Retail TouchPoints

JULY 15, 2025

With 5.6 million square feet housing 500+ retailers and attracting more than 32 million visitors annually, the Mall of America (MOA) requires careful planning to support overall security — and its parking operations specifically. The shopping center has expanded its partnership with Axis Communications to deploy car-counting video analytics across more than a dozen locations, enabling more informed decision-making around employee scheduling and streamlining transportation logistics for the 300+

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Retail Focus

JULY 15, 2025

Artificial intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing many key industries, one of which is eCommerce. In recent years, business owners have started to rely more heavily upon various AI-powered tools to enhance the user/customer experience, reduce bounce rate, upgrade existing systems, enhance cyber security, boost conversions, and increase revenue. One such tool is the AI shopper or AI shopping assistant, which significantly helps consumers find what they’re looking for quicker than ever.

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Retail TouchPoints

JULY 15, 2025

Marks & Spencer (M&S) has kicked off its first international wholesale partnership in the fashion category with Australian premium department store David Jones , which will now offer a selection of Marks & Spencer womenswear, menswear and lingerie online and in its 24 stores, including its Sydney and Melbourne flagship locations. The new M&S partnership follows a successful one earlier this year with Target , which began carrying M&S Food’s Percy Pig candies.

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Inside Retail

JULY 15, 2025

The Iconic has partnered with Cirkular to stock a curated selection of pre-loved women’s fashion including designer labels such as Jacquemus, Zimmermann, Anna Quan, The Frankie Shop, Viktoria & Woods, Scanlan Theodore, Christopher Esber, Ganni and Alemais. With the addition of Cirkular, The Iconic will expand its offering to include pre-loved garments from the same brands it sells new – something it sees as an opportunity.

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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.

Accounting

Retail TouchPoints

JULY 15, 2025

Of course you love your partner. But do you trust their taste? This question — familiar to anyone who has had a screaming match with their significant other in a furniture store — is at the heart of Till Décor Do Us Part , a new six -episode social-first reality series produced by Bob’s Discount Furniture. The show, which debuted July 10, showcases one partner shopping for furniture at a Bob’s store in Yonkers, N.Y., while the other, along with host Gabby Bryan, watches and comments in real time

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Retail Focus

JULY 15, 2025

Shopping habits have changed dramatically with the growth of online retail and social platforms. Reviews, which once came mostly from personal recommendations or specialist publications, now appear on nearly every product page and search result. Many consumers check ratings, comments, or video reviews before buying. This raises the question: do these reviews truly hold more value now than before?

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Inside Retail

JULY 15, 2025

The Reserve Bank of Australia’s proposal to eliminate surcharges on Eftpos, Mastercard and Visa transactions has ignited a debate within the retail sector. While the reforms aim to simplify payment processes and increase transparency, some industry groups say they risk obscuring the true cost of card payments by embedding fees into the product price, making it harder to compete in an already margin-tight environment.

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Retail TouchPoints

JULY 15, 2025

Luxury LA hotel L’Ermitage Beverly Hills has partnered with Bloomingdale’s Century City , the Beverly Hills Conference & Visitors Bureau and Paramount Pictures to create “The Clueless Suite” — an over-the-top hotel experience inspired by the iconic film, which celebrates its 30 th anniversary this year. One of the hotel’s signature 750-square-foot residential-style suites has been transformed into a Clueless fantasy, evoking the feel of a modern-day Beverly Hill

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Inside Retail

JULY 15, 2025

Bunnings Warehouse and mental healthcare provider Tiacs will be releasing limited edition hoodies to help fund free, professional counselling to blue collar and trade workers. The hoodies, designed by TradeMutt, will be available at Trade Desks across the country from July 25. This is the second time TradeMutt, Bunnings and Tiacs have partnered, with the brands raising $693,869 for Tiacs last year.

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Small Biz Trends

JULY 15, 2025

Small business owners looking to enhance their marketing strategies on social media have reason to be optimistic with Instagram’s latest feature: trial reels. Launched to assist creators and businesses alike, this new tool allows users to share short video content (reels) with non-followers first, effectively letting entrepreneurs gauge audience reactions before expanding their reach.

