Inside Retail

MARCH 3, 2024

The 2024 Australian Retail Outlook is out now. This must-read resource is packed with exclusive insights from Inside Retail’s survey of retailers about their performance, plans and predictions for the year ahead; trend analyses and advice from industry experts; and interviews with leading retailers, including Ikea, Lush, Outland Denim, Milligram, and many more, about their growth strategies in 2024 and beyond.

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Retail TouchPoints

MARCH 18, 2024

Retailers have been eager to jump on the generative AI bandwagon: according to a new survey conducted by Salesforce and the Retail AI Council , retail executives estimate that 36% of their employees already are using generative AI today, with that figure projected to rise to 45% by 2025. Additionally, 93% of these retailers say they’re already using generative AI to support personalization of customer-facing communications like emails and product recommendations.

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Store Operations Shopping Marketing Management 317

Retail Wire

MARCH 18, 2024

Walmart self-checkout lanes are possibly being reserved for select customers like Walmart+ subscribers and delivery drivers as part of an experimental phase where different methods are being tested.

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Checkout Shopping 279

Retail TouchPoints

MARCH 18, 2024

Google wants a bigger piece of the traffic driven by retail media advertising. To start getting it, the tech company has launched a new offsite retail media solution in closed beta. Lowe’s has signed on to be one of the first retailers to test the solution for what will be the first offsite retail media offering from Lowe’s One Roof retail media network on Google Search and Shopping inventory, according to a blog post that will be published today, which Retail TouchPoints reviewed in advance.

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Advertising Management Promotions Shopping 306

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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.

Customer Experience

Retail Gazette

MARCH 4, 2024

Retailers are suffering from the longest dip in sales since the 2020 pandemic as consumers cut back for the fifth consecutive month. Like-for-like sales across fashion, homewares and lifestyle slipped 1.3% in February, according to new figures from accountancy firm BDO. Fashion was hit the hardest, with overall sales down 4.8% and instore sales plunging 8.2% last month.

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Retail Focus

MARCH 6, 2024

The dynamics of storytelling in the volatile retail landscape have fundamentally changed and will shape our perception of the future. In this report in partnership with Retail Focus, James Breaks, Associate Director of Design at rpa: group , takes a close look into the past, present and future of our relationship with brands, and how we engage with them.

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Retail TouchPoints

MARCH 14, 2024

Retailers that have recently launched their own retail media businesses should learn from what the established leaders already do. The biggest player, with 60% of the $45 billion market, is Amazon, followed by the likes of Walmart and Target, which, combined with a few other large players, are expected to take a combined 25% of the space, according to Boston Consulting Group.

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Inside Retail

MARCH 11, 2024

While Australia has its own unique retail ecosystem, the ripples of what happens in the US often hit our shores. That typically includes the ‘Super Bowl of advertising’: the actual Super Bowl. Along with the usual celeb-studded ads, this year there was something else that made people take note. Chinese-based online marketplace Temu had not one, but two ads in the main game broadcast on CBS with a total of six ads during the game day.

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Retail TouchPoints

MARCH 18, 2024

A 2022 U.S. government study found an annual average of 1.3 million nonfatal workplace violence incidents between 2015 and 2019. This is a rate of eight nonfatal violent crimes per 1,000 workers aged 16 or older. In addition to the safety risk to employees and customers alike, workplace violence incidents are costly to retailers. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health estimates that workplace violence costs employers more than $120 billion annually in claims, litigation, added

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Planning Loss Prevention Management Location 279

Retail Wire

MARCH 18, 2024

Tyson Foods, the well-known food processing company, finds itself in hot water as calls for a boycott surge due to allegations of planning to employ migrants at its factories.

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Planning ATS 340

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.

Accounting

Retail Gazette

MARCH 26, 2024

Boots will begin selling Covid-19 vaccines from next week as part of a private vaccination service. The single-dose Pfizer jab will be available at 50 of its stores from 1 April for £98.95, The Times reported. This will be the first time a Covid-19 vaccine will be available outside of the NHS since the government’s mass vaccination programme in December 2020.

