April, 2021

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Nearly a third of small retailers still can't pay their rent

Retail Dive

More than half of minority-owned small businesses couldn't cover April rent, but these are improvements from March's highs, referral network Alignable found.

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How the Rise of the Conscious Consumer is Fueling Resale’s Rapid Growth

Retail TouchPoints

Not too long ago, the sale of secondhand goods was driven primarily by value: shoppers looking to avoid breaking the bank on big-ticket items or clothes the kids will just grow out of. Recently, however, something new has begun to drive massive growth in the used goods sector — consumers who are shopping based on their values , in addition to searching for value.

Consumer 345
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Harrods open second beauty emporium H beauty in Milton Keynes

Retail Focus

Following the launch of its inaugural store in Lakeside, Essex in September 2020, Harrods has announced the opening of its next stand-alone H beauty destination in centre:mk, Milton Keynes. The 29,000 sq.ft. space brings together a diverse portfolio of premium brands, must-have products and exceptional beauty services and experiences. The latest H beauty is an experiential wonderland where beauty addicts and novices alike can find their forever-favourites as well as some of the industry’s most f

Boutique 342
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McDonald’s heading to Federal Court over denied rest breaks

Inside Retail

The Shops, Distributive and Allied Employees Association has lodged a case against a second McDonald’s franchisee in the Federal Court, claiming the owner-operator of a number of sites across South Australia denied workers paid rest breaks. Delbridge Investments, owned by Graham Delbridge, owns and operates the Murray Bridge, Rundle Mall East, and Trinity Gardens McDonald’s sites, and formerly owned the franchise at Cross Roads.

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5 Ways You Can Win Faster with Gen AI in Sales

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.

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Expert round-up: The state of in-store marketing in 2021

Tokinomo

Retail is changing as we speak. COVID-19, the iceberg that hit the whole retail industry is slowly (too slowly) melting away, but its effects will continue to impact this industry for many years. Innovations, retail tech, providing only the best for customers, offering shoppers amazing experiences, and availability on all channels are all impacting the way retailers sell to customers.

Marketing 319
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Amazon opens its first hair salon

Retail Wire

Amazon.com has opened its first hair salon in London. The business, which is currently only open to employees, offers hair cutting services and uses augmented reality technology to offer hair consultations to customers. The salon also features “point and learn” technology that allows customers to point to products sold on shelves to get information on those items.

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More Trending

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How (and Why) Amazon is Sharing its Tech with Retailers Around the World

Retail TouchPoints

Amazon is well known for being one of the largest retailers in the world. What’s less well-known is that thousands of other retailers are using Amazon technology to power their businesses. That’s right, this quintessential ecommerce disruptor, often blamed for the troubles of brick-and-mortar retail, is taking some of the very innovations that have set it apart and offering them up for other retailers to use.

Checkout 329
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Selfridges is ready to reopen as it unveils its new windows four days early

Retail Focus

The Oxford Street store windows reveal precedes Selfridges reopening on Monday 12 April, when customers will be able to enjoy new and unique experiences dreamed up while its doors have been closed. These include a partnership with SoulCycle to open its first Outside Studio in the UK on Edwards Mews, behind the Oxford Street store, offering fitness enthusiasts the chance to get outside, socialise and ride in a safe environment.

Outdoor 333
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Australia Post names Woolworths exec as new CEO

Inside Retail

Australia Post has appointed Paul Graham as its new CEO and managing director five months after former CEO Christina Holgate resigned amid what’s now known as ‘the Cartier controversy’ Graham, who will start in the role in September, joins Australia Post after a tenure at Woolworths Group as chief supply chain officer and an extensive career working in e-commerce.

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Kinder's In-store Marketing Campaign goes viral on Social Media

Tokinomo

Brick and mortar stores are considered old-fashioned and many customers are turning to online platforms to make their grocery shopping. However, there are still powerful and innovative brands that know how to attract customers in stores and engage with them. Ferrero is one of those brands!

Marketing 246
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The Evolving Retailers Fulfillment Strategy: Meeting Demands with Agility

Speaker: Becky Parisotto and John Vurdelja

Fulfillment is no longer just about getting products from point A to point B – it's about crafting seamless, scalable, customer first experiences. Flexible fulfillment strategies are more important than ever for those aiming to stay ahead and build resilience as retail enters a new era in 2025. Learn how to optimize fulfillment processes, tackle complex, multi-vendor orders, and create seamless customer experiences – from white-glove delivery for high-value items to quick-ship solutions for ever

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Walmart remains opposed to $15 minimum wage

Retail Wire

Walmart has seen the public’s perceptions of the company improve as it has increased pay and educational and medical benefits for its workers, but the world’s largest retailer’s opposition to raising the federal minimum wage to $15 has some questioning if its labor-friendly initiatives are just window dressing. The retailer, which has consistently claimed that its average wage for hourly associates is above the $15 number, says that its approach needs to be viewed through a dif

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Amazon to open hair salon in UK to trial latest technology

Retail Focus

Amazon is cutting into the hair styling sector with the opening of its own salon in the UK. The bricks-and-mortar “experiential” venue is launching in London’s Spitalfields, on Brushfield Street, as a showcase for new products and the latest industry technology. Augmented reality hair consultations and point-and-learn technology will be among the innovations being tested (Amazon/PA).

