Retail TouchPoints
JUNE 11, 2025
AI has already raised consumer expectations across the board. People expect hyper-personalization, and they expect things to happen faster. What used to take a day should take an hour, and what took an hour should take a minute. When it comes to purchasing decisions, CPG brands and retailers still rely heavily on visuals, shelf presence and advertising to stand out.
Retail Wire
JUNE 11, 2025
Indiana is the latest flash point in Kroger ’s spreading labor unrest. Members of United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 700 — representing roughly 8,000 clerks, meat-cutters, and pharmacy techs across central Indiana — rejected a tentative four-year agreement by a lopsided 74% “no” vote. The “no” vote automatically activated strike authorization, giving leaders the legal power to call a walkout at any moment.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Small Biz Trends
JUNE 11, 2025
Key Takeaways Implement Seasonal Promotions: Create attractive discounts and promotions on winter essentials to draw customers into your store and encourage purchases. Enhance In-Store Experience: Transform your retail space into a cozy winter wonderland with festive decorations, warm lighting, and engaging sensory elements to attract shoppers. Personalize Customer Interactions: Foster loyalty through personalized service, including greeting customers by name and offering tailored product sugges
Retail Wire
JUNE 11, 2025
Using Microsoft Azure’s OpenAI platform, Starbucks is adding a generative AI assistant to 35 stores this month. The technology’s intent is to help baristas improve efficiency and decrease service wait times. Named “Green Dot Assist,” the platform was introduced to North American store managers at Starbucks’ Leadership Experience earlier this week in Las Vegas.
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.
A1 Retail
JUNE 11, 2025
By Matt Sherwen, Managing Director of Sherwen Studios In just a few weeks, the European Accessibility Act (EAA) will come into force. This mandates that any retailer trading across the EU will need to be fully accessible for all users across their online and digital elements. The Act will cover everything from websites and mobile apps to electronic documents and even in-store self-service checkouts.
Inside Retail
JUNE 11, 2025
While David Jones’ chief executive Scott Fyfe has positioned the department store’s new loyalty program in partnership with Qantas as a key element in the group’s recovery strategy, retail experts aren’t convinced it’s that simple. “A loyalty program is not the panacea for every business’s long-term growth need,” Adam Posner, The Point of Loyalty founder, told Inside Retail.
Experience Retail Today brings together the best content for retail owners from the widest variety of industry thought leaders.
Inside Retail
JUNE 11, 2025
Women’s plus-size apparel retailer Torrid is the latest retail player to reduce its store portfolio, following similar moves, such as Denny’s , Walgreens and many others, despite sales being relatively stable. In a quarterly report released on June 5, Torrid announced plans to shrink its brick-and-mortar footprint by up to 180 locations, approximately 30 per cent of its total fleet, by the end of 2025.
Retail Wire
JUNE 11, 2025
Chipotle plans a rapid expansion of its restaurant footprint. With the help of AI, the Tex-Mex chain is opening a new location almost daily. Chipotle’s AI hiring platform, dubbed Ava Cado , is driving the growth spurt. According to CEO Scott Boatwright, the tech is reducing hiring time by 75%. “This not only helps us keep our restaurant staffed, but ensures we have the best talent that’s available in the industry,” Boatwright told Fortune.
VMS
JUNE 11, 2025
Earlier this year, Pennsylvania-based Wawa opened its first c-store in the Cincinnati market, in the far north suburb of Liberty Township. Across the street from that store is a recently renovated UDF, a representative of an 86-year-old brand whose 30-some outlets had long ruled the roost in greater Cincinnati’s c-store sector. Wawa is just one of several competitors invading UDF’s turf, The Cincinnati Enquirer noted in a recent front-page story on that subject.
Inside Retail
JUNE 11, 2025
Entrepreneurship has never been a nine-to-five job. But for women founders, particularly those navigating motherhood, the demands can become all-consuming. For Sharmeen Looi, co-founder and chief marketing officer of iMotorbike, this dual journey has shaped not only the business she’s building but also the kind of leader she’s becoming. Since launching iMotorbike, a leading platform for buying and selling secondhand motorcycles across Southeast Asia, Sharmeen has helped steer the business toward
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.
