Tue.Apr 09, 2024

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Best Buy Adds Generative AI to its Customer Service Toolkit

Retail TouchPoints

Best Buy is expanding its partnership with Google Cloud to leverage generative AI technology for new customer service tools. The retailer also is working with Google Cloud and Accenture to develop new AI-powered tools for its frontline associates. As early as late summer, Best Buy customers in the U.S. will be able to connect with a gen AI-powered virtual assistant for help with tasks like troubleshooting product issues , rescheduling or combining order deliveries , managing software , Geek Squa

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Luxottica fined $1.5 million for spam law breaches

Inside Retail

Eyewear retailer Luxottica – the parent of OPSM, Oakley and Sunglass Hut – has been fined $1.5 million for sending more than 200,000 spam messages to customers. The company sent 1231 marketing emails without a functional unsubscribe option and 112,348 texts and emails to customers who had unsubscribed between November 2022 and May 2023, according to the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA).

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From Custom Worlds to Contextual Ads: Unlocking the Power of Games Advertising

Retail TouchPoints

Advertisers already have a healthy appetite for games advertising: IAB’s latest study on games advertising found that 40% of advertisers plan to boost spending in this area over the coming year, making it the third-most popular channel for increased investment, after social media ( 47% ) and digital video ( 40% ). But despite these high levels of interest, only a few brands and retailers have fully tapped into the potential of this channel.

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California McDonald’s Franchisee Strategizes Cost Reductions After Minimum Wage Hike

Retail Wire

Following the recent increase in the minimum wage for fast-food restaurants in California, a McDonald's franchisee in the state is raising prices, thinking about postponing dining room renovations, and evaluating potential changes to opening hours to save money.

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Is Your Business AI-Ready? Find Out with Orium’s Maturity Model

Generative AI is poised to redefine B2B, but scaling AI success in this space isn’t without obstacles. From fragmented data sources and complex buyer journeys to operational inefficiencies, the road to AI-powered growth can be challenging. To achieve a competitive edge, understanding your organization’s AI-readiness is essential. Orium's Data & AI Maturity Model provides a quick, actionable way to assess your starting point.

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Shopify Helps Hawaiian Brands Say ‘Aloha’ to NYC

Retail TouchPoints

Shopify is partnering with Mana Up , an accelerator and venture fund for Hawaii-based products, on an immersive market concept designed to spotlight emerging brands from “the Aloha state.” Aloha Market will run April 26 to 28, 2024, at Shopify’s NYC activation space in SoHo, and will feature unique products from more than 40 Hawaii creators and entrepreneurs.

Marketing 264
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New pet retailer launches online shopping platform

Inside Retail

New pet retailer Swaggle – owned by grocery giant Coles – has launched its online shopping platform, aiming to help pets “live their lives to the fullest”. The store’s ‘petsonalisation’ feature enables pet parents to identify and comprehend the appropriate items for their pets, regardless of age, breed, or life stage. Swaggle’s petsonalisation engine, according to the business, has absorbed data on hundreds of dog and cat breeds, allowing it to deliver relevant suggestion

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More Trending

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Amazon invests $490m in two Western Sydney fulfilment centres

Inside Retail

Amazon Australia plans to invest $490 million in opening two new fulfilment centres in Horsley Park, Western Sydney, with one to open later this year and the other by 2026. Once fully operational, the two fulfilment centres are expected to generate over 1000 local jobs. One of the fulfilment centres will have a size of 80,000sqm, four and a half times the size of the Opera House, with a capacity of 1.6 million large items.

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Next-Gen Co-Brand Cards are Tailored to You, by You

Retail TouchPoints

In a world filled with loyalty offers, it’s all about offering the right rewards and experiences at the right moments. I’ll never forget my 40th birthday trip to Istanbul when the hotel staff not only wished me a happy birthday when I checked in, but the general manager surprised me with a cake, champagne and a handwritten note with 40 things to do in Istanbul.

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Planters Is Looking To Hire Drivers for the NUTmobile

Retail Wire

Planters is on the lookout for drivers willing to embark on a unique adventure aboard its NUTmobile.

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L.O.L. Surprise! Parent Company Goes DTC, Debuts Loyalty Program

Retail TouchPoints

MGA Entertainment , the company behind L.O.L. Surprise!, Little Tikes, MGA’s Miniverse and other beloved toy brands, has launched its own direct-to-consumer ( DTC ) site and rewards program to get closer to its customers. Although MGA products will still be available through major retailers, the new shopping destination, aptly named The MGA Shop , is designed to provide toy lovers with convenient features and benefits that wholesale partners can’t offer such as online-only exclusives and limited

Wholesale 147
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Less Stress, More Success: Accounting Best Practices & Processes for 2025

Speaker: Amanda Adams, Fractional CFO, CPA

Are you ready to elevate your accounting processes for 2025? 🚀 Join us for an exclusive webinar led by Amanda Adams, a seasoned fractional CFO and CPA passionate about transforming back-office operations for finance teams. This session will cover critical best practices and process improvements tailored specifically for accounting professionals.

