Fri.Jan 17, 2025

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Holiday Sales Grew 4% to Top $994 Billion, Exceeding Expectations

Retail TouchPoints

Bearing out earlier reports of solid sales increases during the 2024 holiday season, U.S. Census Bureau data revealed that core retail sales increased by an unexpectedly robust 4% over 2023 to a record $994.1 billion , topping the National Retail Federation (NRF) s forecast of 2.5% to 3.5% growth. Full-year 2024 retail sales also showed healthy growth of 3.6% over the previous year, reaching a record $5.28 trillion.

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The North Face Transforms Regent Street Flagship Store

365 Retail

The North Face has unveiled a completely reimagined flagship store on London’s Regent Street, using cutting-edge technology and innovative design to create an experiential retail environment. In collaboration with Mood Media , the outdoor retailer has transformed its 10,000-square-foot space into a destination for engagement and exploration. Experiential Retail at the Heart of the Transformation The centrepiece of the flagship store is a 360-degree projection dome, offering an immersive &#

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The Secret to Solving Retail’s $743 Billion Returns Problem: Intelligent Customer Support

Retail TouchPoints

With returns siphoning off a staggering $743 billion from retailers bottom lines in 2023, its clear that the industrys approach needs an overhaul. But instead of leaning on rigid policies that risk driving customers away, retailers can use this as an opportunity to rethink returns. The key? Customer-first strategies that not only reduce returns but also boost experience and loyalty.

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Quest for adventure, opulence, sustainability and nostalgia to drive independent retail’s must-have products in 2025

A1 Retail

Online wholesale marketplace Faires 2025 forecasthas revealed four major consumer and product trends transforming how independent retailers can connect with shoppers this year Independent retailers will stock more adventure-inspired accessories, opulent vintage pieces, natural goods and playful nostalgic items this year, according to the 2025 forecast from online wholesale marketplace Faire.

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Smart Tools & Strong Teams: A People-First Approach to AI in Sales

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.

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Exclusive Q&A: B2B Cruise Retail Player Comes Ashore to Support Resort-Based Luxury

Retail TouchPoints

Stacy Shaw wants to make it very clear that Starboard Group is specifically in the business of vacation retail, as opposed to the broader travel retail category. Thats where our expertise lies not with the business traveler, not duty-free airport shops, said Shaw. She is SVP at the 65- year-old company, which supports and operates shipboard retail stores on nearly 100 ships operated by 15 cruise lines.

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UK Retail Sales Slide in December as Economic Pressures Persist

365 Retail

The Office for National Statistics ( ONS ) today published retail sales data for December 2024, revealing a further decline in spending during what is traditionally the busiest period for UK retailers. Retail sales volumes dropped by 0.3% compared to November 2024 and were down 1.1% year-on-year when compared to December 2023. This marks the second consecutive month of contraction, highlighting the growing impact of the cost-of-living crisis on household spending.

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IKEA Prepares for Brighton Store Launch with Localised Approach to Home Furnishings

365 Retail

As IKEA prepares to expand its presence in Brighton, the company is tailoring its new store to reflect the unique lifestyles and aspirations of the citys diverse residents. Through home visits and focus groups with Brighton and Sussex locals, IKEA has gathered insights into how people live, their challenges, and their aspirations for their homes. These findings will be integral to the design and layout of the new store, aiming to provide a personalised shopping experience.

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Walmart Makes Deal to Purchase Robotics Tech for 400 Pickup and Delivery Centers

Retail TouchPoints

Walmart will sell its Advanced Systems and Robotics business to Symbotic for $200 million. As part of the deal, the robotics solution provider will engage in a Walmart-funded development program to enhance the retailers current online pickup and delivery fulfillment systems. Walmart has committed to purchasing and deploying systems from Symbotic for 400 Accelerated Pickup and Delivery centers (APDs) over a multi-year period, with an option to purchase additional ADPs in coming years.

