Retail Gazette

JANUARY 10, 2024

Cash-strapped shoppers, unpredictable weather and an avalanche of loyalty schemes dominated headlines last year and the New Year is set to bring another year of instability for the retail sector. An influx of mixed Christmas trading updates show that retailers will need to work harder and smarter to win over shoppers in 2024. Retail Gazette takes a look at the key trends industry experts believe will shape retail in the year ahead.

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Wiser

JANUARY 8, 2024

Retail price checks, an essential aspect of retail, involve monitoring and updating the prices of goods within a store. However, with the sheer volume of products and the rapid fluctuations in market trends, this can be an overwhelming task. In the pursuit of competitive pricing and high customer satisfaction, these checks must be accurate, efficient, and consistent across all locations.

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Retail TouchPoints

JANUARY 11, 2024

Generative AI has put the retail industry at yet another inflection point. 2023 was a period of experimentation for retailers, and many thoroughly assessed where this new technology could have the biggest impact. As the use cases for this technology have become more clear, in 2024 we’ll see generative AI step into the arena as retailers move from experimentation to production, unlocking both efficiency and revenue opportunities — securely and at scale.

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Retail Dive

JANUARY 10, 2024

The spread of misinformation, toxic user bases and the prevalence of bots is leading to a perceived decline in platforms, according to Gartner.

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Advertiser: ZoomInfo

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.

Consumer

Inside Retail

JANUARY 10, 2024

Japan’s Fast Retailing Co said on Thursday that strong overseas sales drove a 25 per cent rise in first quarter operating profit, as the Uniqlo operator charts a third-straight year of record earnings. Profit was US$1.01 billion in the three months through November compared with $805.159 a year earlier. The consensus forecast was for $948.193 yen, according to the average estimate of five analysts surveyed by LSEG.

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Retail TouchPoints

JANUARY 8, 2024

Ever since a bold, mob-style group ransacked a California Nordstrom , we’ve seen increasing news of retail theft and loss. We’ve also witnessed an increase in retail earnings reports that cite shrink and organized retail crime (ORC) as the cause for reduced profitability compared to previous quarters. Yet despite the growing frequency of ORC, retailers would be remiss to focus their loss prevention efforts solely on these brazen, smash-and-grab scenarios.

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Retail Gazette

JANUARY 8, 2024

More than 10,000 shops closed down in 2023, with almost 120,000 retail jobs lost according to figures from the Centre for Retail Research. The figures showed a total of 119,405 retail jobs were lost and 10,494 stores shuttered during the period. Store closures were down 38.8% compared to 2022 – retail’s worst year for store closures since 2008 – while the number of redundancies in 2023 fell by 21.3%.

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Retail Dive

JANUARY 8, 2024

From economic pressures weighing on consumers to relocating stores away from malls, here’s what’s on retailers’ minds heading into the new year.

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Retail TouchPoints

JANUARY 10, 2024

As we step into 2024, the retail industry is poised for a transformative year at brick-and-mortar locations, marked by innovative product trends that marry functionality with aesthetics. Industry thought leaders Harrison Horan of Banker Wire, Zach Adams of Bjelin and Jason Bird of Luxxbox explore the key design trends set to shape the retail space in the coming year. 1.

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Inside Retail

JANUARY 10, 2024

Woolworths Group will not be selling any Australia Day-themed merchandise this year due to a decline in demand for such products and a shift in cultural sensitivity. Woolworths Group – which includes Big W – said it made the decision in response to “broader discussions” about January 26th and its meaning to the country’s diverse communities.

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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

Fulfillment

Retail Wire

JANUARY 8, 2024

Are you someone who enjoys adventure and wouldn't mind touring the country in one of America's most iconic vehicles? If yes, you might be one of the people Oscar Mayer is seeking.

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Tokinomo

JANUARY 9, 2024

"Omnichannel" – you've probably heard this term a lot, in meetings, online, maybe even used it yourself. It's become a buzzword, but what does it really mean? In this article, we're going to clear up the confusion. We'll explain exactly what omnichannel commerce is, and how it's different from multichannel and single-channel commerce.

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Retail TouchPoints

JANUARY 10, 2024

Lowe’s has launched a new loyalty program for “DIYers” that will sit alongside its existing MVP loyalty program for home improvement professionals. The new MyLowe’s Rewards program will offer do-it-yourself customers exclusive savings on items they need for their homes and allow them to earn rewards toward future purchases. “Lowe’s has been serving DIY customers for more than 100 years, and now we’re rewarding their longtime loyalty by offering even more value when then they shop wit

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Inside Retail

JANUARY 10, 2024

Chuck E Cheese is to expand its footprint into Australia through a multi-store partnership with Royale Hospitality Group. Headquartered in Texas, the American family entertainment restaurant brand was launched in 1977 by Atari co-founder Nolan Bushnell. The company has recently been expanding into new markets including in Asia and Europe and has almost 600 stores worldwide.

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Customer Experience

Retail Wire

JANUARY 9, 2024

Sonic Drive-In, the popular fast-food chain, is introducing a new combination to its menu: a peanut butter and bacon cheeseburger.

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Retail Focus

JANUARY 11, 2024

The all-new Samsung Experience Store (SES) in Westfield London will be open seven days a week, featuring the widest range of Samsung mobile, tablet and wearable products currently available to buy. This will be Samsung’s fourth experience store in London, operated by Partner Retail Services Limited (PRS&), the operator of the Samsung Experience Stores in the UK.

