Tue.Jul 15, 2025

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Kevin Tulip’s retail story: From tagging tees to leading Primark in the US

Inside Retail

Kevin Tulip’s first experience working in retail was attaching price tags to clothing in the stockroom of Topshop during two weeks’ school work experience in Newcastle, Scotland, where he grew up. From a young age, he had enjoyed shopping with his parents and friends, so it seemed a natural fit to see what it would be like working in a store when he had to choose where to fulfil his work experience.

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7 Essential Features of Retail Stock Management Systems

Small Biz Trends

When managing retail inventory, grasping the crucial features of stock management systems can greatly improve your operations. Key elements like easy restocking alerts help prevent stockouts, whereas all-encompassing reporting facilitates sales performance analysis. Mobile access allows for management on-the-go, and seamless integration with other tools boosts efficiency.

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Meet the ex-Amazon retail visionary opening automated convenience stores in LA

Inside Retail

The phrase “store of the future” tends to conjure images of futuristic cartoons like “The Jetsons”, complete with robot assistants and voice-activated ordering systems. In reality, the “store of the future” looks a bit different, and it’s closer than many people realise. One player bringing the “store of the future” to life is VenHub Global, a US-based AI and robotics technology company founded by retail veteran Shahan Ohanessian.

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Will AI Shoppers Change the Face of eCommerce?

Retail Focus

Artificial intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing many key industries, one of which is eCommerce. In recent years, business owners have started to rely more heavily upon various AI-powered tools to enhance the user/customer experience, reduce bounce rate, upgrade existing systems, enhance cyber security, boost conversions, and increase revenue. One such tool is the AI shopper or AI shopping assistant, which significantly helps consumers find what they’re looking for quicker than ever.

Shopping 130
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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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How retailers can build the foundation for tomorrow’s stores, today

Inside Retail

Incisiv, in partnership with Toshiba, has released the 2025 state of the industry report on store innovation – the findings lay out physical retail’s next chapter. With the right technology stack, retailers are now able to transform their physical stores into multi-purpose platforms for commerce, fulfilment, and customer engagement. Digital-physical integration is accelerating, space utilisation is evolving, and stores are becoming media platforms.

Returns 130
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Mall of America Deploys AI-Powered Video Analytics to Boost Efficiency and Security

Retail TouchPoints

With 5.6 million square feet housing 500+ retailers and attracting more than 32 million visitors annually, the Mall of America (MOA) requires careful planning to support overall security — and its parking operations specifically. The shopping center has expanded its partnership with Axis Communications to deploy car-counting video analytics across more than a dozen locations, enabling more informed decision-making around employee scheduling and streamlining transportation logistics for the 300+

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Beyond the Endcap: Rethinking Your Retail Merchandising Strategy for 2025

CJ Retail Solutions

As you step into the world of retail merchandising, you may notice that the landscape is evolving at an unprecedented pace. Gone are the days when traditional methods dominated the scene; today, you find yourself navigating a complex web of technology, consumer preferences, and sustainability concerns. The retail environment is no longer just about displaying products; it’s about creating experiences that resonate with consumers on multiple levels.

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How The Iconic is future-proofing its business for the circular fashion economy

Inside Retail

The Iconic has partnered with Cirkular to stock a curated selection of pre-loved women’s fashion including designer labels such as Jacquemus, Zimmermann, Anna Quan, The Frankie Shop, Viktoria & Woods, Scanlan Theodore, Christopher Esber, Ganni and Alemais. With the addition of Cirkular, The Iconic will expand its offering to include pre-loved garments from the same brands it sells new – something it sees as an opportunity.

Fashion 191
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Do Product and Brand Reviews Have More Value to Consumers Than Ever?

Retail Focus

Shopping habits have changed dramatically with the growth of online retail and social platforms. Reviews, which once came mostly from personal recommendations or specialist publications, now appear on nearly every product page and search result. Many consumers check ratings, comments, or video reviews before buying. This raises the question: do these reviews truly hold more value now than before?

Consumer 130
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How Lush uses its stores as platforms for education and community connection

Inside Retail

Since its 2021 departure from major social media platforms, Lush Australia is doubling its focus on physical retail as a channel for education, community connection and values-driven commerce. By shifting its efforts from digital advertising to grassroots advocacy, the brand is recasting its physical stores as platforms for social impact and conscious engagement.

