This site uses cookies to improve your experience. To help us insure we adhere to various privacy regulations, please select your country/region of residence. If you do not select a country, we will assume you are from the United States. Select your Cookie Settings or view our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Cookie Settings
Cookies and similar technologies are used on this website for proper function of the website, for tracking performance analytics and for marketing purposes. We and some of our third-party providers may use cookie data for various purposes. Please review the cookie settings below and choose your preference.
Used for the proper function of the website
Used for monitoring website traffic and interactions
Cookie Settings
Cookies and similar technologies are used on this website for proper function of the website, for tracking performance analytics and for marketing purposes. We and some of our third-party providers may use cookie data for various purposes. Please review the cookie settings below and choose your preference.
Strictly Necessary: Used for the proper function of the website
Performance/Analytics: Used for monitoring website traffic and interactions
While it started with the COVID ecommerce rush, rising operational costs and ongoing margin constraints are continuing to drive brands and retailers toward online marketplaces, otherwise known as third-party commerce (3P commerce). The benefits of having access to a near-limitless supply of unowned inventory (on the retailer side) and having access to other brands’ and retailers’ sales channels (on the brand side), has been compelling to put it mildly.
With the future of third-party cookies uncertain, the need for retailers to collect and nurture accurate first-party data about their customers has never been more essential. Jamie Hoey, country manager, Australia, with Wunderkind, says the importance of first-party data cannot be overstated. “If you know who someone is, you’ve got their details; that’s very powerful.
WHSmith is bringing back vinyl records into 80 of its stores across the UK in response to growing customer demand for the format. The high street chain said its stores, including Canterbury, Chester, Edinburgh and York, will stock a selection of chart hits and classic albums on vinyl. The retailer first began selling vinyl albums in the 1950s but phased them out thirty years ago as the popularity of CDs took off.
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.
It's the second time in less than six months that the retailer has lowered prices. By the end of the year, the company said it will have cut prices on 10,000 items.
Costco will be the official retail partner for Peloton ’s first seasonal offer. Beginning Nov. 1, Costco will sell an exclusive Peloton Bike+ bundle in 300 U.S. stores and online through Feb. 15, 2025, or while supplies last. Costco has recently focused on expanding its service portfolio; in April 2024 the retailer added weight loss care to its partnership with Sesame.
Starting a product-based startup is no easy feat. In addition to having a great product, you need to build a strong brand, create a smooth customer experience, and generate enough buzz to get people talking. And that’s just the beginning. Once you’ve got all of that sorted, you still need to actually get your product into the hands of customers.
Starting a product-based startup is no easy feat. In addition to having a great product, you need to build a strong brand, create a smooth customer experience, and generate enough buzz to get people talking. And that’s just the beginning. Once you’ve got all of that sorted, you still need to actually get your product into the hands of customers.
Virgin Wines has returned to profitability after implementing a significant cost-cutting initiative across the business. Despite group sales remaining flat at £59m, the wine specialist shifted from a pre-tax loss of £700,000 to a £1.7m pre-tax profit for the year ending 28 June 2024. The retailer attributed the turnaround to increased operational efficiency, with its cost-cutting measures delivering £1.4m in annual savings.
Driven by a deep sense of dissatisfaction with the limited and uninspiring choices available in the children’s fashion industry, Preeti Jatia felt compelled to embark on an ambitious journey to transform and revolutionise this market. Seventeen years ago, she gave birth to kidswear clothing line Fayon Kids. Inside Retail spoke to Jatia to learn more about the story behind the brand and the founder’s ambition to reshape the children’s fashion market.
In today’s data-driven world, retail businesses face an increasing demand to streamline operations, improve customer experience, and stay ahead of the competition. One of the most effective ways to achieve these goals is by implementing a centralized database. A centralized database acts as a single source of truth for all business data, allowing retailers to manage information from multiple channels and locations efficiently.
