October, 2024

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Pet-Friendly Retail: Design for Sights, Smells and Sounds

Retail TouchPoints

As a geriatric millennial who lives and works in the greater Charlotte region of North and South Carolina, I notice pet-friendly establishments have become the expectation. Our temperate climate with ample sunshine and green space encourages spending time outside and sharing it with four-legged friends. But even comfortable environments like Charlotte’s have their limitations – after all, our iconic tree line requires ample rain.

Outdoor 287
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Big 4 supermarkets face £200m blow from National Insurance hike

Retail Gazette

Britain’s biggest supermarkets face paying an extra £200m in National Insurance contributions as the Chancellor is set to unveil the hike in the Budget tomorrow. Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Asda and Morrisons could be hit with an incremental tax bill from a two-percentage point hike in employer National Insurance contributions, Sky News reported. One analyst estimated that Tesco, which employs around 300,000 people in the UK, could be facing £75m added to its bill.

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Mosaic Brands expected to enter administration

Inside Retail

Mosaic Brands is expected to enter administration as early as todday, the Australian Financial Review has reported. FTI Consulting will facilitate the administration, according to the publication’s sources. Last month, the fashion retailer said it would wind down five of its brands to focus on its other five businesses as it struggles to remain afloat due to operational issues.

Fashion 290
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McDonald’s Location Employed ‘Modern Slaves’ in Human Trafficking Ring, According to Report

Retail Wire

A new report threatens to leave a stain on McDonald's good name, as it was revealed that a franchisee engaged in human trafficking involving what the arrest report is calling "modern slavery.

Location 319
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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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Gas Station Payment Security: Best Practices for a Safer Experience

National Retail Solutions

Modern payment technologies like EMV chips, contactless options, and mobile apps are transforming gas station security, reducing fraud, and ensuring safer, faster transactions for customers and businesses alike. The post Gas Station Payment Security: Best Practices for a Safer Experience appeared first on National Retail Solutions.

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Luxury brand pop-up store hyperlocal retail strategies

Retail Focus

Ghalia BOUSTANI. Retail Consultant | Published author | Visiting lecturer Hyper-local strategies have been increasingly applied by luxury brands to connect with specific communities through limited-time pop-up stores. Their ability to create highly curated experiences that are tailored to regional tastes, cultural preferences, and local consumers is made possible by this approach.

Location 246

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Cost-cutting drives Virgin Wines back to profitability

Retail Gazette

Virgin Wines has returned to profitability after implementing a significant cost-cutting initiative across the business. Despite group sales remaining flat at £59m, the wine specialist shifted from a pre-tax loss of £700,000 to a £1.7m pre-tax profit for the year ending 28 June 2024. The retailer attributed the turnaround to increased operational efficiency, with its cost-cutting measures delivering £1.4m in annual savings.

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Coffee Treat unveils franchise model, plans regional growth

Inside Retail

The Victorian hole-in-the-wall coffee shop Coffee Treat has launched into franchising, with plans to extend into country towns. Director Chelsea Hayward told Franchise Executives , “I’ve heard so many times people say they can’t get a decent coffee in the country. So by franchising, I aim to make it accessible to country people. They haven’t had a lot of variety in small country towns.

Planning 290
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Krispy Kreme Gives Out Free Doughnuts to McDonald’s Customers

Retail Wire

Krispy Kreme has announced an exciting promotion to commemorate the launch of its donuts at McDonald's locations in the Chicago area, starting October 15. As part of this initiative, the donut chain is offering a free Original Glazed donut to anyone who brings in and shows a McDonald's receipt between October 10 and 14 at participating Krispy Kreme shops across the country.

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Excellent Instore Messaging – Keeping Shopper Messaging consistent with consumer messaging

Mike Anthony

There are a number of challenges in creating really effective shopper messaging in-store. But when we work with clients in projects or training workshops, one of the biggest challenges raised is this. How to speak the shoppers language but at the same time stay consistent with the brand’s consumer messaging? We might be able to convince the group that they need to use different approaches to communicate with shoppers, but the brand team believe that consistency is important, and so the brands ke

Consumer 130
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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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How Can Ecommerce Businesses Get an Edge in Gamification?

