May, 2024

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Shopify’s Double-Edged Sword: Tackling Accounting Complexities with Automation

Retail TouchPoints

In an era when ecommerce is reshaping retail, platforms like Shopify have emerged as indispensable allies for businesses large and small. Shopify, originally a beacon for small and medium-sized enterprises, is now expanding its reach to larger corporations. However, this expansion brings to light a critical issue for CFOs and finance teams: the intricate and often underestimated task of recognizing and booking revenue in the ecommerce domain.

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Miniso Australia business collapses – again

Inside Retail

Miniso ‘s business in Australia collapsed into administration for the second time, with the Chinese variety retailer appointing Melissa Lau, Andrew Spring and Peter Moore from insolvency firm Jirsch Sutherland as administrators earlier this month. This is the second time the local master franchisee of the Chinese discount variety products retailer has entered administration, having previously undergone a restructuring in 2020.

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BMW, Jaguar Land Rover, and Volkswagen Used Banned Chinese Parts

Retail Wire

BMW, Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), and Volkswagen (VW) have been found to have utilized components from a banned Chinese firm, implicating potential ties to forced labor practices.

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Asda unveils £50m upgrade programme for larger stores

Retail Gazette

Asda is launching a £50m store upgrade programme designed to improve the shopping experience for customers in its larger supermarkets and superstores. The grocer’s programme, which starts at its Long Eaton store in Nottingham before running across 170 stores in total, is expected to complete by the end of November. Asda said 50 of its larger stores “will receive major upgrades”, including the introduction of new in-store services and features.

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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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Queensland retailers face strict new laws on display, sale of knives

Inside Retail

A new set of laws taking effect in Queensland this September will bring about several restrictions on the sale of knives and similar products. As the laws prohibit the sale of knives to minors under 18 years, retailers will have to perform age checks, provide instructions to their staff, display in-store signage, and restrict advertising of such products.

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Retail Experience: Insights into the Future of Shopping

Tokinomo

Empower Your Employees with Data-Driven Decision Making: Delivering an exceptional retail experience is paramount. It's not just about offering great products; it's about crafting an environment where customers feel valued and engaged. From personalized service to strategic inventory management, every aspect of the retail experience plays a crucial role in attracting and retaining customers.

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More Trending

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How Amazon, Poshmark and Rolling Stone Use Livestreaming to Break out from the Ecommerce Grid

Retail TouchPoints

Today’s consumers, especially Gen Z ( 73% ) and millennials ( 62% ), prefer to buy from a brand that offers interactive experiences that go beyond the standard ecommerce grid. And there’s no denying that video, whether live or recorded, is proving a powerful medium to create those experiences in digital environments. In fact, a study commissioned by real-time engagement platform Agora found that 61% of respondents under the age of 55 are interested in livestream shopping experiences, with

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Grocery Prices Have Finally Fallen for the First Time in a Year

Retail Wire

Some grocery staples are seeing a decline in price.

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Move Past Hype to Focus on Value with AI Implementations in the POS Space

Retail TouchPoints

Businesses and organizations across virtually all markets and niches are exploring how artificial intelligence (AI) could benefit their operations. Although the technology has been steadily advancing for decades, recent availability of large language models (LLMs) that make AI platforms easy to use have convinced business leaders that AI insights for their employees can just be a question-and-answer interaction away.

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Traceability is the Foundation of Supply Chain Due Diligence

Retail TouchPoints

A seismic shift is on the horizon for retail businesses operating in Europe. In December 2023, the European Parliament and the European Council reached a provisional agreement on the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD), a sweeping law that mandates companies to actively monitor and rectify any human rights and environmental risks within their global supply chains.

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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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Accessible Retail: The Benefits of Making a Welcoming Website for Everyone

Retail TouchPoints

What do Beyoncé, Harvard University and Target have in common? Each has faced legal action over claims they violated the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) with inaccessible websites. They’re hardly alone. In 2017, website and app lawsuits totaled just over 800, yet by the close of 2023, the volume had climbed to more than 8,200. And retail is the industry leading the way with the most ADA website lawsuits.