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Retail TouchPoints

JANUARY 12, 2024

Coachtopia , the circular fashion sub-brand of Coach, has launched a new documentary web series designed to educate consumers about the impact of fashion’s growing waste problem and how the budding brand is tackling it head-on. The Road to Circularity , hosted by sustainable fashion advocate and Coachtopia community member Aditi Mayer, brings consumers behind the scenes of the brand.

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Inside Retail

JANUARY 8, 2024

Australian size-inclusive intimates brand Nala has launched its newest product, which will expand its size range created exclusively for J cups. The Support Wirefree Bralette, which was released this week, is intended to give a solution for women with larger busts. The line features a blend of recycled mesh and plant-based signature fabric, available in black and ‘desert dust’ Nala discovered a market niche for women with larger bust sizes and launched a size-inclusive lingerie sol

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Retail Wire

JANUARY 10, 2024

Walmart is stepping up to redefine commerce and shopping expectations with its latest tech arsenal.

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Tokinomo

JANUARY 8, 2024

Happy New Year! In this first Weekly Snacks edition for 2024 we’ll show you the best ads and campaigns at the moment, retail trends and technology to keep an eye on, and opinions from experts that will help you.

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Retail TouchPoints

JANUARY 9, 2024

CMOs are working with limited spending power, prompting a critical examination of resource allocation and a quest for cost-effective yet high-impact solutions. Gartner reveals that 71% of CMOs believe they lack sufficient budgets to fully execute on advertising strategies, and GroupM expects U.S. ad spending to increase 5.1% in 2024, lower than India, China, Germany and Brazil.

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Inside Retail

JANUARY 8, 2024

Craveable Brands has named Ben Simmons as the new marketing director for Oporto Australia, effective from late last year. Simmons was previously the GM of marketing and operations for Taco Bell at Restaurant Brands Australia and the senior marketing manager at KFC. Simmons has 20 years of marketing and fast food business experience, having previously worked for companies such as Kit Kat, Uncle Toby’s, and Diet Coke in Australia and the UK.

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Advertiser: ZoomInfo

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.

Planning

Retail Wire

JANUARY 9, 2024

SHEIN, a major player in the fast-fashion e-commerce world, is reportedly exceeding $30 billion in annual sales.

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Retail Focus

JANUARY 11, 2024

‘Muted’ Golden Quarter fashion sales were buoyed by a Black Friday boost to order volumes, while fashion revenues rose +6% compared to 2022 in December, the latest data from True Fit, the leading AI platform that decodes size and fit for consumers and apparel and footwear retailers. True Fit’s Fashion Genome , the world’s largest connected data set for apparel and footwear, which brings together the preferences of 82 million active shoppers and 20,000+ brands, showed that while demand (order vo

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Retail TouchPoints

JANUARY 12, 2024

As 2024 advances, the importance and reach of paid social media advertising will only continue to grow. For online retailers that want to stay relevant and competitive, it’s important to stay on top of the latest trends and strategies. Here are six social commerce trends you should be aware of to maximize your results and drive growth in the coming year, based on insights from Multichannel Marketing Report 2023 by DataFeedWatch, a comprehensive analysis of the global ecommerce landscape ba

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Inside Retail

JANUARY 9, 2024

Pureplay fashion retailer The Iconic has committed to refund customers after fraudulent orders were made on their accounts. The online merchant said that it saw an increase in fraudulent login attempts on its site but denied any data breach, or ‘hack’ “We have recently seen an increase in fraudulent account login attempts on The Iconic, which our security and fraud teams continue to actively manage, in conjunction with our security partners,” a spokesperson said in a stat

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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.

Accounting

Retail Wire

JANUARY 8, 2024

The much-anticipated billion-dollar court trial determining whether Berkshire Hathaway used improper accounting techniques in their purchase of the Haslam family's minority stake in Pilot Travel Centers was surprisingly canceled. Instead of a trial, the two sides have agreed to a settlement, though the terms were not disclosed to the public.

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Retail Focus

JANUARY 10, 2024

Braintree Village has welcomed its first new store of the year at the Essex-based outlet. Monsoon, nestled in-between Sunglass Hut and Molton Brown, will stock a range of womenswear and childrenswear collections by the British high-street favourite at discounted outlet prices. The much-loved brand is known for its elegant silhouettes, colourful prints and beautiful attention to detail, with garments designed in-house and sourced ethically from around the world.

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Retail TouchPoints

JANUARY 10, 2024

There’s been a lot of talk recently about retailers reporting lower-than-expected earnings due to inventory shrinkage. What does this mean exactly? According to the Corporate Finance Institute , “Inventory shrinkage occurs when the number of products in stock are fewer than those recorded on the inventory list. The discrepancy may occur due to clerical errors, goods being damaged or lost, or theft from the point of purchase from a supplier to the point of sale.

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Inside Retail

JANUARY 8, 2024

Black Friday sales pushed Australian retail sales up by 2.2 per cent to $36.51 billion in November last year, Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) data showed. The cafes, restaurants, and takeaway category climbed 4.3 per cent to $5.41 billion while the food category increased 2.8 per cent to $14.26 billion, which Australian Retailers Association (ARA) CEO Paul Zahra said reflects how consumers prioritise essentials amid a cost-of-living crisis. “Shoppers are increasingly feeling the crun

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Customer Experience