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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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Back-to-School Barometers

VMS

Three major studies on consumer behavior for this year’s back-to-school shopping season reached similar conclusions: people are seeking such goods earlier than earlier this year, with an eye on finding bargains. The studies are by Deloitte, the National Retail Federation and PwC; here are excerpts from each: Deloitte: “Parents are laser-focused on preparing their children for the school year, but we expect back-to-school spending to remain flat amid economic headwinds and financial concerns acro

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Why industry groups say the RBA’s payment reforms are a ‘mixed bag’ for retail

Inside Retail

The Reserve Bank of Australia’s proposal to eliminate surcharges on Eftpos, Mastercard and Visa transactions has ignited a debate within the retail sector. While the reforms aim to simplify payment processes and increase transparency, some industry groups say they risk obscuring the true cost of card payments by embedding fees into the product price, making it harder to compete in an already margin-tight environment.

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Strategies to Successfully Open a Second Location for Your Business

Small Biz Trends

Sponsored Post Key Takeaways Expansion Opportunities: Opening a second location can boost your brand visibility, attract a new customer base, and enhance revenue potential. Market Research is Crucial: Conduct thorough market analysis to understand demographics, competition, and customer preferences before selecting a new location. Financial Planning: Establish a clear budget and explore funding options to ensure financial sustainability during the expansion process.

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Repsly Powers Nutrabolt’s Retail Execution with AI and Image Recognition, Transforming Field Merchandising

RepslyBlog

BOSTON, July 15th, 2025 – Repsly, Inc., a leader in retail technology, is transforming field merchandising and retail execution through its advanced AI and image recognition solutions. By automating data capture and simplifying complex manual processes, Repsly empowers brands to gain accurate, real-time insights that drive smarter business decisions.

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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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Boost Your Instagram Sales Funnel for Maximum Conversion Success

Small Biz Trends

Key Takeaways Understand the Instagram Sales Funnel: It’s crucial for turning casual followers into paying customers, utilizing stages of awareness, interest, consideration, intent, and purchase. Leverage Instagram’s Features: Use Stories, Reels, and shoppable posts to create engaging content and streamline the purchasing process. Build Trust and Authenticity: Showcase user-generated content and customer testimonials to foster credibility and encourage potential customers to engage w

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Temu opens Local Seller Program to all Australian businesses

Inside Retail

E-commerce platform Temu has launched its Local Seller Program in Australia, providing local businesses with a low-cost channel to connect with shoppers. The program now allows all Australian-registered businesses with locally stocked inventory to participate, a feature previously available only by invitation. Local merchants will have access to a high-traffic digital marketplace and tools to manage orders, shipping and fulfilment.

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Instagram Launches Trial Reels, Letting Creators Test Ideas with New Audiences

Small Biz Trends

Small business owners looking to enhance their marketing strategies on social media have reason to be optimistic with Instagram’s latest feature: trial reels. Launched to assist creators and businesses alike, this new tool allows users to share short video content (reels) with non-followers first, effectively letting entrepreneurs gauge audience reactions before expanding their reach.

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Iceland accelerates solar rollout in ‘major step’ towards net zero target

Retail Gazette

Iceland has partnered with renewable energy provider Shawton Energy to roll out rooftop solar systems across multiple sites within its retail portfolio. The move will take the combined energy output of the multiple installations up to 10MWp, comprising enough to power 3,000 UK homes and saving 2,500 tonnes of CO2 annually. The supermarket’s store on Penny Lane in Liverpool forms the first of its sites to install the on-site renewable energy with Shawton, which will be followed by its Queen

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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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Cost of Ransomware for Businesses in 2025 and How to Avoid It

Retail Assist

Ransomware attacks aren’t new. But in 2025, the costs and the consequences are hitting harder than ever for businesses. According to Sophos , the median cost of ransomware paid by businesses has nearly doubled in 2025, and recovery costs now average around £2 million. For many businesses, it’s not just about prevention, but also about having the right systems, backups and response plans in place to minimise disruption.

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ProCook expands retail footprint with opening at Cotswolds Designer Outlet

A1 Retail

ProCook has announced the opening of its latest store at the newly opened Cotswolds Designer Outlet, marking the brand’s fourth new store in 2025. ProCook’s continued strategic progress is being realised through their retail expansion programme, as the business targets a medium-term goal of 100 stores nationwide. Located near to ProCook’s Gloucestershire Store Support Centre, the new store represents a return to the company’s roots which started nearly three decades ago in the Cotwolds.

