February, 2025

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How AI is Revolutionising the Retail Sector

Retail Focus

The retail sector has undergone massive changes in recent years thanks to advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) and automation. Retailers are using AI in various ways to improve customer experiences, streamline operations, and gain valuable insights from data. Here are some of the key ways in which artificial intelligence in retail industry has shaken things up.

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Generative AI in Retail: 4 Predictions for 2025

Retail TouchPoints

The retail industrys rapid adoption of generative AI technologies will continue in 2025. Throughout 2024, many retailers moved gen AI projects from pilots into production. In 2025, retailers will scale these AI projects across the enterprise and embed the technology into core operations of their business. Today, retailers face a complex landscape marked by rising costs, supply chain disruptions, pricing pressures and high employee turnover.

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Woolworths profit falls 20.6 per cent amid strikes, changing consumer habits

Inside Retail

Woolworths Group booked lower profit in the first half, attributed to the 17-day industrial action impacting its supermarket business last December and a trend of customers seeking more value when shopping. The group’s net profit fell 20.6 per cent to $739 million after earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) slid 14.2 per cent to $1.45 billion.

Consumer 243
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In-N-Out Burger Announces Closure of Orange County Headquarters After 30 Years Amidst Tennessee Expansion

Retail Wire

In-N-Out Burger has announced that it is closing its Orange County headquarters after 30 years amidst reports that the Southern California fast-food favorite is making its mark in Tennessee.

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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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Digital platforms, NRF 2025, and Discounters- Monthly Snacks #100

Tokinomo

Explore the latest in retail trends for 2025, including digital platforms, AI innovations, and the growing influence of discount grocers. Dive into our 100th edition of Monthly Snacks.

Grocer 238
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M&S Clothing has transformed under Richard Price, so what’s next as he departs?

Retail Gazette

Richard Prices departure from M&S marks the end of a transformative chapter for the retailers clothing and home division. When he took over the reins as managing director in 2019, M&S was at a crossroads. Its clothing arm had long been tarnished by outdated designs and an overwhelming product range, struggling to capture the attention of a broader range of shoppers.

Fashion 107

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How AI-Driven Search and Personalization Boosted AOV 5.5% for Freedom Furniture

Retail TouchPoints

Freedom Furniture is a well-known Australian homewares retailer thats been operating since 1981 and now has 47 stores across the country. But the merchant was suffering from a bit of an image problem that made it seem fusty and old-fashioned, a situation that led to a companywide turnaround plan initiated in 2020. In the words of Paula Mitchell, Digital General Manager, We wanted consumers to think of Freedom not as your mums brand but as your best friends brand.

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Burberry’s turnaround strategy reveals the power of emotional connection

Inside Retail

When I worked in the luxury sector, it was synonymous with exclusivity and the unattainable, but in recent times, it has been undergoing a clear and fundamental shift. As it becomes harder to navigate uncertain markets and the ever-evolving consumer sentiment, Burberrys recent turnaround offers valuable lessons for those seeking good sustainable success in 2025 and beyond.

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Valentine’s Day 2025 trends: Consumers shift from traditional lingerie to practical and creative gifting

A1 Retail

Less traditional gifting sectors seeing surge as DIY grows 329 percent Sales of lingerie dropped 40 percent Arts and crafts AOV up 36 percent as Brits get crafty Valentines Day shopping in 2025 has seen a dramatic shift in consumer behaviour, with traditional lingerie purchases plummeting while practical, arts, and experience-driven gifts surge. According to data from eCommerce provider Visualsoft , shoppers are moving away from conventional romantic gifting and prioritising DIY, home furnishing

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Supercharge Your Brick-and-Mortar Business with These 4 AI Solutions

The Retail Doctor

Artificial intelligence (AI) is no longer just a buzzword—it's becoming an essential tool for brick-and-mortar success. I recently wrote about the dangers of some of the tools being deployed to frontline staff creating Retail's AI Taskmasters. This post is a wrap-up of my recent visit to the National Retail Federation's Big Show Innovation Zone; I discovered four groundbreaking AI solutions that are transforming how physical stores operate, secure their assets, and engage with customers.

