Inside Retail

JANUARY 10, 2025

As head of digital at Metcash’s Independent Hardware Group (IHG), the $2.1 billion business behind Mitre 10 and Home Hardware, Anna Kismet is a firm believer in using technology to solve unique business problems. One problem she has been working on since joining IHG in 2022 is how to manage the backend systems and processes for a business, Mitre 10, with over 500 stores that are all individually owned and operated. “From a technology point of view, you have multiple point-of-sale sys

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Retail TouchPoints

JANUARY 9, 2025

Barnes & Noble will open approximately 60 stores this year, according to reporting in the Financial Times (FT). The retailer, owned by Elliott Investment Management along with the UK bookseller Waterstones , opened 57 stores in the U.S. and 12 in the UK last year. The retailer currently operates 650 stores. Waterstones Managing Director James Daunt, who also leads Barnes & Noble, told FT that last year represented a really significant expansion, and that the company plans to do that or m

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Planning Finance Management Store Operations 300

Inside Retail

JANUARY 8, 2025

Christmas and end-of-year sales are big business for retailers but they also drive enormous returns. The high volumes of unwanted gifts and remorseful sale purchases have implications beyond the bottom line the environmental impact of emissions, repackaging and damaged goods is becoming excessive. The Australia Institute projected an estimated $1 billion worth of unwanted Christmas gift waste in 2024, with 27 per cent of Australians expected to receive gifts they will not use.

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Retail TouchPoints

JANUARY 8, 2025

Ulta Beauty has teamed up with Instacart to offer same-day delivery from its more than 1,400 stores acrossthe U.S. in as fast as one hour. Instacart customers can now shop a wide selection of skin care, hair care, cosmetics, fragrances and wellness products from Ulta. The partnership also integrates Ulta Beauty Rewards into the Instacart app , allowing members to earn points on every Ulta Beauty purchase made via Instacart by linking their accounts through Ulta Beauty’s storefront.

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Advertiser: ZoomInfo

Incorporating generative AI (gen AI) into your sales process can speed up your wins through improved efficiency, personalized customer interactions, and better informed decision- making. Gen AI is a game changer for busy salespeople and can reduce time-consuming tasks, such as customer research, note-taking, and writing emails, and provide insightful data analysis and recommendations.

Consumer

Retail Wire

JANUARY 8, 2025

Cracker Barrel is heating up this winter with delicious new menu offerings.

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Retail Focus

JANUARY 7, 2025

Aldi is set to continue its expansion in Scotland, confirming today it plans to invest more than 40m over the next two years, opening three new stores in Arbroath, Baillieston and Kirkintilloch in 2025. The investment supports the retailers growth ambitions north of the border and will allow it to keep up with growing consumer demand. In 2024, Aldi celebrated 30 years in Scotland, having opened its first store in Kilmarnock in 1994.

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Retail Wire

JANUARY 11, 2025

Is Wendy's really giving Girl Scout cookie lovers what they want?

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Retail Focus

JANUARY 8, 2025

This Christmas, UK shoppers showed a clear shift towards sensible spending, prioritising useful, practical gifts over luxury and indulgence. New data from leading eCommerce provider Visualsoft saw that while overall Christmas revenue dropped by 4% compared to 2023, average order value (AOV) rose by 21%, reflecting the growing impact of thoughtful shopping and retailer incentives.

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Consumer Home Furnishings Drop-Shipping Beauty and Health 147

Retail Dive

JANUARY 7, 2025

The stores are being shuttered as part of “routine store location evaluation and optimization,” according to a company spokesperson.

