Thu.Mar 20, 2025

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The Ethical Dilemma of AI’s Deceptive Behaviors

Retail TouchPoints

Todays rapidly evolving AI systems are like no software that has ever come before them. They are designed to learn, adapt and work toward set goals. These groundbreaking systems present us with vast opportunities but also challenge us with a troubling concern: AIs potential to engage in deceptive behaviors. The Dark Side of AI: We Cant Ignore Deceptive Behaviors My experience with AI systems exhibiting deceptive behavior is limited to theoretical cases and industry reports.

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Smiggle loses its giggle, dragging down Premier’s profit

Inside Retail

Premier Investments has posted a decline in sales for the fiscal first half, with the results dragged down by a double-digit drop at Smiggle. The companys retail division recorded sales of $455 million for the six months ended January 25, representing a 1.8 per cent decrease. Premier Retails continuing operations include Peter Alexander and Smiggle after the company sold its Just Jeans, Jay Jays, Portmans, Dotti, and Jacqui E labels to Myer.

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Why Stitch Fix is Focusing on its Human Stylists When Everyone Else is Talking About AI

Retail TouchPoints

These days it seems everyone is an AI company whether the goal is boosting SEO or sales or just general prestige, any company that is able to has tacked AI somewhere onto their name or tagline. Stitch Fix , however, has resisted that urge, despite having been an AI-centered company from its inception 14 years ago. In fact, while others look for ways to work AI into every sentence, Stitch Fix has decided to shine the spotlight on something else its human stylists.

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Kogan CTO shares seven experimental use cases for generative AI in retail

Inside Retail

Speaking at an industry event in Melbourne this week, Kogan CTO Goran Stefkovski described the launch of ChatGPT as the most significant technological event since the arrival of the first iPhone in 2007. They got 100 million users in just two months. It’s way bigger than that now. But everyone’s talking about it, Stefkovski said at the Retail and Consumer Goods Gen AI Summit, hosted by the National Online Retail Association (NORA).

Consumer 147
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5 Tips for a Winning Category Management Strategy in 2025

Category Management is a cornerstone of a successful retail strategy. While it promotes collaboration between manufacturers and retailers to optimize category performance, challenges persist in its effective implementation due to hurdles in communication and collaboration across teams and partners, and more. In this guide, we outline five essential strategies for success in 2025 that will touch on all the essential pieces of a successful strategy and implementation.

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Ollie’s Buys 40 Big Lots Locations, Supporting Plans for 75 New Stores in 2025

Retail TouchPoints

Ollies Bargain Outlet has acquired 40 former Big Lots stores, jumpstarting its plans to open 75 new stores by February 2026. Other low-price retailers have been buying stores from the now-bankrupt Big Lots; in December 2024 Variety Wholesalers announced plans to purchase 200 to 400 Big Lots stores in the wake of the retailers September 2024 voluntary Chapter 11 filing.

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ACCC urges 20 reforms to fix supermarket competition but says ‘no silver bullet’

Inside Retail

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has published its final report following a year-long inquiry into the countrys supermarket sector. The report includes 20 recommendations to increase competition and price transparency for consumers and suppliers. The ACCC found that Aldi, Coles and Woolworths have increased their average product margins over the last five financial years, particularly for branded goods in household and packaged food categories, and that they are among th

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Marketplaces, food dominate as Aussies spend a record $69 billion online

Inside Retail

Australia Post’s 2025 Annual eCommerce Report reveals that Australians spent a record $69 billion buying goods online goods last year up 12 per cent from the year before. The report says 9.8 million Australian households shopped online last year, with the highest expenditure on online marketplaces (almost $16 billion), food and liquor ($13.6 billion), and fashion and apparel ($9.6 billion).

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Food City Parent Company Boosts Merchant-Supplier Collaboration with Customer Insights

Retail TouchPoints

K-VA-T Food Stores , the parent company of Food City , has implemented SymphonyAI s CINDE Connected Retail platform to deepen its customer insights across all key business functions, including supply chain, merchandising, shelf planning, assortment and promotion optimization. The company operates 158 retail outlets throughout Kentucky, Virginia, Tennessee, Georgia and Alabama.

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GMG’s senior HR director on strengthening the company’s retail workforce

Inside Retail

In an industry where people are the backbone of success, effective HR strategies play a pivotal role in shaping workforce engagement, productivity, and long-term retention. Parin Girish Rachh, senior director of HR at Dubai-based retail giant GMG, spoke with Inside Retail to share insights into the companys HR transformation, the evolving needs of the retail workforce and how the company is fostering a culture of inclusivity, career growth, and innovation.

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Best Time Frames for Crypto Trading

Retail Focus

Introduction Crypto trading is an ever-evolving market, requiring traders to make informed decisions based on price movements, market trends, and trading strategies. One of the most crucial aspects of crypto trading is selecting the appropriate time frame. The choice of time frame significantly impacts a traders strategy, risk management, and potential profitability.

