Trending Articles

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What retailers can learn from Ikea’s ‘real zero’ climate strategy

Inside Retail

Amidst growing consumer mistrust of sustainability certifications and green initiatives, Ikea stands out as a retailer making meaningful changes to its operating model and supply chain to achieve ‘real zero’ carbon emissions. Rather than relying on the well-worn ‘net zero’ rhetoric, which too often utilise carbon offsets, the global furniture giant is pursuing decarbonisation across every aspect of its business.

Consumer 130
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The real omnichannel challenge: Why bridging online and offline retail still hasn’t been solved

Retail Customer Experience

Bridging the online-offline gap isn’t a luxury anymore. It’s the new standard. And the brands that master it won’t just sell more, they’ll build loyalty that lasts.

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Kevin Tulip’s retail story: From tagging tees to leading Primark in the US

Inside Retail

Kevin Tulip’s first experience working in retail was attaching price tags to clothing in the stockroom of Topshop during two weeks’ school work experience in Newcastle, Scotland, where he grew up. From a young age, he had enjoyed shopping with his parents and friends, so it seemed a natural fit to see what it would be like working in a store when he had to choose where to fulfil his work experience.

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7 Essential Features of Retail Stock Management Systems

Small Biz Trends

When managing retail inventory, grasping the crucial features of stock management systems can greatly improve your operations. Key elements like easy restocking alerts help prevent stockouts, whereas all-encompassing reporting facilitates sales performance analysis. Mobile access allows for management on-the-go, and seamless integration with other tools boosts efficiency.

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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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How Retailers can get their Mobile Marketing Programs Holiday-Ready

Retail TouchPoints

For most people, summertime means sunshine, beaches and barbecues. Retail marketers, however, already have the holiday season on their minds, and summer is a great time to begin holiday prep – including connecting with your legal and compliance colleagues to make sure your mobile marketing program is holiday-ready. Text message marketing is a significant revenue driver for retailers, earning more engagement from consumers daily.

Marketing 147
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The Psychology of Shopping: How Color, Lighting, and Flow Influence Customer Behavior

CJ Retail Solutions

As you step into a retail environment, the colors that surround you are not merely aesthetic choices; they are carefully selected tools that influence your behavior and decision-making. Research has shown that colors can evoke specific emotions and reactions, which retailers leverage to create an atmosphere conducive to shopping. For instance, warm colors like red and orange can stimulate excitement and urgency, prompting you to make quicker purchasing decisions.

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Exploring the Different Types of Store Formats for Retail Success

Small Biz Trends

When you think about shopping, it’s important to recognize the different types of stores available. Grocery stores and supermarkets provide crucial food and household items, as you shop. Convenience stores offer quick access to necessities, often at a premium. Discount retailers focus on affordability, and specialty stores cater to unique interests.

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Leveling the Playing Field: How Smaller Retail Media Networks can Win Big with First-Party Data

Retail TouchPoints

Retail media is exploding. U.S. ad spend surpassed $50 billion in 2024 and continues to climb, yet the market’s spoils aren’t evenly distributed. Amazon and Walmart are raking in the lion’s share, commanding about 85% of all retail media ad spend. But that leaves a major opportunity for smaller and mid-sized retail media networks (RMNs) to stand out if they focus on what advertisers care about most.

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From Cluttered to Curated: A Step-by-Step Guide to a Winning Product Layout In Your Retail Store

CJ Retail Solutions

A well-designed product layout is not merely an aesthetic choice; it is a fundamental aspect of retail strategy that can significantly influence customer behavior and sales. When you walk into a store, the layout guides your journey, subtly directing your attention to specific products and areas. A thoughtfully arranged space can create an inviting atmosphere that encourages exploration and engagement.

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Dalziel & Pow launches new retail store for Next in Newcastle

A1 Retail

Global strategy and design studio Dalziel & Pow has created a new store for retail giant Next at Eldon Square this week, Newcastle’s oldest, most iconic shopping centre. The Eldon Square store launch follows Next store openings in Stratford City, Canterbury and Ripon, also designed by Dalziel & Pow. The launch is part of a roll-out of the retail design concept in Next stores across the country this year, with additional store openings planned for 2026 and beyond.