Retail Focus

Gamification has been around in the e-commerce industry for a while. After all, it’s one of the best ways to attract customers and boost engagement. The problem is, what happens when everyone’s doing the same thing? When it’s all point systems and freebies, how does an e-commerce business stand out? Gamification in e-commerce is evolving, and it’s crucial that you look for new trends to get an edge on the competition.

ATS 130
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Generative AI in a New Retail Era: 3 Areas to Focus on for Immediate Impact

Retail TouchPoints

According to Cognizant’s recent study with Oxford Economics, generative AI is expected to have a $1 trillion impact on the economy by 2032. In particular, generative AI is revolutionizing the shopping landscape to create more personalized and memorable experiences for consumers. As retailers come to terms with the boundless potential of generative AI, Cognizant has identified three key areas where this technology will make the most significant and immediate impact: commerce, marketing and custom

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Tesco secures landmark solar deal to power 144 stores

Retail Gazette

Tesco has signed a deal to acquire enough solar energy to power 144 of its large stores, purchasing almost two-thirds of the electricity generated by the Cleve Hill solar park in Kent. The £450m solar park, developed by Quinbrook Infrastructure Partners on farmland near Faversham, will provide Tesco with up to 10% of its UK electricity needs over the next 15 years, generating enough renewable energy to power the stores for a year.

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Amazon planning ultra-cheap site to counter Temu, Shein

Inside Retail

Amazon is preparing to launch a low-cost storefront as it ramps up its fightback against Chinese deep-discounting rivals Temu and Shein. The US retail giant is imposing price caps for the first time in its history, regulating how much vendors can charge for their items in order to be featured on the new portal. “We are always exploring new ways to work with our selling partners to delight our customers with more selection, lower prices and greater convenience,” an Amazon spokesperson

Planning 286
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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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Why Retailers Need a Centralized Database for Business Efficiency and Growth

RETAIL MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE

In today’s data-driven world, retail businesses face an increasing demand to streamline operations, improve customer experience, and stay ahead of the competition. One of the most effective ways to achieve these goals is by implementing a centralized database. A centralized database acts as a single source of truth for all business data, allowing retailers to manage information from multiple channels and locations efficiently.

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Panic Buying of Toilet Paper Triggered by Dockworker Strike

Retail Wire

The recent dockworker strike is more likely to impact non-paper goods like electronics and cars.

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How Seasonal Shopping Affects Retail Stock Prices

Retail Focus

Seasonal shopping events such as Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and the back-to-school season have a significant impact on retail stock prices. These periods experience a surge in consumer spending, driving up sales figures and influencing investor sentiment. As retailers roll out promotions and discounts to attract customers, their performance during these high-stakes times can lead to fluctuations in stock valuations.

Shopping 130
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Kroger Deploys RFID to Improve Inventory Visibility, Beginning in the Bakery

Retail TouchPoints

Kroger will leverage RFID technology from Avery Dennison for item-level digital identification, enabling more frequent and accurate inventory information to help maximize freshness, reduce waste and improve the store associate experience. The supermarket will begin in the bakery department, implementing RFID-embedded labels on each item. “Our work with Avery Dennison will improve inventory visibility, which means products will be on the shelves when our customers want them, while enabling our as

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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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UK retail sales beat expectations driven by strong tech demand

Retail Gazette

UK retail sales rose in September, beating expectations, driven by strong demand for new technology, although overall sales growth slowed, fresh data showed. Technology and telecommunication retailers saw sales surge by more than a third, buoyed by new product launches, including Apple’s new iPhone 16, which helped partially offset a 2.4% decrease in supermarkets.

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The Reject Shop plans more stores as sales surge

Inside Retail

Discount variety retailer The Reject Shop plans to open more stores this year to support sales growth and increase profitability. In a trading update, the company said it is targeting to open 15-20 new stores in FY25. The chain currently has 386 stores nationwide, having opened 67 new stores and closed 35 underperforming ones since June 2020. According to chairman Steven Fisher, the discount variety sector presents a significant opportunity for growth over the medium to long term.

