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In the early 2010s, technology forecasters and business analysts painted a compelling picture of the future of customer service: chatbots would dramatically cut labor costs and transform how consumers interacted with brands. Fast forward to today, and the reality has yet to live up to the hype. While chatbots have found their place in the customer service ecosystem, they havent achieved the dominance and ubiquity that many predicted.
Temu has been ranked the fastest-growing website in Australia after recording a 72 per cent increase in unique visitors last year. The Chinese online marketplace took the top spot in Similarweb’s 2025 Digital 100 Australia report which measures the top 250 websites across various categories. Property.com.au and chatgpt.com were in second and third places, respectively.
Following a raft of stores closures in 2024, retail advisory firm Coresight Research predicts that closures will escalate further this year, to approximately 15,000. Store openings are expected to remain steady at approximately 5,800 (compared to 5,970 in 2024), but that would still represent a net loss of more than 9,000 stores. Supporting these expectations is the fact that more than 2,000 planned closures already are underway this year.
The Mercers Company has announced that Bloom Perfumery, the famous Londonperfumery, has relocated within Covent Garden. Opening a larger location within The Yards , and accommodating the brands significant growth and popularity, Bloom Perfumerys new flagship store is triple the size of its previous site. Bloom Perfumery selected The Yards 2,900 sq ft 4 Slingsby Place site, relocating from Langley Court, to accommodate the influx of visitors the store receives, as well as the brands growing colle
AI is rapidly transforming digital commerce, but how do you separate real opportunities from hype? Moderated by Orium, AI for Commerce: Foundations, Aspirations, and Hype , experts from Bloomreach , commercetools , Contentstack , and Fluent Commerce explores where AI is already delivering results and where its potential is still unfolding. This masterclass dives into proven AI applications, emerging innovations , and the gaps between promise and reality in commerce.
Geekplus robots are now in use at all three of Happy Returns’ Hubs. (Image courtesy Happy Returns) Inside a large warehouse in Pennsylvania, dozens of black robots dart and swirl across a polished concrete floor. They resemble Roombas with a skinny highboy table on top. Geekplus, the company that makes them, calls them dancing robots, and for good reason they really do look like dancers in the midst of an intricate performance.
New Zealand entrepreneur Emma Lewisham is setting out to change the course of the beauty industry with her eponymous brand. After forging a successful corporate career as a strategy and marketing executive for Japanese tech company Brother International, Lewisham was inspired to reflect on the potentially harmful ingredients in the skincare she was using after a series of personal events.
Regional grocery chain Wegmans has partnered with Uber Eats to offer on-demand delivery from stores in Massachusetts, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, New Jersey and Washington, D.C. this month, with plans to add locations in New York, Pennsylvania and Delaware in February. Wegmans already works with DoorDash and recently expanded that partnership to additional supermarkets in the chain.
Regional grocery chain Wegmans has partnered with Uber Eats to offer on-demand delivery from stores in Massachusetts, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, New Jersey and Washington, D.C. this month, with plans to add locations in New York, Pennsylvania and Delaware in February. Wegmans already works with DoorDash and recently expanded that partnership to additional supermarkets in the chain.
Indian retail conglomerate Reliance Industries Limited has signed a franchise agreement with American luxury department store Saks Fifth Avenue to expand its luxury retail portfolio through its subsidiary Reliance Retail, the company said in its third-quarter financial report last week. Specific details regarding the inaugural Saks Fifth Avenue store’s launch timeline and location in India have not yet been announced.
Grocery Outlet Holding Corp. , which operates more than 520 stores under various banners, and the 166- store supermarket retailer The Fresh Market have each named new leaders. Jason Potter, a 30 -year grocery retail veteran, will take on the President and CEO roles at Grocery Outlet as of Feb. 3, 2025. Current Fresh Market COO Brian Johnson will become that retailers President and CEO, also on Feb. 3.
Schuh has started a voluntary redundancy process with its staff as it looks to trim costs across the footwear chain. The retailers president Colin Temple told The Scotsman that due to ongoing challenging economic conditions and rising costs, we have made the difficult decision to restructure our business. We are going through a voluntary redundancy process in some areas of business,” he said.