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ATS 145

Hyken

MARCH 12, 2024

Last week, I wrote an article that compared the different concert experiences I had with two rock legends, Bob Dylan and Ringo Starr. The title of the article summed up the point I was trying to make: Do You Give Your Customers an Experience – Or Just a Transaction ? How to Create an Experience Personality I want to take it a step further this week.

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Advertising Customer Experience Management ATS 130

365 Retail

MARCH 1, 2024

In a pivotal legal battle over the future of Marks & Spencer’s flagship store at Marble Arch, London, the High Court has ruled in favour of the retailer, granting a judicial review against the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing, and Communities, Michael Gove’s decision to deny planning permission for the redevelopment of the site.

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Planning Department Stores Shopping ATS 126

Inside Retail

MARCH 21, 2024

Piercing retailer SkinKandy is expanding into New Zealand, with Westfield Riccarton in Christchurch as its first location in the country. “Exciting growth continues at SkinKandy. Our international growth journey starts with hoardings up at our first store locations in New Zealand, getting ready to bring the piercing revolution to the amazing people of Aotearoa,” SkinKandy CEO Dain Friis said.

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Promotions Location ATS Accessories 312

Advertiser: Experience Retail Today

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.

Fashion

Retail TouchPoints

MARCH 12, 2024

For a long time, the American public has hit the “mute” button about the dangers of too much corporate consolidation. One bit of evidence: a decades-long decline in the frequency of the word “monopoly” in published books from a peak in 1949, according to data from Google. But those attitudes appear to be changing, in some cases dramatically.

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Marketing Consumer Promotions ATS 328

Retail Wire

MARCH 27, 2024

U.S. Representative Earl Blumenauer, deeply embedded in health policy, has directed inquiries toward the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). His concern? Why the FDA didn't scrutinize Elon Musk's Neuralink before greenlighting human trials for its brain implants.

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Retail Gazette

MARCH 13, 2024

Asda workers at its Wisbech store are set to strike during Easter weekend, one of the supermarket’s busiest times of the year, the GMB union has warned. Roughly 170 staff members will walk out on 29 and 30 March in a 48 hour strike, the trade union said. GMB claimed industrial action had been triggered by hour cuts and a rise in a bullying management culture.

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Supermarket Management Planning ATS 142

Hyken

MARCH 11, 2024

This episode of  Amazing Business Radio with Shep Hyken  answers the following questions and more: How can businesses create experiences that get repeat business and nurture brand loyalty? How can businesses think outside the box to create fan-like loyalty among their customer base? What lessons can companies learn from the legendary rock band, Van Halen, in creating loyal customer followings?

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Customer Experience 128

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

Customer Experience

Dezeen

MARCH 1, 2024

Interior design studio Hollie Bowden Interiors has created fine jeweller Rachel Boston's flagship store and showroom in London. Located in Shoreditch's Redchurch Street, the store is split into four main areas – the retail space, private appointment area, workshop and office space for the jeweller's team of 12. The space blends a neutral palette of glass, steel and sycamore wood veneer The store aims to blend a neutral material palette of glass and steel with sycamore wood veneer and velvet moha

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Location ATS 122

Inside Retail

MARCH 19, 2024

Selling online in the US can be lucrative, as many Australian retailers and brands are discovering. But there is a fine line between success and failure. Tara Daly, senior director of product marketing at Loop Returns , shares with Inside Retail advice on getting started in the US market, some tips on cross-border shipping and logistics – including managing returns in a way that builds customer loyalty – and how to drive repeat business.

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Planning Shipping Returns Customer Retention 290

Retail TouchPoints

MARCH 25, 2024

The ecommerce industry has experienced rapid growth in recent years, with global sales reaching an estimated $5.8 trillion in 2023, according to research by Statista. The same study suggests this trend is only expected to continue: by 2027, the global retail ecommerce market is projected to grow by 39% and surpass the $8 trillion mark. As ecommerce sales continue to grow, so does the focus on logistics, enabling retailers to meet the rising demand for shipping.

