Retail TouchPoints

MAY 19, 2025

In just a few short years, artificial intelligence (AI) has transitioned from a futuristic concept to an operational reality in retail. As consumers increasingly embrace AI-powered tools from generative AI platforms like ChatGPT to customer service chatbots retailers are presented with an exciting opportunity to optimize the customer experience. However, along with this potential for transformation come some significant challenges that need to be addressed.

Customer Experience 189

Customer Experience Consumer Inventory Management Marketing 189

Inside Retail

MAY 19, 2025

Alquemie Group has sold luxury Australian womens brand Ginger & Smart for a token amount to an undisclosed buyer, along with its remaining SurfStitch assets. Inside Retail reported SurfStitch’s website to be down last week, with its social media posts carrying inquiries regarding unfulfilled orders and refunds as recently as two weeks ago.

Department Stores 252

Department Stores Consumer ATS Accessories 252

Retail Wire

MAY 19, 2025

The U.S. government is pressuring food companies to replace synthetic dyes with natural colors. While many have openly accepted the new ingredient suggestions, the Spangler Candy Company is resisting the movement. Spangler, which makes iconic candies like Dum Dums lollipops and Sweethearts, uses Yellow 5 and Red 40 in some of its products. The Ohio candy maker wants to keep its current formulations as long as possible, saying some natural colors alter the taste of the final product.

Consumer 261

Consumer ATS 261

Retail TouchPoints

MAY 19, 2025

Bath & Body Works has named Daniel Heaf as its new CEO, effective immediately. He replaces Gina Boswell , who is stepping down from the post and the companys board. Heaf brings two decades of experience, most recently as Chief Strategy and Transformation Officer at Nike and featuring stints at Burberry and BBC Worldwide. No specific reason was given for Boswells departure, but Sarah Nash, Chair of the Bath & Body Works Board, thanked her in a statement: In the post-COVID normalization pe

Consumer 147

Consumer Returns Location Planning 147

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.

Planning

Retail Wire

MAY 19, 2025

Subway was once one of the most popular restaurant chains in the United States and across the globe. In recent years, however, the company has closed thousands of locations, with as many as 1,600 locations closing since 2022 in the U.S. alone. Let’s look at what’s going on and what that means for the brand’s future. Subway Closed Over 1,600 Locations Since 2022 According to USA Today , which examined franchise disclosure records for its report, the number of Subway shops in the

Location 195

Location Shopping Management ATS 195

Inside Retail

MAY 19, 2025

This year, Australian skincare pioneer Mukti Organics celebrates an incredible 25 years in business. What began as a humble stall at the Eumundi Market, has now grown into a globally recognised, award-winning beauty brand known for its commitment to clean, sustainable beauty. Stocked by leading domestic retailers such as Adore Beauty and Nourished Life, alongside a plethora of international stockists, Mukti Organics is also trusted by high-end salons and spas globally, including the Rosewood Kau

Marketing 130

Marketing Consumer ATS 130

Retail Focus

MAY 19, 2025

Newbie, a part of the Kappahl Group, is continuing its international growth with an ambitious expansion plan. The company is intensifying its presence in the UK with several new store openings planned for 2025. Newbie will increase the number of UK stores from seven to thirteen during 2025. The first new opening, scheduled to take place in Bromley on 22nd May, will be followed by a store in Windsor and four additional stores in strategic locations across the London area.

Accessories 147

Accessories Planning Marketing Fashion 147

Retail Wire

MAY 19, 2025

Publix has announced that it is recalling pouches of some of its most popular baby food due to fears of lead contamination. As reported by WFTV in Orlando, Florida, the popular grocery chain is recalling GreenWise Pear, Kiwi, Spinach, and Pea baby food pouches. According to company execs, the 4-ounce plastic bags may contain “elevated levels of lead.” Customers who return the items to their nearest store location will receive a complete refund.

Grocer 147

Grocer Returns Consumer Location 147

Inside Retail

MAY 19, 2025

Electronics and services retailer Kogan has recorded robust sales growth in the third quarter of this year. Kogans gross sales were at $280.5 million during the quarter, up by 20.2 per cent from $233.5 million in the same quarter last year. The groups gross revenue dropped 0.7 per cent due to a decline at Mighty Ape, offsetting an 8.4 per cent growth in Kogans website.

