Sat.Apr 05, 2025 - Fri.Apr 11, 2025

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Why Apps Are Vital for Businesses in the Retail Industry and Beyond

Retail Focus

Mobile applications have evolved from optional niceties to essential tools for industry. Whether you are an individual retailer or a multinational concern, a hospital or a theme park, app technology has ushered in a new era of customer service in our digital age. No traditional retail sector has been overlooked; in this period of print and online simultaneity, all businesses with aspirations toward a larger scale have had their horizons widened by technology.

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How Retailers can Find Balance When Consumers are Polarized on Social Issues

Retail TouchPoints

In today’s polarized landscape, companies face complex decisions when it comes to taking a stance on social values. When brands like Target and Amazon announced they would deprioritize company DEI efforts, social media erupted with boycott threats and planned blackouts. Conversely, companies like Costco doubled down on DEI efforts , and social media feeds became filled with consumers signing up for memberships.

Consumer 147
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Easter Shopping Blackout: Here’s a List of All the Stores Closed on April 20

Retail Wire

The Easter shopping blackout will close several retail stores on Easter Sunday.

Shopping 299
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How Tara McKeon built Proud Poppy into a $20m brand with community at heart

Inside Retail

Inside Retails Top 50 People in E-Commerce , presented by Australia Post, is an annual ranking of the most impressive and inspiring leaders in Australias online retail industry. Over the coming weeks, we will be profiling this years Top 10. Here, we speak with #8, Tara McKeon, founder of Proud Poppy Clothing, about creating an inclusive fashion label, how social media plays a role in the customer experience and what’s next for her $20 million lifestyle brand.

ATS 147
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A Roadmap For Modernization: How To Break Free From Your Monolith Before July 31, 2026

Speaker: Jason Cottrell and Gireesh Sahukar

Retailers know the clock is ticking–legacy SAP Commerce support ends in 2026. Legacy platforms are becoming a liability burdened by complexity, rigidity, and mounting operational costs. But modernization isn’t just about swapping out systems, it’s about preparing for a future shaped by real-time interactions, AI powered buying assistants, and flexible commerce architecture.

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How to Reverse Declining Customer Satisfaction

Hyken

One of our subscribers asked, How can I reverse our companys declining customer satisfaction ratings? Not knowing specifics about the company, its customer feedback, how long the scores have declined, and other details makes it a difficult question to answer. Still, I felt compelled to share something that could help. What I came up with is a list of three to-dos that any company should use to find out whats causing a downward trend.

More Trending

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Why SEO matters for physical retail stores in 2025

Retail Focus

Retail has changed. Customers still buy in-store, but they start their journey online. They search on Google, chats with ChatGPT, compare options, and check opening hours before stepping out. If your store doesnt show up in those search results, you lose the sale before it begins. SEO makes sure your retail business appears where customers are looking.

Shopping 130
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The new era of generative AI-driven search: What retailers need to know

Inside Retail

As FMCG and retail sectors continue to grapple with the advent of digital integration, AI platforms are reinventing how businesses interact with customers. Generative AI platforms, including ChatGPT, Gemini and Perplexity, are rapidly becoming integral to consumer research. This integration poses a new challenge for Australian businesses on how to stay prominent and reputable in a landscape where AI, not traditional search engines, is increasingly driving purchasing decisions. “The shift i

Consumer 237
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Deliveroo unveils white label delivery service with Tesco’s Whoosh as first partner

Retail Gazette

Deliveroo has launched a new white label solution, named Deliveroo Express, designed for grocers and retailers in the UK and Ireland, enabling them to offer rapid, on-demand delivery through their own online channels. The service marks a major expansion of the delivery giant’s grocery offering, which now accounts for 16% of the companys gross transaction value (GTV), following strong double-digit growth.

Grocer 116
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How Macy’s is Elevating Emerging Designers Amid Talent Pipeline Challenges

Retail TouchPoints

The fashion industry faces a talent shortage that is leaving landmark centers for the sector ( like Manhattan ) struggling to maintain their prestigious reputations. However, retailers like Macys have developed new programs and initiatives to engage emerging talent, not only to bring them into their own pipelines but also to support the future health of the industry.