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ARA predicts $1 billion cash splash for Mother’s Day

Inside Retail

Australian retailers are set to benefit from a surge in spending on Mother’s Day despite the current cost-of-living crunch, according to research conducted by the Australian Retailers Association (ARA) in collaboration with market research company Roy Morgan. The study predicts that Australians will spend $995 million on Mother’s Day this year, which is $70 million or 7.5 per cent more than last year.

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Retail Food Group settles class action filed by former franchisees

Inside Retail

Food and beverage company Retail Food Group (RFG) has entered into a binding deed to settle the class action filed by some of its former franchisees. The settlement, subject to court approval, involves a dismissal of the proceeding by the applicant without RFG making any admission or payment, the company said. However, as part of the agreement, RFG will release applicable members of the class action from historical debts alleged in the proceeding.

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How Michaels Reconfigured its Fulfillment Models to Dramatically Enhance Ship-From-Store Performance

Retail TouchPoints

Michaels had a major ecommerce ship-from-store challenge. It’s not that this fulfillment method wasn’t popular — the arts and crafts retailer shipped nearly 3 million orders from its 1,300+ stores across the U.S. and Canada in 2023. But the lack of a systematic approach to assortment and order prioritization meant that individual stores were shipping items to too many far-away locations.

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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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Pizza Hut Australia fined $2.5 million over 10 million spam messages

Inside Retail

Pizza Pan Group, trading as Pizza Hut Australia, has been fined $2.5 million for sending more than 10 million spam messages within four months. The company sent more than 5.9 million texts and emails to customers who either had not consented or had withdrawn their consent to receive marketing from January to May last year, according to the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA).

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How UrbanStems Leverages AI to Manage Peak-Season Customer Service

Retail TouchPoints

What would happen if you smushed an entire holiday season, with all its intensity and high stakes, into a period lasting less than two weeks? And just to make things even more complicated, what if your (perishable) product was a gift laden with significance because of the emotional ties between the giver and the recipient? Laura McDonald, UrbanStems Those questions aren’t theoretical for UrbanStems , a DTC florist that must deal with two of these ultra-compressed holiday seasons — Valentine’s Da

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How Technology and Science Create Unforgettable, Immersive In-Store Experiences

Retail TouchPoints

Retail is in the midst of a significant transformation. With ecommerce reshaping the landscape, physical stores have a unique opportunity to borrow a few strategies from tourist destinations and become experiences beyond the mundanity of walking up and down aisles. Over half of U.S. brands plan to increase investments in immersive technologies — think interactive displays for increased visual impact, carefully curated playlists and thoughtfully crafted scents that tap into nostalgia.

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Almost 900,000 Yogi Tea Bags Recalled Over Pesticides

Retail Wire

East West Tea Company, LLC has initiated a recall affecting almost 900,000 Yogi tea bags in 54,846 boxes sold nationwide.

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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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Good360 gets $3 million grant: How it will connect retail, charity and community

Inside Retail

Demand for charity aid is rapidly increasing amid the ongoing cost-of-living crisis in Australia, but retailers have the power to offer a helping hand and simultaneously solve their costly $2.5 billion annual deadstock dilemma. In the federal budget released yesterday, the Government announced multiple measures to relieve pressures on middle-class Australians, including reducing tax rates and offering $3.5 billion in energy bill relief for 10 million Australians and small businesses and $1.9 bil

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ACCC allows talks among retailers, others over cash transit plight

Inside Retail

The ACCC has authorised – with conditions – that retailers, the Australian Banking Association (ABA), the Customer Owned Banking Association, banks and other industry participants can participate in talks over the distribution of cash in the country. The move came after Armaguard – a major supplier of cash-in-transit services – expressed its concerns about its operational future in the industry, given the declining use of cash.

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The 2024 Brand Experience Award Winners are…

Retail TouchPoints

Retail TouchPoints is announcing winners of the fifth annual Brand Experience Awards , a program designed to spotlight the brands and retailers that are reimagining and elevating customer experiences across all channels. This year, we’ve identified 24 organizations that have successfully differentiated through their loyalty programs, marketing strategies, in-store experiences and even their approach to last mile and fulfillment.

