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Ghalia BOUSTANI. Retail Consultant | Published Author | Podcast Host Luxury brands have long been synonymous with exclusivity, craftsmanship, and an aspirational lifestyle. Over the past decade, however, the very definition of luxury has evolved beyond material products to encompass immersive experiences, with gastronomy emerging as a central player in this transformation.
Its no secret that attracting and keeping retail talent is becoming ever more difficult. To tackle this challenge, luxury giant LVMH s North American division has taken its recruiting efforts straight to the source colleges and universities. At LVMH, we believe that our people are our greatest asset, and the longevity of our brands depends on attracting the most talented and passionate individuals , said Gena Smith, Chief Human Resources Officer at LVMH North America in comments shared with Ret
Asda chair Allan Leighton has laid down his game plan for turning around the UK’s third biggest grocer and “ regaining customers trust” The supermarket chain saw its like-for-like sales slide 3.4% last year as consumers headed elsewhere for their weekly grocery shop. It was also the only grocer to see its sales fall over the crucial Christmas trading period, according to Kantar.
The emergence of AI-powered platforms has ignited a profound shift in how we interact with technology and the trajectory of the search landscape. While Google remains the dominant driver of organic website traffic for retailers, AI-powered platforms ChatGPT, Perplexity AI, Microsoft Copilot, Meta AI, ByteDance and others are claiming their stake and increasing bot traffic to websites.
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.
Broad Reach Retail Partners continues to expand its footprint and strengthen its portfolio. From leasing and acquisitions to new developments, here is a look at our latest accomplishments and upcoming opportunities. Development: Now Leasing Hartford Terrace We are excited to announce that Hartford Terrace, a new retail development in Davenport, Florida, is now leasing.
Microsoft has partnered with Curated for You to incorporate AI-powered fashion suggestions into everyday conversations in its AI assistant, Copilot. Microsoft Copilot is an AI-powered tool that integrates with various Microsoft applications and services including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams and the Microsoft Edge browser offering users a conversational chat interface to generate content, provide insights and automate tasks.
The recent announcement that Lloyds Banking Group is to shut another 136 branches by March next year is the continuation of a trend seen across the high-street banking establishment. The landscape of high-street banks has undergone significant transformation in recent years, marked by a notable trend towards downsizing physical retail banking locations.
The recent announcement that Lloyds Banking Group is to shut another 136 branches by March next year is the continuation of a trend seen across the high-street banking establishment. The landscape of high-street banks has undergone significant transformation in recent years, marked by a notable trend towards downsizing physical retail banking locations.
Following the successful debut of its initial large-format store in the Chicago suburb of Wilmette, Ill. in May 2024 , Wayfair will open its second large-format store next year in Atlanta. The 150,000-square-foot space, located within the District at Howell Mill shopping center in Atlantas Upper Westside neighborhood, will offer furniture, home dcor, housewares, appliances and home improvement essentials.
BOXHALL City, a new elevated food hall concept from BOXPARK, announces its full line-up of 13 F&B brands. The line-up brings together global cuisines, independent concepts and established favourites under one roof. Brands include pioneering plant-based restaurant Club Mexicana, independent bakery Sourdough Sophia and St James Indian restaurant Farzi.
Waitrose has confirmed the locations of the first two convenience stores it is opening this year, alongside proposals to refurbish 20 of its existing stores under its 1bn investment plan. The upmarket grocer will launch new Little Waitrose shops in Southwick, West Sussex and St Andrews, Bristol before the end of the summer, The Grocer reported. Further new site locations will be unveiled during the year.
Build-A-Bear Workshop is planning a multi-levelretail-tainmentexperience that will open in the first half of 2026 at the Icon Park entertainment complex in Orlando, Fla. The move is part of a multi-year strategic evolution and expansion of Build-A-Bear’s nearly 600 -store footprint, particularly in tourist and hospitality destinations. Construction of the experience at Icon Park is slated to begin later this year under the vision of design firm Chute Gerdeman , which also designed the FAO
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.
Screwfix, the omnichannel retailer, has announced plans to open up to 35 new stores across the UK and Ireland by the end of January 2026, creating more than 400 jobs in local communities. Hyper-convenience from store to door The ambitious store opening strategy is spearheaded by its recently launched new store format, Screwfix City. Screwfix opened seven City stores in FY24 (1 st Feb 2024 31 st Jan 2025), with plans for this to form the majority of new openings in FY25.
The Complex Role of a Category Manager Category Managers sit at the center of a high stakes balancing act. They are responsible for building a profitable, well-curated product assortment while ensuring pricing, promotions, and merchandising strategies align with business objectives. Every product decision carries weight. Misreading consumer demand could mean investing in the wrong products, missing a key trend, or failing to pull underperforming SKUs before they drain profitability.
Shein has publicly confirmed plans to float on the stock market for the first time, with the London Stock Exchange thought to be the preferred location. Executive chairman Donald Tang told The Times that he wanted the fashion giant to embrace theaccountability and transparency of being a public company. Tang refused to comment on the timing, valuation and destination of a listing, but stated that Shein would list whenever its appropriate.