Fashion 179
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Humans + Agents = Rethinking Enterprise Commerce with AI

AI agents already analyze trends, draft content, and trigger actions across leading commerce platforms. Yet most organizations still rely on workflows built for human‑only teams, losing speed, margin, and customer loyalty. Humans + Agents: Rethinking Enterprise Commerce in the Age of AI Collaboration shows how to close that gap. In one concise read you’ll see where agent gains surface first, how early adopters prove ROI, and which lean controls keep innovation moving without risking data or bran

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A Complete Guide to Selling an Inherited Property in Blackheath

Retail Focus

Inheriting a property in Blackheath can be both a blessing and a challenge. While it offers the potential for financial gain, navigating the legal and emotional aspects can be complex. Understanding the steps involved in selling an inherited property helps to simplify the process and ensures that you achieve the best possible outcome. Assessing the Condition of the Property The first step is to assess the condition of the inherited property.

Marketing 130
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GRB expansion continues as Steven Lew acquires tableware brand Salt&Pepper

Inside Retail

Global Retail Brands (GRB) is set to acquire the brands and operating assets of the Australian tableware chain, Salt&Pepper. Salt&Peppers retail, online and wholesale operations will be included in the acquisition, expected to be completed by April 15. GRB will operate all 25 Salt&Pepper retail stores, and the nearly 220 existing team members will be retained post-sale.

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BOXHALL City is now open, providing a new food hall destination to London

A1 Retail

BOXHALL City, the new elevated food hall concept from BOXPARK, is now open to the public. The heritage venue opposite Liverpool Street station is home to 13 exciting dining experiences, as well as two bars with a curated wine, cocktail and mindful drinks offer and live entertainment. The food hall also features a chef residency space for established and emerging talent to host exciting menu concepts, called Kitchen No. 8.

Location 107
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Amazon Aims to Increase its Gravitational Pull with New Shopping Features

Retail TouchPoints

Amazon has successfully established itself as the starting point for many shoppers online searches, edging in on turf previously dominated by platforms such as Google. The first big move that Amazon made to gain this ground was vastly expanding its product assortment which now encompasses hundreds of millions of products primarily through the addition of third-party sellers.

Shopping 147
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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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Chiswick Property Prices Drop 20% as Flat Sales Surge and Larger Homes Stay Off Market

Retail Focus

The Chiswick property market has witnessed a remarkable shift over the past year, with property prices in the sought-after W4 postcode dropping by around 20%. This decline, however, is not necessarily due to a widespread fall in individual property values. Instead, it is a consequence of changing buyer preferences, with an increased number of flat sales dominating the market while larger family homes remain off the market.

Marketing 130
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Designerex resumes trading amid ‘significant’ investor interest 

Inside Retail

Designer dress sharing platform Designerex has resumed trading after entering voluntary administration last month. The company said it had received significant interest from multiple parties in acquiring or investing in its business. This interest reinforces both the brands proven value and the increasing appetite for sustainable, circular fashion models, Designerex added.

Checkout 205
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John Lewis rolls out in-store repair service nationwide

Retail Gazette

John Lewis is expanding its repairs and alterations services in partnership with Timpson across all its stores. From today, customers will be able to drop off their clothing, accessories and a selection of homeware items to be cleaned, repaired or altered in any of the department stores locations around the UK. It follows a successful trial with Timpson Group owned-Johnsons across five of its branches last year, including Oxford, Liverpool, Cheadle, Milton Keynes and Welwyn.

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With Store Expansion on the Agenda, Princess Polly Doubles Down on its ‘Trendsetter’ Reputation

Retail TouchPoints

Princess Polly positions itself right in the center of the Gen Z zeitgeist, and its newest physical location also has surrounded itself with young brands. The SoHo neighborhood housing the retailers newest flagship includes a Garage , a MINISO and an Edikted a perfect amalgamation of trendy retailers that embrace all things youth culture The 7,809-square-foot space is Princess Pollys largest to date, and its a perfect encapsulation of how the brand aims to provide fun yet affordable fashions to

Fashion 147
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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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The Role of Branding in the Success of Modern Casinos

Retail Focus

Branding is more than just a logo or a catchy slogan. In todays competitive landscape, branding is a powerful force that shapes the identity and success of modern casinos. Whether its an established giant or a new player in the industry, branding is the key element that determines whether a casino thrives or fades into obscurity. The casino industry has come a long way from its humble beginnings.