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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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Meet the ex-Amazon retail visionary opening automated convenience stores in LA

Inside Retail

The phrase “store of the future” tends to conjure images of futuristic cartoons like “The Jetsons”, complete with robot assistants and voice-activated ordering systems. In reality, the “store of the future” looks a bit different, and it’s closer than many people realise. One player bringing the “store of the future” to life is VenHub Global, a US-based AI and robotics technology company founded by retail veteran Shahan Ohanessian.

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Mastering Retail Inventory Control for Maximum Efficiency

Small Biz Trends

Achieving proficiency in retail inventory control requires a strategic approach to manage stock levels effectively. You need to understand demand forecasting , which helps predict customer needs, and implement advanced storage systems to optimize space. Furthermore, automated replenishment can streamline restocking processes. By regularly auditing your inventory and using techniques like ABC analysis , you can improve order accuracy and reduce costs.

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Marketplaces Overtake DTC as Primary Digital Growth Channel

Retail TouchPoints

Marketplaces drove over 40% of total ecommerce growth in 2024, officially surpassing direct-to-consumer (DTC), wholesale and other channels for the first time, according to research from Cymbio. At the same time, DTC saw its share of ecommerce growth decline for the first time in years, indicating that following its COVID surge, DTC may be hitting a ceiling.

Wholesale 147
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The Works hails ‘early success’ of turnaround as profit climbs

Retail Gazette

The Works has posted a 58% jump in adjusted EBITDA to £9.5m for the year to 4 May 2025, as its turnaround strategy delivers a sharp uplift in underlying profits. The value retailer, said profit before tax rose 20.3% to £8.3m while like-for-like sales increased 0.8%, outperforming the wider non-food retail market. Store sales – which account for over 90% of total revenue – climbed 2.3% on a like-for-like basis, offsetting a 12.1% drop in online sales, which were impacted by capacity constraints a

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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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Black Friday 2025: New report gives e-commerce merchants critical insights

Retail Focus

The temperatures might be hotting up, but the majority of e-commerce businesses will now be planning for the winter months, with Black Friday always a key revenue driver. In response, a new report has been published by Ecommpay, the inclusive global payments platform, providing vital insights into 2024 Black Friday trends to help merchants plan for this year.

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How retailers can build the foundation for tomorrow’s stores, today

Inside Retail

Incisiv, in partnership with Toshiba, has released the 2025 state of the industry report on store innovation – the findings lay out physical retail’s next chapter. With the right technology stack, retailers are now able to transform their physical stores into multi-purpose platforms for commerce, fulfilment, and customer engagement. Digital-physical integration is accelerating, space utilisation is evolving, and stores are becoming media platforms.

Returns 130
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Innovative Shop Business Ideas to Boost Your Retail Success

Small Biz Trends

Key Takeaways Diverse Opportunities: Shop business ideas can range from brick-and-mortar stores to e-commerce platforms, catering to various markets and consumer needs. Market Research is Essential: Thoroughly understanding your target audience, competitors, and market gaps is crucial for validating your business concept and informing your strategies.

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3 Questions with CI&T’s Melissa Minkow: 2025 has Proven the Need for Supply Chain Resilience, Data Modernization

Retail TouchPoints

Melissa Minkow, Global Director of Retail Strategy at CI&T A lot has happened in the first half of 2025, so for to kick off the new season of the Retail Remix podcast, we decided to bring in one of the most broad-reaching, analytical retail minds in the business — Melissa Minkow, Global Director of Retail Strategy at CI&T. We asked her about everything from tariffs and recent bankruptcies to resale, retail media and agentic AI, and as you can imagine she had ample insights to share on a

Consumer 147
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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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Omnichannel Merchandising: Creating a Seamless Shopping Experience from Online to In-Store

CJ Retail Solutions

Omnichannel merchandising is a retail strategy that integrates various shopping channels to create a seamless and cohesive experience for customers. This approach recognizes that consumers today engage with brands through multiple touchpoints, including physical stores, online platforms, mobile apps, and social media. By harmonizing these channels, businesses can ensure that customers receive a consistent message and experience, regardless of where or how they choose to shop.