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Bill Gates-Backed Alternative Fuel Startup Powers Energy for Amazon, American Airlines

Retail Wire

Infinium, an alternative fuel startup backed by Bill Gates and based in Sacramento, California, has set out to create low-carbon alternatives to aviation fuel, diesel, and Naptha.

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Retail is back as rents settle. Maya Capital closes Fulham Road retail investment

Retail Focus

Maya Capital LLP , a pan European investment firm, announces that it has completed the purchase of 24,228 sq ft of retail and showroom accommodation in London, on 137-167 Fulham Road. Fulham Road is located in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, and is considered one of the wealthiest areas in the world hosting a range of Luxury tenants including Chanel, Acne and Carolina Herrera.

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Target Circle Week Promises Two Times the Savings to Shoppers, and Kristen Wiig Too

Retail Wire

Target Circle week promises to deliver two times the savings to shoppers.

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Why Miss Amara’s Lydia Bertini sees B2B as a big opportunity in e-commerce

Inside Retail

Inside Retail’s Top 50 People in E-Commerce is an annual ranking of the most impressive and inspiring leaders in Australia’s online retail industry. Our 2024 report features C-level executives with decades of leadership experience, alongside start-up founders and digital specialists with a wide range of skills, from marketing to logistics. You can download it here.

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Is Your Brand AI-Ready? Find Out with Orium’s Maturity Model

Generative AI is reshaping retail, but achieving true AI success isn’t simple. Many brands face hurdles—underdeveloped data strategies, limited AI-ready infrastructure, or lack of seamless integration across systems. As you explore how AI can boost efficiency and transform customer experiences, understanding your business’s readiness is key. Orium's Data & AI Maturity Model offers a clear starting point.

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Aramark Workers Strike for Fair Wages at Wells Fargo Center

Retail Wire

In South Philadelphia, food service employees at Wells Fargo Center are staging a strike in hopes of securing better terms from their employer, Aramark.

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How US-based oral care brand Lewie aims to take a bite out of the beauty market

Inside Retail

It’s no secret that a large portion of retail spending is driven by consumers’ desire to look and feel as attractive as possible. Two segments in particular that benefit from this deep-seated aspiration are the cosmetics and skincare industry and the oral care market. According to a report by global data and business intelligence platform Statista, the beauty and personal care market worldwide is projected to generate revenues of US$646.2 billion by the end of 2024.

Marketing 130
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FAA Probes Safety Claims on 787 and 777 Boeing Jets

Retail Wire

The Federal Aviation Administration has launched an investigation into serious allegations made by a whistleblower at Boeing. The claims revolve around safety and quality concerns related to the production of the company's 787 and 777 jets.

ATS 130
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Carousell co-founder talks LuxLexicon acquisition and future of re-commerce

Inside Retail

With its recent acquisition of Singapore-based luxury resale business LuxLexicon, Carousell Group co-founder Marcus Tan said the company aims to create “the largest managed marketplace for authenticated second hand luxury bags where users can buy and sell with trust and convenience”. Speaking to Inside Retail , Tan said the acquisition reflects Carousell Group’s recent focus on the luxury sector and its broader efforts to improve the experience of buying and selling pre-owned luxury items.

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NEWS: SML RFID Delivers 98% Inventory Accuracy to Gina Tricot

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.

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San Francisco Threatens Legal Battle Against Oakland Airport

Retail Wire

In the heart of California's East Bay, a brewing controversy over a potential airport name change has captured the attention of locals and travelers alike.

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Frequent flyer initiatives saved airlines – can loyalty programs save retail?

Inside Retail

The current economic crisis has retailers scrambling to generate consistent sales and retain their customer base. Long gone are days when businesses handed out loyalty cards to incentivise more frequent purchases – retailers are being urged by industry experts and leading brands to reimagine customer loyalty. Frequent flyer programs infamously saved airlines’ profit margins by driving customer retention and eventually lucrative partnerships with banks.

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GM Axes Budget-Friendly Trim for Hummer EV

Retail Wire

Recent reports suggest that GM has decided to pull the plug on the base EV2 trim for the Hummer EV.