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What Your Financial Statements Are Telling You—And How to Listen!

Speaker: David Worrell, CFO, Author & Speaker

Your financial statements hold powerful insights—but are you truly paying attention? Many finance professionals focus on the income statement while overlooking key signals hidden in the balance sheet and cash flow statement. Understanding these numbers can unlock smarter decision-making, uncover risks, and drive long-term success. Join David Worrell, accomplished CFO, finance expert, and author, for an engaging, nontraditional take on reading financial statements.

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Edible Leans into its Name with Launch of Marketplace for Hemp-Based Products

Retail TouchPoints

Edible Arrangements , know for its colorful fruit bouquets, rebranded as Edible Brands in late 2023. Now the company is leaning into potential confusion around its name with the debut of an ecommerce marketplace focused on hemp-based products Edibles.com. The site launched in Texas on March 20, and Edible Brands plans to quickly expand it to other markets where hemp products are legal across the Southeastern U.S., including Florida and Georgia.

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Short-Term Loans with Low APR: Where to Find the Best Deals

Retail Focus

In todays financial landscape, many find themselves in need of quick cash to bridge a temporary gap. Short-term loans have emerged as a popular solution for those urgent financial needs. However, one of the critical factors to consider when taking out such loans is the Annual Percentage Rate (APR). It is crucial to seek out short-term loans with low APR to ensure that you are not burdened by excessive interest payments.

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The Body Shop: Suppliers to be given no more than a quarter of debts owed

Retail Gazette

The Body Shop’s suppliers are due to receive no more than around a quarter of the 219m owed to them when the chain collapsed into administration. The cosmetics chain was rescued from administration last September by a consortium led by Aurea Group co-founder Mike Jatania. In its latest progress update, administrators at FRP said Aurea Group paid at least 44.3m for the brand, The Guardian reported.

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The Digital Checkout: How Tech is Revolutionising Online Transactions

Retail Focus

Over the past decade, the payments environment has experienced significant upheaval, driven by swift technical improvements. Innovations such as contactless cards, mobile wallets, blockchain, and real-time payments are transforming transaction methods for consumers and companies. The previously sluggish and frequently expensive procedure has become more rapid, safe, and readily available.

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State of AI in Sales & Marketing 2025

AI adoption is reshaping sales and marketing. But is it delivering real results? We surveyed 1,000+ GTM professionals to find out. The data is clear: AI users report 47% higher productivity and an average of 12 hours saved per week. But leaders say mainstream AI tools still fall short on accuracy and business impact. Download the full report today to see how AI is being used — and where go-to-market professionals think there are gaps and opportunities.

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How Do You Manage Multiple Retail Stores?

RETAIL MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE

If you’re a retail business owner managing multiple retail stores, keeping your eye on the prize might be challenging. Understanding how your shops perform in terms of inventory and ROI is essential to the success of any multi-store operation. What if we told you that you could successfully manage all of your stores’ inventory and ROI with one intuitive inventory management system?

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Kohl’s Has Stopped Accepting Amazon Returns at Some Stores

Retail Wire

Some Kohl's stores will no longer take Amazon returns.

Returns 281
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Retail Risk Management And Business Protection From Emerging Threats

Retail Minded

Retailers today face an evolving landscape of risks, from organized retail crime to digital fraud. In 2023 alone, retailers lost an average of $3 million each to fraudulent activity. Thus, it highlights the urgent need for strong risk management strategies. To safeguard profits, protect customers, and maintain operational stability, retailers must proactively address these challenges with modern solutions.

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Ollie’s Bargain Outlet Is Opening Even More Stores in 2025

Retail Wire

After a strong Q4 2024 earnings report, Ollie's is on track to open 75 more stores this year.

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SEO vs. PPC: Which Strategy Is Best for Your Business?

When it comes to driving traffic and growing your online presence, businesses often ask: SEO or PPC—what’s the better choice? This guide breaks down the key differences between search engine optimization (SEO) and pay-per-click (PPC) advertising, highlighting their pros, cons, and best use cases. Whether you’re looking for long-term organic growth or immediate visibility through paid ads, we’ll help you determine which strategy—or combination of both—is right for your business.

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The Gail Adinamis wegg® Award for Exemplary Global Leadership® Ceremony 3/24/25

LS Retail

Women Entrepreneurs Grow Global. All rights reserved. Please JOIN Women Entrepreneurs Grow Global on Monday, March 24th at 10 AM CT as they honor the next recipient of the prestigious Gail Adinamis wegg Award for Exemplary Global Leadership 2025. To learn more and to register (complimentary), visit: [link] See you there!

ATS 111
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Dollar General To Accept SNAP/EBT Benefits Through Partnership With DoorDash

Retail Wire

DoorDash has partnered with more than 16,000 Dollar General stores on the DoorDash Marketplace to accept SNAP/EBT payments.