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“I Matter Too” campaign launches urging retailers to prioritise accessibility ahead of the European Accessibility Act

A1 Retail

As the June 2025 deadline for the European Accessibility Act approaches, Nexer Digital has launched a new campaign, I Matter Too , to raise awareness about the importance of inclusive online experiences. The campaign aims to encourage online retailers to act now and embrace digital accessibility as a core part of their strategy, not just to meet legal requirements but to go beyond compliance and deliver true inclusivity.

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Forget the ‘Wirkin’ — Rebag Joins Walmart Marketplace, Offering Walmart Customers Real Birkins and More

Retail TouchPoints

Even as Walmart s Birkin dupe dubbed the Wirkin continues to sell like hotcakes , the retailer has announced a new deal that will give its customers access to the real thing. Luxury resale marketplace Rebag has joined the Walmart marketplace, making its selection of secondhand luxury handbags, jewelry and watches available on Walmart.com and the Walmart app.

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AI In The Aisles: The Executives Guide To Better In-Store Experiences

Speaker: Steve Worthy, MBA

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.

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Next CEO Lord Wolfson: National Insurance hike will hit entry-level jobs

Retail Gazette

Next CEO Lord Wolfson has warned upcoming tax changes in April, including an increase in National Insurance, will make it harder for individuals to enter the workforce. Speaking to the BBC , Wolfson warned that the higher NI contributions required from employers will have a significant impact on the retail sector. He added that the axe [had] fallen particularly hard on entry-level positions.

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centre:mk surpasses a decade of footfall benchmarks with strong start to 2025

A1 Retail

centre:mk, one of the top 10 prime retail destinations in the UK, has reported a strong start to 2025, following a successful 2024. Setting the pace for another positive year ahead, the first week of 2025 saw an impressive footfall increase year-on-year of 20 percent at centre:mk. Marking 10.8 percentage points ahead of high street destinations and 11.3 percentage points above other shopping centres, centre:mk outperforms competing assets due to its unique regional pull.

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Lidl to remove all packaging designs deemed attractive to children from least healthy own-brand products by mid-2025

Retail Times

Retail Times publishes international & UK retail news covering products, data, tech, packaging, people, research, comment and more besides! As families focus on adopting better habits in the new year, Lidl is reaffirming its commitment to responsible marketing by removing all packaging designs deemed attractive to children from its least healthy own-brand products by mid-2025.

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Next batch of Homebase stores to reopen as The Range by end of January

Retail Gazette

CDS Superstores, the parent company of The Range, Wilko , and Homebase, is set to relaunch three former Homebase stores as The Range Superstores by the end of January. The new openings in Stroud, Leicester, and Blandford Forum will mark the latest step in the company’s transformation of up to 70 ex-Homebase locations since its acquisition. The new stores, which will open on 31 January, will offer customers a “fresh shopping experience” by combining The Ranges renowned product v

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New Research-Backed Strategies to Empower Managers as Culture & Engagement Leaders

Speaker: Beth Sunshine, SVP, Up Your Culture

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.

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HRH The Duchess of Edinburgh visits innovative social supermarket tackling food poverty

Retail Times

Retail Times publishes international & UK retail news covering products, data, tech, packaging, people, research, comment and more besides! Community Shop, the UKs first social supermarket, hosted Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Edinburgh on 15 January at the Lambeth store. During the visit, The Duchess witnessed firsthand Community Shops transformative work tackling the root cause of food insecurity by providing members with a hand up, not a hand-out.

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In pictures: The Range opens first rebranded Homebase store

Retail Gazette

The Range has opened its first set of rebranded Homebase stores following its acquisition of the DIY retailer last November. The discount giant unveiled its converted branch in Christchurch in Bournemouth, which stocks the retailer ‘s full range and is one of the first to display its new ‘Garden Centres by Homebase’ concept. Today (17 Januarry) also marked the opening of The Range superstores in Pollokshaws in Glasgow and Kings Heath in Birmingham.

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Aldi to open nine London stores in 2025 as part of £650 million investment in Britain

Retail Times

Retail Times publishes international & UK retail news covering products, data, tech, packaging, people, research, comment and more besides! Aldi is set to open nine stores in the capital this year as part of a 55 million investment within the M25. Building on its promise to bring unbeatable value to even more Londoners, the supermarket has revealed four of the locations set to welcome new Aldi stores in the next 12 months.