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Marks & Spencer Sends its Fashions Down Under with David Jones Partnership

Retail TouchPoints

Marks & Spencer (M&S) has kicked off its first international wholesale partnership in the fashion category with Australian premium department store David Jones , which will now offer a selection of Marks & Spencer womenswear, menswear and lingerie online and in its 24 stores, including its Sydney and Melbourne flagship locations. The new M&S partnership follows a successful one earlier this year with Target , which began carrying M&S Food’s Percy Pig candies.

Fashion 147
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Asha Tarry’s Insights on Navigating the Great Resignation Challenge

Small Biz Trends

Key Takeaways Align Professional and Personal Goals: Asha Tarry emphasizes the need for individuals to align their careers with their personal values for greater fulfillment during the Great Resignation. Importance of Employee Engagement: Prioritizing employee engagement and creating a supportive workplace culture is crucial for retention and overall employee satisfaction.

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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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Shopify Adds Guardrails to Control Agentic Purchases

Retail TouchPoints

Shopify has added new rules to the millions of merchant websites it powers, requiring that purchases made by agentic AI platforms aren’t completed without a “final human review.” While agentic AI — platforms that employ AI systems to perform tasks like shopping autonomously on behalf of consumers — is still relatively nascent, the space is evolving quickly.

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Jeremy Clarkson urges press to publish ‘banned’ Hawsktone ad* featuring farmers’ choir

Retail Times

Retail Times publishes international & UK retail news covering products, data, tech, packaging, people, research, comment and more besides! Forty-plus years ago, some advertising executive in a suit decided Jeremy Clarkson wasn’t good enough to be a copywriter. Today, his self-penned adverts for Hawkstone regularly reach an audience of millions.

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Sosandar cuts profit guidance following M&S cyber attack

Retail Gazette

Sosandar has downgraded its profit and sales guidance for the year as it manages the impact of the M&S cyberattack on its sales. The fashion brand said it was taking a “prudent view” of its forecasts after it made “no sales” through M&S, which is its second largest third-party partner, since mid-April and its decision to pause new store openings to focus on profitable growth.

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Inside the Bob’s Discount Furniture Reality Show: Couples Clash to Create Marketing Magic

Retail TouchPoints

Of course you love your partner. But do you trust their taste? This question — familiar to anyone who has had a screaming match with their significant other in a furniture store — is at the heart of Till Décor Do Us Part , a new six -episode social-first reality series produced by Bob’s Discount Furniture. The show, which debuted July 10, showcases one partner shopping for furniture at a Bob’s store in Yonkers, N.Y., while the other, along with host Gabby Bryan, watches and comments in real time

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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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American pretzel franchise Auntie Anne’s set to open across Australia

Inside Retail

American franchise pretzel brand, Auntie Anne’s, is launching its first store at Sydney’s Westfield Parramatta on July 26. The brand has been brought to Australia by business partners Yu-Jin Lee and Johann Wong, with the intention of sharing Auntie Anne’s pretzels with a brand new audience. Lee and Wong have plans to open 60 stores across Australia over the next few years.

Planning 254
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Tesco launches early delivery slots to help families over the summer

Retail Gazette

Tesco has opened its delivery slots earlier to help families over the busy summer period. The grocery giant has enabled UK shoppers to access eight weeks’ worth of home delivery and click and collect slots over the summer for the first time instead of the usual four weeks. It has also removed its same-day charge for home deliveries and click and collect slots from selected stores.

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What Is a Video Montage and How Is It Used?

Small Biz Trends

A video montage is a technique that combines multiple short clips into one cohesive sequence. You can use it to tell stories more effectively, whether in marketing or filmmaking. This method captures attention and evokes feelings by blending visuals and music. Comprehending how to create compelling montages can improve your content. Next, let’s explore the various applications of video montages in marketing and their impact on audience engagement.

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Co-op backs Labour’s supermarket business rates raid

Retail Gazette

Co-op has supported Labour’s plans to raise business rates for supermarkets and department stores, which the grocersaid will “support local shops” Speaking to Retail Week, a Co-op spokesman said that the supermarket backed chancellor Rachel Reeves’ plans to overhaul business rates at the next autumn Budget. The plans involve bringing in a surcharge on large retail premises to raise £1.7bn to lower rates for smaller shops.

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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.