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When building a house, you start with a blueprint. Similarly, creating a meaningful customer experience begins with a map a tool to visualize the entire journey, from initial awareness to post-purchase interactions. Customer journey mapping (CJM) is widely used in retail to analyze and plan touch points before, during and after purchase. It provides a detailed view of the customers shopping process, helping retailers understand how customers interact with their brand at every stage.
Explore the 2025 technology landscape: precision AI, data security, sustainability, and partner ecosystems driving success. Discover how strategic collaboration and re-skilling will transform enterprise innovation and deliver tangible business value.
When you think of showcasing your products at a market or event, whats the first thing that comes to mind? A table, some chairs, and perhaps a banner? While these are essential components, theyre not enough to create a memorable and professional display. To truly stand out and attract customers, you need something that offers shelter, flexibility, and visual appealenter the gazebo.
Transitioning one of Australias leading beauty retailers from a pureplay e-commerce operation to a truly entrenched omnichannel business has been a really positive experience, Sacha Laing, Adore Beauty CEO, told Inside Retail. Becoming an integrated omnichannel retailer meant that a lot of the businesss back-end processes had to be re-engineered with its brand partners and internal teams.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
As consumers move seamlessly between online, mobile, and physical store channels, retailers must keep pace through an omnichannel strategyone that unifies every customer touchpoint into a cohesive, frictionless journey. Achieving this level of integration demands meticulous planning, strong infrastructure, and expert technical support to ensure each component operates harmoniously.
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
Total till sales at UK supermarkets grew by 5.3% in the four weeks to 27 January, according to the latest data from NielsenIQ (NIQ). This marks an increase from the 3.6% growth recorded in December, although underlying sales growth was more modest at 3%, as unit growth plateaued in recent weeks. With food inflation easing to 1.6%, compared to 6.4% last year, there was notable unit growth across all major supermarket chains.
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.
Indian retail conglomerate Reliance Retail has introduced an app in India to sell Sheins fashion products through a licensing agreement, marking the Chinese brand’s return after a five-year ban due to diplomatic tensions. The app, launched quietly by billionaire Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance on Saturday, represents a strategic shift from the company’s usual practice of integrating brands into its Ajio platform.
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.
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.
IKEA has received 3,730 job applications in just six days for its highly anticipated Oxford Street store , marking the largest-ever response to a recruitment drive by the retailer in the UK. With only 150 positions available, demand has significantly exceeded expectations, leading IKEA to close the application process early. Strong interest in new central London roles The new Oxford Street store is expected to be one of IKEAs most innovative locations, blending traditional retail with new digita
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.
As Gen Z gains economic power and cultural influence, Australian retailers must adapt to its distinct values, behaviours and expectations. By 2029, this cohort expected to make up a large proportion of the population will reshape the retail landscape in profound ways. Leveraging insights into their lifestyle, aspirations, and consumption patterns, retailers can position themselves for success in this evolving market.
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.
As the retail landscape becomes increasingly competitive, ensuring that pricing feels fair and transparent has never been more vital. In an age when shoppers are armed with more information and higher expectations, understanding how pricing is perceived isnt just helpful – its critical. HappyOrNots October 2024 report, Retails Biggest CX Trends in 2024 , sheds light on a growing issue for retailers: customer dissatisfaction with pricing.
Specialist outdoor retail group, Outdoor and Cycle Concepts Ltd (O&CC) , has leveraged shelf-edge automation to improve operational efficiencies in-store, increase labour productivity and enhance customer service, partnering with Pricer , the leading in-store automation and communication solutions provider. As the UKs largest specialist outdoor, run and snow sports retailer, O&CC, which operates Cotswold Outdoor, Runners Need and Snow+Rock, wanted to put in-store customer service at the
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
We Wear Australian, an initiative created by Showroom X, is activating at New York Fashion Week with an immersive retail activation on 7 February. Instead of relying on international retailers and wholesalers to come to Australian shores to discover local talent, We Wear Australian is bringing 12 emerging and established designers to the global stage.
Largest single-site F&B and entertainment venue in a UK city centre The award-winning Manchester-born brand is delighted to be arriving in Newcastle Game-changing leasing deal continues a period of ambitious development and transformation for Newcastles premium shopping, dining and leisure destination Freight Island, a huge, innovative entertainment and dining destination, is set to arrive at Eldon Square in autumn 2025.
Products in the beauty and hair care space made by (and for) Black consumers had long been scarce on major retailers shelves a lack that received new attention earlier this decade in the wake of George Floyds murder and the protests it spawned. In response, retailers including Sephora and Rent the Runway signed on to the 15% Pledge in June 2020 , which called for retailers to reserve 15% of their shelf space for Black-owned brands.
The automotive industry is undergoing a profound transformation, driven by the integration of financial technology (FinTech) into car finance options. This shift not only enhances the purchasing experience for consumers but also streamlines processes for dealerships and financial institutions. As traditional financing methods evolve, FinTech emerges as a pivotal force in reshaping how individuals approach car finance.
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.
As more businesses come to grips with the data they are collecting, storing and analysing, the Customer Data Platform Institute has found the way customer data platforms or CDPs are being integrated into broader customer-facing systems is evolving. For retailers, this raises a pressing question: Do you still need a stand-alone CDP, or can a customer engagement platforms built-in CDP meet your needs?
The Metrocentre Partnership is celebrating a fast start to 2025, following a record-breaking 2024 for both sales and footfall. Proactive asset management, with nearly 300,000 sq ft of deals completed in the last 12 months, has helped to drive a 9.2% year-on-year footfall uplift year to date. The January visitation growth comes as Metrocentre announces 2024 figures, having welcomed 15.8 million visitors, a 10% increase on 2023.
Mall owner Simon has partnered with ecommerce platform Shopify and physical retail platform Leap to help ecommerce brands launch or expand their brick-and-mortar presence. The three companies will offer a suite of solutions to help digital brands quickly open new stores across Simons real estate portfolio as well as at other locations. Mens apparel brand True Classic and fine jewelry brand Ring Concierge are among the first companies to take advantage of the new offering.
Businesses that fail to deliver personalized recommendations risk losing customers to competitors who do. These recommendations can enhance the customer experience and improve sales. According to a report, businesses that offer customized experiences see an average 20% increase in sales. On the other hand, poor recommendations may result in customer dissatisfaction, reduced engagement, and, finally, losses.
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.
Retail sales improved 4.6 per cent year over year $36.99 billion in December, thanks to higher turnover across all categories. Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) data showed that household goods saw the highest growth rate of 7.1 per cent as sales totalled $6.14 billion. Other retailing, which includes recreational, sporting goods and cosmetics, went up 5.6 per cent to $5.76 billion, while clothing, footwear and accessories climbed 5 per cent to $3.01 billion.
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.
The power of social media in ecommerce is palpable. Shares, recommendations and actual transactions on channels like Instagram and TikTok are indispensable ways to build brand recognition and improve buyer trust. Take Instagram, for instance the platform pulled in an estimated 6.5 billion site visits in August 2024 alone. Critical milestones in the journey are no longer confined to a traditional retailers ecommerce site or checkout cart.
Financial services firm Moody’s has warned Asda’s credit rating is under threat if it does not turn around its performance. The company stressed that chair Allan Leighton urgently needed to resolve the grocer’s operational issues. It cautioned the supermarket could fall behind Morrisons. Despite the northern rival being issued a weaker B1 rating, it recently saw full-year profit rise and its “strongest” quarter since 2021.
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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