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The Rise of Frictionless Retail: What Physical Stores Can Learn from Digital-First Platforms

Retail Focus

In today’s fast-evolving retail landscape, customer expectations have never been higher, especially regarding speed, convenience and seamless service. The modern shopper, increasingly accustomed to digital-first experiences, now demands the same frictionless journey in physical stores. This shift is driving traditional retailers to rethink every touchpoint, from entry to checkout, with a focus on instant gratification and streamlined technology.

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How Eve Wellness used data, viral videos to clinch a Chemist Warehouse deal

Inside Retail

New Zealand native health brand Eve Wellness has broken through the crowded world of supplements and wellness with conviction. In just a few years, the brand focused on hormone balance has gone from a niche direct-to-consumer venture to a household name, recently securing a coveted partnership with Chemist Warehouse. It is a case study in how challenger brands, akin to Eve Wellness, can leverage data, design and digital culture to rewrite the rules of retail.

Consumer 130
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Understanding What Customers Want from Your Products for Success

Small Biz Trends

Key Takeaways Customers today prioritize emotional connections alongside quality and functionality in products. Actively seeking and incorporating customer feedback is essential for improving product strategy and fostering loyalty. Analyzing customer behavior through data can help identify trends and tailor product offerings to specific demographics and interests.

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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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Mall of America Deploys AI-Powered Video Analytics to Boost Efficiency and Security

Retail TouchPoints

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+

Location 147
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How to Run a Thriving Pet Store: 10 Expert Retail Tips

RETAIL MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE

Running a pet store can be both rewarding and challenging. From managing live animals and specialty products to meeting customer expectations, it takes more than just a passion for pets to succeed. Whether you’re a new store owner or looking to level up your current operation, this guide will walk you through expert retail tips to help your pet store thrive. 1.

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Do Product and Brand Reviews Have More Value to Consumers Than Ever?

Retail Focus

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?

Consumer 130
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Retailers should be having fun with their brand codes. Here’s how to do it right

Inside Retail

In recent months, brands have been subverting, cropping, inverting – even killing – their distinctive assets, also known as brand codes. Kellogg’s reduced its name to just “OG” to become the original gangster of the breakfast table. Heinz swapped its logo out for foods intrinsically linked to its products – fries, beans, toast – in its “It Has to Be…” campaign.

Marketing 130
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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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Optimize Your Inventory Management with Stock Control Software Solutions

Small Biz Trends

When managing inventory , the right software can greatly streamline your processes and improve efficiency. You’ll want to take into account options like Syspro and Zoho Inventory , each designed for different business sizes and needs. Features like advanced reporting , ERP integration, and e-commerce capabilities can boost your operations. As you explore these solutions, comprehending their specific advantages and limitations will be essential for making an informed decision.

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Function and Form: Design with the End User in Mind

Retail TouchPoints

When designing packaging, it’s easy to get carried away with the creative. It’s an involved process, and you can occasionally forget who you’re really designing for. We all have personal tastes when it comes to what we think looks good and what we’d like to see on the shelf. We all have that creative itch to scratch, and we all want to produce designs our peers adore.

Consumer 147
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Superdrug Launches Beauty Playground Concept in Manchester Trafford Centre

365 Retail

Superdrug has launched its latest retail concept, Beauty Playground , at the Manchester Trafford Centre, marking the next step in a 30-store national rollout set to complete by August 2025. The initiative follows the debut opening in Westfield Stratford earlier this month and reflects the retailer’s commitment to enhancing in-store experiences across the UK.

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Star Micronics Exhibits Innovative Retail Solutions at RSPA RetailNOW 2025

Star Miconics

RSPA Members can see and demo Star printers, cash drawers, BPA/BPS-free Prop 65-compliant paper and labels, and cloud solutions in Booth 411 at RetailNOW 2025. Las Vegas, NV – July 17, 2025 – Star Micronics , a trailblazer in point of sale (POS), cloud printing, and retail technology solutions, is excited to announce participation in RetailNOW 2025, the annual Retail Solutions Provider Association (RSPA) trade show, education conference, and networking event.

ATS 52
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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.