Thu.Jan 23, 2025

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Why Chatbots Haven’t (and Won’t) Live up to the Hype

Retail TouchPoints

In the early 2010s, technology forecasters and business analysts painted a compelling picture of the future of customer service: chatbots would dramatically cut labor costs and transform how consumers interacted with brands. Fast forward to today, and the reality has yet to live up to the hype. While chatbots have found their place in the customer service ecosystem, they havent achieved the dominance and ubiquity that many predicted.

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Temu named fastest-growing website in Australia

Inside Retail

Temu has been ranked the fastest-growing website in Australia after recording a 72 per cent increase in unique visitors last year. The Chinese online marketplace took the top spot in Similarweb’s 2025 Digital 100 Australia report which measures the top 250 websites across various categories. Property.com.au and chatgpt.com were in second and third places, respectively.

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Coresight Predicts Store Closures will Spike to 15,000 This Year

Retail TouchPoints

Following a raft of stores closures in 2024, retail advisory firm Coresight Research predicts that closures will escalate further this year, to approximately 15,000. Store openings are expected to remain steady at approximately 5,800 (compared to 5,970 in 2024), but that would still represent a net loss of more than 9,000 stores. Supporting these expectations is the fact that more than 2,000 planned closures already are underway this year.

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Why Myer’s new chapter has retail analysts and practitioners divided

Inside Retail

Despite shareholders unequivocal approval of Myers deal with Premier Retails Apparel Brands last week, many retail experts remain sceptical of the logic of combining the two businesses. From a practical standpoint, even from a marketing standpoint, I can’t see a logic behind the rationale for a department store with, essentially, 50 stores or 60 stores across Australia to buy another 600 or 700 smaller stores, Gary Mortimer, a Professor of Retail Marketing and Consumer Behaviour at the QUT

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Protect Your Businesss Online Reputation with These Expert Tips

In today's digital world, your online reputation can make or break your business. Protecting it requires proactive strategies, from monitoring customer reviews and social media mentions to responding professionally and showcasing positive feedback. This guide will help you establish a strong online presence, address negative comments effectively, and leverage SEO to highlight your best qualities.

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Returns and Fraud are on the Rise — Happy Returns Wants to Help

Retail TouchPoints

Geekplus robots are now in use at all three of Happy Returns’ Hubs. (Image courtesy Happy Returns) Inside a large warehouse in Pennsylvania, dozens of black robots dart and swirl across a polished concrete floor. They resemble Roombas with a skinny highboy table on top. Geekplus, the company that makes them, calls them dancing robots, and for good reason they really do look like dancers in the midst of an intricate performance.

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Post Malone Calls Collaboration the ‘Best OREO Ever’

Retail Wire

Post Malone's OREO cookie features a swirled cream and two different cookie flavors.

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TikTok Ban: ByteDance Board Member Predicts Deal To Save the App Will Be Soon

Retail Wire

To avoid a TikTok ban, ByteDance needs to make a deal, which may happen sooner than later.

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Grocery Outlet, Fresh Market Both Name Industry Veterans as New Leaders

Retail TouchPoints

Grocery Outlet Holding Corp. , which operates more than 520 stores under various banners, and the 166- store supermarket retailer The Fresh Market have each named new leaders. Jason Potter, a 30 -year grocery retail veteran, will take on the President and CEO roles at Grocery Outlet as of Feb. 3, 2025. Current Fresh Market COO Brian Johnson will become that retailers President and CEO, also on Feb. 3.

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Risk Factor Elevated for Walmart Chicken Broth Recall

Retail Wire

Recalled chicken broth sold at Walmart has been upgraded to a Class II risk level.

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Skechers Opens First Experiential ‘Performance’ Store in Canada

Retail TouchPoints

Skechers has reimagined its store at Canadas West Edmonton Mall as its first Performance location, featuring an immersive experience that includes an expanded sales floor, half-size pickleball and basketball courts and a range of technology showcases. Image courtesy Skechers Designed as an experiential playground where customers can try out Skechers sports-focused footwear technology, the 7,500-square-foot store offers a gallery of the brands innovations for players at every skill level.

