Sat.Jun 28, 2025 - Fri.Jul 04, 2025

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The Six Trends Quickly Reshaping the Payments Industry in 2025

Retail TouchPoints

There’s never been a more exciting time in the world of payments. Innovation is happening at breakneck speed, open banking is tearing down data silos and partnerships are forming between traditional financial institutions and fintechs on a global scale. Whether you’re a global retail chain, ecommerce brand, or online marketplace, changes in the payment landscape will have a profound impact on your business.

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What Retail Can Learn from Data-Driven Industries: Smarter Decisions Through Analytics

Retail Focus

Retail has always depended on observation. From spotting which shelf draws more attention to knowing which item sells best during certain times, the trade has long relied on pattern recognition. The difference now lies in how precise those patterns can be. As the amount of data available grows by the hour, retailers face the choice: either use it wisely or risk being left behind.

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Retail Supply Chains Are Broken - Here’s How Unified Platforms Fix Them

The Retail Doctor

If you've spent any time in Enterprise retail, you’ve seen it: departments that don’t talk to each other, systems that weren’t designed to share data, and a patchwork of bolt-on software that leaves you with more questions than answers.

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How brands like Halara, White Fox, PE Nation connect with Gen Z on TikTok

Inside Retail

In the social landscape shaped by Gen Z and millennials, platforms like TikTok and Instagram serve not just as promotional tools, but as powerful engines of cultural creation that foster lucrative online communities. Younger generations are driving brand narratives, from micro-trends to macro-movements, in real time. In turn, brands that resonate most are those participating in that dialogue, not just observing from the sidelines.

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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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End-User Computing Mistakes That Could Be Slowing Down Your Business

Retail Assist

According to a 2025 IT Trends report, 44% of IT teams are now spending more time managing employee devices and access issues than ever before. Meanwhile, Gartner estimates that over 40% of enterprise systems are now beyond end of life or support, contributing to rising inefficiencies, increased security risks and IT frustration. In retail and hospitality, where speed and service are everything, outdated or poorly managed end-user computing setups can quietly but consistently drag down performanc

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What Is Social Commerce and How It Transforms Online Shopping Today

Small Biz Trends

Key Takeaways Definition of Social Commerce: Social commerce integrates social media platforms with e-commerce, allowing users to discover and purchase products seamlessly, enhancing the online shopping experience. Importance of User Engagement: High levels of customer interaction through user-generated content, influencer partnerships, and engaging storytelling are crucial for building brand loyalty and driving sales.

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What Retailers Can Learn from Other Industries’ Use of AI

Retail Focus

Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming industries at a rapid pace, from healthcare to finance and logistics. As sectors embrace automation, personalisation, and data-driven decision-making, it’s clear that AI is more than just a tech trend—it’s a business imperative. Retail, which thrives on customer insight and operational efficiency, stands to gain immensely by observing how other industries apply AI strategically to improve both internal processes and external experiences.

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Data: Retailers set to enjoy £100m boost from England Lioness’ first Euros game

Retail Gazette

UK consumers are set to spend nearly £100m as they gear up for England’s first match against France in the women’s Euros tournament. During the group stage of the women’s Euro tournament, retailers are forecast to see £271.4m spent in stores and online, according to the women’s UEFA Euro 2025 spending report by marketing service VoucherCodes.co.uk.

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Athleisure brand Vitality taps Loop for personalized, seamless returns process

Retail Customer Experience

A deep dive on how Vitality, an athleisure brand, crafted a personal returns experience while at the same time boosting efficiency and customer loyalty.

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Exclusive: MAC Cosmetics’ New Chinese Flagship is an Ode to the Power of Beauty

Retail TouchPoints

Sometimes a store is just a store…and sometimes it’s a lot more. MAC Cosmetics ’ newly redesigned flagship at the Deji Plaza luxury shopping center in Nanjing, China definitely falls into the latter category. Reopened just in time to celebrate the 20 th anniversary of the brand’s entrance into China, the store now features a visually stunning, futuristic design meant not just to stop shoppers in their tracks (although it will certainly do that), but also to reflect the evolution of the brand and

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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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A ‘recalibration in retail’: As costs rise, retailers are reviewing returns

Inside Retail

Retailers in Australia are scaling back on free delivery and returns amid the continued increase in delivery costs, according to a report from delivery platform Shippit. The State of Shipping 2025 report finds that retailers are grappling with rising delivery costs, with standard delivery up from $10.26 last year to $10.39 this year and express delivery up from $14.24 to $14.69.

