Sat.Feb 03, 2024 - Fri.Feb 09, 2024

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Data Shows Customers Might be Resistant to AI Shopping Recommendations — Here’s what C-Suite Executives Should Know

Retail TouchPoints

For much of last year, AI seemed immune to the normal laws that govern the marketing hype cycle: expectations just kept on inflating. Of course, to any ecommerce veteran the inevitable deflation was visible from a mile away. But the form that deflation has taken is still fairly surprising. The technology, it turns out, largely functions as promised: AI is in fact quite good at making personalized recommendations.

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Restaurants and retailers expect better times ahead

Inside Retail

The latest edition of Square’s annual Future of Commerce report, prepared in collaboration with Wakefield Research, highlights a positive outlook for Australia’s restaurant and retail industries. “For businesses, the future is looking cautiously optimistic, and business owners say they’re looking to grow despite diverging consumer economic sentiment,” Matthew O’Connor, Head of Verticals and Platform at Square, said.

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Co-op rolls out AI tech and secure till kiosks amid shoplifting surge

Retail Gazette

Co-op is installing more than 200 secure till kiosks, locked cabinets for spirits and AI technology to monitor self-checkouts in a bid to tackle a rise in retail crime. It comes as the convenience chain reported shoplifting incidents in its stores had rocketed 48% last year, while abuse and harassment cases had surged 44%. Co-op has spent £200m on new security measures, including additional guards and undercover teams for crime hotspots, The Guardian reported.

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The Power of Branding in Driving Business Success

Tokinomo

In a world brimming with choices, where a stroll down a supermarket aisle presents a myriad of similar options, what compels a consumer to choose one brand over another? This is where the concept of brand power comes into play, transcending mere product attributes and delving into the realms of consumer trust, recognition, and emotional connection.

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Is Your Business AI-Ready? Find Out with Orium’s Maturity Model

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.

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The State of Gamification in Retail: How Brands Can Take Advantage

Retail TouchPoints

When creating an advertisement or a campaign, there is a clear number-one priority a brand needs to focus on: not just getting a consumer’s attention, but holding it. That can be difficult when the average consumer is bombarded with ads, but that is why brands are turning to interactivity to stand out amongst the clutter. In fact, 88% of marketers say interactive content helps brands differentiate themselves, while interactive content generates 52.6% more involvement than static content.

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Farfetch faces winding up petition amid claims founder ‘destroyed’ value to rush takeover

Retail Gazette

Farfetch is facing a winding up petition amid accusations its founder José Neves “destroyed its value” during the lead up to a £396m rescue deal in January. Creditors owed £316m, which is likely to be wiped out by the takeover, said there had been “serious deficiencies” in Farfetch’s governance in a winding up petition filed in the Cayman Islands.

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Interest Rate Cuts Incoming but Not Just Yet, Says Fed Chair

Retail Wire

According to Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, the time is nearing when interest rates will decrease. However, Americans need to wait just a little bit longer as the central bank wrestles with inflation.

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Meta Outlines Proactive Approach to Labeling AI-Generated Content

Retail TouchPoints

Content created with Meta ’s generative AI tools already automatically receives an “Imagined with AI” label, but the company has shared how it is working to create technical standards and signals to notify users on its platforms when any of the content they see has been created using AI. “As the difference between human and synthetic content gets blurred, people want to know where the boundary lies,” said Nick Clegg, President of Global Affairs at Meta in a blo g post.

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Myer expects lower sales, net profit amid challenging trading conditions

Inside Retail

Department store chain Myer expects fiscal first-half sales and net profit to decline year over year amid a challenging trading environment. The company forecasts sales to fall 3 per cent to $1.83 billion, despite online sales increasing 2 per cent to $390.1 million. Online sales account for 21.3 per cent of the retailer’s overall sales. Myer, however, flagged a marginal increase of 0.1 per cent in comparable sales. “To match our best first-half sales result on record, on a comparabl

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Last-mile technology, Shoppable ads, and Self-checkout - Weekly Snacks #90

Tokinomo

Campaign corner Reese’s Super Bowl teaser. The announcement of a significant alteration to Reese's iconic peanut butter cups has caught numerous people by surprise. One individual is particularly impacted by this revelation, dramatically exclaiming "NOOOOO!!!" as he stands on a tennis court, amidst a barrage of airborne tennis balls. The specifics of this contentious modification are set to be disclosed during the Super Bowl LVIII broadcast on February 11, 2024.

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

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.

