August, 2022

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SBA Opens Program to Get Women Owned Businesses Federal Contracts

Small Biz Trends

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has announced the return of ChallengeHer to help women-owned small businesses gain access to federal contracts. SBA Opens Program to Get Women Owned Businesses Federal Contracts. ChallengeHer is a government contracting education initiative that hosts events to provide networking opportunities between women-owned businesses and government contractors.

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The Challenges and Opportunities Facing City Centre Retail

Retail Focus

Napoleon once described the UK as a “nation of shopkeepers”. While intended as an insult, Brits are pretty happy with that depiction as we are, indeed, a country of ingenious and creative entrepreneurs that are always looking for new ways to serve our customers better. . No more so is that spirit visible than in the retail space, where a true nation of shopkeepers are constantly evolving their offering to face the challenges and opportunities that face them. .

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City Chic posts solid sales growth, especially in the US

Inside Retail

Global plus size fashion retailer City Chic says it has accelerated growth across all regions, and reached an “exceptionally strong position” in the US market. For the 53 weeks to July 3, group sales rose 39 per cent to $369.2 million while tax-paid profit increased 4.7 per cent to $22.3 million. Comp sales rose 25.5 per cent. Organic growth in all channels drove US sales up 53.9 per cent to $162.4 million while Australian sales reached $161.8 million, up 11 per cent notwithstanding Covid-relate

Fashion 264
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Pandora launches lab-made diamond collection as US sales decline

Retail Dive

The new 33-piece Brilliance collection has diamonds made with renewable energy, and includes 100% recycled silver and gold.

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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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8 Key Ecommerce Automation Strategies That Drive Sustainable and Profitable Growth

Retail TouchPoints

It’s hard to say that 2022 has been the year of ecommerce so far. Looking at all the stats, frankly one might even say quite the opposite. According to the latest Mastercard SpendingPulse report, ecommerce transactions have declined 1.8% from a year ago, while in-store sales rose 10%. From another perspective, research showed that on average, the online share of total spending rose sharply, from 10.3% in 2019 to 14.9% at the peak of the pandemic.

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Brand perception: Find out how your customers really feel about your brand

Tokinomo

Customers have a lot of brands and products to choose from. How does one choose a type of toothpaste over another? Is there more than the price that influences the purchasing decision? Definitely yes. In this article, we are going to focus on brand perception. How do your customers perceive your brand and why it is important to know this? Plus, we are going to show you some examples of brands and how shoppers perceive them.

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BOSS launch new Oxford Street store concept and experience

Retail Focus

Dalziel & Pow have partnered with HUGO BOSS to redefine and design their new BOSS store concept and experience, which has just launched on Oxford Street, London. The purpose of the new concept is to redefine and create the new BOSS store experience, one that inspires customers to find their style confidence and #BeYourOwnBOSS. This concept reflects the brand’s new creative direction, aimed at the millennial shopper, better telling the brand’s stories and inspiring more ways to connect and we

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Winners revealed for 2022 National Indigenous Fashion Awards

Inside Retail

Denni Francisco’s brand Ngali with the Warmun Art Centre has won the Fashion Designer Award at the 2022 National Indigenous Fashion Awards (NIFA) announced last night in Darwin. Francisco, supported by Australian fashion retailer Country Road, was one of six winners revealed in the awards, that recognise and celebrate innovation, diversity and ethical practices in First Nations people’s fashion and textiles.

Fashion 287
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The Gore and Glamor of Halloween Trends in 2022

Intelligence Node

What to expect this spooky retail season As retailers worldwide work their way through the remainder of 2022, it’s time to brace for the big leagues. The major holidays of. The post The Gore and Glamor of Halloween Trends in 2022 appeared first on Blog.

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4 Ways Brands Can Prepare Their Email Marketing Program for BFCM

Retail TouchPoints

Black Friday and Cyber Monday (BFCM) are right around the corner, and many ecommerce brands are already planning for another uncertain year. Between inflation, increased marketing costs — especially paid ads — seasonal shipping costs surcharges and potential supply chain disruptions, finding every last opportunity to increase profits during the busiest time of the year is critical for brands.