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Shein to launch fashion, music and lifestyle experience

Inside Retail

Fast fashion giant Shein will provide a variety of interactive, immersive, and fashion experiences at Ultra Australia music festival in Melbourne on April 13. As a lifestyle partner, Shein will bring the showroom experience to the event, offering statement-making outfits shoppable via QR code to festival attendees, an exclusive glam make-over station featuring SheGlam products, and photo booth moments for ticketholders.

Fashion 130
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Mastering E-commerce Strategies to Drive Growth in B2B Distribution

B2B distributors and wholesalers: this webinar is for you! Discover the game-changing potential of composable commerce—a flexible, modern approach to e-commerce—and explore the strategies and technologies transforming the B2B landscape. Learn how to create custom digital experiences for your business from the leaders at Orium , commercetools , and Contentful as they walk through real-world examples, providing actionable insights on how to future-proof your business, integrate new opportunities s

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Delta Air Lines’s Special Eclipse Flight Fails

Retail Wire

On April 8, Delta Air Lines took to the skies with two exclusive flights aimed at chasing the solar eclipse from Austin and Dallas to Detroit. However, passengers were left without the anticipated full eclipse experience they were promised as part of the special flight package.

ATS 100
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Swaggle GM Chad Burke on the untapped opportunities in Australian pet care 

Inside Retail

Australia is a nation of animal lovers, with nearly half of all households having a canine family member and roughly the same number with a cat companion. On average, most homes have multiple pets, which makes catering to pets a big business. Australian retailers have got the message loud and clear. This month Ikea Australia launched its first pet range, Utsadd, and last February, hardware retailer Bunnings launched a pet care category, marking its biggest product expansion in decades since the

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This Customer Could Ruin Your Business

Hyken

What if I told you that a satisfied customer could ruin your business? Most people think satisfied customers are happy and will come back. At least, it appears that way. Many years ago, I used to begin my customer service keynote speeches with a question: By a show of hands, how many of you believe it’s important to satisfy your customers? As you might imagine, just about everyone raised their hand.

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Biopak acquires reusable cup company Huskee

Inside Retail

Biopak, the sustainable packaging company, has bought Huskee, a reusable cup company, to fast-track and strengthen the two companies’ shared vision of a circular economy. Huskee’s existing team will continue under the new ownership, which plans to build upon the brand’s sustainable and ethical practices in new product releases. Established in 2017, Huskee is known for the HuskeeCup, a modular, reusable cup made from recycled coffee husks.

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eCommerce in 2025: How Customer Experience Drives Online Retail Success

Speaker: Jennifer Wright and Nick Barron

2025 is right around the corner, and with it comes a new wave of consumer expectations, competitive pressures, and operational challenges. Success lies in finding the balance between operational flexibility and creating experiences that keep customers coming back. The future of retail belongs to those who can stay ahead of shifting customer preferences and marketing trends. 🔮 In this session, we’ll dive deep into what it takes to keep customers engaged and your operations nimble, no matt

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Home Bargains pushes ahead with store expansion plans as profits rise

Retail Gazette

Home Bargains owner TJ Morris has posted a rise in sales and profit as it pushes ahead with its expansion plan. The Liverpool-based discounter saw its turnover jump 10.2% from £3.4bn to £3.7bn in the year to 30 June 30, according to accounts filed with Companies House. Pre-tax profits rose 12.4% during the period, up from £293m in 2022 to £332m. TJ Morris said the was positive results were driven by “opening of additional retail outlets during the year, shop re-sites and an increased contributio

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Coach files trademark and unfair competition complaint against Gap

Retail Dive

The complaint takes issue with some Old Navy-branded T-shirts, which attorneys for the Tapestry-owned brand say are meant to make consumers think “there is a connection or association between” the brands.

Consumer 112
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Ted Baker: Next and Sports Direct eye rescue deal

Retail Gazette

Next and Sports Direct have both expressed an interest in snapping up Ted Baker’s stricken European arm. The two East Midlands high street giants have contacted administrators Teneo about taking on certain Ted Baker stores, in a move which will save jobs, The Times reports. On Monday (8 April) , the business said it would be closing 11 UK stores and slashing head office roles, resulting in 145 redundancies, with an additional 100 redundancies from the stores landlords have served notice on.

Fashion 116
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Pfizer’s RSV Vaccine Has Potential To Protect High-Risk Adults

Retail Wire

A new study shows promising results in trying to protect those at risk for respiratory syncytial virus.

ATS 113
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How to Maximize Amazon Sales and Crush the Competition

With over 9 million sellers on Amazon, online marketplaces are more crowded than ever. Whether you’re looking to fine-tune prices in real-time or align strategies across channels, this guide provides the tools to understand how to maximize sales and secure a lasting competitive edge. Download now to transform your pricing strategy and drive holiday success.