college and holiday shopping are retailers’ busiest times, but the type of “busy” varies year to year. That’s because customer wants and needs evolve based on many factors, from economic issues to the newest and hottest products and trends to retail technological advancements.

Shopping 97

Shopping Retail Marketing Marketing 97

Retail Gazette

JULY 3, 2023

M&S is rewarding customers with money off children’s clothes when they donate used school uniforms, as part of its latest push to support families with the rising cost of living. The initiative is an extension to the retailer’s “shwopping” partnership with Oxfam , and shoppers can receive 20% off selected kids’ ranges via the Sparks scheme for taking part.

Department Stores 103

Department Stores Shopping 103

Retail Times

JULY 3, 2023

Retail Times publishes international & UK retail news covering products, data, tech, packaging, people, research, comment and more besides! Aldi has been named the UK’s Favourite Supermarket at the annual Good Housekeeping Food Awards. The title, which was voted for by thousands of Good Housekeeping readers, is one of five accolades awarded to Aldi – more than any other retailer.

Supermarket 81

Supermarket ATS 81

Advertisement

Understanding the intricate world of Point-of-Sale (POS) technology is a common challenge for tech buyers. When it comes to defining the functions of Point-of-Sale systems, the communications have yet to be standardized–—until now. Forrester’s new report, Demystifying The Technical Functions of POS Solutions, breaks through the noise and provides business leaders with the information and tools they need to evaluate the features of POS systems.

Point of Sale

Retail Gazette

JULY 3, 2023

PrettyLittleThing will launch a collaboration with supermodel Naomi Campbell. The fast fashion giant announced the tie-up on Instagram this weekend, posting a reel of a co-branded director’s chair. The post suggests that Campbell will design a collection for the business which is set to arrive “soon” View this post on Instagram A post shared by PrettyLittleThing (@prettylittlething) Subscribe to Retail Gazette for free Sign up here to g et the latest news straight into your i

Fast Fashion 97

Fast Fashion Fashion Consumer 97

RIS News

JULY 3, 2023

Most CIOs at large companies are growing their IT teams, according to Gartner, and are relaxing some requirements in order to fill their ranks.

ATS 83

ATS 83

365 Retail

JULY 3, 2023

Selfridges is dialling up the fun of shopping secondhand with the launch of A Swap Shop by LOANHOOD, taking up residency in Selfridges London 10th – 30th July. For the first time, Selfridges’ customers can bring in their preowned pieces to exchange for stamps to ‘shop’ a curation of secondhand pieces to take home, offering another way to revive and refresh wardrobes while reducing fashion consumption.

Shopping 73

Shopping Fashion Department Stores ATS 73

Retail Gazette

JULY 3, 2023

Ocado Group has hired Amazon director Gregor Ulitzka for the new role of European president for its Solutions business. Ulitzka was director of supply chain and inventory management for Europe at Amazon and has also spent 13 years working for German grocer Metro. He said: “Ocado already partners with some of Europe’s most recognised names in grocery.

Inventory Management 62

Inventory Management Grocer Location Management 62

Speaker: Jennifer Wright, Michael Scholz, Jasmin Guthmann, and Scott Canney

Digital transformation in retail is so much more than new technology. You need to get your whole organization, from entry-level workers to executives, on board with the new tech, new skills, and culture changes that digital transformation brings. Leading this mindset shift can be a daunting task… but that’s where this webinar comes in! Join our panel of experts as they guide you through the challenges of digital transformation, preparing you to avoid common mistakes and make the most of incredib

Management

365 Retail

JULY 3, 2023

DPD has confirmed plans to expand autonomous robot deliveries to 10 UK towns and cities in the next 12 months, following a successful trial in Milton Keynes, starting with Raunds in Northamptonshire. The announcement extends DPD’s relationship with AI-powered robotics and last mile delivery specialists, Cartken and follows work by DPD that identified up to 30 UK depot locations which could potentially deploy robots.

Location 73

Location Returns Marketing Planning 73

Retail Gazette

JULY 3, 2023

Superdrug has named deals expert and TV presenter Chloe Carmichael as its new cost-of-living ambassador as it looks to support shoppers feeling the pinch. Carmichael, who runs a 60,000+ strong online community Chloe’s Deal Club, will be working with the business from July to September to raise awareness on summer savings and the best value own-brand products across key categories.

