Wed.May 14, 2025

article thumbnail

Retail Risk is Serious Business – and it’s Time we Acted Like it

Retail TouchPoints

From a risk and compliance perspective, defense, finance, tech, and healthcare are generally thought of as the riskiest industries but the retail sector is more vulnerable than it might appear. Organized retail crime (ORC), fraud rings, evolving regulations and other challenges all have the potential to cause significant disruption in the retail sector, and most retailers have invested considerable time and resources to mitigate them.

article thumbnail

How retailers can ‘tariff-proof’ their business in 2025

Inside Retail

Over the past few months, retailers, big-box and indie, have been put through the wringer as they have waited to discover the finalized tariff percentages on imported goods, especially those from China, would be. The US seems to have finally come to an agreement with China as both parties stated they would lower many tariffs between the two countries for 90 days.

Apparel 130
Insiders

Sign Up for our Newsletter

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

article thumbnail

Inside HMT Associates: Bridging Brand Strategy and Commerce Execution

Shopperations

The agency world is evolving fast with holding company shakeups, retail media pressures, and a growing need for integration across sales, marketing, and insights. I launched this series to help CPG brands make sense of it all: whos who, what they actually do, and how to find the right fit for your business.

article thumbnail

SurfStitch website offline as shoppers await response on orders

Inside Retail

Australian online retailer SurfStitchs website has been down and inaccessible for at least two weeks with customers waiting on orders since last year, raising questions about whether the brand has ceased trading. The retailers website shows a blank page, while its mobile version shows a message stating that the site is currently undergoing maintenance and that it will be back soon.

Shipping 263
article thumbnail

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.

article thumbnail

One of American Express’ signature grant programmes, Backing International Small Restaurants, returns to the UK

A1 Retail

Independent restaurant businesses in London and Manchester can now apply for grants of 11,000 to help grow their business as an American Express-supported grant programme returns for a fourth year to the UK. Run by the International Downtown Association (IDA) Foundation in partnership with the Association of Town & City Management (ATCM) in the UK, the global Backing International Small Restaurants programme is bigger than ever.

Returns 85
article thumbnail

Retail leaders talk luxury and tariffs on final day of World Retail Congress 

Inside Retail

Authentic Brands Group founder, chairman and CEO Jamie Salter and Saks Global executive chairman Richard Baker kicked off the final day of the 2025 World Retail Congress with an interview about their joint venture to expand Authentics luxury brands into new territory, including hospitality, real estate, art and travel. The two retail giants discussed the shifting dynamics of the luxury market, including the rise of experiences, an area theyre looking to explore through the Barneys brand.

Marketing 165

More Trending

article thumbnail

Why brands and retailers need to have a strong sense of self

Inside Retail

I have become very certain in my career that behind every retail brand is not just a business model or product catalogue, there is what we will call a nervous system living, reactive and deeply human. And more often than not, no different from in our lives, its overstimulated. In my work with brands and retailers, I see this pattern play out a lot.

article thumbnail

Three international brands commit to prime retail space at Meadowhall

A1 Retail

Meadowhall in Sheffield has announced a trio of new retail leases at the top four regional mall. AllSaints and Tommy Hilfiger have recommitted with significant investment, whilst Oliver Bonas has joined the destination, with what will be its largest store in the North. The largest store in the North forOliver Bonaswill open in the coming weeks. The 3,590 sq ft space opposite Flannels has been highly anticipated, and will feature the brands full range across fashion, accessories, homewares and gi

ATS 66
article thumbnail

When Art Meets Algorithm - AI and the Creative Journey

Miller Zell

Paul Wolski, Miller Zells SVP/Creative Director, is leading his design team from AI skepticism to purposeful AI experimentation. He recently spoke at RetailSpaces about AI and the Future of Store Planning. That led to a conversation with Anthony Amunategui, and Wolski then joined Amunategui on his Future Factory Podcast to further the AI and retail design discussion.

article thumbnail

Defer (Park) Tariffs For a While With a Foreign Trade Zone

LS Retail

iStock/werny The U.S. has roughly 260 foreign-trade zones (FTZs) that allow them to defer tariffs on imported goods and materials, for a while. Think of it as parking your import in a tax-free foreign trade zone until you are ready to release it. Good way to manage your cash flow. Foreign trade zones and bonded warehouses are specially designated, secured storage or manufacturing sites approved by U.S.

article thumbnail

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.

article thumbnail

Ebay’s fashion lead on helping brands tap the $367 billion recommerce boom

Inside Retail

Reverse e-commerce, referred to as recommerce, is no longer exclusive to consumers today, brands are trying to figure out how they too can capitalise on the global secondhand fashion market that is expected to hit $367 billion by 2029. This week, Ebay commemorated style and sustainability at Australian Fashion Week 2025 with a runway co-hosted by Vogue where archival designs from Aje, Bianca Spender, Lee Mathews, Nagnata and Romance Was Born walked down the runway.

