Wed.May 17, 2023

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From Retirement to Retail: How Employers can Support Successful Returns to Work

Retail TouchPoints

The economic fallout from the pandemic has had a profound impact on the labor market and society. Worker shortages across industries have created a challenging scenario for countless businesses as they rush to fill job vacancies while still ensuring the satisfaction of their existing staff and customers. According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the current rate of participation in the labor force is 62.6% , down from 63.3% in February 2020.

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US mall giant Simon’s latest results reveal four issues facing the sector

Inside Retail

When it released its first-quarter results recently, Simon Property Group, the largest mall operator in the US and a global player with projects in the US, Europe and Asia, reiterated its bullishness on the future of the mall sector. Is the crowing justified or is it a smokescreen to disguise an industry in continuing decline? And what is the spillover into Asia ?

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Ebay Continues Trust Offensive with Acquisition of Certilogo

Retail TouchPoints

Ebay ’s spending spree is continuing with the acquisition of Certilogo , a provider of digital IDs and authentication tools for apparel and fashion goods. This latest acquisition follows an investment by Ebay Ventures in used sporting goods marketplace SidelineSwap earlier this month and the acquisition of marketplace compliance solution 3PM Shield in February 2023.

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Gen Z has influencer aspirations

Retail Wire

Members of Gen Z use TikTok and other social media to share their fashion finds and other details of their lives like professional influencers. “You might have 12 followers and you’re selling swag,” said Vickie Segar, the founder of Village Marketing. “The macro movement of everyone being a creator, and the idea that creators should monetize themselves in every avenue they can, is just trickling down to the everyday person.

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A Roadmap For Modernization: How To Break Free From Your Monolith Before July 31, 2026

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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Amplifying Sound’s Role in Retail Design

Retail TouchPoints

Editor’s note: As retail interfaces and systems continue to evolve, the way we design retail experiences to user needs and behaviors is also transforming. In the new series “Stimulating Retail,” join award-winning sensory designer and Harvard neuroscientist Ari Peralta as he breaks down the science and tech behind some of today’s most stimulating sensory retail experiences.

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Temple & Webster returns to sales growth, invests in AI

Inside Retail

Pureplay furniture and homeware retailer Temple & Webster says it has “returned” to year-on-year growth as it continues to invest in AI technology. Despite the current macroeconomic slowdown, the business says sales grew 10 per cent in the last four weeks when compared to the previous corresponding period. Although trading improved over the half to date, sales fell 5 per cent.

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Cettire sales jump 122 per cent as demand soars

Inside Retail

Australian-listed global luxury online retailer Cettire says sales growth has “accelerated” despite seasonal low points during the third quarter. In a trading update for the four months to April 30, sales grew 122 per cent to $141.3 million while adjusted EBITDA reached $7 million. Active customers increased 47 per cent to 371,749 while the average order value was $742.

Marketing 245
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How DTC Brand Boll & Branch is Getting Comfortable in Brick-and-Mortar

Retail TouchPoints

There’s a special type of brand interaction that can only take place in stores. The ability to touch and interact with products in a more contextual way allows shoppers to be fully enveloped in the brand and all it stands for. It’s one of the main reasons so many digitally native, direct-to-consumer (DTC) brands have invested in opening stores. One such company is Boll & Branch, which was founded in 2014 to transform the luxury home textiles industry by creating sustainable, luxurious produc

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Nere and far: Strand CEO Felicity McGahan talks UK expansion

Inside Retail

Launched almost a year ago, luggage brand Nere has already become Strand’s best seller. Not content with capturing the Australian and New Zealand market, Group CEO Felicity McGahan said that Nere – which strives to offer an affordable range of suitcases, travel bags and accessories – is adding another sticker to its passport by expanding into the United Kingdom.

Fashion 245
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OpenAI CEO warns Congress about Ai’s downsides

Retail Wire

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman testified before Congress yesterday and told lawmakers that artificial intelligence technology could “cause significant harm to the world.” Mr. Altman expressed a willingness to work with Congress and federal regulators to address “disinformation” and other risks associated with the technology’s use.

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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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CDUK partners with The Good Plastic Company

Retail Focus

CDUK, the Leeds-based supplier of solid surface materials and complementary products, including Corian® Solid Surface, PaperStone® and M|R Walls, announces a partnership with surface manufacturer The Good Plastic Company. As part of the new partnership, CDUK grows its surface material portfolio with the addition of Polygood, The Good Plastic Company’s highly sustainable surface material made from 100% recycled and 100% recyclable plastic.

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How SpectacleX is bringing virtual try-on tech to Malaysia

Inside Retail

Founded in 2021 at the peak of the pandemic, SpectacleX is transforming the way Malaysians shop for glasses. The omnichannel retailer uses artificial intelligence (AI) and augmented reality (AR) to deliver a personalised and immersive shopping experience for the country’s growing base of digital-first shoppers. Here’s how it works: customers upload a front-facing photo of their face to the SpectacleX app.

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Target posts modest 1Q sales gain, warns 2Q will be softer

Retail Wire

Target reported a 0.7 percent increase in same-store sales as its customers concentrated on lower-margin non-discretionary purchases. The chain, which posted a 5.8 percent decline in profits in the first quarter, warned that sales would likely soften in the second quarter as consumers look to stretch their dollars in an inflationary environment.

