Thu.Jul 27, 2023

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House of Fraser owner warns of further store closures

Retail Gazette

More House of Fraser stores could be set to close, Frasers Group has warned. The retailer’s chief executive Michael Murray said House of Fraser’s portfolio was “continually under review” and that some outlets were still “too big and we have to find solutions for the excess space” The news comes after the business has suffered numerous store closures, with Mike Ashley admitting in 2019 that buying the department store was a mistake.

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Authentic Brands Group Buys Footwear Brand Rockport

Retail TouchPoints

Authentic Brands Group has received approval from the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware to purchase footwear brand Rockport. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. In addition, Authentic has signed a long-term licensing agreement with Marc Fisher Footwear , a leading full-service fashion footwear company and the U.S. footwear partner for the Authentic-owned brands Nine West, Hunter Boots and Bandolino brands.

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Marley Spoon reports soft consumer demand, revises guidance

Inside Retail

Subscription-based meal kit provider Marley Spoon plans to revise its full-year revenue guidance after sales plummeted on soft consumer demand. For the quarter to June 30, net revenue fell 21 per cent to €86 million (A$141.31 million) while operating EBITDA slumped 161 per cent to A$3.94 million. In Australia, net revenue grew marginally, up 1 per cent to $59.32 million while the US market reported a 9.1 per cent increase to $67.37 million.

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Primark President: ‘Our Business is Set Up for People to Grow Into’

Retail TouchPoints

Is working in retail just a job, or is it the beginning of a career? For Primark U.S. President Kevin Tulip, who began working in a Primark store in the UK when he was just 16 years old, it’s definitely the latter. “I’m 20 years with Primark, and that’s not unusual with the company,” he said in an interview with Retail TouchPoints. “We’re still fairly new in the U.S. — we’ve been here since 2015 — but I’m seeing people who are celebrating their sixth -, seventh – and eighth -year anniversa

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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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The four types of teams that help or hinder organisations

Inside Retail

Does your team sort out issues independently, allowing you to focus on the bigger picture and work at a higher level? Is your team unified and proactive? If your response is “I wish”, you are not alone. In a global survey, Salesforce discovered that 99.1 per cent of respondents prefer a workplace where people identify and discuss issues truthfully and effectively, but less than 50 per cent said their businesses do this well.

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Old Navy Offers ‘Kid-Proof’ Guarantee on School Uniform Styles

Retail TouchPoints

Old Navy is offering a one-year , money-back guarantee for uniform styles purchased during back-to-school season. The retailer will provide a full refund within one year of purchases on uniform products bought from July 7 through September 30, 2023, that don’t stand up to the wear and tear of the school year. While items can be purchased both online and in stores, refunds will only be processed in stores.

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Dollar General Adds 100+ Private Label Products as it Expands Fresh Food Offerings

Retail TouchPoints

Dollar General is adding more than 100 new items to its private label brand, Clover Valley , as part of its “Food First” initiative to provide customers with healthier options including more food items and fresh food. Originally introduced in 2009, the expansion will bring the range of Clover Valley items to approximately 600 , with new additions including sauces, condiments, entrees, sides and snacks.

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Why Woolworths’ acquisition might bring the best out of Milkrun 

Inside Retail

Earlier this year, rapid delivery grocery start-up Milkrun went from competing with Australia’s grocery chains to being absorbed by Australia’s biggest supermarket giant. The start-up raised more than $85 million from a string of prominent investors, and experienced a surge in popularity during the Covid-19 pandemic, with consumers avoiding shopping in-store, where possible.

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Joann Expands Location Solution to Encompass BOPIS

Retail TouchPoints

Joann has extended its partnership with Flybuy to power the craft retailer’s buy online, pick up in-store (BOPIS) offering. Since the beginning of the COVID pandemic, Joann, like many omnichannel retailers, has experienced higher customer demand for convenient pickup services. “Flybuy has powered our curbside pickup program for years, which has enabled us to boost efficiency, reduce wait times and ultimately increase customer satisfaction,” said Drew Chamberlain, Director of Operations and CX at

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Why Redbubble is under pressure to reassure artists, investors ahead of AGM

Inside Retail

Australian e-commerce company Redbubble is no stranger to turmoil. In the past five years, the business, which operates an online marketplace where customers can purchase original artwork and have it printed on a variety of products, from T-shirts to phone cases to doona covers, has seen three chief executives pass through its doors. Co-founder Martin Hosking returned to the business in March to lead it back to growth.