A1 Retail
JUNE 11, 2025
Derbion is proud to announce that it has become one of a few UK retail destinations to secure a BREEAM In-Use Outstanding-rating in the management of an asset, reflecting the shopping centre’s commitment to carbon and energy reduction, health and wellbeing, transport and broader sustainability. BREEAM In-Use is the internationally recognised green building certification for operational property and is widely adopted across the real estate sector.
Retail Gazette
JUNE 11, 2025
Tesco has posted strong sales growth in its first quarter, with like-for-like sales up 4.6% across the group and UK market share rising to 28% as shoppers respond to its value-led strategy. For the 13 weeks to 24 May, the UK’s biggest supermarket recorded a 5.1% increase in UK like-for-like sales, driven by strong customer demand for value, quality and a range of new own-brand products.
Storis
JUNE 11, 2025
The Daily Chaos of Small Retail You’re halfway through your coffee on a Saturday morning when your store’s delivery scheduler pings your phone. Two orders confirmed, one rerouted, and inventory updated automatically. You didn’t even put your mug down. How? Because you unified your retail operations. What if technology didn’t feel like an obstacle, but an edge?
Small Biz Trends
JUNE 11, 2025
Key Takeaways Understanding Value Added: Value added refers to enhancements in products or services that increase their appeal and worth to customers, distinguishing businesses in competitive markets. Importance of Value Added: Prioritizing value added drives customer engagement and loyalty, leading to higher sales conversions and long-term revenue growth by effectively addressing customer needs.
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.
365 Retail
JUNE 11, 2025
Rituals is preparing to open its latest retail store in the heart of Royal Tunbridge Wells on 11 June 2025. The new 133.4 square metre space will offer the brand’s full selection of bath, body, and home items, all rooted in its philosophy of encouraging everyday wellbeing and self‑care. The store will be situated in the town centre of Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent—an area known for its spa heritage and upmarket retail appeal.
Small Biz Trends
JUNE 11, 2025
Key Takeaways Focus on Community Engagement: Actively participate in local events and collaborate with neighboring businesses to build trust and visibility within your community. Implement Local SEO Strategies: Optimize your franchise’s online presence with local keywords and maintain updated listings on platforms like Google My Business to enhance search visibility.
Retail Focus
JUNE 11, 2025
EE is bringing the future face of retail to Nottingham with the launch of a new Experience store – the latest iteration of a cutting-edge retail experience concept created in partnership with global strategy and design studio, Dalziel & Pow. The Experience store is part of EE’s new strategy, which seeks to reinvent the role of retail in the telco industry by putting innovation, personal experience and community front-and-centre.
Retail TouchPoints
JUNE 11, 2025
Pact has created a Clean Out resale program, powered by the ThredUp Resale-as-a-Service (RaaS) technology, allowing its customers to resell gently-worn items for “Pact cash” credits with the retailer. Pact, maker of the Earth’s Favorite Clothing brand, joins other ThredUp-powered resale programs from J.Crew, Tommy Hilfiger and Madewell. Pact customers can generate a prepaid shipping label from pact.thredup.com , fill a shippable box or bag with apparel, footwear and accessories from any brand in
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.
Inside Retail
JUNE 11, 2025
Chinese energy sector worker Mandy Li likes to treat herself to a luxury brand handbag once in a while. But since her state-owned employer cut her wage by 10 per cent and the properties her family owns lost half their value, she only buys second-hand ones. “I’m cutting down on large expenditures,” said 28-year-old Li, while browsing for items in Beijing’s Super Zhuanzhuan second-hand luxury items store that opened in May. “The economy is definitely in a downturn,
Retail TouchPoints
JUNE 11, 2025
With tariffs dominating headlines and reshaping global retail strategy, brands are navigating one of the most complex trade landscapes in recent memory. But given the highly fluid nature of these tariffs, questions outnumber answers at the moment: Should we pull back on international expansion until things settle down? Is there anything companies can do now while the situation remains uncertain?