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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.

Marketing

Retail Gazette

JULY 15, 2025

B&M posted a 4.4% uptick in its first quarter sales as the warmer Spring weather drove demand for its garden and outdoor furniture ranges. Group revenue for the discount chain topped £1.4bn in the 13 weeks to 28 June, with UK sales up 4.7% to £1.13bn and sales across its France division up 7.6% to £136m. Heron Foods saw revenue slide 0.4% to £138m.

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Small Biz Trends

JULY 15, 2025

Key Takeaways Understand the Instagram Sales Funnel: It’s crucial for turning casual followers into paying customers, utilizing stages of awareness, interest, consideration, intent, and purchase. Leverage Instagram’s Features: Use Stories, Reels, and shoppable posts to create engaging content and streamline the purchasing process. Build Trust and Authenticity: Showcase user-generated content and customer testimonials to foster credibility and encourage potential customers to engage w

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A1 Retail

JULY 15, 2025

ProCook has announced the opening of its latest store at the newly opened Cotswolds Designer Outlet, marking the brand’s fourth new store in 2025. ProCook’s continued strategic progress is being realised through their retail expansion programme, as the business targets a medium-term goal of 100 stores nationwide. Located near to ProCook’s Gloucestershire Store Support Centre, the new store represents a return to the company’s roots which started nearly three decades ago in the Cotwolds.

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Small Biz Trends

JULY 15, 2025

If you’re looking to start a handmade business , focusing on crafts that can generate profit is vital. Consider creating personalized jewelry , unique home décor items, or seasonal crafts that appeal to various markets. Handmade candles and upcycled furniture likewise attract eco-conscious customers. By selecting high-quality materials and innovative designs, you can tap into a growing demand for artisanal products.

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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.

Management

CJ Retail Solutions

JULY 15, 2025

As you step into the world of retail merchandising, you may notice that the landscape is evolving at an unprecedented pace. Gone are the days when traditional methods dominated the scene; today, you find yourself navigating a complex web of technology, consumer preferences, and sustainability concerns. The retail environment is no longer just about displaying products; it’s about creating experiences that resonate with consumers on multiple levels.

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Small Biz Trends

JULY 15, 2025

A video montage is a technique that combines multiple short clips into one cohesive sequence. You can use it to tell stories more effectively, whether in marketing or filmmaking. This method captures attention and evokes feelings by blending visuals and music. Comprehending how to create compelling montages can improve your content. Next, let’s explore the various applications of video montages in marketing and their impact on audience engagement.

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RepslyBlog

JULY 15, 2025

BOSTON, July 15th, 2025 – Repsly, Inc., a leader in retail technology, is transforming field merchandising and retail execution through its advanced AI and image recognition solutions. By automating data capture and simplifying complex manual processes, Repsly empowers brands to gain accurate, real-time insights that drive smarter business decisions.

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Small Biz Trends

JULY 15, 2025

When planning your business strategy , comprehension of the five key elements is essential. You need to define your vision, create a mission, set specific objectives , develop a coherent strategy, and get down to actionable tactics. Each element plays an important role in guiding your organization toward success. By implementing these components effectively, you can improve accountability and adaptability.

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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.

Planning

A1 Retail

JULY 15, 2025

Amazon has announced that Prime Day 2025 was its biggest Prime Day event ever and that customers saved billions on deals across more than 35 product categories, more savings than any previous Prime Day event. This year’s Prime Day event was bigger than any previous four-day period that included a Prime Day event, with record sales and more items sold during the four days.

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Small Biz Trends

JULY 15, 2025

Creating an effective strategic plan requires comprehension of seven fundamental elements. Start by defining your vision and mission , as these guide your organization’s aspirations and purpose. Next, set SMART objectives to guarantee clarity and accountability. Develop a detailed strategy and action plan to guide execution. It’s likewise important to incorporate regular evaluations and adjustments.