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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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How to Convert Customers with Empathetic Marketing

Retail TouchPoints

In explaining the human mind, neuroscientist Antonio Damasio shared, “We are not thinking machines that feel; rather, we are feeling machines that think.” Not only are we feeling, but Damasio’s study also revealed that every decision we make is grounded in emotion. Going a step further than that, we actually can’t make a decision if we can’t feel. Unfortunately, this is something marketing professionals often overlook.

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As food prices soar, retailers face a discretionary spending downturn

Inside Retail

Retail spending grew 2.3 per cent year-on-year in June as consumers spent more than $35.1 billion in stores and online, according to data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). The most “significant” sales increase was in cafes, restaurants and takeaway services at 8.6 per cent followed by food spending up 5.8 per cent. However, all remaining categories registered a decline in spending when compared to last year.

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Exclusive: Amazon Has Drawn Thousands To Try Its AI Service Competing With Microsoft, Google

Retail Wire

Amazon Web Services (AWS), the cloud division of Amazon, has attracted thousands of customers to try out its AI service, Amazon Bedrock, which competes with Microsoft and Google in the artificial intelligence domain. The company aims to make every organization an AI company and is offering a wide range of AI models through Bedrock to.

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Kering snaps up Valentino amid modest H1 results 

Inside Retail

French-based luxury conglomerate Kering Group has acquired a 30 per cent stake in fashion house Valentino from Mayhoola for €1.7 billion (US$1.86 billion). The company said the deal is part of its broader strategic partnership with Mayhoola, which could lead to Mayhoola becoming a shareholder in Kering. The acquisition, expected to close by the end of this year, also includes an option for Kering to acquire 100 per cent of the share capital of Valentino no later than 2028.

Fashion 130
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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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Samsung Launches Two New Folding Smartphones To Fend Off Competition From Rivals

Retail Wire

Samsung has launched two new folding smartphones, the Galaxy Z Flip 5 and Galaxy Fold 5, alongside a tablet and two smartwatches. The Galaxy Z Flip 5 features a much larger cover display and a slimmer design with a three-stop, “zero gap” hinge, while the Galaxy Fold 5 has a 7.6-inch main screen, a reduced.

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McDonald’s global comparable sales up 11.7 per cent in Q2

Inside Retail

McDonald’s Corporation reported global comparable sales growth of 11.7 per cent in the quarter ended June 30. The fast food chain also recorded double-digit comparable sales growth across all segments in Q2, including a 10.7 per cent increase in the US market, 11.9 per cent in international operated markets, and 14 per cent in international markets with developmental licenses.

Marketing 130
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In Defense of Polygamous Reward Programs: Lessons From Gap, Ulta & More

Retail Wire

The concept of “poly-reward” programs, similar to coalition programs, is gaining attention in the retail industry. Poly-reward programs involve several different loyalty initiatives forming an open partnership, allowing members to earn and redeem points with multiple brands within the partnership. By sharing data and insights, these programs offer benefits like understanding customers’ shopping behavior across.

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Crocs breaks through US$1 billion quarterly revenue barrier 

Inside Retail

Casual brand Crocs has reported record quarterly sales of more than US$1 billion, reflecting a 12 per cent increase in constant currency terms over the previous year. The company’s growth was driven by Asia, where sales increased by 33.2 per cent, or by 39 per cent on a constant currency basis, and North America where direct-to-consumer (DTC) comparable sales grew by 12.9 per cent year on year.

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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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‘Penny Shoppers’ Are Finding Hidden $0.01 Deals at Dollar General — And It’s a Sign of a Larger Problem for the Discount Chain

Retail Wire

Bargain hunters, known as “penny shoppers,” are scouring Dollar General stores for items priced at $0.01 each, a result of the discount chain’s inventory issues and messy stores. Dollar General cuts prices to $0.01 on items they plan to remove from inventory, but understaffed stores sometimes fail to take them off the shelves, creating an.