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TJX Leans into Off-Price Wave with Long-Term Plans for 1,300 New Stores

Retail TouchPoints

As continued inflation drives consumers toward more cost-conscious shopping, TJX — the parent company of TJ Maxx , Marshalls , HomeGoods and Sierra — sees an opportunity for expansion. CEO and President Ernie Herrman told analysts on a call discussing the company’s results for Q1 2025 (which ended May 4, 2024) that he plans to expand the conglomerate’s store footprint by at least 1,300 stores “over the long term.

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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.

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Supermarket inquiry recommends laws against price gouging, land banking

Inside Retail

Supermarkets would be prohibited from price gouging and face stricter rules on land banking, should the government adopt the recommendations of the Senate Select Committee on Supermarket Prices. The committee published 14 recommendations, which include creating divestiture powers specific to the supermarket sector and prohibiting the charging of excess prices, otherwise known as price gouging.

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What to Consider When Incorporating AI into Your Retail Business

Retail TouchPoints

Artificial intelligence has revolutionized the way businesses and individuals operate by using data to power tools that can analyze, respond, predict and create in a manner similar to the human brain. Today, it is hard to imagine any sector where AI has yet to be deployed in some capacity, including, increasingly, retail, which has turned to AI for everything from streamlining the supply chain to personalizing shopping experiences.

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Beyond Inc. Brings in Slate of Retail Heavyweights for C-Suite

Retail TouchPoints

Following its acquisition of Zulily and the revival of Overstock.com , Beyond, Inc. is shoring up its executive team with a slate of eight high-level appointments across its business. “The most important part of building a long-term, profitable, growing business is putting the right players on the field,” said Marcus Lemonis, newly appointed Executive Chairman of Beyond, Inc. in a statement.

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Cinnabon expands into Western Australia

Inside Retail

Bakery franchise Cinnabon is expanding into Western Australia after Boxx Brands secured the rights for the popular cinnamon roll retailer across the state. “Since Cinnabon landed on Oz shores in 2019, West Australians have been hounding social media asking when it will be their turn, and we are so excited to finally make their wishes come true,” said Boxx Brands MD Brett Higgins.

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Staying Ahead of UFLPA Enforcement: Best Practices for Retail Supply Chains

Speaker: Ethan Woolley, Director at Kharon

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

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Shopify’s Stock Plummets 19% After Earnings Report

Retail Wire

Shopify, the Canadian e-commerce company, faced a significant drop in its stock value after releasing its first-quarter results.

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The End of a Transaction is Just the Beginning: Fostering Engagement, Loyalty and Return Visits at Checkout

Retail TouchPoints

To compete today, retailers must develop new and innovative ways to engage their customers and generate more loyalty. Fortunately, the shift toward diverse checkout options and digital receipts has fostered new touch points for retailers looking to make a memorable impact. In fact, 53% of shoppers under 45 years old prefer self-checkout options , and 89% of consumers of any age like the idea of a digital receipt.

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Simon to Replace JCPenney with Luxury Apartments at San Diego’s Fashion Valley

Retail TouchPoints

Simon has unveiled plans for the next wave of redevelopment for its Fashion Valley shopping center in San Diego, which will include the addition of 850 multi-family luxury residences by AMLI Residential. Development of the residential component will begin immediately following JCPenney ‘s planned closure at the end of 2025 and is expected to be completed in late 2026.

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#RICE24 Solution Spotlight: iAdvize Copilot’s AI-Powered Chatbots Tackle Ecommerce Abandonment

Retail TouchPoints

To increase ecommerce revenue, brands and retailers need to engage online shoppers and convert them into buyers. But when consumers cannot quickly find the products they’re looking for or easily get answers to their questions, they are more likely to abandon the ecommerce site altogether. With iAdvize Copilot , iAdvize’s generative AI-powered chatbot, more than 100 online retailers and direct-to-consumer (DTC) brands are empowering customers to discover, choose and buy more — resulting in a 10X

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From Rigid To Resilient: Why Enterprises Need Modular Commerce Now

Speaker: Benjamin Woll, Tiffany Spizzo, and Jaime Santos Alcón

Enterprise commerce is at an inflection point. Rigid, monolithic platforms slow brands down, but a full replatforming is disruptive and costly. Modular architecture offers a flexible, scalable alternative - allowing enterprise brands to modernize without ripping and replacing their entire stack. Learn how a composable approach helps modernize commerce stacks while maintaining control over critical systems.