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Retail TouchPoints and design:retail Reveal the 40 Under 40 Class of 2021

Retail TouchPoints

Retail TouchPoints and design:retail have selected the next class of the 40 Under 40 — the top 40 professionals in the retail industry under the age of 40 who are paving the way for the next era of retail. This year, the publications expanded nominations to include all roles and job functions in the retail ecosystem — from ecommerce and marketing to innovation and store design.

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Betabrand, Kelley Cawley and Facebook Show What Makes Live Shopping Retail’s Next Big Opportunity

Retail TouchPoints

Social commerce is poised to be the focus of the next retail revolution: two-thirds of consumers say that social media has become as important as their other sources of information when making purchase decisions, according to data from Facebook. The social giant has embraced the selling potential of its user community, and both online and brick-and-mortar-focused retailers are using it to connect with shoppers in new ways.

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Modernizing the Frontend Experience on Salesforce Commerce Cloud

Unlock agility, boost performance, and gain control over your Salesforce frontend with the latest masterclass from Composable.com : Modernizing the Frontend Experience on Salesforce Commerce Cloud Featuring experts from Algolia, Ember, Netlify, and Stripe, this masterclass focuses on practical strategies for optimizing your Salesforce Commerce Cloud storefronts using modern composable commerce integrations.

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Amazon Fulfillment Center Workers in Alabama Reject Unionization

Retail TouchPoints

In a surprisingly lopsided outcome, workers at BHM1, the Amazon fulfillment center in Bessemer, Ala., rejected the opportunity to join the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store ( RWDSU ) union. Amazon had vigorously opposed the prospect of unionization, and its victory deals a major setback to organizing efforts at the company, which employs 1.3 million people worldwide with more than 950,000 workers in the U.S. alone.

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Pinterest and Shopify Deepen Relationship, Bringing Marketing Tools to 27 New Countries

Retail TouchPoints

Pinterest is expanding its partnership with Shopify to 27 new countries, including Australia, Austria, Brazil, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Switzerland and the UK. The Shopify Pinterest Channel is now home to more than 1.7 million merchants. The Channel grants retailers that advertise on Pinterest through Shopify access to Dynamic Retargeting, which enables them to re-engage with Pinners who have already expressed interest in their products on Pinterest.

Marketing 300
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Booktopia earnings double in third quarter

Inside Retail

The continued rise in online shopping has delivered online bookseller Booktopia another strong period, with third quarter underlying EBITDA up 267 per cent to $4.2 million and revenue hitting $65 million – a 53 per cent growth on the same period last year. And, due to improvements made in Booktopia’s distribution centre in Lidcome , Sydney, the business was able to ship 45 per cent more product during the quarter, from 1.44 million to 2.09 million items.

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The Future of Retail: BOPIS 2.0 and RFID Technology

Retail TouchPoints

Like many others, retail is currently in its most testing period, yet buy online, pick up in-store (BOPIS) is currently revolutionizing the modern-day retail experience. BOPIS is a hybrid shopping experience allowing customers to buy items online and then pick them up in a physical store. BOPIS helps retailers provide a more accurate stock inventory and better visibility of the stock, keeping supply chains running smoothly.

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Website Security Essentials: Protect Your Site and Strengthen Cybersecurity

In a digital-first world, website security is non-negotiable. This comprehensive guide explores the critical importance of securing your site against hackers and vulnerabilities like SQL injection, XSS, and malware. Discover tools like SiteLock for threat monitoring and CodeGuard for seamless backups, ensuring robust protection for your data and operations.

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Preparing for the future of online retail

Inside Retail

The e-commerce industry is growing at a rapid rate, and it’s impacting brands and retailers in numerous ways. On the one hand, the accelerated state of e-commerce means there are countless opportunities for the prepared seller. At the same time, it can be incredibly challenging to keep up with trends that change almost daily. Now more than ever, it’s critical to understand the latest consumer expectations — and be ready to adapt.

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Swarovski Opens Latest ‘Instant Wonder’ Store in NYC

Retail TouchPoints

Swarovski will opened its latest “Instant Wonder” store in New York City’s Rockefeller Center on April 17, continuing its rollout of the new concept designed to reflect the brand’s evolved direction and visual identity. The New York location, which joins Insta-worthy locations in Paris and Milan, is part of 28 Instant Wonder stores scheduled to open in key markets across the globe.

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Inventory Optimization Solution Provider Trax Secures $640M in Fresh Funding

Retail TouchPoints

Trax , a cloud-based solution that helps CPG brands and retailers optimize their inventory strategies through data and analytics, has secured $640 million in Series E funding. The round was led by SoftBank Vision Fund 21 and technology-focused funds managed by existing investor BlackRock. The Trax suite of solutions is aimed at accelerating the digital transformation of grocery retail by providing granular visibility of inventory and store conditions.