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Uber Has Finally Become a Profitable Player

Retail Wire

Uber, the ride-hailing company, made headlines this week, announcing its first annual operating profit. This significant achievement marks an important turn in the firm's approximately 15-year journey, shedding light on its resilience and capacity for growth.

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With Retailers Thinking Like Media Owners, Media Owners Must Think Like Retailers

Retail TouchPoints

The growth of retail media networks (RMNs) in recent years has been impressive. As the world moves away from third-party identifiers, retailers are using their own channels to unlock the potential of their valuable shopper audiences — so much so that retail media is now the fourth-largest advertising medium, according to data from WARC. Media owners also have found their position in the advertising ecosystem changing as third-party tracking cookies deprecate.

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Beaurepaires store network to be closed – report

Inside Retail

Goodyear Dunlop Tyres Australia says it has “begun to evaluate different scenarios” for its business” but no decision has been made as to the future of its 100-strong network of Beaurepaires retail stores. News.com has reported the 102-year-old chain is set to close after a series of decisions in boardrooms in the US and Australia and the collapse of negotiations to sell the business to rival Bob Jane Corporation.

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EE opens new Gateshead Experience store in the Metrocentre with former Newcastle United legend Shay Given

Retail Focus

EE is today unveiling its latest Experience store alongside former Newcastle United legend Shay Given in the Metrocentre , Gateshead, one of Europe’s largest indoor mall-style shopping centres. The new store is the fourth of EE’s Experience stores and the first of more than ten brand-new EE Experience and Experience Local stores set to open in the UK over the next year.

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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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Hawaiian Airlines Adds In-Flight Wi-Fi With SpaceX’s Starlink

Retail Wire

Hawaiian Airlines is setting a precedent by providing free Wi-Fi facilitated by SpaceX's Starlink on its commercial flights. It is the first significant U.S. airline to provide this satellite-based service.

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Category Insights Report: Dollar Stores Redefine Themselves with Enhanced Merchandising and Mobile Apps

Retail TouchPoints

Once largely associated with lower-income households, dollar stores are now becoming retail staples even for more affluent households, inspiring retailers in these categories to invest more heavily in marketing, merchandising and technology innovation that will help them differentiate. This pivot has largely been driven by a more cautious and price-aware consumer: 80% of consumers indicate that the economy has slightly or significantly changed their shopping habits and behaviors, according to CI

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A nation of cheats? Two in five Aussies admit to indulging in returns fraud

Inside Retail

Nearly four in 10 Australians admitted to having either engaged in online return policy abuse or fraudulent behaviours themselves in the past year or know someone who has, according to a recent study. Returns management software Loop surveyed 1000 Australian online shoppers and discovered that 23 per cent of these respondents admitted to having worn or used an item purchased while planning to return it, doing so at least once a week.

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Safely Maintaining Moveable Walls

Retail Focus

Recognising the benefits of adaptable space, the retail sector has seen an increase in demand for moveable wall systems that allow the reconfiguration of a shop floor layout, or in a shopping centre, as a glass divide that can be opened out during the day. With such systems becoming integral to the smooth running of the retail outlet, emphasis must be placed on the maintenance and service of such systems, minimising the risk of unscheduled downtime, or a degradation of fire safety performance.

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eCommerce in 2025: How Customer Experience Drives Online Retail Success

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

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$3 Hash Brown at McDonald’s Is Not Going Down Well With Customers

Retail Wire

Hash browns from McDonald's might have been a popular choice in the past, but the $3 spiked-up price isn't as appetizing for customers.

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Saks Introduces a New Category — Electric Cars

Retail TouchPoints

Saks , the ecommerce counterpart of Saks Fifth Avenue , has launched a new partnership with luxury electric vehicle company Lucid across its website and stores. Saks will offer exclusive demo drive experiences of the Lucid Air at select Saks Fifth Avenue locations. (Image courtesy Lucid) Lucid now has a dedicated landing page and a homepage feature on Saks.com.

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First impressions count: why cardboard packaging has a big future in retail

Inside Retail

Usually – and especially for consumers shopping online – the first physical impression someone has of your brand is when they see it in its packaging. “So it’s vital to make that experience count,” explains Alexandria Jurcic, national marketing manager, at Australian corrugated cardboard and packaging specialist Abbe. “It is important to use your packaging for the advantage of your brand and brand messaging.