Consumer 130
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The power of pure play: How iMedia revolutionised conference experiences

Inside Retail

Comexposium, the renowned global event organiser that runs events under the iMedia banner in Australia, New Zealand, India, Japan and South East Asia, has proven that rewriting the rule book for conference formats attracts the best of the best when it comes to industry leaders and high performers – and has the remarkable post-event reviews to prove it.

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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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Activist investors want Dollar General and Dollar Tree to safeguard workers

Retail Wire

Dollar General shareholders will vote on a proposal by Domini Impact Investments to have an independent audit into the safety and well-being of its workers. A proposal led by Church Funds will ask Dollar Tree shareholders to vote for the company to create a wage and inequality report.

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Domino’s ANZ CEO takes on new global role

Inside Retail

Domino’s Pizza Enterprises CEO David Burness is shifting roles, and taking up the inaugural global culture coach position to focus on growing franchisee capability and entrepreneurial development. Asia-Pacific CEO Josh Kilimnik will take on the ANZ CEO role, initially for 12 months, with the CEOs of Japan, Taiwan and the ASEAN markets continuing to report to him.

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Younger generations turn snacks into meals

Retail Wire

Nearly half of all Americans have three or more snacks every day, up eight percent over the past two years, according to Circana Group. “Millennials took something that had a negative connotation with older generations—parents would tell you ‘don’t snack and spoil the meal’—and turned snacks into the entire meal itself,” said Andrea Hernández, author of Snaxshot.

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Target sales flat as retailer warns of $500M profit hit

Retail Dive

Consumers stuck to basics in Q1, while the retailer is expecting a significant financial impact due to inventory shrink.

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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.

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Shein lowers valuation after raising $2 billion in funding round

Retail Wire

Shein has been valued at $66 billion, about a third less than a year ago, after raising $2 billion in its latest fundraising round. The online fashion retailer generated $23 billion in sales last year.

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Footwear brand On reports record sales growth in Q1

Retail Dive

The company is selling predominantly at full-price — even within a promotional environment in the category — and more than quadrupled net income.

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Toro Signs 11 Tenants to Mixed-Use Development Underway in Metro Atlanta

Shopping Center

Johns Creek, Ga. — Toro Development Co. (TDC) has announced leases with 11 tenants at Medley, a mixed-use project currently underway in Johns Creek, roughly 30 miles northeast of Atlanta. Upon completion, the development will include 200,000 square feet of… The post Toro Signs 11 Tenants to Mixed-Use Development Underway in Metro Atlanta appeared first on Shopping Center Business.

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Torrid CFO, COO resigns after 8 months

Retail Dive

Tim Martin is exiting the dual role as the company continues to see changes in its C-suite.

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What Your Financial Statements Are Telling You—And How to Listen!

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.

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Recalled infant formula was later shipped to stores

Retail Wire

Recalled Gerber Good Start SoothePro powdered infant formula was sent to stores after a recall had been issued on the product over concerns of possible Cronobacter sakazakii contamination. Associated Wholesale Grocers notified the Food and Drug Administration that it had received the recalled product. Cronobacter sakazakii contamination was behind a major recall of infant formula in 2022 that led to a nationwide shortage.

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Bath & Body Works expands its product assortment for men

Retail Dive

The retailer has grown its men’s category by nearly 50% in the past three years.

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TJX Cos. lifts profit forecast as costs come down

Retail Wire

TJX Cos. saw its first-quarter profit margins increase by one percent to 28.9 percent as freight and raw material costs decreased. The operator of the HomeGoods, Marshalls and T.J. Maxx off-price chains lifted its annual profit forecast to a range between $3.39 and $3.48, up from its previous guidance of $3.29 to $3.41.

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TJX pulls further ahead of rivals as Q1 profits, margin surge

Retail Dive

The off-pricer has long been a leader in the segment, but is expanding its appeal to consumers as well as brands, BMO Capital Markets analysts said.

Consumer 105
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State of AI in Sales & Marketing 2025

AI adoption is reshaping sales and marketing. But is it delivering real results? We surveyed 1,000+ GTM professionals to find out. The data is clear: AI users report 47% higher productivity and an average of 12 hours saved per week. But leaders say mainstream AI tools still fall short on accuracy and business impact. Download the full report today to see how AI is being used — and where go-to-market professionals think there are gaps and opportunities.

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Voice Commerce: Definition, Benefits, and Advice for Retailers (2023)

Shopify

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Jennifer Aniston’s hair care brand launches at Ulta Beauty

Retail Dive

The partnership marks LolaVie’s first foray into brick-and-mortar retail since launching in 2021.

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Frisco’s New Attractions Draw Tourists, Retailers

Shopping Center

Just 25 miles north of Dallas sits Frisco, Texas, a city that’s famous for The Star — the 91-acre Dallas Cowboys’ world headquarters and practice facility. Like many Texans, Jeff Cheney, mayor of Frisco, loves The Star, but he loves even… The post Frisco’s New Attractions Draw Tourists, Retailers appeared first on Shopping Center Business.

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Elizabeth Arden opens virtual store

Retail Dive

In its first virtual store, users can take quizzes to find their ideal skincare products and browse the company’s other offerings.

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SEO vs. PPC: Which Strategy Is Best for Your Business?

When it comes to driving traffic and growing your online presence, businesses often ask: SEO or PPC—what’s the better choice? This guide breaks down the key differences between search engine optimization (SEO) and pay-per-click (PPC) advertising, highlighting their pros, cons, and best use cases. Whether you’re looking for long-term organic growth or immediate visibility through paid ads, we’ll help you determine which strategy—or combination of both—is right for your business.