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‘Designed to Explore the Future of Retail’: DICK’S Sporting Goods Debuts House of Sport Concept

Retail TouchPoints

A 17,000-square-foot outdoor turf field and running track, a rock-climbing wall, batting cages and golf hitting bays — these are just a handful of the features adding excitement to the new experiential retail concept — House of Sport from DICK’S Sporting Goods. The first-ever DICK’S House of Sport opened its doors on April 9 in the Rochester suburb of Victor, N.Y.

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Less Stress, More Success: Accounting Best Practices & Processes for 2025

Speaker: Duke Heninger, Partner and Fractional CFO at Ampleo & Creator of CFO System

Are you ready to elevate your accounting processes for 2025? 🚀 Join us for an exclusive webinar led by Duke Heninger, 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.

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Woolworths to recycle batteries, mobile phones

Inside Retail

Supermarket Woolworths is further hastening its consumer-facing sustainable initiatives by announcing a battery recycling initiative, with collection units to be placed in every Woolworths store around the country. The units will accept used batteries, as well as mobile phones, in an effort to bump up Australia’s rate of battery recycling – which currently sits at around 10 per cent, lagging behind other developed nations.

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Foot Locker to Offer New Payment Options In-Store

Retail TouchPoints

Foot Locker will offer in-store shoppers a more flexible and convenient checkout experience with the deployment of new technology across its 2,000+ U.S. stores. The specialty athletic retailer has partnered with FreedomPay to deploy its Next Level Commerce platform across its domestic store network, giving customers the option to pay via contactless payment methods and digital wallets including PayPal/Venmo. “We are always looking for ways to create a more seamless customer experience,R

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House of Novogratz Debuts First Store

Retail TouchPoints

House of Novogratz — the first store from interior designers Robert and Cortney Novogratz — debuted in Los Angeles on April 10. Located in a bungalow-style house, the store boasts more than 2,000 square feet of retail experiences in six different rooms, as well as working design studios, collaborative brands, rotating pop-up activations and a food and wine offering.

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Study Forecasts Accelerated Adoption of Digital Wallets and Buy Now, Pay Later

Retail TouchPoints

The pandemic accelerated not just ecommerce but also digital payment methods: digital wallets reached 29.3% of U.S. ecommerce share in 2020, up from 23.7% in 2019. The wallets are expected to unseat credit cards as the preferred online payment method in the coming years, according to the FIS Global Payments Report 2021. Buy now, pay later (BNPL) also thrived over the past year, rising nearly 78% to account for 1.6% of ecommerce spend.

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NEWS: SML RFID Delivers 98% Inventory Accuracy to Gina Tricot

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.

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NRF: Retail Sales Rose 17.7% YoY in March as Recovery Accelerated

Retail TouchPoints

As COVID-19 vaccine rollouts continued and government checks generated more spending power, retail sales rose 17.7% YoY and 7.4% from February 2021 in March 2021 according to data from the National Retail Federation (NRF). The Census Bureau’s outlook was even rosier, with estimates putting monthly retail sales 27.7% higher YoY and 6.7% over the previous month.

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Why Low-Code is Gaining Popularity with Retailers

Retail TouchPoints

The low-code application development wave is absorbing more retailers — and rightfully so. Retailers face an ever-escalating need for customized and differentiated applications that can push innovation and keep customers engaged. Actually developing them, as retailers are well aware, usually requires significant time and a technical team that’s hard (read: expensive and slow) to come by.

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Braintree Village announces the opening of regional debut for luxury brand Armani

Retail Focus

Landsec has announced that Italian luxury fashion brand Armani has opened its first-ever outlet in Essex at Braintree Village, in line with non-essential retail opening across the country. Spanning 1,889 sq ft, the new Armani store is next to Polo Ralph Lauren, joining other leading designer brands such as Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger, and Timberland all operating within Braintree Village.

Fashion 279
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Dollar General Chooses New Solution to Enhance Training During Hiring Surge

Retail TouchPoints

Dollar General is planning to hire 20,000 new employees in spring 2021 as it begins the process of opening 1,050 new stores , remodeling 1,750 existing locations and relocating 100 stores by the end of the year. To help onboard and guide both new and current employees, the retailer has entered an employee training partnership with Axonify. Dollar General will utilize the Axonify training platform and content marketplace to enable continuous, personalized business learning and development to its

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10 Ways to Leverage Buyer Signals and Drive Revenue

In today’s ultra-competitive markets, it’s no longer enough to wait for buyers to show obvious signs of interest. Instead, sales teams must be proactive, identifying and acting on nuanced buyer behaviors — often before prospects are fully ready to make a purchase. In this eBook from ZoomInfo & Sell Better, learn 10 actionable ways to use these buyer signals to transform your sales strategy and close deals faster.