Skechers has reimagined its store at Canadas West Edmonton Mall as its first Performance location, featuring an immersive experience that includes an expanded sales floor, half-size pickleball and basketball courts and a range of technology showcases. Image courtesy Skechers Designed as an experiential playground where customers can try out Skechers sports-focused footwear technology, the 7,500-square-foot store offers a gallery of the brands innovations for players at every skill level.
This webinar will explore how companies can proactively address compliance risks–rather than reactively responding to–UFLPA enforcement actions. Ethan Woolley will provide insights into the latest CBP enforcement trends, entity list updates, and industries under increased scrutiny, with a look at potential shifts under the Trump administration. Ethan will also explore how predictive data and strategic due diligence can help organizations stay ahead of regulatory challenges and strengthen complia
Today, Victoria Centre has announced that a remarkable 13,347 was raised for Nottinghamshire Hospice, its charity of choice in 2024.To achieve this incredible figure, the centre hosted fundraising initiatives and activities throughout the year. This included charitable collection spaces at the Centre, donations from the iconic Emett Clock, staff-led initiatives such as Christmas Jumper Day and an in-house tuck shop.
REI has named Mary Beth Laughton, a former REI board director with experience at Sephora, Athleta and Nike on her resume, to serve as President beginning on Feb. 3, 2025, and then taking on full CEO responsibilities on March 31, 2025. Laughton will replace Eric Artz, who will be retiring in March. Artz, who had previously been the outdoor retailers COO, took over the CEO role in February 2019 when the previous CEO, Jerry Stritzke, resigned after an investigation into a personal consensual relati
Sainsburys is to cut 3,000 jobs as part of a drive to simplify its business and address rising costs, including a 140m leap in employer national insurance contributions from April. The supermarket will close its remaining cafs, hot food counters, patisserie, and pizza counters, and reduce senior management roles by an estimated 20%, Reuters reported.
Despite shareholders unequivocal approval of Myers deal with Premier Retails Apparel Brands last week, many retail experts remain sceptical of the logic of combining the two businesses. From a practical standpoint, even from a marketing standpoint, I can’t see a logic behind the rationale for a department store with, essentially, 50 stores or 60 stores across Australia to buy another 600 or 700 smaller stores, Gary Mortimer, a Professor of Retail Marketing and Consumer Behaviour at the QUT
Speaker: Benjamin Woll, Tiffany Spizzo, and Jaime Santos Alcón
Enterprise commerce is evolving fast, and brands relying on rigid, one-size-fits-all solutions risk losing agility. But modernization doesn’t have to mean disruption. In this webinar, we’ll explore how an extensible, modular approach empowers brands to integrate new capabilities, enhance performance, and scale efficiently—all while leveraging Shopify’s strengths.
Rituals is set to double down on its growth plans after topping 2bn (1.77bn) in sales for the first time in its 25-year history. The Amsterdam-based beauty and wellness brand reported a 21% increase in sales for the 2024 financial year, reaching 2.1bn (1.77bn), up 23.5% from 1.7bn (1.4bn) in 2023. The growth is largely driven by strong sales in Europe and a growing presence in Asia.
Living, Giving, Working, and Dining in style: Ambiente 2025 is set to be a trade fair showcasing leading brands. With its four segments, it encompasses all facets of modern lifestyles and workstyles. Visitors can expect a “Whos Who” of international brands catering to all aspects of life. In 2025, many renowned brands will once again return to the Frankfurt trade fair.
The Range owner CDS Superstores has relaunched Homebase’s website following its acquisition of the brand out of administration last year. The retailer said the redesigned site provides “an upgraded online shopping experience for all household and garden requirements” Homebase.co.uk features an enhanced browsing experience, improved functionality and online offers and special promotions, all backed by the DIY chain’s trusted customer service.