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Primark unveils plans to extend Metrocentre store

Retail Focus

Sovereign Centros has announced the signing of a significant upsize at Metrocentre for anchor tenant Primark. Adding 14,100 sq ft of trading space, the multinational fashion retailer has shown its commitment to the number one destination in the North East and top 5 UK super regional mall. Primark first joined Metrocentre nearly 20 years ago, before relocating into its current site in 2010.

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Is Your Brand AI-Ready? Find Out with Orium’s Maturity Model

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.

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Arm Hits a Home Run With Impressive Third-Quarter Earnings

Retail Wire

The tech company Arm announced its third-quarter earnings that exceeded expectations, promising a profitable forecast for the next quarter. This revelation immediately provoked a surge in Arm’s shares, which skyrocketed up to 41% in extended trading.

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How the Store of the Future will Track Shopper Behavior Ecommerce-Style

Retail TouchPoints

The digitization of brick-and-mortar stores is nothing new, but up until recently it has primarily been focused on surfaces in the store that are already digital: point-of-sale systems or back-of-house tasks like inventory management. As a result, as the science of commerce has evolved rapidly online, driving deeper personalization and more efficient deployment of marketing and logistics resources, the physical store environment has remained stubbornly analog.

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China’s Cotti Coffee launches in Australia 

Inside Retail

Chinese coffee chain Cotti Coffee has made its Australian debut with a takeaway outlet in Sydney. The store, located in the Cabramatta neighbourhood, offers a wide range of beverage selections including rice milk, coconut, and grapefruit-infused coffee. Cotti Coffee, founded in October 2022 by former Luckin Coffee executives Charles Lu and Jenny Qian, currently has over 6000 outlets in China and has expanded into 11 international countries.

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The Adoption of Pop-Up Stores by Luxury Brands

Retail Focus

Ghalia BOUSTANI. Senior Retail Consultant at Univers Retail | Published author | Visiting lecturer. The concept of pop-up stores has a rich and diverse history, stemming from various cultural and commercial phenomena spanning centuries. Its origins can be traced back to the vibrant European Christmas markets, notably the Vienna December market in 1928, which showcased temporary installations and seasonal merchandise, laying the foundation for the temporary retail experience.

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How to Maximize Amazon Sales and Crush the Competition

With over 9 million sellers on Amazon, online marketplaces are more crowded than ever. Whether you’re looking to fine-tune prices in real-time or align strategies across channels, this guide provides the tools to understand how to maximize sales and secure a lasting competitive edge. Download now to transform your pricing strategy and drive holiday success.

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Google Rebrands AI Chatbot Bard to Gemini and Rolls Out New App Offering

Retail Wire

Google has revealed a big rebrand of its artificial intelligence chatbot and assistant, Bard. The program will now be called Gemini.

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Luxury Brands Including Kering, Neiman Marcus Flee Farfetch in Wake of Sale to Coupang

Retail TouchPoints

Gucci and Yves Saint Laurent parent company Kering is pulling its brands off the Farfetch luxury marketplace, and Neiman Marcus Group is pulling out of a 2022 deal with the company that would have seen Farfetch manage the website and app of Bergdorf Goodman while also selling the department store chain’s wares on the Farfetch marketplace, multiple sources report.

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‘Unsustainable’: Toys ‘R’ Us ANZ sells UK business

Inside Retail

Toys ‘R’ Us ANZ has decided to exit its UK business, citing an unsustainable business model and its negative impact on the group’s overall performance. Toys ‘R’ Us ANZ said that the UK division needs about $7 million of initial working capital to fund the expansion, which was expected to result in an initial operating loss of $6 million in the first 12 months.

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John Lewis Partnership and top photographer launch LGBT+ History Month exhibition

Retail Times

Retail Times publishes international & UK retail news covering products, data, tech, packaging, people, research, comment and more besides! In a project to celebrate LGBT+ History Month, the renowned photographer Chris Jepson has partnered with the John Lewis Partnership, for part of a series exploring identity in the queer community. Partners (employees) at John Lewis and Waitrose posed for portraits by Chris, which will be displayed in bespoke exhibitions throughout the year.

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Pricing for Profit: How to Set, Negotiate, and Succeed

Speaker: Igli Laci, Strategic Finance Leader

In today’s competitive market, pricing is more than just a number — it’s the cornerstone of profitability. The right pricing strategy ensures that you capture the true value of your offering, paving the way for sustainable growth and long-term success. Join Igli Laci, Strategic Finance Leader, in this exclusive session where he will explore how a well-crafted pricing approach balances customer perception with business objectives, creating a powerful tool for securing both competitive advantage a