Beauty and Health 62

Beauty and Health Promotions Shopping ATS 62

365 Retail

JULY 3, 2023

As retailers start planning ahead of the ‘golden quarter’, new research from eBay Ads uncovers that consumers are set to prioritise ‘pre-loved’ electronics purchases, with younger generations leading the charge in the rising popularity of refurbished tech. The findings show an avid interest in buying second-hand electronics from consumers, with the reasons for this being twin track – almost one in three (31%) consumers say they are more likely to buy second-hand electronics this year to sa

Consumer 73

Consumer Planning Shopping 73

A1 Retail

JULY 3, 2023

Boohoo, global e-tailer has announced that they have teamed up with global icon Barbie® to launch a limited edition capsule collection that is equal parts feminine and festive, perfect to kick off the summer in. “While creating the Barbie x Boohoo collection, we wanted to go after the hottest trends of the season while bringing the casual streetwear vibe that we know our girl loves.

Accessories 59

Accessories Fashion Consumer Shopping 59

Advertisement

Did you know—74% of IT leaders are looking to improve their tech stack to offer better personalization? It’s impossible to ignore the importance of personalization, but it comes with challenges. How do you do it with a tight budget? What about customer privacy and the use of data? The Personalization Playbook is packed with research and insights from Orium, Talon.One, and Bloomreach and gives IT leaders answers to these tough questions, helping them shape 2024 strategies for personalization.

365 Retail

JULY 3, 2023

CBRE Investment Management (CBRE IM) has announced the official launch of Deichmann, one of the largest footwear retailers in Europe at the Ashley Centre, Epsom. The retail giant’s new store has opened in the former Sports Direct unit, covering 3,498 sq ft, following a £400k investment by Deichmann, reflecting the brand’s new retail format to deliver a more spacious and modern shopping experience, opposite retailers such as Pandora, WHSmith and Hotel Chocolat.

ATS 59

ATS Management Shopping Marketing 59

A1 Retail

JULY 3, 2023

centre:mk, one of the top 10 retail and leisure destinations in the UK, has welcomed Pho, the Vietnamese street food group. The 4,133 sq ft restaurant seats approximately 100 guests in a unique and vibrant space, perfect for relaxed and informal dining. Pho centre:mk offers a menu of freshly prepared, great value Vietnamese food, including the iconic national dish, phở noodle soup, as well as a range of aromatic curries and rice bowls such as its New Spicy Chicken Curry, Vegan Chicken Fried Rice

ATS 59

ATS 59

Retail Times

JULY 3, 2023

Retail Times publishes international & UK retail news covering products, data, tech, packaging, people, research, comment and more besides! Riverside Greetings is partnering with Ascona Retail, the UK’s fastest growing forecourt operator, to develop the greeting card business in each of its 62 retail sites. The greeting card market is growing and is currently worth £1.4 billion in the UK.

Marketing 59

Marketing 59

A1 Retail

JULY 3, 2023

Local entrepreneurs are getting ready to launch their businesses at a new retail concept in The Shires Shopping Centre, Trowbridge. Microshops is aimed at fledgling independent retailers who want to rent a high-quality retail “pod” on a flexible and affordable basis and who do not want to commit thousands of pounds on a shop unit. Opening on 6 th July on the ground floor opposite the Trowbridge Museum entrance in the former Julian House Charity Shop.

Accessories 59

Accessories Fashion Shopping Management 59

Speaker: Shaunna Bruton - Associate Director of Product Strategy at Orium | Sam Panzer - Director of Industry Strategy at Talon.One | Frank Passantino - Director of Product Management at Bloomreach

More and more, customers are expecting a better personalized CX. But can retailers actually deliver? Data from McKinsey shows that companies that excel in personalization increase their revenue by 40%, but despite these numbers, retailers struggle to implement customer personalization strategies. So what are the potential solutions? Join us to gain a better understanding of the current retail landscape and learn what you can do to translate personalization strategies into practical implementatio

Customer Experience