Small Biz Trends
JUNE 11, 2025
Key Takeaways Enhanced Navigation: Google Maps simplifies travel by providing real-time directions, traffic updates, and alternative routes, making navigation stress-free for users and businesses alike. Business Visibility: Having a presence on Google Maps increases local search visibility, boosting brand awareness and driving foot traffic to small businesses.
Retail TouchPoints
JUNE 11, 2025
As part of its mission to make luxury resale more accessible to consumers, Rebag will offer nearly 30,000 curated, pre-loved luxury handbags, jewelry and watches on Luxury Stores at Amazon , beginning June 10, 2025. The assortment will feature high-profile brands such as Hermès, Louis Vuitton, Rolex and Cartier. “Rebag is thrilled to work with Luxury Stores at Amazon and to redefine how customers shop for pre-owned luxury,” said Charles Gorra, CEO and Founder of Rebag in a statement.
Advertisement
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
Retail Times
JUNE 11, 2025
Retail Times publishes international & UK retail news covering products, data, tech, packaging, people, research, comment and more besides! Following today’s release of Inditex’ figures for the three months to 30 April 2025; Louise Deglise-Favre, senior apparel analyst at GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company, offers her view: “Inditex’s net sales grew only 1.5% to €8.3bn in Q1 FY2025/26, significantly slowing from its FY2024/25 growth of 7.5%.
Inside Retail
JUNE 11, 2025
Thanks to a growing interest in do-it-yourself (DIY) projects in recent years, the hardware retail sector has never been stronger. According to analysis firm Mordor Intelligence , the US hardware store market is estimated to reach US$58.9 billion by the end of 2025. The sector is expected to reach US$74.7 billion by 2030, growing at a compound annual growth rate of 4.89 per cent during the period between 2025 to 2030.
Retail Customer Experience
JUNE 11, 2025
Retailers face a tricky balancing act: using technology to make life easier for customers while keeping the human connection that builds loyalty and trust. Automation can do a lot, but it’s the people behind the scenes who turn a good experience into a great one.
Inside Retail
JUNE 11, 2025
Amazon Australia has launched Amazon Business, a platform designed to simplify and reduce costs for Australian organisations of all sizes. This business-to-business (B2B) offering provides an extensive product selection and convenience with features tailored for business buyers. The key benefits include: business-only pricing and quantity discounts on eligible selection, single or multi-user business accounts, Business Prime, and dedicated customer support.
Advertisement
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.
Retail Technology Review
JUNE 11, 2025
Snowdon Timber, one of the UK’s fastest growing online timber retailers, has overhauled its e-commerce operations by partnering with Linnworks, the global provider of multichannel inventory and order management software.
Small Biz Trends
JUNE 11, 2025
A growing majority of small businesses believe adopting artificial intelligence (AI) is critical for remaining competitive, according to a new survey conducted by Reimagine Main Street in partnership with PayPal. The survey, which included nearly 1,000 small businesses with annual revenues between $25,000 and $5 million, found that 82% of respondents believe AI is essential for competing in today’s marketplace.
365 Retail
JUNE 11, 2025
Primark will open its first dedicated Home store in Great Britain later this summer, choosing Trafford Palazzo in Manchester as the launch site. This will be the retailer’s second stand-alone Home location, following its inaugural opening in Belfast earlier this year. The upcoming 11,900 sq. ft, two-floor store will bring together Primark’s complete interiors range under one roof.
Retail Gazette
JUNE 11, 2025
Primark is set to open its second standalone homewares store this summer in Manchester’s Trafford Centre. The new two-storey 11,900sq ft space, located in the Palazzo, will house the high street giant’s most popular homeware items , including bedding, towels, ceramics and small furniture, as well as its new elevated Edit collection. It will also include a dedicated travel shop, where customers can shop the retailer’s range of suitcases and other travel essentials.
Advertisement
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.
Expert insights. Personalized for you.
182 
Let's personalize your content