Thu.Jan 18, 2024

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The Power of Play: Using Gamification to Elevate Retail Apps

Retail TouchPoints

Mobile apps have become a critical customer engagement channel for retailers as they try to create and capture more value for, and from, their customers. It’s no surprise that industry research and earnings reports consistently reveal customers with a brand’s app are three to four times more valuable than customers without the app. And the majority of retailers (74%) agree that investing in mobile apps is key to driving profitability.

Consumer 317
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Back-to-school spending tipped to hit $2.5 billion

Inside Retail

Australia’s Back to School (BTS) purchases are set to generate $2.5 billion in sales as students gear up to return to their classrooms. According to research by the Australian Retailers Association (ARA) and Roy Morgan, about 5 million Australians (24 per cent) will spend an average of $512 on BTS products. Of those polled, 44 per cent of Australians purchasing BTS indicated they would spend more than last year, 22 per cent said they would spend the same, and 34 per cent said they would spend le

Returns 287
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The Reality of AI in Retail: Executives Break Down Opportunities, Challenges at NRF

Retail TouchPoints

The rumor that every NRF speaker was contractually obligated to mention artificial intelligence (AI) at least once per presentation is definitely untrue, but you’d be forgiven for thinking that was the case because AI worked its way into almost every conversation and presentation at the 2024 NRF Big Show. The ubiquitousness of the topic alone says something, and the themes and commentary that arose throughout the show say even more.

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Richemont’s third-quarter sales soar with China the standout market 

Inside Retail

Luxury fashion group Richemont has reported sales growth of 8 per cent to US$6 billion for its third quarter ended December 31, on the back of China’s retail recovery. Sales for the nine months ended December 31 surged 11 per cent, primarily driven by Japan, Asia Pacific and the Americas. Performance in Asia Pacific – where sales jumped 13 per cent – was fuelled by the 25 per cent sales growth of the Mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau businesses, more than offsetting softer performance in othe

Marketing 285
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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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Kroger, Albertsons Delay Merger Timeline to August as They Negotiate with Regulators

Retail TouchPoints

The planned $24.6 billion merger of supermarket giants Kroger and Albertsons has faced pushback from federal regulators, state Attorneys General and labor unions practically from the moment it was first announced in October 2022. Now the companies, while noting that they “remain in active and ongoing dialogue with the Federal Trade Commission and individual state Attorneys General,” have stretched out the timeline for the deal’s finalization.

Grocer 264
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How UPF clothing brand Solbari aims to beat skin cancer with $10m injection

Inside Retail

Two in three Australians will be diagnosed with skin cancer by the age of 70. It was this statistic that prompted Johanna Young to found Solbari, a brand of UPF50+ sun protective clothing, hats and accessories that has just received a $10 million minority share investment. It’s all in the name. Solbari is short for solar barrier, and creating a wearable, fashionable, effective and comfortable one is precisely Young’s vision.

Apparel 264

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Goodbyes’ roadmap for national expansion and a store in every city

Inside Retail

Goodbyes is Australia’s largest bricks-and-mortar resale service and secondhand shopping experience. Its hybrid consignment model and curated in-store shopping experience have made it a go-to destination for economic and environmental shoppers who still want to be fashion-forward. Inside Retail spoke to Olivia Magnan, Goodbyes co-founder, about the year that was and the year ahead.

Fashion 244
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Digital Brands Groups Moves into Physical Retail with Plans for 50 Stores

Retail TouchPoints

Digital Brands Group (DBG) — the parent company of a collection of digital-first lifestyle brands including Bailey 44 , Harper & Jones and Sundry — will open its first physical store in March 2024 and plans to have 50 locations within the next several years. For DBG, which already has ecommerce and wholesale distribution for all of its brands, stores represent the missing piece of the puzzle.

Planning 263
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Sheryl Sandberg Leaves Meta To Focus on Philanthropy

Retail Wire

In a recent development at Meta, previously known as Facebook, Sheryl Sandberg disclosed her intentions to step away from the board.

ATS 264
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Last Call for Drizly: Uber to Shut Down Alcohol Delivery App, Focus on Uber Eats

Retail TouchPoints

It’s closing time for alcohol delivery app Drizly : Uber , which acquired the company three years ago for $1.1 billion , has announced that it will shutter the service in March 2024, multiple sources report. Uber had planned to integrate Drizly into the Uber Eats app while continuing to maintain a separate Drizly app, but those integrations may have hit a roadblock due to the inherent differences in the way the two businesses operated, according to Axios.

Planning 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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ALDI Eliminates Plastic Bags in US Stores

Retail Wire

The supermarket chain is the first major U.S. retailer to eliminate plastic grocery bags.

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Rituals open first store in Gretna’s Caledonia Park

Retail Focus

Beauty & wellbeing brand Rituals will be joining an array of companies opening a new store in the Caledonia Park Designer Outlet on Thursday, 18th January. To celebrate, Rituals will be hosting a launch event taking place on Saturday 20th January, 2024 for their consumers. “Rituals is another fantastic addition to Caledonia Park. Marking its debut outlet store within Scotland, it continues to drive our vision forward of delivering a quality destination that hosts a variety of fashion, beauty

Outdoor 147
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Samsung Releases New Smart Phone Galaxy S24 Series

Retail Wire

Samsung Electronics has unleashed the innovative Galaxy S24 Ultra, Galaxy S24+, and Galaxy S24.