Fashion 162
article thumbnail

Ikea Adds Opportunities to Earn Loyalty Rewards Throughout the Shopper Journey

Retail TouchPoints

After doing away with its 5% blanket discount for loyalty members in 2023, Ikea U.S. has launched a new rewards program for Ikea Family members that adds new opportunities to earn points at various stops along the shoppers journey from 10 points for sharing a gift registry, up to 50 points for actions such as creating an Ikea Family profile or registering and attending an Ikea event.

article thumbnail

BOPIS Solutions That Elevate the Retail Customer Experience

Miller Zell

Discover how brand refresh strategies and retail transformations drive innovation and engagement, enhancing shopping experiences while avoiding failure.

article thumbnail

Latest Round of Microsoft Layoffs Affects About 6,000 Workers

Retail Wire

Microsoft is laying off around 6,000 workers. According to the company, the job reductions will affect employees at every level and will eliminate various layers of management. Microsoft said the structural changes are necessary as it navigates a dynamic marketplace. The latest round of layoffs, which represents less than 3% of the tech giant’s total workforce, will be the largest since the company laid off 10,000 employees two years ago.

article thumbnail

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.

article thumbnail

Under Armour posts $309 million loss, focuses on brand reset

Inside Retail

Under Armour has reported a 9 per cent drop in revenue to US$5.2 billion (A$8 billion) for the year ending March, as it works through a restructuring to reposition its brand and improve profitability. The company posted a net loss of $201 million (A$309 million). By elevating products and storytelling, tightening distribution, and refining our operating model, we are reigniting brand relevance and positioning the business for sustainable, profitable growth, said Kevin Plank, president and CEO of

Wholesale 165
article thumbnail

FDA Initiates Major Eye Drop Recall, Consumers Urged To Discontinue Use Immediately

Retail Wire

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced an urgent recall of several over-the-counter eye drops used to relieve dry, irritated eyes. Pharmaceutical distributor AvKARE was notified by the firm, BRS Analytical Services LLC, regarding a manufacturing issue with its products. The recall was issued as a result of manufacturing issues that “may lead to products of unacceptable quality, and it is not possible to rule out patient risks resulting from use of these products.”

article thumbnail

M&S insurance payout to be worth up to £100m after cyber attack

Retail Gazette

The M&S insurance pay out following its cyber attack could be worth up to 100mn, people familiar with the matter told the Financial Times. The food and fashion specialist is preparing to file an insurance claim after confirming that personal customer data was stolen as part of the ongoing attack yesterday (13 May). The retailer assured customers that the stolen data did not include payment details, card information, or account passwords, and there was no evidence that the data has been share

article thumbnail

Investigation Finds Kroger Is Possibly Overcharging Shoppers on Sale Items

Retail Wire

Kroger shoppers, check your receipts. A joint investigation conducted by Consumer Reports, The Guardian , and the Food & Environment Reporting Network (FERN) found that the grocer has reportedly been charging full price for some items advertised as discounted or on sale. During an investigation over several months, the organizations checked grocery prices at various Kroger locations.

Grocer 173
article thumbnail

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.

article thumbnail

Urban Outfitters Launches Immersive In-Store Experience with Nike

Retail TouchPoints

Urban Outfitters has picked Nike as the first partner for its new On Rotation retail experience, designed to fuel inspiration, discovery and connection via a curated mix of exciting brands. Launching with a cross-divisional assortment of Nike apparel and footwear, styled specifically for the Urban Outfitters customer, On Rotation will debut with lounge-style installations in stores in New York, Washington, D.C., Scottsdale, Ariz., San Diego and Manhattan Beach, Calif.