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Zara owner Inditex to stop sourcing from Myanmar

Inside Retail

Zara owner Inditex is in the process of stopping sourcing from Myanmar, the company told Reuters on Thursday, as a result of a campaign by global workers’ union IndustriALL to convince companies to divest from the country. “Inditex is in the process of a phased and responsible exit from Myanmar, following IndustriALL’s call,” a company spokesperson wrote in an email. “As a result, we continue to reduce the number of active manufacturers in the country.” Myanmar, a m

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What the New York Times Says the Ultrawealthy Are Buying, From $530 Napkins to $24,500 Sport Coats

Retail Wire

Quiet luxury is becoming a trend among the ultrawealthy, with subtle displays of wealth gaining popularity over logo-centric designs. The ultrawealthy are favoring well-known designers like Prada and lesser-known brands like Loro Piana, known for their cashmere baseball cap featured in the show “Succession.” From high-end coffee makers to leather shoes, these understated luxury items.

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Retail appointments of the week

Inside Retail

Gap plugs leadership holes with new CEO, head of Athleta By Sean Cao US-based apparel company Gap Inc has tapped experienced turnaround agent Richard Dickson as its new president and CEO, effective August 22. Dickson’s most recent role was president and COO of toy manufacturer Mattel where – among other achievements – he led a revival of the Barbie brand.

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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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Amazon Fresh Is Laying off Hundreds of Store Workers

Retail Wire

Amazon Fresh is laying off hundreds of “zone leads,” who manage specific sections of its grocery stores, according to reports. The decision is seen as a cost-cutting measure, and affected workers were informed that their jobs were being eliminated. Amazon Fresh has been facing challenges, with some store closures and a pause in new openings.

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Pop Mart opens two more stores in Australia

Inside Retail

Collectibles toys retailer Pop Mart is expanding its footprint in Australia with two more stores opened in Brisbane and Sydney. Pop Mart opened its first Brisbane retail location on July 8 at Indooroopilly Shopping Centre, the largest shopping centre in the Western suburbs. Pop Mart Brisbane The brand later launched its third Sydney store a week later in Westfield Parramatta on July 15.

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Soccer: Puma Sees World Cup Opportunity for Boots Tailored to Women

Retail Wire

Puma, the German sportswear brand, sees an opportunity to raise awareness about soccer boots tailored to women’s feet during the women’s World Cup. Concerns have grown over the high number of injuries suffered by female soccer players, possibly due to the reliance on boots designed primarily for men. A report found that 82% of female.

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How one of the world’s fastest female sprinters built a career in retail PR

Inside Retail

Successful retail brands are able to attract all sorts of people, but most don’t have professional Australian athletes as part of their team. LSKD’s partnerships coordinator, brand ambassador and head of public relations Bree Masters has long been moonlighting as a track and field athlete for Australia – or is it the other way around? Beyond her work at LSKD, a sports, fitness and adventure apparel brand that is known for hiring professional athletes, Masters has represented Australia in track

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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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Consumer Goods Makers Flex Pricing Power in Second Quarter

Retail Wire

Consumer goods makers, including Unilever, Coca-Cola, and Reckitt, have demonstrated their ability to raise prices to cope with higher costs amid the COVID-19 pandemic and supply chain disruptions. These companies have passed on input cost increases to retailers and consumers, helping them manage sharp rises in expenses. However, investors are now seeking more innovation to.

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C-beauty brands and AI: Inside Sephora’s ‘store of the future’ in Shanghai

Inside Retail

The new Sephora store in Shanghai’s East Nanjing Road not only features the beauty retailer’s new ‘Store of the Future’ concept, but also introduces over 220 new products to the market from over 36 global brands, including Tatcha, Pat McGrath Labs, Hourglass, Anastasia, Dr Dennis Gross and Courreges. Beyond the curated product offering, the new store features a number of innovative digital touchpoints and elevated beauty services, such as 15-minute skincare consultations, 60-minute makeup sessio

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Pop-Up Shop Marketing: 8 Must-Have Tips for Success

Shopify

Pop-up shop marketing is crucial to the success of your next event. Get ideas and tips to help build buzz before, during, and after your next pop-up shop.

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Wayfair debuts home design, product visualization tool

Retail Dive

Decorify allows shoppers to upload a photo of a room and receive style redesigns with shoppable product suggestions.

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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.