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It’s time for businesses to change the way they think about failure

Inside Retail

Like many entrepreneurs, Pepe Villatoro didn’t like to talk about his failures – at least, not without mentioning the successes that came after. But one night in Mexico City, fuelled by a few drinks, he and a group of friends decided to share their worst business failures , and Villatoro experienced a powerful sense of freedom. He realised that Silicon Valley’s “fail fast” mentality had popularised the idea of failure as a learning opportunity but not addressed the enduring stigma attached to i

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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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Philadelphia High School Seniors Pitch Products Shark Tank-Style for Funding

Retail Wire

There's a unique opportunity starting up at the Science Leadership Academy in Philadelphia. It's giving its high school seniors an unusual platform to showcase their innovation and win funding for their creative projects. This exciting initiative is like a mini version of the popular TV show, 'Shark Tank'.

ATS 130
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“Solid note”: US retail sales soar in December amid strong festive period

Inside Retail

Retail sales in the US soared 0.6 per cent month-over-month in December, following a 0.3 per cent increase in November, according to the Commerce Department’s Census Bureau. December’s growth was the biggest in three months, beating previous forecasts of a 0.4 per cent increase. On a year-on-year basis, US retail sales were up 5.6 per cent in December.

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SHEIN Is Under Security Review by China

Retail Wire

SHEIN, the fast-fashion giant recognized for its affordable online shopping, is undergoing a security review by China's internet regulator.

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Nat Habit’s clean beauty revolution: from D2C success to offline expansion

Inside Retail

In India’s fast-paced beauty and personal care market, where trends evolve, and consumer needs emerge, Nat Habit stands out as a beacon of authenticity and commitment to natural wellness. A pioneer in the direct-to-consumer (D2C) space, Nat Habit, led by founder Swagatika Das, has carved out a niche for itself by championing 100 per cent natural beauty products.

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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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Wickes offers 4-day week to store managers in flexible working drive

Retail Gazette

Wickes has become the latest retailer to offer staff a four-day work week as part of its new flexible working policy for store management. The home improvement retailer said managers now have the option of working four longer days in-store or flexing their hours across the week to better suit their lifestyles. The new policy has been rolled out across 230 stores nationwide and follows a successful six-month trial with flexible working consultancy Timewise in 14 of its stores.

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Macy’s to cut 3.5% of its workforce, close 5 mall anchors

Retail Dive

The moves come as Tony Spring prepares to take the reins from CEO Jeff Gennette, who said a year ago that store closures were mostly complete.

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Frasers Group tops up Asos and Boohoo stake

Retail Gazette

Frasers Group topped up its stake in Asos and Boohoo once again this week as it continues to move in on the online retailers. Mike Ashley’s retail group, which is now the largest shareholder in Boohoo, raised its shares in the fast fashion retailer from 17% to 22%. Frasers also increased its holding in Asos for the third time this month to 25.9%, becoming the etailer’s second-largest shareholder.

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Here’s the Secret to Customer Engagement – The OneShop Magic

Retail Smart Guys

I’ve been in the world of retail for many years now, and I’m very happy to have stumbled upon a game-changer that has revolutionized the way retailers connect with customers and drive sales. Let me share the secret with you – OneShop. It’s not just any tool; it’s the retail wizard every store dreams of having and it’s become an integral part of my store’s success.

Returns 98
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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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Sainsbury’s commercial director joins The White Company as CEO

Retail Gazette

Sainsbury’s has unveiled a host of changes to its operating board, including the departure of general merchandise commercial director Paula Nickolds. The supermarket said that Nickolds has made the decision to leave the business to take over the role of CEO of The White Company , starting at the end of March. “Over the past three years, Paula has led much progress across our Brands that Deliver Strategy,” said Sainsbury’s.

Grocer 116
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Crate and Barrel launches gift registry program across brands

Retail Dive

The company made the entirety of its product assortment available to customers creating registries alongside other perks to its gifting offerings.

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Primark debuts first adaptive clothing range for disabled people

Retail Gazette

Primark has launched its first adaptive product range as it aims to make clothing for disabled people more accessible and affordable. The adaptive lingerie collection features four items with magnetic closures – a seam-free bra, lace bralette, brief and period pants brief – ranging from £8 to £10. Available in sizes 2XS to 2XL, the range has been co-designed with technical specialists and informed by the experiences and views of disabled people, according to Primark.

Fashion 111
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Allbirds looks to sports veterans for chief marketing, design roles

Retail Dive

Kelly Olmstead, who joined the brand last year, has been promoted to chief marketer, while Adrian Nyman takes on the new design position.

Marketing 115
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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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7 must-visit flagship stores opening in 2024

Retail Gazette

With footfall improving across 2023 , many retailers are showing their faith in bricks-and-mortar by investing in new flagship stores. Retail Gazette rounds up some of biggest new store openings to look forward to in 2024. Ikea, Oxford Street Ikea is set to unveil its highly anticipated Oxford Street flagship this autumn , which was original expected to open last year.

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Yeti leans into post-purchase communication to engage customers

Retail Dive

“You need excellence all the way from the homepage through a package arriving at their doorstep,” said Yeti’s director of software engineering.

ATS 101
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Poundland owner warns Red Sea disruption could hit supply

Retail Gazette

Poundland owner Pepco Group warned that the ongoing disruption in the Red Sea could lead to supply issues in the coming months. Pepco flagged that the Red Sea situation is leading to “elevated spot freight rates and delays to container lead times” It explained that most of its freight costs are contracted until the end of June, but that it is facing “additional surcharges from carriers in relation to the longer shipping routes being taken” The retailer said while it had s

Returns 105
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Cisco and Schneider Electric Are Creating Smarter, More Efficient Buildings

Cisco Retail

Whether your organization owns commercial property, leases it, or manages it, you’re likely to be grappling with industry trends and challenges that call on your best efforts—and the innovative app… Read more on Cisco Blogs

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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.