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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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Bill clamping down on retail crime goes before parliament

Retail Gazette

Labours promised Crime and Policing Bill, which includes tougher laws on retail crime, will be put before parliament on Tuesday (25 February). The bill, which will mostly apply in England and Wales, contains over 50 measures including stricter penalties for shoplifting of items under 200 and making it a new offence to assault a shop worker. It also contains new Respect Orders, which are reminiscent of the Anti-social Behaviour Orders introduced by the last Labour government before it was abolish

Shopping 137
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Using Walls to Create Distinct Zones within Open Floor Plans

Retail Focus

Open floor plans have become synonymous with modern living, offering a spacious, airy feel that many homeowners desire. However, this openness can also lead to a lack of privacy and structure. How do you maintain a sense of individuality in different areas of the home without compromising that open, communal atmosphere? The answer lies in using walls strategically to create distinct zones within your open plan.

Planning 130
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How Going Headless Helped Uplift Desk Elevate Ecommerce Creativity and Performance

Retail TouchPoints

Consumers today expect immersive, content-rich ecommerce sites, yet if a site takes longer than four seconds to load, 63% of shoppers will abandon it altogether. Its an ever-present internal conflict for many ecommerce and marketing teams that are striving to maximize both time-on-site and conversion rate metrics and its one that standing desk and office furniture manufacturer Uplift Desk has evidently addressed since implementing BigCommerce s Catalyst storefront technology.

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How the solo economy is reshaping the retail industry

Inside Retail

As a popular economic movement, the single economy has grown in distinctiveness and competitiveness, making an impact on social production and daily life. The term one-person economy, or singles economy, describes the commercial prospects created by single people who value high consumption and a high standard of living. Young people have increasingly chosen the single economy in recent years, which has fuelled the growth of the single economy trend.

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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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Kiki & Miumiu Market to Open Largest Location at Lewisham Gateway

365 Retail

Kiki & Miumiu Market is set to open its second and largest location at Lewisham Gateway, following the success of its debut store at Elephant Park. The independent pan-Asian food market has secured a 5,000 sq ft ground floor unit within the development, with plans to open in early 2025. Expansion to Lewisham Gateway The new store will be the brands largest to date, offering an extensive selection of products from East and South East Asia.

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Trademark Property Co. Plans to Break Ground on Mixed-Use Development in Cypress, Texas

Shopping Center

Cypress, Texas Fort Worth-based Trademark Property Co. plans to break ground on a mixed-use retail and restaurant district in the Dunham Pointe Development, a 1,300-acre master-planned community in the… The post Trademark Property Co. Plans to Break Ground on Mixed-Use Development in Cypress, Texas appeared first on Shopping Center Business.

Planning 111
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What does Barry Williams’ return mean for Poundland?

Retail Gazette

Former Poundland boss Barry Williams was parachuted back onto the board of the discount chain late last month as owner Pepco looks to address its struggling performance. Williams stepped back from the helm of the value retailer in September 2023, when Pepco moved him across to head up and the group’s European sister chain. His arrival coincides with the departure of Poundland’s managing director Austin Cooke , who resigned from the business after seven years and more than a year sinc

Returns 112
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Engraving Elegance: How Glass Artistry Transforms Interior Design

Retail Focus

When you think of interior design, it’s easy to imagine the usual suspectsfurniture, colours, and textiles. But glass artistry has quietly been making waves, offering a sophisticated, modern touch that transforms any space. Through the delicate interplay of light, texture, and form, glass engraving has emerged as an art form that seamlessly blends style and functionality, creating interiors that are both elegant and distinctive.

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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 Retailers can Build Their Fan Base with Frictionless Research Strategies

Retail TouchPoints

Generative AI (gen AI) is poised to unlock between $240 billion and $390 billion in economic value for retailers, according to McKinsey. Currently, those retailers that understand their customer base, launch gen AI products that fit their audience and implement them using a phased approach are satisfied with their progress but this only accounts for 1% of McKinseys retail respondents.

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Meet the power couple behind Stax and Secondleft

Inside Retail

After three years of continuous pop-up store activations, Australian athleisure brand Stax last year opened its 12th permanent retail location and flagship store at Sydney CBDs Westfield Sydney mall. The stores opening represents more than a milestone in Staxs physical retail expansion; it is the culmination of years of strategic planning, innovation and adaptability.

