Thu.Jun 06, 2024

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Is service in luxury becoming a luxury?

Retail Focus

Ghalia BOUSTANI. Expert Manager at Univers Retail | Published author | Visiting lecturer. The luxury market has been flooded with high-end and accessible luxury brands offering products and services at high prices in recent years. An alarming trend has emerged: the decline in service quality. Consumers are discovering that paying a premium does not always ensure exceptional service.

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Union bid to abolish youth rates risks ‘pushing young people out of retail’

Inside Retail

The Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees’ Association ( SDA ) – the retail and fast food workers’ union – has launched a case to abolish junior rates for workers, which retailers believe will pose challenges for young people getting their first job. The SDA is seeking to ensure workers 18 and over in retail, fast food and pharmacy are paid the full rate, the Australian Financial Review reported.

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Media Networks Beyond Retail: How to Activate Your Right to Win

Retail TouchPoints

With retail media ad spend projected to reach $140 billion this year, companies outside of retail seeking new revenue streams have an opportunity to dominate the next wave of media networks. Where retailers carved out a unique ability to deliver closed-loop media measurement, large-scale businesses in verticals such as travel, sports, entertainment and delivery services can offer advertisers rich first-party data and exclusive behavioral insights into loyal, passionate and targeted audiences.

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“We can help”: Ikea Australia CEO on its bold campaign to combat homelessness

Inside Retail

Ikea Australia overhauled its Sydney flagship in Tempe, NSW, to shine a light on the growing issue of homelessness in Australia. On Wednesday, customers were confronted with a car parked inside the store and a tent pitched in the restaurant, reminders of a societal issue that impacts 120,000 people every day but is often kept in the dark. It can be tricky for businesses to authentically partner with charities beyond simply making a donation to drive positive change for communities and societies.

Planning 278
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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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Dollar Tree Considers Selling Family Dollar Stores as it Reviews Alternatives

Retail TouchPoints

Dollar Tree, Inc. has initiated a strategic review of its struggling Family Dollar segment, considering options including a sale, a spinoff or “other disposition of the business,” according to a statement. “Dollar Tree has been on a multi-year journey to help the company fully achieve its potential,” said Rick Dreiling, Chairman and CEO of Dollar Tree, Inc. in a statement.

Returns 273
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‘Just another day in retail’: Study finds sexual harassment rife across industry

Inside Retail

Up to one in two women and one in four men working in retail have experienced sexual harassment, according to new research released Friday. Researchers from the Australian Centre for Gender Equality and Inclusion @ Work (ACGEIW) published by Australia’s National Research Organisation for Women’s Safety (Anrows) concludes sexual harassment is “pervasive and persistent” in retail work with physical contact, sexually suggestive comments and jokes, intrusive questions about their private life or ap

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Walmart Introduces Incentive Program for Hourly Employees

Retail Wire

Walmart, the biggest private sector employer in the U.S., is rolling out a new bonus program tailored for its hourly staff.

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Sam’s Club Taps 50K-Strong Member’s Mark Community to Provide Product Input

Retail TouchPoints

The Sam’s Club division of Walmart is supersizing crowdsourcing via its Member’s Mark Community, an opt-in network that boasts 50,000 engaged participants. The Community provides input on products before they reach Sam’s Club stores, from voting on exclusive flavors to testing and trialing new items. The retailer had relaunched the Member’s Mark private label brand in April 2022.

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FDA Advisors Unanimously Vote in Favor of Updated COVID-19 Shot

Retail Wire

The updated COVID-19 shot would be made available in the fall if officially approved.

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True Fit launches new Gen AI solution, Fit Hub, which synthesises all size & fit product information to solve retailers’ online fit challenges

Retail Focus

True Fit , the leading AI-driven platform that decodes size and fit for shoppers and fashion retailers, has announced the launch of Fit Hub, its new Generative AI (Gen AI) innovation to help consumers find the perfect fit and solve retailers’ online fit challenges. Fit Hub utilises Gen AI to synthesise all available fit and size information from retailers’ Product Description Pages (PDPs), from personal sizing recommendations, product reviews and User Generated Content (UGC), sales & returns

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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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Lululemon reports strong Q1 results with positive momentum

Inside Retail

Athletic apparel company Lululemon has released its first-quarter results, reporting a boost in net revenue of 10 per cent to $2.2 billion. Calvin McDonald, CEO of Lululemon, said the first quarter saw strong momentum and growth in international markets. “We are pleased by the progress we are making to optimise our US product assortment,” said McDonald.

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Timothy London launches innovation rich premium luggage collection with new Jermyn Street flagship store

Retail Focus

Game-changing travel innovation and expert craftsmanship define new premium luggage brand, Timothy London. The British-based brand stands out from the travel pack with its superior product design, showcasing travel-led innovation and engineering excellence. Timothy London is poised to establish itself as one of the world’s leading luggage manufacturers, delivering the perfect travelling companion for all of life’s adventures.

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Carhartt, cowboys and the romanticisation of the middle class

Inside Retail

Designer brands are working to combat the luxury slowdown. They have realigned their strategies to target older consumers with higher incomes who are typically less affected by economic downturns and spending more than pre-pandemic levels. This is causing the sector to become even more exclusive. Hermès, for example, is eschewing catering to the masses and doubling down on its scarcity-driven product and sales model.

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American Airlines Offers 17% Wage Hike Amidst Strike Talks

Retail Wire

American Airlines continues to face a myriad of woes as the threat of a flight attendant's strike looms heavily over the embattled airline.