Marketing 130

Marketing ATS 130

Retail TouchPoints

MAY 19, 2025

Pottery Barn , a portfolio brand of Williams-Sonoma Inc., will makes its United Kingdom debut this fall with a UK-specific website offering a curated selection of furniture, bedding, lighting and decorative accessories. The launch also will mark the introduction of the brands complimentary design services in the country, offering personalized styling assistance both in homes and online.

Accessories 147

Accessories Marketing Customer Experience 147

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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

MAY 19, 2025

Burberrys annual results, released last week, offer the first real test of CEO JoshuaSchulmans turnround strategy Burberry Forward and a reminder of the brutal arithmetic that underpins it. Revenue for the full year ended March 30 reached 2.46 billion, down 12 per cent year on year, with sales dropping across all regions led by Asia Pacific. Burberry Forward Schulman, Burberrys fourth chief executive in a decade, was hired last July to arrest the companys years of drift.

Marketing 130

Marketing Planning ATS Accessories 130

Retail Wire

MAY 19, 2025

Dave & Buster’s has announced a new Summer Season Pass, giving customers a new way to play and save money. According to a press release , this exciting upgrade includes unlimited video gameplay, daily deals on food and drinks, access to exclusive new games, and the chance to score awesome prizes. Its everything customers need for a full season of fun, without breaking the bank.

Kiosk 130

Kiosk Location ATS Marketing 130

Retail Dive

MAY 19, 2025

Through its Shipt service, the mass retailer will give subscribers access to same-day delivery at Petco, PetSmart, CVS, and more, all without price markups.

Shopping 114

Shopping ATS 114

Retail Wire

MAY 19, 2025

Bath & Body Works is soon set to have a new CEO helming the company, as CNBC reported, its second in fewer than three years. Daniel Heaf formerly Nike’s chief strategy and transformation officer before his position was axed by the footwear company’s new CEO, Elliott Hill will be taking over from Gina Boswell. Boswell stepped down from her role as CEO and a board member, effective immediately.

Beauty and Health 130

Beauty and Health Consumer ATS 130

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Management

Retail Dive

MAY 19, 2025

The e-commerce giant said it plans to deploy the various technologies in the coming years as it works to boost "more high-skilled work.

Planning 102

Planning 102

Retail Wire

MAY 19, 2025

Just days after news that Dick’s Sporting Goods and Foot Locker agreed to a $2.4 billion merger proposal, a new report from TheStreet claims the struggling sneaker retailer is set to close over 100 stores by the end of the year. Foot Locker CFO Mike Baughn shared the news via the company’s fourth quarter earnings release call. “The upper end of our comp range assumes we continue to drive comps at our more recent run rate from the last three quarters, led by the impact of our st

Sporting Goods 130

Sporting Goods Checkout Accessories Fulfillment 130

Cisco Retail

MAY 19, 2025

Join us at Cisco Live San Diego to explore Cisco XDRs latest innovations, including custom integrations, AI automation, and community features. Dont miss out!

ATS 117

ATS 117

Retail Dive

MAY 19, 2025

The apparel retailer debuted the On Rotation concept as a way to fuel discovery shaped by the generation’s favorite brands.

Apparel 100

Apparel 100

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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.

Fulfillment

Retail Gazette

MAY 19, 2025

Asda vice president for ambient, Ade McKeon, is stepping down from the business less than six months after rejoining the supermarket giant. McKeon returned to the supermarket in January as part of a wider leadership shake-up under executive chairman Allan Leighton, aimed at better meeting the daily and weekly shopping needs of ordinary working people and their families who demand value.

Supermarket 105

Supermarket Grocer Returns Management 105

Retail Dive

MAY 19, 2025

Consumer sentiment has slumped this year even as recent “hard data” reveal stable prices and robust hiring.

Consumer 88

Consumer 88

Retail Gazette

MAY 19, 2025

M&S has been hit with a multimillion pound lawsuit following the theft of shopper data during its cyber attack. The food and fashion giant confirmed last week that hackers had stolen shopper data, such as dates of birth, contact details, and online order histories. However, it assured customers that the stolen data did not include payment details, card information, or account passwords, and there was no evidence that the data had been shared.