Fashion 147
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Cisco and NVIDIA Unite to Propel AI into the Enterprise

Cisco Retail

Today Cisco and NVIDIA announced a mutual intent to expand a partnership that brings together two of the industrys most innovative data center networking and compute leaders. Our collaboration will help enterprises accelerate AI projects and make it easier for more customers than ever to standardize on Cisco as they modernize their data center networks.

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In-Store Retail Media for Private-Label Brands

Tokinomo

Private-label brands are reshaping the retail landscape. Known for affordability and quality, these brands are thriving, driven by shifting consumer priorities and economic considerations. As private-label sales continue to rise, in-store retail media is emerging as a key tool for retailers to connect with shoppers, highlight their unique offerings, and drive engagement in both physical and digital environments.

Consumer 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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Topshop teases website relaunch under new MD

Retail Gazette

Topshop is gearing up for the relaunch of its website, with three teaser videos posted on its Instagram account and the cryptic message “watch this space” to hint at the developments ahead. It follows the appointment of Michelle Wilson as managing director of Topshop and Topman earlier this week , alongside a flurry of appointments and moves as Asos.

Wholesale 107
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Maison & Objet 2025: When Retail Meets Experience!

Retail Focus

Ghalia BOUSTANI. Retail Consultant | Published author | Visiting lecturer An Exploration of Neo-Surrealism This year, the Maison & Objet fair took a bold turn with its theme, Sur/Reality. This neo-surrealist concept, as surprising as it is inspiring, perfectly embodies the fair’s mission: to push the boundaries of commerce, encourage the discovery of unexpected products, and delight visitors at every moment.

Fashion 147
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Australia’s Adore Beauty Brings Digital ‘Endless Aisle’ into its New Physical Stores

Retail TouchPoints

As it enters physical retail, Australian online beauty retailer Adore Beauty has teamed up with Tutch to ensure that customers visiting its newly minted brick-and-mortar stores will still have access to the more than 14,000 products in its online catalog. Through the Tutch in-store digital platform, Adore Beauty customers will be able to purchase products available in stores while also curating a cart of products that are only available online, which will be sent to them after theyve finished sh

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Australian retail’s robotic near future

Inside Retail

In recent years, robotics has emerged as a transformative force in global retail, and the Australian market is noexception. As consumer demands evolve and competition intensifies, retailers are increasingly looking to robotic solutions to streamline operations, improve customer experiences, and drive efficiencies across the supply chain. By 2030, robotics will probablyplay an even more significant role in Australian retail, with advancements that reshape the industry and enhance how businesses o

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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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A Complete List of All 27 Kohl’s Stores Set To Close in the Coming Weeks

Retail Wire

Kohl's is closing what it's calling "underperforming" stores.

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The rise of second-hand shopping in Australia: A cultural and economic shift

Inside Retail

We currently live in an era marked by economic uncertainty, environmental consciousness, and a desire for uniqueness, Australians are increasingly embracing second-hand shopping. Once regarded as a have to for those on tight budgets, purchasing pre-loved items has now evolved into a mainstream retail trend, fuelled by a combination of psychological drivers and shifting consumer values.

Shopping 130
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Lush co-founder Rowena Bird talks 30-year business journey and biggest takeaways

Inside Retail

Inside Retail : Prior to launching Lush with your fellow co-founders, can you briefly describe your professional background? Rowena Bird: Before co-founding Lush, I worked as a beauty therapist. My passion for cosmetics and ethical beauty began early, and I was fortunate to join forces with like-minded individuals Mark and Mo Constantine, Helen Ambrosen, Liz Weir, Karl Bygrave and Paul Greeves.

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Ikea Fortifies Partnership with Taskrabbit for Furniture Assembly

Retail TouchPoints

Ikea has expanded its partnership with online home services marketplace Taskrabbit , enabling customers to easily book and pay for Taskrabbit furniture assembly at the time of their Ikea purchase. Ikeas partnership with Taskrabbit, to help customers with the headache of putting together its flat-packed furniture, has been in place since 2017 , but with this expansion booking services can now be done in one step during checkout at Ikea. “Taskrabbits assembly service has been a game-changer

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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.