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Location 138

Inside Retail

JANUARY 8, 2025

Australian retail sales saw significant year-on-year increase in November, largely attributed to the Black Friday sales. “Black Friday sales events proved once again to be a big hit, with widespread discounting and higher spending across all retail industries,” said Robert Ewing, head of business statistics at the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). “The popularity of Black Friday sales continues to grow with promotional activity now stretching across the entire month of Nov

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Sporting Goods Department Stores Promotions ATS 264

Speaker: Becky Parisotto and John Vurdelja

Fulfillment is no longer just about getting products from point A to point B – it's about crafting seamless, scalable, customer first experiences. Flexible fulfillment strategies are more important than ever for those aiming to stay ahead and build resilience as retail enters a new era in 2025. Learn how to optimize fulfillment processes, tackle complex, multi-vendor orders, and create seamless customer experiences – from white-glove delivery for high-value items to quick-ship solutions for ever

Fulfillment

Retail TouchPoints

JANUARY 9, 2025

Want to enjoy the best of the outdoors without, you know, actually going outside? Then the recently opened London flagship of The North Face is the place for you. The retailer, working with Mood Media , has created an experiential retail location equipped with a large-scale LED visual wall displaying curated content, carefully chosen music and even a custom fragrance, White Pepperwood, carrying the scent of the outdoors through the air.

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Retail Wire

JANUARY 8, 2025

The 2024 holiday shopping season broke sales records thanks to AI.

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Shopping 264

Retail Focus

JANUARY 8, 2025

Ghalia BOUSTANI. Retail Consultant | Published author | Visiting lecturer Mass brand premiumisation has emerged as a pivotal trend in recent years, with brands striving to secure higher-value market segments while retaining their broad consumer appeal. This approach enables brands to boost profitability, elevate their image, and sustain growth in fiercely competitive markets.

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Boutique Department Stores Target Market Consumer 147

Retail Gazette

JANUARY 13, 2025

Asda chairman Allan Leighton has launched his first set of cost-cutting at the grocer, following its disastrous Christmas period. The beleaguered supermarket cut roles for 13 regional managers last week under a shake-up designed to reduce headcount and improve performance, The Telegraph reported. The cost-cutting measures come after Asda delivered its worst Christmas since 2015, with sales falling 5.8% during the 12 weeks to 29 December, according to data from Kantar.

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Supermarket Grocer Management ATS 121

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Customer Experience

Inside Retail

JANUARY 12, 2025

Myer’s sales declined in the 22 weeks ended December 28 amid challenging trading conditions. The department store chain booked sales of $1.59 billion, down 0.8 per cent, impacted by the temporary closure of the Werribee store from February 14 to November 29. Its online store sales rose 2.8 per cent and accounted for 22 per cent of the group’s sales.

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Department Stores Apparel Accounting Consumer 233

Retail TouchPoints

JANUARY 7, 2025

With the holiday season out of the way, next to come is a wave of returns that will stretch into the new year. Given the heightened focus on return policies during this period, it is an opportune time for customer fulfillment leaders to raise awareness within their organizations about a persistent challenge confronting retailers: the rise in retail returns fraud.

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Returns Fulfillment Management Finance 229

Retail Wire

JANUARY 13, 2025

The chicken broth recall is one of the largest in Walmart history.

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Retail Focus

JANUARY 11, 2025

Not only is the Super Bowl an important game for American fans, its one of the most significant sporting events of all. Across the world, close to 100 million people tune in for the final game of the NFL season, and to enjoy all the drama of this showpiece occasion. Like most major events, the Super Bowl brings certain benefits to the retail sector.

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Advertising Promotions Returns ATS 130

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Retail Gazette

JANUARY 10, 2025

Sainsbury’s is set to increase staff pay this year as it revealed it won grocery market share for the fifth consecutive Christmas. The supermarket giant will split a 5% pay rise for its hourly-paid staff into two separate rises in March and August, which it said will “allow us to navigate a challenging cost environment” It comes as Sainsbury’s enjoyed its “biggest-ever Christmas” as sales rose3.7% for the 16 weeks to 4 January, and 3.8% for the festive period

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Supermarket Promotions Shopping Marketing 122

Inside Retail

JANUARY 10, 2025

M&M’s has launched its first store in Australia after announcing the opening last month. The location, opening from January 6 to January 26 in Melbourne, features M&Ms chocolate wall and products made in Ballarat. M&M’s Melbourne, part of the partnership with the Australian Open, is the brand’s unofficial eighth store worldwide and the first in the Southern Hemisphere, drawing inspiration from M&Ms New York, London, Las Vegas, Shanghai, Berlin, Disney Springs, a