Accounting 88

Accounting Fashion Planning Supermarket 88

Retail Times

MAY 19, 2025

Retail Times publishes international & UK retail news covering products, data, tech, packaging, people, research, comment and more besides! Altamura Distilleries has become the Official Vodka Partner of The Worlds 50 Best Hotels, a landmark moment that places this umami-rich Italian vodka at the heart of global luxury hospitality. From its origins in the wheat fields of southern Italy to the back bars of the worlds most iconic hotels, Altamura Distilleries journey has always […] If you

ATS 98

ATS 98

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.

Finance

Retail Gazette

MAY 19, 2025

Morrisons has expanded its More Card loyalty scheme with the rollout of “more partner points” More Card members can now earn points with over 300 participating brands by shopping via the Morrisons More App or More website. Its partners include Ebay, Very, Just Eat, Expedia, Asos and more. To earn points, customers need to log into their Morrisons More app or the More website to browse, click through to a partner retailer and carry out their purchase as normal.

Supermarket 93

Supermarket Accounting Shopping 93

Inside Retail

MAY 19, 2025

Justin Kestelman founded Hommey only five years ago. Today, it is known for its bubble typography logo and contrasting striped sheets and robes. The Melbourne-based homewares brand opened the doors to its third store in Fitzroy in March. The store is not just a place to shop, its a place where customers can freely interact with the product offering, curate their own style, and shape their ideal homewares and lifestyle aesthetic in an environment that feels comfortably like home, Kestelman told I

Visual Merchandising 147

Visual Merchandising Location Shopping Promotions 147

Retail Gazette

MAY 19, 2025

Poundland could be snapped up by Gordon Brothers, who is reportedly in pole position to acquire the business. Theshortlist of bidders for the discounter also includes turnaround investors Hilco Capital, Endless and Modella Capital the private equity firm behind The Original Factory Shopand WHSmiths high street business. The Times reported that bids for the discount giant expected to be made tomorrow (20 May) with Gordon Brothers is in pole position.

Management 72

Management Consumer Marketing ATS 72

Retail Dive

MAY 19, 2025

The institution will be housed at the company’s former headquarters and is expected to welcome 1,500 undergrads and 500 nondegree learners.

Planning 66

Planning ATS 66

Advertiser: ZoomInfo

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Marketing

A1 Retail

MAY 19, 2025

InPost, the UK out-of-home parcel delivery provider, has reached a major milestone with the installation of its 1,000th Tesco Locker location. The lockers provide shoppers with an easy and convenient way to collect, return, and send parcels while integrating seamlessly into their shopping trips at both large Tesco stores (Extra, Superstore, Petrol) and Tesco convenience stores (Tesco ESSO, Tesco Express).

Location 65

Location Returns Shopping Consumer 65

Retail Gazette

MAY 19, 2025

M&S Food managing director Alex Freudmann has criticised the “painfully slow” movement of goods across the Irish Sea, five years on from Brexit. In a post shared ahead of upcoming cross-border deliveries, Freudmann revealed that shipments to Ireland are now routinely delayed by Brexit-related red tape. He highlighted how a single lorry now requires more than 200 documents including obscure details such as the Latin name of a chicken used in a sandwich. “Tonight our trucks

Shipping 59

Shipping Supermarket Management ATS 59

A1 Retail

MAY 19, 2025

CleanCo , a leading independent alcohol-free spirits brand has announced England Cricket Captain, Ben Stokes OBE as its latest strategic investor, as part of a wider $5 million fundraise. Stokes joins CleanCo as both an investor and brand partner, as the challenger brand is set to realise cash-flow positivity this year. Ben Stokes investment in CleanCo was born from his own personal journey re-balancing his relationship with alcohol.

Consumer 65

Consumer Marketing Accounting ATS 65

Hyken

MAY 19, 2025

Each week, I read many customer service and customer experience articles from various resources. Here are my top five picks from last week. I have added my comments about each article and would like to hear what you think too. Removing Barriers: How Rigid Rules Can Damage Customer Relationships by Ryan Minton (Forbes) In today’s experience-driven economy, rigid policies can be a competitive disadvantage.

Customer Experience 65

Customer Experience Management ATS 65

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