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Shipping Supply Chain Management Fulfillment Returns 312

Retail Wire

MARCH 12, 2024

A software company owner, Kenn Dahl, recently experienced a significant increase in his car insurance rates. Upon investigation, he discovered that his driving data was being shared with insurers without his explicit consent.

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Retail Gazette

MARCH 6, 2024

Asda is set to face a second strike after GMB members at its Wisbech store voted to strike over claims of reduced hours and a rise in “bullying management” culture. According to the trade union, the ballot, which saw more than 97% voting to walk out with a turnout of 87%, was also sparked over claims that workers are unhappy over what it describes as “poor” levels of training and support for their job roles, as well as health and safety issues being “ignored”.

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Grocer Supermarket Management Planning 136

Retail Dive

MARCH 14, 2024

Thirty of those will be under its Popshelf banner, though the discount retailer is taking the concept’s expansion slowly given its discretionary focus.

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Planning 131

365 Retail

MARCH 11, 2024

Fenwick has initiated the first phase of its ambitious renovation plan for its flagship Newcastle store, with activities commencing in March. This renovation is a component of a £40 million investment strategy aimed at modernising and preparing the store for future generations. Mailen Design has been tasked with the careful and thoughtful redesign of the store’s original 1880s façade.

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Planning Promotions Customer Experience Shopping 118

Inside Retail

MARCH 19, 2024

Godfreys will be closed down after its administrators failed to seal a favourable acquisition proposal for the collapsed vacuum retailer. PWC received 55 expressions of interest and six indicative offers during the sale process. However, some of the interested parties withdrew while the others did not provide a sufficient offer to secure the business in the long term.

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Returns 290

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Join Bloomreach at Innovation Fest: Summer 2024, a virtual event, to explore the future of personalized marketing and merchandising! Along with the company’s top product experts, CEO Raj De Datta will provide an exclusive look at the company’s latest AI innovations reshaping the omnichannel experience. Don’t miss out on this exciting opportunity to connect with fellow industry leaders and explore the latest trends in retail technology.

ATS

Retail TouchPoints

MARCH 20, 2024

Former Walmart exec and Jet.com founder Marc Lore and his newest company Wonder Group have raised $700 million from various investors to support its Vision, Capital and People (VCP) plan , which is designed to support the business’ execution and scale, Lore revealed in a LinkedIn post. The funding round was led by existing investors NEA, GV, Accel, Bain Capital Ventures, Forerunner, Alpine and Harmony — a who’s who in the venture capital world.

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Location Planning Promotions Customer Experience 312

Retail Wire

MARCH 4, 2024

JetBlue and Spirit Airlines have called off a planned merger that began two years ago. The airlines said the decision was amicable but claimed that ongoing regulatory hurdles would have made merging the two companies difficult.

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Planning 279

Retail Gazette

MARCH 6, 2024

Shein’s UK arm has breached company law after failing to disclose its ownership, a move which could disrupt the fast-fashion giant’s plans to consider a London floatation. Under company law, businesses are legally required to declare their ultimate human beneficial owner – also known as their “person with significant control” (PSC). Filings on Companies House show Shein Distribution UK Ltd has listed Singapore-based Roadget Business Pte Ltd as its PSC and not an individual.

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Fast Fashion Fashion Planning 132

Dezeen

MARCH 23, 2024

London department store Selfridges has opened The Joke Shop, a "shoppable comedy store" that sells products including sneezing powder and has windows filled with whoopee cushions and slipping bananas. Located in the corner store space on Selfridges ' ground-floor level, The Joke Shop pop-up store was designed by the retailer's in-house team. The Joke Shop has a fake entrance with nostalgic typefaces The shop, which the retailer describes as a "shoppable comedy store", sells joke shop products su

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Shopping Department Stores Fashion Location 117

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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.

Customer Experience