Marketing 334
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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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Shopper Marketing Weekly Snacks #21

Tokinomo

Campaign corner. Raw Manifesto. We all love a good commercial that involves pets, right? You can see the most adorable furballs in this commercial from Stella and Chewy. Plus, you’ll see, once again, that pets show raw love and deserve the same in return and some extra food if you ask us.

Marketing 246
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Pumpkin Spice Lattes are back at Starbucks

Retail Wire

It’s Pumpkin Spice season once again as Starbucks and other companies bring back their fall flavors. Starbucks has expanded its selection of pumpkin-flavored items with Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffin and Pumpkin Scone seasonal items. The chain’s Pumpkin Loaf is available year-round.

ATS 189
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King Living open European flagship on Tottenham Court Road

Retail Focus

Australian furniture brand King Living lands amongst homeware flagships; bringing their cool, contemporary and authenticity to Europe for the first time. Designed by Barber’s team on the ground in London; King Living came to Barber Design for their reputation and deep knowledge in the retail design sector. After several online meetings and being initiated into the brand virtually- due to the pandemic- Barber learned about the King Living brand and their unique family-led approach.

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Christina Stephens: Meet adaptive fashion’s disruptive duo

Inside Retail

In just two years, the adaptive fashion brand Christina Stephens has grown retail revenue fourfold by tapping an underserved market for stylish clothes that meet the unique needs of people with disabilities. Jessie Sadler founded Christina Stephens in 2020 after her mother complained that she couldn’t find good fashionable clothing after experiencing a fall.

Fashion 278
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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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4 Benefits of Automated MAP Price Monitoring for Brands

Wiser

Retailers modify prices, costs, discounts, and more every single day. All these little pricing changes are integral if they want their eCommerce businesses to stay relevant. From a brand manufacturer perspective, however, these daily price changes can be a cause for concern. This is because price is directly correlated with brand value. Whether we as consumers acknowledge it or not, price definitely impacts our opinion of a product.

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Bath & Body Works Rolls Out Loyalty Program Nationwide

Retail TouchPoints

Bath & Body Works has launched its loyalty program nationwide at the retailer’s 1,750+ locations following testing in select markets. The personal care and home fragrance retailer also debuted its My Bath & Body Works App, which allows shoppers to earn rewards points through any channel and provides exclusive content. Additionally, the in-app wallet stores rewards points, offers and gift cards to provide a convenient experience to customers.

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Shopper Marketing Weekly Snacks #20

Tokinomo

Campaign scoop. No compromise. We all know that family vacations are not considered relaxing. Pepsi Zero is here for all who need a break after the family vacation. In their short, but witty commercial , you could see that a Pepsi can go a long way after you’ve compromised with your family during the vacation.

Marketing 246
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Hearing aids approved for sale over-the-counter

Retail Wire

A new rule by the Food and Drug Administration allows hearing aids to be sold over-the-counter with no prescription needed. “The FDA estimates this rule will save consumers on the order of about $1,400 per individual hearing aid or over $2,800 per pair,” Brian Deese, director of the National Economic Council.

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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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Romantic femininity, tone and texture are at the heart of steele. HOUSE flagship

Retail Focus

The steele. HOUSE flagship store is a physical manifestation of all that the fashion brand embodies. From the tactility of finishes that ignite the senses, to the saturation of natural light that makes for a dreamy retail atmosphere. The boutique is the first of its kind, bringing the primarily online retail company steele into the physical realm, with help from interior design firm The Stylesmiths.

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Myer to close its Frankston store after Christmas

Inside Retail

Department store Myer has announced it will close its Frankston store in Victoria. . The retailer says it wants to divert resources to its rapidly growing online business and develop stores near the Frankston location, such as Southland, Chadstone, and Fountain Gate. “Today’s decision continues to deliver against our Customer First Plan where we will continue to make targeted improvements to our store network, reduce space and improve the overall offer for our loyal customers,” said John King, C

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Quick automation wins with Cisco DNA Center

Cisco Retail

With the investment into today’s modern and agile networks, many IT organizations are searching for intelligent tools that can help simplify the complexity that comes with the advanced capabilities of today’s networks and keep up with the business demands. Topping off the complex challenges, many organizations are facing challenges on how to bridge the growing IT skill gap and automate various aspects of their network management.