78% of Holiday Shoppers Concerned about Store Safety This Year, New Theatro Survey Shows Despite safety concerns, one in four shoppers say they plan to shop more in-person for holiday gifts–but with higher expectations, lower patience, and delayed purchases as economic pressures and tech annoyances loom large. Purpose of this Study 2024 has been a tough year for many.
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.
Represent , one of Britain’s fastest-growing fashion brands, is set to open its first-ever UK store this Saturday, 26th October, following a period of significant expansion. The luxury menswear brand, founded by brothers George and Michael Heaton in 2011, is on track to achieve a record £100M turnover by the end of 2024, with projections to reach £250M by 2028.
As the Black Friday 2024 shopping frenzy approaches, Australian retailers are gearing up for their biggest challenge yet – managing skyrocketing demand while staying efficient. The key to thriving? Automation. This year, Australian shoppers are expected to spend a jaw-dropping $6.7 billion during the Black Friday/Cyber Monday weekend, up 5.5 per cent from 2023, according to Roy Morgan.
Wayfair has introduced Wayfair Rewards , a loyalty program with a $29 annual subscription price. Benefits include 5% back in rewards across Wayfair and its specialty and luxury brands, AllModern, Birch Land, Joss & Main and Perigold , as well as free shipping regardless of order size; both of these features are subject to some restrictions. Additional benefits include exclusive member-only sales with steep discounts on products across all categories, including national brands; early access t
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 78% of Holiday Shoppers Concerned about Store Safety This Year, New Theatro Survey Shows Despite safety concerns, one in four shoppers say they plan to shop more in-person for holiday gifts–but with higher expectations, lower patience and delayed purchases as economic pressures and tech annoyances loom large. DALLAS–October 22, 2024–As the 2024 holiday shopping season kicks off, budget constraints, tech annoyances, and safety concerns are driving sky-high expectations for w
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.
Cyber Week has become a pivotal period in the retail calendar, driving significant sales growth both online and in-store. For brands and retailers, this week presents a crucial opportunity to refine pricing strategies, capitalize on heightened consumer demand, and remain competitive in a rapidly evolving market. As more consumers embrace omni-channel shopping, it’s essential to recognize how strategic discounting and promotional activities can impact overall sales performance.
Generative AI and machine learning is nothing new to Amazon.The e-commerce giant has been leveraging technology to personalise its customers’ shopping experience for decades now. However, as the rest of the retail industry is slowly catching up and incorporating Generative AI and machine learning into their online stores, Amazon is taking another leap forward and looking to further personalise recommendations, descriptions, and assistance in its store.
Kroger will leverage RFID technology from Avery Dennison for item-level digital identification, enabling more frequent and accurate inventory information to help maximize freshness, reduce waste and improve the store associate experience. The supermarket will begin in the bakery department, implementing RFID-embedded labels on each item. “Our work with Avery Dennison will improve inventory visibility, which means products will be on the shelves when our customers want them, while enabling our as
Poundland is feeling pretty chipper after its new Perks rewards app became the top free app on the Apple App Store and Google Play in the 24 hours after its launch last week. The discount chain became the latest retailer to roll out a loyalty scheme , offering customers up to 100 exclusive member deals, the chance to collect points on their purchases in exchange for vouchers, and earn extra prizes through a ‘spin to win’ wheel.
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
In today’s competitive retail environment, ensuring promotional compliance across multiple store locations is critical to capturing sales opportunities. For a leading consumer electronics manufacturer, this challenge was especially evident, as their traditional approach to monitoring in-store compliance was falling short, with their field teams stretched thin.
Tupper…where’d you go? Hearing you went bankrupt made me sad. But then I read a headline that made me smile. It said, “Tupperware files for bankruptcy after being unable to find a single f*cking lid for the 10 million plastic containers in their warehouse.” And it got me thinking: We’ve all got stories about you. It may be in your mismatched tops and bottoms, never to be reunited.