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Effective Strategies for Managing Fake Negative Reviews Online

Small Biz Trends

Key Takeaways Understanding the Impact: Fake negative reviews can severely harm your business reputation, leading to decreased consumer trust and lower sales. Identifying Characteristics: Key signs of fake reviews include overly emotional language, vague content, suspicious reviewer profiles, and inconsistencies with your brand’s standard practices.

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Poltronesofà transforming UK sofa market after major investment in SCS stores and ranges

Retail Focus

Europe’s leading sofa retailer, Poltronesofà, is close to completing a £57 million transformation of 96 UK stores as the company offers UK customers an unmatched choice of ranges and fabrics and an enhanced in-store experience. The Poltronesofà group operates over 310 stores across Europe and is the market leader in both Italy and France, with a market presence in Belgium, Switzerland, Malta and Cyprus.

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Closing the Checkout Gap: Boosting Revenue and Customer Loyalty

Retail TouchPoints

In the past few years, retailers have made steady progress across the customer journey. As lines between channels blur, stores are more connected to ecommerce, fulfillment is faster and personalization is improving. But one area continues to underperform: checkout. The checkout experience often creates unnecessary friction. Long forms, limited payment options and inflexible delivery choices continue to frustrate shoppers, leading to cart abandonment, lost revenue and declining trust.

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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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Emotional burnout is climbing in retail – and the warning signs are clear

Inside Retail

As strenuous schedules, rising living costs and the trend of ‘poly-employment’ become entrenched realities, more retail workers are reporting stress, disengagement and emotional fatigue at the end of their shifts, and the industry is feeling the aftermath. A recent report by workforce management platform Deputy found that the emotional wellbeing of Australia’s shift workers is showing signs of strain, according to new data tracking post-shift sentiment.

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Sportsman’s Warehouse to pull forward holiday shipments to skirt tariffs

Retail Dive

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Harnessing AI in Ecommerce for Enhanced Customer Experiences and Sales

Small Biz Trends

Key Takeaways Personalization Enhancements: AI significantly improves eCommerce by providing tailored shopping experiences through intelligent product recommendations based on customer behavior. Operational Efficiency: Implementing AI automates repetitive tasks, streamlining processes like inventory management and customer service, which allows businesses to focus on strategic growth. 24/7 Customer Support: AI-powered chatbots offer round-the-clock customer assistance, improving satisfaction by

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Private Labels Evolve into Destination Brands, Primed for Growth Amid Tariffs

Retail TouchPoints

As private labels and store brands have evolved over the last decade, the stigma of the “cheap, alternative, knockoff” brand has worn away. Retailers have built bona fide brands, touching all categories of the store. But what is interesting of late is that private brands have seemingly climbed another rung on the ladder of credibility and are now sought-after brands that consumers trust.

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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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AI, transparency, upskilling: How Amazon is adapting for the future of e-commerce

Inside Retail

Twenty-five years after entering the Japanese market, Amazon held its first ‘Delivering The Future’ event in Asia Pacific in Tokyo this week. At the event, the e-commerce giant revealed major milestones in line with its goal to be “Earth’s most customer-centric company”. These achievements reflect the broader challenges and opportunities facing retailers globally, including how to best use physical AI, create a culture of transparency with customers and upskill the workforce for tech

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Autumn Fair 2025 reveals powerful content agenda designed to equip independent retailers for a changing market

A1 Retail

Autumn Fair , the UK’s leading marketplace for home, gift, and fashion, has revealed its most ambitious and retailer-focused content programme to date. Practical, focused, and easy to consume, it’s been thoughtfully designed to fit around buyers and deliver maximum value in minimal time. Taking place at the NEC Birmingham from 7–10 September 2025, this year’s show recognises the pressures facing independent retailers, from rising costs and evolving customer behaviours to the demands of digital t

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Strategies to Increase Customer Retention for Long-Term Business Success

Small Biz Trends

Sponsored Post Key Takeaways Customer Retention Is Key: Maintaining current customers is more cost-effective than acquiring new ones, leading to improved sales and profitability. Personalization Matters: Tailoring customer interactions and communications enhances their experience and satisfaction, significantly boosting retention rates. Implement Loyalty Programs: Reward systems not only incentivize repeat purchases but also strengthen customer loyalty and lifetime value.