Planning 278
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Problems with pre-retail logistics proving costly for suppliers

A1 Retail

Half of the businesses supplying retailers are failing to meet supplier terms and conditions, leading to financial penalties and lost business. New research from retail logistics company Advanced Supply Chain (ASC) found that 51 percent of manufacturers and brands supplying products to retailers have incurred financial penalties for non-compliance with supplier manuals.

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7-Eleven to Close Hundreds of its Stores in North America

Retail Wire

7-Eleven has recently released its financial reports for the most recent quarter, and in a surprise move, has decided to close hundreds of its store locations in North America.

Location 290
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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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eBay Brings the Nation’s Listings to London’s Busiest High Street

Retail Focus

Today, eBay announces the launch of “Listings in Lights,” an immersive display in the heart of London that promotes private selling and lets people shop pre-loved items across luxury, fashion, home, tech, and toys, from eBay sellers across the UK. Listings in Lights follows last month’s removal of selling fees for private sellers in the UK, making it free to sell across all categories except for motors.

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Mobile Wallets: Unlocking a Powerful New Marketing Channel

Retail TouchPoints

Earlier this year, Google added compelling new features to Google Wallet to help consumers get more out of their mobile wallet passes. With this update , developers can send wallet notifications, letting consumers receive notifications about any updates to cards or passes stored in their mobile wallet. As Google shares, that might look like a notification from your favorite coffee shop on their new daily special or an update if your assigned seat on your boarding pass changes.

Marketing 297
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Hotter Shoes to ramp up UK production

Retail Gazette

Hotter Shoes is planning to ramp up the number it produces in British factories each year to one million pairs under its new owner. WoolOvers, which snapped up the retailer out of administration last year, has reversed the footwear specialist’s planned “phasing out” of manufacturing at its factory in Skelmersdale, Lancashire. The new owner wants to raise domestic production to three quarters of the shoes, up from 25%, that Hotter sells, The Times reported.

Fashion 124
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Black Friday 2024: Why automation is critical for Australian retailers

Inside Retail

As the Black Friday 2024 shopping frenzy approaches, Australian retailers are gearing up for their biggest challenge yet – managing skyrocketing demand while staying efficient. The key to thriving? Automation. This year, Australian shoppers are expected to spend a jaw-dropping $6.7 billion during the Black Friday/Cyber Monday weekend, up 5.5 per cent from 2023, according to Roy Morgan.

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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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centre:mk’s fashion event returns welcoming over 113k visitors

A1 Retail

Last weekend, centre:mk hosted the UK’s largest fashion and beauty indoor event, welcoming over 113,000 visitors across the two-day period. Located at Middleton Hall, centre:mk’s Fashion Weekend featured 80 brands across 40 of the destination’s retailers, enabling visitors to see the latest trends across fashion, health, and beauty. Running bi-annually, the highly anticipated free event is created by centre:mk to engage and inspire shoppers, showcasing a wide variety of items across the centre’s

Fashion 105
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7-Eleven Shares Jump After Couche-Tard Makes New Takeover Offer

Retail Wire

Shares of 7-Eleven jumped after it received a new takeover offer.

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Hourglass Cosmetics opens world-exclusive beauty experience in Selfridges new Beauty Hall

Retail Focus

Hourglass is a global leader in luxury, cruelty-free beauty. Having garnered a reputation for reinventing luxury cosmetics through cutting-edge product innovation and artful product design; they set out to establish a new retail standard in this highly-competitive market. In collaboration with global retail design agency, Checkland Kindleysides , they created a one-of-a-kind cosmetics counter that would ‘own the room’ and leave consumers in no doubt of Hourglass’s market-leading expertise.

Consumer 130
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Sensing, Not Seeing, with Vision AI as Retail’s Crystal Ball for the Future

Retail TouchPoints

The retail industry holds influence above many others. It’s almost always the first to embrace new waves of innovation, test and deploy new technologies, and integrate them into their businesses to create new, dynamic experiences to benefit customers, employees and ultimately — ROI. This has never been more apparent than now, as consumers look to elevate their in-store shopping experiences and expect the same versatility and ease that they have obtained with modern omnichannel retail.

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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.