In the world of retail, staying ahead means embracing innovations that transform shopping and commerce into an experience that’s faster, smarter and more satisfying for customers. One technology that helps retailers achieve this is Radio Frequency Identification (RFID). RFID uses electromagnetic fields to automatically identify and track tags attached to objects, offering retailers precise control over inventory and enabling real-time data analytics to enhance operational efficiency.
Retail Times publishes international & UK retail news covering products, data, tech, packaging, people, research, comment and more besides! Snacking biscuit challenger, Good Guys Bakehouse, has extended its Savoury Biscuit Melts range with the launch of a new Seriously Snackable Paprika variety. Good Buys Paprika Biscuit Melts (made with paprika, chilli powder, and a touch of cheese) is the latest addition to brand’s product lineup, which is making waves in the savoury biscuits category, tap
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.
Effective product placement and in-store compliance are essential to a brand’s success. For a leading FMCG manufacturer, managing shelf visibility across an extensive retail network had become a labor-intensive and expensive task, consuming approximately 1,500 hours of manual work annually. To streamline operations, improve compliance, and boost performance, the brand partnered with Wiser.
Amazon is preparing to launch a low-cost storefront as it ramps up its fightback against Chinese deep-discounting rivals Temu and Shein. The US retail giant is imposing price caps for the first time in its history, regulating how much vendors can charge for their items in order to be featured on the new portal. “We are always exploring new ways to work with our selling partners to delight our customers with more selection, lower prices and greater convenience,” an Amazon spokesperson
Refund fraud is a significant issue for U.S. retailers, costing billions of dollars annually. In 2023, fraudulent returns accounted for a staggering 13.7% of all returns , resulting in $101 billion in losses. To make the issue worse, this trend shows no sign of slowing down, as fraudsters continue to develop new and innovative methods to exploit retail systems.
39 percent considering quitting their jobs or leaving the retail industry altogether as 48 percent say they don’t get enough support from their employer Shaken staff speak out: “The last few weeks have been horrendous”/“I’m left open-mouthed in shock” Shop workers urged to take part in free training to protect themselves against abuse this Christmas Shop staff have warned they feel unsafe and are looking to quit the retail industry, as new research reveals one in three face weekly abuse from sh
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.
The UK’s largest independent toy retailer, The Entertainer, has opened a new flagship store at centre:mk – its 166th store. The new store is now trading, with its official opening planned for tomorrow (Saturday 26 October). The store showcases The Entertainer’s extensive range of toys and games from leading brands including Hot Wheels, Peppa Pig and Paw Patrol, as well as an exclusive selection of Addo and Early Learning Centre products.
Timing is everything and knowing when to launch in a new market can make or break a brand’s success in a new region. US-based teen skincare brand Bubble burst into Australia’s beauty scene this month through a partnership with Priceline and is reportedly already one of the pharmacy retailer’s top-selling brands. With such a saturated beauty and skincare market, why was it the right time for Bubble to expand and how did it do so successfully?
TikTok Shop has expanded the refurbished electronics product category to U.S. consumers after a UK launch in September 2023. TikTok users can click the Shop tab to see refurbished products such as tablets, mobile phones and laptops being sold by approved TikTok sellers. Each purchase is backed by TikTok Shop’s 90 -day Buyer Protection Program, which allows customers to receive a refund for up to 90 days after purchase if an item is damaged, defective or not as described.
Hotter Shoes is planning to ramp up the number it produces in British factories each year to one million pairs under its new owner. WoolOvers, which snapped up the retailer out of administration last year, has reversed the footwear specialist’s planned “phasing out” of manufacturing at its factory in Skelmersdale, Lancashire. The new owner wants to raise domestic production to three quarters of the shoes, up from 25%, that Hotter sells, The Times reported.
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.
We organize all of the trending information in your field so you don't have to. Join 40,000+ users and stay up to date on the latest articles your peers are reading.
You know about us, now we want to get to know you!
Let's personalize your content
Let's get even more personalized
We recognize your account from another site in our network, please click 'Send Email' below to continue with verifying your account and setting a password.
290 
Let's personalize your content