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We'll See Where Tipping the Scales Will Get Us

LS Retail

iStock/Bet_Noire According to NewsNation, there are five (5) pressing issues facing the new Trump administration : Ceasefire negotiations The economy Border enforcement Russia-Ukraine war January 6 pardons Trump has vowed to take swift action on various policies, but the five issues above appear to loom heaviest. We'll see where tipping the scales will get us on each issue.

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Breaking The Commerce Bottleneck: Your SAP Exit Plan Starts Now

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.

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Retail sales fall 0.3% in December 2024, latest figures from ONS reveal

Retail Times

Retail Times publishes international & UK retail news covering products, data, tech, packaging, people, research, comment and more besides! Retail sales volumes (quantity bought) are estimated to have fallen by 0.3% in December 2024, following a small rise of 0.1% in November 2024 (revised down from 0.2%), the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) reveal.

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Walgreens Replaced Refrigerator Doors With High-Tech Smart Screens, But There’s a Problem

Retail Wire

High-tech smart screen doors are causing more problems than solutions for Walgreens.

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Sofa so good for orders, but challenges are on the horizon for DFS, says GlobalData

Retail Times

Retail Times publishes international & UK retail news covering products, data, tech, packaging, people, research, comment and more besides! Following todays release of DFS results for the 26 weeks ending 29 December 2024; Matthew Walton, senior retail analyst at GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company, offers his view: DFS strong momentum in terms of order uplift at the end of its FY2023/24, which increased by 8.4% between April and June 2024, has continued […] If you want mor

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Barilla Brings Back ‘Love Pasta’ To Celebrate All Forms of Love

Retail Wire

"Love Pasta" by Barilla is the ultimate Valentine's Day meal.

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Humans + Agents = Rethinking Enterprise Commerce with AI

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

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Co-op launches first new store of 2025

Retail Times

Retail Times publishes international & UK retail news covering products, data, tech, packaging, people, research, comment and more besides! Co-op has launched its first new store of 2025 in Salford Quays, as the convenience retailer embarks on plans to accelerate convenience growth. The new Co-op convenience store is located in commercial retail space on the ground floor of the Anchorage Gateway, Salford Quays – a 29-story residential development located close to the areas media, [R

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NRF 2025: RetailWire CEO’s Top 5 Takeaways

Retail Wire

NRF 2025 is now over, and with the clarity that exhaustion brings a few days later, I felt that what the world needs is the 423rd version of: the top five takeaways from my time at NRF.

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DIRTEA launches single-serve sachets of their renowned Super Blends

Retail Times

Retail Times publishes international & UK retail news covering products, data, tech, packaging, people, research, comment and more besides! DIRTEA, the leading functional mushroom brand, is proud to announce the launch of its latest hero retail product, single-serve sachets of their renowned Super BlendsDIRTEA Coffee, DIRTEA Matcha, and DIRTEA Cacao.

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Progresso Releases Chicken Noodle Soup-Flavored Hard Candy

Retail Wire

Progresso is going viral for its new take on hard candy.

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5 Tips for a Winning Category Management Strategy in 2025

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.

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Amazon to lay off 200 people in its North America retail operations

Retail Dive

The e-commerce giant said it is cutting a small number of roles after a routine evaluation of its team structures and ability to “move fast.

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Taco Bell Refreshes Its Menu With a New Twist on a Fan-Favorite Drink. Here Are the Details

Retail Wire

Taco Bell continues to update its menu.

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Walmart opens new Arkansas corporate headquarters

Retail Dive

About 15,000 associates will occupy the new campus that includes collaborative work and gathering spaces, public retail, eateries and a hotel.

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PepsiCo Slammed by FTC Over Alleged Price Discrimination in Favor of Walmart

Retail Wire

The FTC is accusing PepsiCo of working with a large retailer in a price discrimination scheme.

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Cut Costs & Complexity: Smarter Fulfillment for Home, Furniture & DIY Brands

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.