Shaftesbury Capital has announced two new signings on James Street with a UK flagship store for lifestyle and performance footwear brandSaucony, and Swiss watchmaker,Swatch.The duo of signings plays a crucial role in further strengthening James Street, one of Covent Gardens leading retail hubs and a key gateway to the neighbourhood. Saucony, the global lifestyle performance-running brand that fuses innovation, style and culture, has signed at 4 James Street for its flagship UK store, spanning 3,
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.
Asda has warned that its profits for the upcoming year will take a hit as it ramps up spending on its turnaround efforts. Chair Allan Leighton said the supermarket chain will be undertaking a “substantive and well backed programme of investment in price, availability and the shopping experience” in the year ahead. He cautioned the spend will “materially reduce our profit in this year as we start to rebuild and reset the business” “I look at this as an investment war
Donatella Versace will step down as chief creative officer of the brand and assume the role of chief brand ambassador on April 1. Todays announcements were part of a thoughtful succession plan for Versace, said John D Idol, chairman and CEO of Capri Holdings. Since 1997, Donatella has led the creative vision for the House of Versace and played an integral role in the companys global success.
iStock/Vadym Gannenko Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., says he will vote to keep the government open, signaling a path for Democrats to vote with Republicans to overcome a filibuster in the Senate and pass a six-month spending bill ahead of a Friday deadline. "As bad as passing the CR is, allowing Donald Trump to take even more power via a government shutdown is a far worse option," Schumer said.
Harvey Norman has confirmed its continued UK expansion with the announcement of a new store and UK headquarters at Gracechurch, Royal Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands. The multinational home and lifestyle retailer has signed a 20-year lease for a 53,000 sq. ft. retail space, marking a significant addition to the shopping centre. The site, previously home to British Home Stores (BHS) until its closure in 2016, will be transformed into a state-of-the-art retail destination.
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 Times publishes international & UK retail news covering products, data, tech, packaging, people, research, comment and more besides! With just over three months until the EUs European Accessibility Acts highly anticipated implementation date, new research by Storyblok reveals that only 25% of European businesses say they are fully prepared to comply with the Acts provisions.
H&M has unveiled its newly refurbished Home flagship on Londons Regent Street as the fashion giant continues its store upgrade programme. The retailer said its 700 sqm store embodies contemporary design, warmth and inspiration and described it as a paradise for all interior and home lovers. The flagship features a new refined design concept, with a blend of creamy whites, light wood and black accents alongside stone textures, stainless steel and chrome.
Retail Times publishes international & UK retail news covering products, data, tech, packaging, people, research, comment and more besides! Bitcoin remains a popular choice for those looking to invest in digital assets, but many people dont realize how much they lose to fees when converting USD to BTC. Whether youre making a one-time purchase or planning to trade frequently, reducing fees can help you get more value from your investment.
We are pleased to announce the successful sale of Wood River Plaza, a 65,838-square-foot shopping center located in Wood River, Illinois, approximately 15 miles northeast of downtown St. Louis. Our company originally acquired the property in August 2017 and has since executed a robust value-enhancement strategy, culminating in the propertys sale in January 2024.
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
Retail Times publishes international & UK retail news covering products, data, tech, packaging, people, research, comment and more besides! In 2024,Nexiled the growth of mobile payments in Italy, recording a 61% increase in spending volumes from smartphones and smartwatches. The European PayTech once again drove the growth of a sector that, according to data released today by the Innovative Payments Observatory of the School of Management of the Milan Polytechnic, recorded an overall increas
Screwfix is planning to open 35 more stores across the UK and Ireland by the end of January 2026. The retailer said the new shops, which will create more than 400 jobs, will mostly comprise of its new small-format Screwfix City concept. The stores located in higher footfall areas offer a range of more than 3,000 essential products via click and collect, with an additional 48,000 items available online for next day collection.
Retail Times publishes international & UK retail news covering products, data, tech, packaging, people, research, comment and more besides! Today (Friday 14thMarch), drivers across the country will be able to take advantage of an immediate 4ppl cut in the price of both petrol and diesel at all Asda and Asda Express branded forecourts. Asda has long been the price leader in fuel across the market and this latest move re-affirms its position as the […] If you want more information Retail
Danish menswear brand Jack & Jones has officially opened its latest UK store at Silverburn , further enhancing the retail destinations fashion offering. Known for its premium denim and contemporary menswear, the brand brings its signature style to Glasgow shoppers with a diverse collection of essentials, including high-quality jeans, tailored suits, and premium leather goods.
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.
Retail Times publishes international & UK retail news covering products, data, tech, packaging, people, research, comment and more besides! E-commerce merchants are bracing themselves for a significant rise in AI-powered fraud over the next 12 months, according to a new report from fraud prevention platformRavelin. The majority (91%) of retailers, travel companies, digital goods providers, and marketplaces are worried about criminals turning to AI to attack them and their customers and there
Retail Times publishes international & UK retail news covering products, data, tech, packaging, people, research, comment and more besides! Supermalt has launched a new Design Your Can competition in collaboration with the Windrush Generation Legacy Association (WGLA) to give emerging designers an exciting opportunity to showcase their work. Synonymous with Afro-Caribbean history and culture, the brand is looking for budding creatives who are resilient and hardworkingyet often underrepresent
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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