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A1 Retail

JULY 15, 2025

Gunwharf Quays is set to welcome the first-ever Oliver Bonas outlet store. Opening on Saturday 19th July, the British lifestyle brand will be located on The Avenues , which has been newly upgraded as part of a multi-million pound investment by Landsec in the Portsmouth shopping and leisure destination. Founded in 1993, Oliver Bonas is an independent British lifestyle store which sells a range of fashion and homeware collections.

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Retail Gazette

JULY 15, 2025

Iceland has partnered with renewable energy provider Shawton Energy to roll out rooftop solar systems across multiple sites within its retail portfolio. The move will take the combined energy output of the multiple installations up to 10MWp, comprising enough to power 3,000 UK homes and saving 2,500 tonnes of CO2 annually. The supermarket’s store on Penny Lane in Liverpool forms the first of its sites to install the on-site renewable energy with Shawton, which will be followed by its Queen

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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

Retail Assist

JULY 15, 2025

Ransomware attacks aren’t new. But in 2025, the costs and the consequences are hitting harder than ever for businesses. According to Sophos , the median cost of ransomware paid by businesses has nearly doubled in 2025, and recovery costs now average around £2 million. For many businesses, it’s not just about prevention, but also about having the right systems, backups and response plans in place to minimise disruption.

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Shopping Center

JULY 15, 2025

Fullerton, Calif. — Corona del Mar, California-based Space Investment Partners has acquired Fullerton Metrocenter, a 395,703-square-foot community center located in the Orange County city of Fullerton, for $118 million. The… The post Space Investment Partners Acquires 395,703-Square-Foot Retail Center in Fullerton, California, for $118 Million appeared first on Shopping Center Business.

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A1 Retail

JULY 15, 2025

British heritage fashion brand, Cotton Traders, has continued to deliver a steady performance FYE 2024 in the face of a turbulent macro environment. Following a 52-week financial year in 2023, versus LFL 52 weeks in 2024, the brand has reported a strong operating profit of £9.46m (+3 percent vs. 2023), and a EDITDA of £11.94m (+4 percent vs. 2023), albeit with an expected decline in turnover of £107.88m in 2024 (-1 percent vs. 2023).

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Retail Times

JULY 15, 2025

Retail Times publishes international & UK retail news covering products, data, tech, packaging, people, research, comment and more besides! Forty-plus years ago, some advertising executive in a suit decided Jeremy Clarkson wasn’t good enough to be a copywriter. Today, his self-penned adverts for Hawkstone regularly reach an audience of millions.

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Advertisement

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.

Management

Retail Gazette

JULY 15, 2025

Sosandar has downgraded its profit and sales guidance for the year as it manages the impact of the M&S cyberattack on its sales. The fashion brand said it was taking a “prudent view” of its forecasts after it made “no sales” through M&S, which is its second largest third-party partner, since mid-April and its decision to pause new store openings to focus on profitable growth.

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Promotions Returns Fashion Planning 52

Small Biz Trends

JULY 15, 2025

When starting a business, choosing the right structure is crucial. Each type, from sole proprietorships to B corporations, comes with its own set of benefits and drawbacks. Comprehending these differences can help you protect your personal assets , navigate taxes, and manage your operations effectively. As you explore these ten structures, consider how each aligns with your goals and needs.

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Retail Gazette

JULY 15, 2025

Tesco has opened its delivery slots earlier to help families over the busy summer period. The grocery giant has enabled UK shoppers to access eight weeks’ worth of home delivery and click and collect slots over the summer for the first time instead of the usual four weeks. It has also removed its same-day charge for home deliveries and click and collect slots from selected stores.

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VMS

JULY 15, 2025

Convenience-store operator Yesway (Fort Worth, Texas) said it has opened four new locales under its Allsup’s brand this quarter – three in Oklahoma and one in New Mexico. Those openings mean Yesway has completed 86 new stores or major rebuilds over the past four years, the company said in a news release. The Oklahoma stores are in Blanchard, Eufaula, and Krebs, while the one in New Mexico is in Los Lunas.

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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.

Fulfillment