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Retailers look to Easter holidays for sales boost

Inside Retail

The Australian Retailers Association (ARA) expects higher spending across food, travel and DIY projects during the upcoming Easter holiday, which will boost the national retail economy. According to data from the ARA and Roy Morgan, 6.2 million Australians are planning to use the Easter break for DIY projects around the home. Nationwide spending for this sector is projected to increase 27 per cent year-on-year to $6.7 billion.

Planning 243
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Superdrug rolls out 500 high-tech digital screens to enhance in-store experience

Retail Gazette

Superdrug is introducing around 500 digital screens across its UK store estate as part of its ongoing strategy to modernise its physical retail offering and deliver tailored content to customers in real time. The health and beauty retailer said the high-tech screens will help transform its stores into dynamic advertising platforms, allowing suppliers to target the right customer, with the right advert, at the right time.

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Building Tomorrow’s Retail IT: Strategies for 2025 and Beyond

Retail TouchPoints

For 2025 and beyond, the emphasis on change in strategy to ensure a healthy consumer base for UK retailers is, unsurprisingly, requiring retail leaders to invest more in digital retail than ever before. Retail sales, adjusted for the inclusion of Black Friday, fell by 0.3% month-on-month in December , as reported by the ONS (Office for National Statistics), despite initial predictions.

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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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M Core welcomes Character.com to M Cwmbran

Retail Focus

M Core is pleased to have welcomed leading clothing and accessories retailer Character.com to M Cwmbran, further strengthening the shopping centres diverse retail offering. Character.com, known for its extensive range of high-quality character-branded products, from childrenswear and adult clothing to homeware, toys, and games has signed a five-year lease on a 5,196 sq ft unit at the South Wales shopping destination.

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Liquidation sale response sparks optimism for Jeanswest’s online-only future

Inside Retail

Sales volumes and consumer sentiment towards the collapsed fashion chain Jeanswest have encouraged the administrators as they look to the brand morphing into a pure-play online retailer. Weve seen huge spikes in foot traffic and online sales, which has been the best possible result as we get the business ready to be restructured as an online operation, said Lindsay Bainbridge, one of the three administrators appointed by Jeanswests parent company last month.

Fashion 165
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DHL eCommerce opens new site in Newcastle

A1 Retail

DHL eCommerce UK today announces the opening of a new site in Newcastle, designed to boost capacity to meet customer demand across the North East. The 55,000 sq ft site will handle up to 15,000 parcels each day. The development follows the opening of DHLs Coventry Hub last month, with both forming part of DHL eCommerce UKs 482m investment into its UK infrastructure.

Location 102
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WHSmith Moves to Cloud-Based Tech Model to Support North American Expansion

Retail TouchPoints

Travel retailer WHSmith North America has moved its merchandising, inventory management and sales audit solutions from an on-premises to a cloud-based model as it prepares to drive growth in North America with a significant pipeline of new stores. WHSmith has upgraded to the latest SaaS version of these solutions from Aptos and also added Aptos Analytics to help it gain a more comprehensive view of enterprise-wide data.

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Cut Costs & Complexity: Smarter Fulfillment for Home, Furniture & DIY Brands

Late deliveries. Split shipments. Spiraling freight costs. For home, furniture, and DIY brands, fulfillment has never been more complex—or more critical. This report outlines how a smarter, AI-ready order management system (OMS) helps you reduce shipping costs, streamline project-based fulfillment, and ensure accurate inventory across every channel.

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Payday Loans for Bad Credit: Helping You Move Forward with Confidence

Retail Focus

In today’s fast-paced world, financial stability can sometimes seem like a distant goal. Many people find themselves in situations where they need immediate financial assistance but face the challenge of having poor credit. Fortunately, there is a lifeline available in the form of payday bad credit loans. These loans are designed to provide quick access to cash, empowering those with less-than-perfect credit histories to navigate financial hurdles with greater confidence.

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How three Aussie retailers with a US presence are navigating the market now

Inside Retail

The new US tariffs policy has sent shockwaves through international trade, disrupting supply chains and creating challenges for virtually every business operating across borders, including many Australian retailers that sell in the US. Australian retailers now face a 10 per cent tariff on goods sent directly to the US. Those manufacturing in China and exporting to the US are hit harder, with a steep 125 per cent tariff on Chinese manufactured products on top of an existing 20 per cent duty, sign

Marketing 165
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Costco Projected To Be ‘Tariff Winner’ if Inflation, Reactionary Tariffs Continue: Expert

Retail Wire

Costco continues to rack up wins.

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