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How Spotify Helped Abercrombie & Fitch Drive True Digital Transformation 

Retail TouchPoints

Digital transformation is on pretty much every retailer’s to-do list these days. If it wasn’t deemed a priority before the pandemic, it most certainly is now with digital behaviors bred in lockdown now firmly entrenched. But like most buzzwords, there are many misconceptions about what digital transformation is, which is why Samir Desai, Chief Digital and Technology Officer at Abercrombie & Fitch Co. said he always starts off conversations on the topic by first defining what digital transfor

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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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How to support shoppers during the rising cost of living issue

Tokinomo

We’ve talked about the most pressing challenges grocers are facing at the moment in our latest expert round-up. One of those issues was the rising inflation which is cousins the cost of living to increase fast.

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Crate & Barrel Enhances Sustainability With Commitment to Eco-Friendly Products

Retail TouchPoints

Crate & Barrel Holdings Inc. (CBH) is digging deeper into sustainability via corporate responsibility and responsible design across its Crate & Barrel , CB2 , Crate & Kids and Hudson Grace brands. The company shared its plans for a holistic approach as multiple retail businesses, particularly in the home and interiors categories, increase their eco efforts.

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UNIQLO Sibling Brand GU to Test North American Market With NYC Pop-Up

Retail TouchPoints

UNIQLO parent Fast Retailing will open its first GU retail store in the U.S. this fall with a pop-up shop in New York City’s SoHo neighborhood. The 2,900-square-foot ground floor space will be GU’s first store outside Asia and will offer a selection of on-trend clothing and accessories for men and women. Sharing its FY2023 plans in an April 2022 statement, Fast Retailing, which also owns fashion brand Theory , noted that it was inspired by the strength of the North American market.

Marketing 317
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Study: 82% of Retail Workers Say Stress and Burnout Have Increased

Retail TouchPoints

There are strong signs that the “Great Resignation” is still having a major impact on the U.S. job market as a whole, and on the retail and hospitality industries in particular. That’s in part because employers’ difficulty filling jobs has itself become a big factor in job dissatisfaction. According to the 2022 Job Seeker Nation Report from Employ , based on a survey of more than 1,500 workers earlier this year: 40% of workers report high levels of turnover and increased workloads at their compa

Planning 317
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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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3 Immersive Customer Experiences Using Augmented Reality

Retail TouchPoints

When the mobile game “Pokémon GO” made a splash in 2016, global audiences got their first taste of just how engaging augmented reality experiences could be — and brands took notice. Augmented reality, like the filters and lenses found on Instagram and Snapchat, transform the passive experience of being served a piece of content into an immersive one.

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How Privacy Issues in Mobile Apps Impact Retailers

Retail TouchPoints

The popular Canadian coffee chain Tim Hortons recently experienced negative publicity after multiple government agencies shed light on the company’s mobile app privacy policies and data collection methods. An investigation concluded the Tim Hortons mobile app secretly collected sensitive user geolocation data without consent even when the app wasn’t in use.

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Reports: Amazon to Shut Down In-House Telehealth Service Following One Medical Acquisition

Retail TouchPoints

Amazon is planning to shutter its home-grown urgent and primary care offering, Amazon Care, following the July acquisition of the more advanced One Medical primary care business, multiple sources report. The news was announced in an internal memo to employees from Neil Lindsay, SVP of Amazon Health Services and Amazon Stores, according to GeekWire. In the letter, Lindsay said that after months of deliberation it was decided that Amazon Care was not “the right long-term solution for our enterpris

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Boxed Helps Shoppers Recycle Home Products With Mail-In Program

Retail TouchPoints

Boxed has partnered with TerraCycle to enable customers to recycle packaging for any brand of home essentials and personal care products. The effort, which is sponsored by Procter & Gamble, lets users mail in waste using a prepaid shipping label available online. Once collected, the packaging is cleaned, separated by material composition and reduced to pellets that can be remolded to make new recycled products.

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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.