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Footasylum profits surge to ‘record’ highs, powered by new store openings

Retail Gazette

Footasylum has reported another year of record sales and profits for the financial year ending 25 January 2025, driven by significant growth across both wholesale and retail channels. The footwear and sportswear retailer posted a 9.4% increase in total revenue, reaching 349.5m, compared to 319.5m in FY24. Operating profit surged 123% to 23.3m, up from 10.4m last year.

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Five Below Will Open 50 New Stores This Month and 100 More by Year-End

Retail Wire

Five Below will have 150 new stores by the end of 2025.

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The GTM Intelligence Era: ZoomInfo 2025 Customer Impact Report

ZoomInfo customers aren’t just selling — they’re winning. Revenue teams using our Go-To-Market Intelligence platform grew pipeline by 32%, increased deal sizes by 40%, and booked 55% more meetings. Download this report to see what 11,000+ customers say about our Go-To-Market Intelligence platform and how it impacts their bottom line. The data speaks for itself!

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In The Style rescued from administration

Retail Gazette

UK-based fast fashion retailer In The Style is understood to have been bought out of administration. Accounting firm FTS Recovery was taken on as administrator of the struggling fashion brand on 10 March. Despite no official release from its administrators, FTS Recovery owner, director and head of recovery Marco Piacquadio posted on LinkedIn yesterday that they had “saved” more than three hundred jobs at the retailer.

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Kickstarter Fulfillment Guide: From Crowdfunding to Retail Success

Retail Bound

Funding on Kickstarter is a huge milestone. But Kickstarter fulfillment is where many projects run into trouble. It doesnt have to be that way, though. If you approach your campaign with a well-planned fulfillment strategy, it will be much easier to keep backers happy, ward off unexpected costs, and set the stage for long-term success. Success that goes far beyond Kickstarter.

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Cadogan announces first lettings for The Gaumont’s new ‘creative quarter’ on Chelsea’s iconic King’s Road

A1 Retail

Cadogan announces the first retail tenants atThe Gaumont, a landmark 235 million development, and the creation of its creative quarter. The new retail signings are independent businessesNew Forms,BookBarandArt Play, bringing an exciting blend of art, music, and literature to the Kings Road, enhancing the areas cultural vibrancy and continued legacy as a hub for creative innovation.

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Data: Quarter of a million retail jobs lost in five years

Retail Gazette

The UK retail sector has shed nearly a quarter of a million jobs over the past five years, with the latest data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) revealing a significant decline in employment. As of December 2024, there were 2.88 million retail jobs in the UK, traditionally the highest point of the year due to seasonal increases during the Christmas period.

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Create SEO-Friendly Content to Boost Traffic & Engagement

Creating SEO-friendly content is key to improving your website’s visibility and attracting more visitors. This guide walks you through best practices for writing optimized content, including keyword placement, proper formatting, and engaging writing techniques. Whether you’re crafting blog posts, landing pages, or product descriptions, these proven SEO strategies will help your content rank higher and keep readers engaged.

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The Cotswold Company builds on record January trading with the launch of its 13th showroom

A1 Retail

Above: Illustration of the new Knutsford showroom. The Cotswold Company is pleased to announce that it will be launching its 13 th UK showroom in Knutsford in early Summer, creating at least six new jobs. Founded in 1996 in the heart of the Cotswolds, The Cotswold Company sells thoughtfully designed, carefully crafted premium furniture and accessories through a digital-led omni-channel model.

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Meadowhall Secures Major Retail Expansions With JD, Superdrug, and Ann Summers

365 Retail

Meadowhall has announced three major retail expansions, with JD, Superdrug, and Ann Summers committing to a total of 42,278 sq ft of retail space. The move follows a series of investments from leading brands at the shopping centre over the past year. JD expands to create one of its largest UK stores JD is nearly tripling its footprint on Meadowhalls Lower Level High Street, securing five adjacent units to develop a 29,225 sq ft flagship store.

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Wray & Nephew launches Wray’s 43, a new limited-edition white Jamaican Rum

Retail Times

Retail Times publishes international & UK retail news covering products, data, tech, packaging, people, research, comment and more besides! As part of Jamaican culture for nearly 200 years,J. Wray & Nephewtoday unveilsWrays 43, a limited-release white rum crafted for full-flavour, easy-to-mix drinks. Bottled at 43% ABV, Wrays 43 is a unique blend of unaged Jamaica white rum with notes of rich fruits, charred pineapple, and molasses.

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Debenhams launches DebenhamsPay+ to transform the way customers shop

A1 Retail

Debenhams has unveiled DebenhamsPay+, a new credit payment option designed to give customers complete control over how they shop and pay. DebenhamsPay+ delivers ultimate flexibility, making every purchase more convenient. Customers can choose to: Split It Available on orders of 15 or more, customers can pay in monthly, interest-free instalments. Flex It Like a credit card, Flex It provides the freedom to pay over a longer period, at representative 29.9 percent APR variable.

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AI for Commerce: Foundations, Aspirations, and Hype

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.