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Reimagined Champs Sports Stores Feature 3D Fitting Tools, Dedicated Running Club Spaces

Retail TouchPoints

Champs Sports has introduced its first two reimagined stores, designed to embody the brand’s “Sport For Life” platform. The stores, in Tampa, Fla. and Portland, Ore., feature high-impact visual displays, measuring tools with 3D scanning technology to help shoppers achieve a perfect fit, and dedicated Men’s and Women’s Run Club spaces to encourage connection and provide curated assortments of performance running products, with assortments tailored to serve the needs of local running communities.

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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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ABS data shows retail sales surged 3.3 per cent in May

Inside Retail

Australian retail sales surged 3.3 per cent year-over-year in May, according to Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) data, reaching $37.3 billion. Cosmetics, sports and recreational goods saw the largest increase, up 4.78 per cent, followed by cafes, restaurants and takeaways, which rose 3.83 per cent year-on-year. According to the ABS , department store spending increased by 3.7 per cent, while spending on clothing, footwear, and accessories rose by 3.5 per cent.

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Retail Audit Insights: Shelf‑Health Metrics Every FMCG Team Should Track

Wiser

In‑store execution can boost velocity or quietly leak profit. The average SKU loses 6% of weekly sales to something as simple as a missing facing or an abandoned promo tag. Most brands learn about the damage only after the sales report lands. Wiser’s Retail Intelligence platform cuts that lag to a single day by collecting structured shelf data plus photo evidence from thousands of in‑store mystery shoppers and turning it into actionable retail audit insights.

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Amazon Launches Same-Day Delivery in U.S. Small Towns and Rural Areas

Small Biz Trends

Amazon is set to revolutionize shopping for customers in smaller cities and rural areas across the U.S. with its recent announcement to expand Same-Day and Next-Day Delivery services to over 4,000 communities by the end of the year. This move is significant not only for consumers but also for small business owners, as it transforms the competitive landscape.

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Salesforce Global Holiday Forecast: AI Will Drive $1.6 Trillion in In-Store Sales

Retail TouchPoints

AI already has affected shopping habits for large numbers of consumers, and its ability to make hyper-personalized product recommendations — and also to find the best prices and deals — will continue to accelerate the technology’s use. According to Salesforce , during the 2025 holiday season AI will drive $260 billion in global online sales as well as $1.6 trillion in in-store sales.

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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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Message to retail: Your real edge isn’t being trendy, it’s personalisation

Inside Retail

This idea we have all heard time and time again that fashion retail is all about trend cycles and glossy campaigns is fading – and fast. If the latest BoF Insights and Amazon Fashion data from Europe’s five largest markets (EU5) tells us anything, it’s that our customers no longer want to be impressed, they want to be understood. In April 2025, 10,000 fashion shoppers from the EU5 were asked what “really” drives their decisions online.

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Retail’s fresh faces: 6 new concept stores launched in 2025

Retail Gazette

From immersive beauty playgrounds to newly-built flagship stores, retailers are investing in innovative store formats designed to engage customers in new and exciting ways to combat a tough trading environment. This year has already seen a wave of retail concept launches focused on blending personalised service, interactive technology, and lifestyle-led environments — all aimed at creating memorable shopping journeys that stand out in a competitive market.

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Understanding the Shopping Habits of Millennial Women for Better Marketing

Small Biz Trends

Key Takeaways Digital Natives: Millennial women integrate online and in-store shopping and expect seamless, personalized experiences from brands. Conscious Consumption: This demographic favors sustainable and ethical brands, valuing transparency and quality in their purchasing decisions. Social Media Engagement: Platforms like Instagram and Pinterest are critical for product discovery, driving interest in visually appealing and informative content.

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Listen Now: The Trust Deficit — Brand Transparency & the New Rules of Retail

Retail TouchPoints

It used to be that if you had established a strong brand name, you could count on consumers’ trust. But years of inflated marketing claims and bad experiences have eroded trust in brands, leading to a trust deficit — and it’s growing. “We are living through a very interesting transformation — brand names alone no longer carry the trust,” said Kimberly Shenk, Co-founder and CEO of values-based shopping solution Novi Connect , on this week’s episode of the Retail Remix podcast. “ Today trust is ea

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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.