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5 Ways You Can Win Faster with Gen AI in Sales

Incorporating generative AI (gen AI) into your sales process can speed up your wins through improved efficiency, personalized customer interactions, and better informed decision- making. Gen AI is a game changer for busy salespeople and can reduce time-consuming tasks, such as customer research, note-taking, and writing emails, and provide insightful data analysis and recommendations.

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Bloom Perfumery triples Covent Garden presence with relocation and upsize into the Yards

Retail Focus

The Mercers Company has announced that Bloom Perfumery, the famous Londonperfumery, has relocated within Covent Garden. Opening a larger location within The Yards , and accommodating the brands significant growth and popularity, Bloom Perfumerys new flagship store is triple the size of its previous site. Bloom Perfumery selected The Yards 2,900 sq ft 4 Slingsby Place site, relocating from Langley Court, to accommodate the influx of visitors the store receives, as well as the brands growing colle

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REI Replaces Retiring CEO with Retail Veteran of Nike, Athleta and Sephora

Retail TouchPoints

REI has named Mary Beth Laughton, a former REI board director with experience at Sephora, Athleta and Nike on her resume, to serve as President beginning on Feb. 3, 2025, and then taking on full CEO responsibilities on March 31, 2025. Laughton will replace Eric Artz, who will be retiring in March. Artz, who had previously been the outdoor retailers COO, took over the CEO role in February 2019 when the previous CEO, Jerry Stritzke, resigned after an investigation into a personal consensual relati

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New Zealand skincare brand Emma Lewisham enters Credo Beauty 

Inside Retail

New Zealand entrepreneur Emma Lewisham is setting out to change the course of the beauty industry with her eponymous brand. After forging a successful corporate career as a strategy and marketing executive for Japanese tech company Brother International, Lewisham was inspired to reflect on the potentially harmful ingredients in the skincare she was using after a series of personal events.

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US store closures to again outpace openings this year

Retail Dive

Coresight Research expects some 15,000 locations to shutter in 2025, with plans already up well over 300% year over year.

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5 Tips to Build a Strong Web Presence for Your Small Business

Creating a solid web presence is crucial for small business success in today's digital world. This blog covers five essential tips to help you build and strengthen your online presence. Learn how to create a professional website, optimize it for search engines, and leverage social media to engage with your audience. We'll also guide you on the importance of local listings and how to maintain a consistent brand across all platforms.

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Saks Fifth Avenue teams with Reliance Retail to enter India amid luxury boom

Inside Retail

Indian retail conglomerate Reliance Industries Limited has signed a franchise agreement with American luxury department store Saks Fifth Avenue to expand its luxury retail portfolio through its subsidiary Reliance Retail, the company said in its third-quarter financial report last week. Specific details regarding the inaugural Saks Fifth Avenue store’s launch timeline and location in India have not yet been announced.

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GM’s New Cadillac Lyriq-V May Lead EV Luxury Sales in 2025

Retail Wire

GM wants to take over the EV luxury market with the Lyriq-V.

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How Fressko spent the last decade building a sustainable brand that resonates

Inside Retail

Australian reusable drinkware brand, Made by Fressko, has spent the last decade building a sustainable empire and after a landmark season of sales in 2024, its co-founders are ready to take the brand to new heights. Sean Atme and Lucas Ciancarelli have not only maintained their friendship from early childhood but scaled Fressko, the business they launched in 2014, globally.

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Guzman y Gomez Brings Mexican Fast Food From Australia to Chicagoland

Retail Wire

Guzman y Gomez continues to expand its footprint in the Chicago area.

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10 Ways to Leverage Buyer Signals and Drive Revenue

In today’s ultra-competitive markets, it’s no longer enough to wait for buyers to show obvious signs of interest. Instead, sales teams must be proactive, identifying and acting on nuanced buyer behaviors — often before prospects are fully ready to make a purchase. In this eBook from ZoomInfo & Sell Better, learn 10 actionable ways to use these buyer signals to transform your sales strategy and close deals faster.

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Morrisons joins Sainsbury’s in slashing hundreds of jobs to trim costs

Retail Gazette

Morrisons is set to cut over 200 jobs from its retail people team as part of a significant cost-saving initiative, becoming the latest supermarket to announce such measures as it navigates the challenging economic landscape of 2025. The move follows CEO Rami Baitihs comments last month about the avalanche of costs businesses will face after the governments October Budget.