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Location ATS 248

Retail TouchPoints

JANUARY 7, 2025

Ulta Beauty CEO Dave Kimbell will retire as CEO after 11 years with the company. Kecia Steelman, current President and COO, has been named as his successor, effective immediately. Steelman will now serve as President and CEO as well as joining the beauty retailers board, with Kimbell staying on in an advisory role through June 28, 2025. Kimbell became CEO of Ulta Beauty in 2021 after serving in executive roles with the company since 2014.

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Marketing Location Planning 256

Retail Wire

JANUARY 9, 2025

Delta Air Lines is partnering with Uber and Google, while also launching its Delta Concierge AI assistant.

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Accounting

Retail Focus

JANUARY 7, 2025

In todays competitive retail landscape, creating a memorable brand image and ensuring smooth operations are more crucial than ever. One often-overlooked but highly effective way to accomplish both of these objectives is by implementing branded workwear for retail staff. From enhancing professionalism to boosting brand recognition, branded uniforms provide a range of benefits that positively impact both employees and customers.

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Retail Gazette

JANUARY 10, 2025

Tesco and Sainsburys have been crowned the winners of Christmas by Kantar as the pair outperformed the rest of the grocery market. Sales at Tesco rose 2.8% in the 13 weeks to 23 November, rising 3.8% in the six weeks to 4 January. It’s hold on the market rose to 28.5% – the highest of any supermarket – boosted by growth across its convenience, superstore and online channels.

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Supermarket Grocer Promotions Shopping 111

Inside Retail

JANUARY 12, 2025

Premier Retail expects lower global sales in the fiscal first half, with Australian sales broadly flat compared to the year-ago period. The company forecasts global sales to be between $855 million and $865 million and underlying earnings before interest and taxes to be in the range of $160 million to $165 million. It estimates global sales of its apparel brands business to range from $405 million to $412 million and its underlying EBIT between $31 million and $35 million.

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Apparel Marketing Accessories Fashion 240

Retail TouchPoints

JANUARY 10, 2025

Retail research and advisory firm Coresight Research has teamed up with NextRivet a digital innovation consultancy that specializes in retail real estate to launch CoreRivet , a new consultancy aimed at offering retail and real estate executives more client-centric advice and services around technology and other implementations. CoreRivet aims to combine Coresight Researchs expertise in market intelligence and digital strategy with NextRivets track record in digital innovation and implementati

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Marketing Shopping ATS 228

Advertiser: ZoomInfo

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Planning

Retail Wire

JANUARY 10, 2025

Macy's is set to close 66 stores across 22 states nationwide in 2025.

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Retail Dive

JANUARY 9, 2025

The new entity features other labels owned by Authentic Brands Group and run by Sparc Group. Investors include Shein and mall REITs Simon and Brookfield.

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Retail Gazette

JANUARY 9, 2025

M&S has had another strong holiday season , with its clothing and home division outshining competitors and building on its recent resurgence. Despite McKinsey stating the wider fashion industrys outlook for 2025 appears to be a continuation of the sluggishness seen in 2024: revenue growth is expected to stabilize in the low single digits, M&S defied these odds with a 1.9% increase in sales over the 13 weeks leading up to 28 December.

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Inside Retail

JANUARY 7, 2025

Midas, Supre, and Sage & Clare have ranked the highest for Customer Service Experience in the Online CX Index , Australias first and only online retailer performance platform powered by real data. The Online CX Index, a partnership between Inside Retail and Humii, covered the customer service experience in December on metrics such as the availability of self-service support options, quality of on-site FAQs, live chat, email support, support responsiveness, resolution times, and overall quali

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Advertiser: Experience Retail Today

I’m getting in touch with the news that fashion retailer, Gina Trictot, has achieved 98% inventory accuracy thanks to its partnership with SML RFID. Please see the full press release below, including exclusive quotes.

Fashion