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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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Failed retailer C de C Shoes caught underpaying staff

Inside Retail

The Fair Work Ombudsman has secured $86,674 in penalties and back-pay orders in court against the former operators of a Sydney shoe retailer C de C Shoes. The penalties are a direct result of the company’s failure to comply with a compliance notice ordering the calculation and back-payment of entitlements to a retail worker at the C de C Shoes stores between November 2019 and June 2021.

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Amazon Acquires India’s MX Player Video Streaming Platform

Retail Wire

Amazon has reached an agreement to purchase MX Player, the Indian video streaming platform, from Times Internet.

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Singapore homewares chain Castlery opens in Sydney

Inside Retail

Singapore-based furniture and homewares retailer, Castlery has unveiled its Sydney showroom with the hopes of redefining the furniture shopping journey. The Sydney store, located in the heart of Supa Centa Moore Park, is unique from the brand’s other stores, all located in Singapore. The showroom facilitates the online-to-offline shopping experience with its 576sqm space fitted out with 17 immersive room sets.

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Dunkin’ Partners With Scrub Daddy

Retail Wire

Dunkin' has teamed up with the cleaning brand, Scrub Daddy, to bring some fun to your dishwashing routine.

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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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What Alibaba’s Joe Tsai learned about building a winning culture from the NBA

Inside Retail

Alibaba co-founder and chairman Joe Tsai recently sat down with Kam Shing Kwang, JP Morgan’s chairwoman of North Asia and vice chair of investment banking in Greater China, for a fireside chat at the 20th annual Global China Summit. In addition to discussing the e-commerce giant’s investment in GenAI and innovation, he also reflected on building a winning culture, evolving as a leader and how he stays mentally and physically fit.

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T.J.Maxx Introduces Body Cameras To Combat Shoplifting

Retail Wire

Shoppers at T.J.Maxx may now notice security workers equipped with police-style body cameras in select stores.

ATS 130
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Freshippo private label brand to launch in Australia

Inside Retail

Alibaba’s retail label Freshippo has debuted at 99 Ranch Market, the largest Chinese supermarket chain in the US, and Yamibuy, North America’s largest online retailer of Asian goods and groceries. And its next step in a global rollout is Australia, the company has confirmed. The launch marks the first time a Chinese-headquartered supermarket has begun large-scale exports of its own-brand products abroad.

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Five Below Faces Sales Dip but Expands Store Footprint

Retail Wire

Five Below is experiencing a decline in comparable sales as inflation impacts consumer spending habits.

Consumer 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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Boohoo hit with investor lawsuit over modern slavery breaches

Retail Gazette

Boohoo has been hit with an investor lawsuit in the UK after allegations of modern slavery breaches wiped more than £1bn from its share price. A group of institutional investors claim the fast fashion giant failed to disclose serious labour rights violations at its suppliers’ factories and keep its past promises of fair production. A report in The Sunday Times in 2020 revealed multiple alleged incidents of the mistreatment of workers , highlighting that some employees were paid as little as £3.5

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Wawa Plans To Open First Stores in Kentucky

Retail Wire

The convenience chain is planning an expansion of 40 stores in and around the Kentucky.

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Amazon hit with £1bn damages claim from retailers over data misuse

Retail Gazette

Amazon is facing a £1bn damages claim on behalf of retailers selling on its UK marketplace, marking the biggest ever collective action launched by UK retailers. The claim, which will be filed today, alleges that the ecommerce giant illegally misused the retailers’ data and manipulated the ‘Amazon Buy Box’ to benefit its commercial operation and overall revenues and profit.

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Foxtrot To Reopen After Abruptly Closing Stores

Retail Wire

The grocery chain will reopen 15 stores in Chicago, Dallas, and Texas this summer.

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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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N Brown targets ‘sustainable growth’ amid weak sales

Retail Gazette

N Brown said it was targeting sustainable growth after returning to statutory pre-tax profit despite sales falling nearly 10%. The Jacamo and Simply Be owner returned to a pre-tax profit of £5.3m in the 52 weeks to 2 March, up from a loss of £71.1m the year before. It came as group sales fell 9.8% to £600.9m, which it attributed to the “continued challenging market conditions”.

Returns 111
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Monsoon Launches Bridalwear and Occasion Dress Rental Service with MyWardrobe

365 Retail

British retailer Monsoon has launched a new partnership with clothing rental business MyWardrobe , offering customers a capsule collection of bridalwear and occasion dresses for hire. This initiative, Rent Monsoon, is now available on Monsoon’s website, just in time for peak wedding season. The rental service allows fans of the contemporary and expressive brand to access a range of beautiful wedding dresses, including the bestselling feather-trimmed bridal jumpsuit, as well as a limited co

Returns 109
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Morrisons pension strikes suspended after new pay offer

Retail Gazette

Planned strike action at two Morrisons warehouses has been suspended after the supermarket made a new pay offer. Around 1,000 employees at the grocer’s warehouses in Gadbrook in Cheshire and Wakefield in West Yorkshire went on strike from 23 to 26 May in a dispute over pensions and take-home pay. Unite claimed staff were being forced to increase their own pension contributions while Morrisons reduces its by the same amount in a change that would leave workers £500 a year worse off.

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Lidl is on the hunt for three fashion-forward fans to become ‘Merch Muses’ this festival season

Retail Times

Retail Times publishes international & UK retail news covering products, data, tech, packaging, people, research, comment and more besides! Lidl is on the search for three festival fans to attend this summer’s party circuit as official ‘Merch Muses’ – individuals dripping head to toe in the supermarket’s new cult merch collection. Lidl’s merch range has already become an established staple of outlandish festival fashion, worn by only the most iconic partygoers.

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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.