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Walmart Launches Program Allowing Customers To Test Products at Home

Retail Wire

Walmart is widening the launch of its In-Home User Test (IHUT) program.

ATS 130
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Schuh to cut jobs as it restructures UK business

Retail Gazette

Schuh has started a voluntary redundancy process with its staff as it looks to trim costs across the footwear chain. The retailers president Colin Temple told The Scotsman that due to ongoing challenging economic conditions and rising costs, we have made the difficult decision to restructure our business. We are going through a voluntary redundancy process in some areas of business,” he said.

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CNN Announces Layoffs of Around 200 Jobs

Retail Wire

Around 6% of the CNN's job force will exit.

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Boost Your Website Traffic with These Proven Strategies

Driving traffic to your website is key to growing your business online. In this blog, we explore proven strategies to attract more visitors and boost engagement. Learn how to optimize your site for search engines, leverage social media, and create compelling content that resonates with your audience. We’ll also cover the importance of email marketing, online advertising, and analyzing your traffic to refine your approach.

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Victoria Centre raises over £13,000 for Nottinghamshire Hospice

A1 Retail

Today, Victoria Centre has announced that a remarkable 13,347 was raised for Nottinghamshire Hospice, its charity of choice in 2024.To achieve this incredible figure, the centre hosted fundraising initiatives and activities throughout the year. This included charitable collection spaces at the Centre, donations from the iconic Emett Clock, staff-led initiatives such as Christmas Jumper Day and an in-house tuck shop.

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Cadbury Has Made a Major Change for the First Time in History. Here’s What Happened

Retail Wire

Cadbury's Creme Eggs and other chocolate treats have long been Easter favorites worldwide.

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Bloomingdale’s to close San Francisco Centre anchor

Retail Dive

The move will leave the struggling mall with another space to fill, and the luxury department store’s only full-line locations outside the city.

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Taco Bell Postpones 2nd Annual Live Más Live Event at the Hollywood Palladium in the Wake of the LA Fires

Retail Wire

Taco Bell only recently made the announcement.

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Signal-Based Selling: How to Leverage 4 Key Buying Signals

As prospects define their problem, search for solutions, and even change jobs, they are generating high-value signals that the best go-to-market teams can leverage to close more deals. This is where signal-based selling comes into play. ZoomInfo CEO Henry Schuck recently broke down specific ways to put four key buying signals into action with the experts from 30 Minutes to President’s Club.

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Sainsbury’s to axe over 3,000 jobs and shut cafés as budget tax hikes bite

Retail Gazette

Sainsburys is to cut 3,000 jobs as part of a drive to simplify its business and address rising costs, including a 140m leap in employer national insurance contributions from April. The supermarket will close its remaining cafs, hot food counters, patisserie, and pizza counters, and reduce senior management roles by an estimated 20%, Reuters reported.

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Burger King Announces 2 for $5 and 3 for $7 Combo Deals

Retail Wire

Burger King has more deals for inflation-weary customers.

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Books Inc. files for Chapter 11

Retail Dive

The California-based retailer said the pandemic kicked off years of falling revenue and rising costs. It will close at least one store but stay in business.

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Uncover the latest upgrades in the NSO Sandboxes

Cisco Retail

After many months of work, Im happy to share that our NSO reservable sandbox and NSO Always-On sandbox have received a well-deserved upgrade. The NSO sandboxes are a great companion as you go on your automation journey, and when you need a quick environment to test your ideas.

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The Evolving Retailer's Fulfillment Strategy: Meeting Demands with Agility

Speaker: Becky Parisotto and John Vurdelja

Fulfillment is no longer just about getting products from point A to point B – it's about crafting seamless, scalable, customer first experiences. Flexible fulfillment strategies are more important than ever for those aiming to stay ahead and build resilience as retail enters a new era in 2025. Learn how to optimize fulfillment processes, tackle complex, multi-vendor orders, and create seamless customer experiences – from white-glove delivery for high-value items to quick-ship solutions for ever