Apparel 162
article thumbnail

Price of Eggs Plunges, but Relief Could Be Short-Lived for Weary Consumers: Here’s What To Know

Retail Wire

After months of skyrocketing egg prices , the cost of a dozen eggs has recently plunged. But this relief may be short-lived for weary consumers worried about affordability. The Bureau of Labor Statistics released its Consumer Price Index report for April, showing that egg prices declined by 12.7% when compared to the prior month. The last decline in egg prices was recorded in October 2024. “Retail egg prices remain near historic highs as a persistent outbreak ofbird fluwipes out flocks of

Consumer 130
article thumbnail

American Eagle Outfitters pulls guidance, writes down $75M in inventory

Retail Dive

The preliminary Q1 results also revealed a 5% revenue decline and steep operating losses.

86
article thumbnail

Wendy’s Dropped 3 New Frosty Flavors This Week. Here Are the Details

Retail Wire

Wendy’s has announced that it is expanding its Frosty lineup again, unveiling three new flavors this week in the form of Frosty Fusions. Let’s take a look at what we know about these new options. Wendy’s Unveils 3 Frosty Fusions View this post on Instagram A post shared by Wendy's (@wendys) According to Men’s Journal , Wendy’s introduced new Frosty variations on May 12.

Grocer 231
article thumbnail

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

article thumbnail

Kohl’s Looks to Raise $360 Million with Distribution Centers as Collateral

Retail TouchPoints

Kohls is making a private sale offering of approximately $360 million of senior secured notes due in 2030, which the department store retailer will use to repay revolving credit loans, including all its 4.25% notes due at maturity in 2025. Collateral for the notes will include Kohls 11 distribution centers and ecommerce fulfillment facilities, which will be held in a newly formed holding company.

article thumbnail

Burberry to axe up to 1,700 roles as it plunges to full-year loss

Retail Gazette

Burberry reported a loss during its preliminary full year results, and warned that it would axe 1,700 roles by 2027. The luxury retailer reported an operating loss of 3m for the 52 weeks ended 29 March, from a 418m profit the year prior. Sales also plunged 17% to 2.5bn year on year over the period. Retail sales during its final quarter dropped 6% on a like for like basis, while sales across the whole group slumped 12% over the year.

Fashion 64
article thumbnail

Foot Anstey strengthens Manchester office with leading retail lawyer from Boohoo

Retail Times

Retail Times publishes international & UK retail news covering products, data, tech, packaging, people, research, comment and more besides! National law firm Foot Anstey has announced the appointment of former General Counsel and Company Secretary of listed online retailer boohoo group,Tom Kershaw, to its Manchester office. Tom joins the firm as a Partner during a period of ambitious growth for Foot Anstey as it establishes itself as a truly national firm.

52
article thumbnail

Burberry Looks To Cut 18% of Its Global Workforce as Part of Turnaround Effort

Retail Wire

Iconic fashion brand Burberry is set to slash nearly one-fifth (18%) of its workforce by 2027 as part of its planned turnaround effort , according to CNN Business. Those cuts will involve around 1,700 “at-risk” positions, involving potential layoffs at its Castleford factory in West Yorkshire, U.K., as the BBC outlined. “Today, we are announcing organisational changes aimed at enhancing collaboration across our business, increasing our agility, driving efficiency and profitabil

article thumbnail

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.

article thumbnail

FedEx, Amazon strike large-package delivery deal

Retail Dive

The agreement comes nearly six years after FedEx let its Express and Ground shipping contracts with the e-commerce giant expire.

article thumbnail

US department store Saks to launch Amazon UK storefront

Retail Gazette

Saks, the heritage US department store chain, is planning to launch a storefront on Amazon’s UK website as it looks to expand its global reach. The American retailer hasa designated section on Amazon’s US site where it sells luxury products from brands including Balmain, Dolce & Gabbana, and Stella McCartney. Speaking at this year’s World Retail Congress, Saks Global executive chairman Richard Baker said the high-end department store was working with Amazon to launch design

article thumbnail

Walmart touts savings from continued automation efforts

Retail Dive

The retailer predicts it will slash costs by more than 30% at its high-tech facilities by year's end, one executive said.

ATS 72
article thumbnail

White Castle To Give Away Free Original Sliders in Celebration of ‘National Slider Day’

Retail Wire

White Castle is celebrating National Slider Day by honoring customers with free sandwiches and money-saving deals. According to a press release , the original fast-food retailer will give away one Original Slider to customers on May 15 to celebrate this milestone. To redeem, customers must utilize a digital coupon available on White Castle’s website and social media channels or enter the code SLIDERDAY on the White Castle app to redeem the offer.

ATS 147
article thumbnail

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.