Charles Tyrwhitt is proud to announce the opening of its first store in Norwich today, expanding its presence across the country. This exciting new addition to the brands portfolio brings its timeless British menswear and impeccable craftsmanship to one of the UKs most historic and dynamic cities. Located on Castle Street, the Norwich store sets the stage for the brand’s renowned shopping experience, showcasing a curated collection of Charles Tyrwhitts iconic products, including their sign
Outdated platforms are costing you sales. Legacy platforms like Salesforce SiteGenesis and SFRA can slow innovation, increase maintenance costs, and frustrate customers. This playbook provides a strategic roadmap to modernizing your Salesforce B2C Commerce platform using a composable approach to transition to faster, scalable, and flexible e-commerce solutions —without disrupting your business.
iStock/solarseven The fifth annual Trade in Transition 2025 study surveyed over 3,500 supply chain executives across the world. The findings reveal firms are being forced to adapt at speed to rising protectionism and shifting geopolitical alliances. Research unveiled by Economist Impact and DP World at the World Economic Forum highlights this strategic pivot, driven by geopolitical uncertainty which is likely to grow with the America first policies of the new administration in the United States.
Bloom Perfumery , the renowned London-based perfumery, has relocated to a larger flagship store in The Yards , Covent Garden. The move marks a significant milestone for the brand, which has grown substantially in popularity, requiring a new space three times the size of its previous location on Langley Court. The new store, located at 4 Slingsby Place, spans 2,900 sq ft and is designed to accommodate Bloom Perfumerys impressive collection of over 60 fragrance brands and more than 1,000 perfumes.
In today's digital world, your online reputation can make or break your business. Protecting it requires proactive strategies, from monitoring customer reviews and social media mentions to responding professionally and showcasing positive feedback. This guide will help you establish a strong online presence, address negative comments effectively, and leverage SEO to highlight your best qualities.
Kitchen remodelling projects are one of the cornerstones of the renovation and home improvement industries, as this area is more likely to see wear and tear than any other part of your house. Cooking, preparing, and serving meals are essential parts of daily life, but they also create a lot of mess. The use of cleaning products paired with the steam, the oils, the ingredients that can get spilled and the cookware that is sometimes dropped create irreversible damage in time.
Retail Times publishes international & UK retail news covering products, data, tech, packaging, people, research, comment and more besides! Following todays release of Primarks figures for the 16 weeks ending 4 January 2025; Alice Price, apparel analyst at GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company, offers her view: Primark has got off to a disappointing start in FY2024/25, with total revenue rising just 0.4% to 3.4bn in the 16 weeks ending 4 January 2025, […] If you want more in
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is vital in protecting people on construction sites. It is tailored to particular job functions so that each worker is provided with the ability to address different risks. Wholesale PPE suppliers can offer a wide variety of protective gear to fulfill these demands, allowing employers to uphold safety standards while high specific operational requirements can be met.
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.
As any long-term business owner will tell you, keeping an existing customer is a whole lot cheaper than finding a new one. As a retail business owner, your goal should always be to ensure that your current customers are happy. You want them to keep returning. Businesses only survive when they have returning customers. On this page, we want to share a few tips that should help you to gain returning customers.
Australian reusable drinkware brand, Made by Fressko, has spent the last decade building a sustainable empire and after a landmark season of sales in 2024, its co-founders are ready to take the brand to new heights. Sean Atme and Lucas Ciancarelli have not only maintained their friendship from early childhood but scaled Fressko, the business they launched in 2014, globally.
Creating a long-term SEO strategy is essential for businesses that want to improve their online visibility and drive sustainable growth. While quick fixes and one-off campaigns can yield short-term results, a well-planned, long-term strategy ensures your business stays ahead in the digital space. Many businesses in Liverpool are turning to professional SEO agencies to help develop and execute these strategies.
Creating a solid web presence is crucial for small business success in today's digital world. This blog covers five essential tips to help you build and strengthen your online presence. Learn how to create a professional website, optimize it for search engines, and leverage social media to engage with your audience. We'll also guide you on the importance of local listings and how to maintain a consistent brand across all platforms.
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