Sat.Apr 20, 2024 - Fri.Apr 26, 2024

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What China’s latest retail sales reveal about changing consumer spending

Inside Retail

Reporting by the business media of retail sales and other economic data produced by governments in developing Asia is often too trusting. The official numbers are usually reported unquestioningly, yet they can be deeply flawed for a number of reasons. Occasionally it is worth reminding ourselves that they need to be taken with a pinch of salt, sometimes a handful of it.

Consumer 147
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Why my Retail Finance Team Loves AI

Retail TouchPoints

For me, the great thing about working in finance is getting to make decisions that touch all aspects of the organization. Finance really places you at the center of everything, where decisions you make play a pivotal role in sustaining long-term business success. That is, at least, the theory. The reality is that, for teams that rely heavily on manual workflows, financial management can be not just burdensome but downright soul-sucking.

Finance 278
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Spotify Faces Disruptions After Layoffs

Retail Wire

During Spotify's recent earnings call, CEO Daniel Ek acknowledged that the company's decision to lay off employees last December had a more substantial impact on operations than initially anticipated.

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The Backroom: With more closures ahead, what’s next for Macy’s?

Retail Dive

Under a new CEO, the iconic department store is fielding a $6.6 billion takeover offer, shuttering another 150 stores and fighting to stay relevant.

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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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Top Global Artificial Intelligence Markets

LS Retail

©iStock/Adrian Vidal This report, " Top Global Artificial Intelligence Markets ," presents a brief overview of top Al global hubs outside the United States. Each country includes an Al ecosystem overview, government incentives and policies, education and research institutions, leading events, and industry groups. The initial markets for this report were selected based on global rankings, the highest number of Al companies concentrated there, venture capital, and related research institutions.

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AI and the Art of Non-Linear Customer Experience

Retail TouchPoints

In the not-so-distant past, customer experience (CX) was a straight line — a predictable journey from point A (the customer’s question) to point B (the company’s answer). However, as retail landscapes evolved and consumer demands became more sophisticated, this linear approach showed limitations. Welcome to the future of retail, where the checkout lines are virtual, the service is personal and the experience is anything but linear.

More Trending

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Asic orders Urban Rampage stores to end Centrepay credit arrangements

Inside Retail

Clothing and homewares retailer Urban Rampage has been ordered by the Australian Securities & Investments Commission (Asic) to stop offering Centrepay credit arrangements at its stores. Operated by Coral Coast Distributors, Urban Rampage has stores at 10 locations in regional and remote locations across Western Australia, the Northern Territory and Queensland.

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2024 VM and Display Show: A Fusion of Creativity, Sustainability, and Retail Innovation

Retail Focus

The 2024 Visual Merchandising and Display Show, hosted on April 16-17 at the Business Design Centre in London, provided a comprehensive look at the future of engaging retail spaces through innovative design and display. The exhibition showcased an incredible range of products and technologies designed to redefine the potential of physical retail spaces.

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How Bark is Creating Products and Experiences that Pups (and Pup Parents) Love

Retail TouchPoints

Americans spent $136.8 billion on their pets in 2022, up from $123.6 billion in 2021, according to the American Pet Products Association. Half of these pet-owning households are run by millennials and Gen Zers, who don’t just look at their pets as “furry friends” but as their children. Bark is one company that is laser-focused on engaging these pet lovers — specifically, pup parents.

Wholesale 278
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Home Depot Holds Halfway to Halloween Sale: Skelly’s Back

Retail Wire

It's halfway to spooky season, and Home Depot is celebrating.

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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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Coles taken to task over ‘discount’ promotions consumers don’t understand

Inside Retail

Coles has the most confusing promotional labels, consumer advocacy group Choice said as it calls for supermarkets to make their tags clear and easy to understand for shoppers. Choice found in a survey that Coles’ ‘Down Down’ and ‘While Stocks Last’ labels confused shoppers as to whether the item was marked down or not. Meanwhile, shoppers are also confused on Woolworths’ ‘Prices Dropped’ label, unsure if the product was already discounted.

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Bluewater becomes home to the largest Oliver Bonas store in Kent

Retail Focus

Bluewater has announced that lifestyle brand, Oliver Bonas, will be opening at the Kent-based shopping and leisure destination on Saturday 20 th April. The 3,272sq ft store will be brand’s largest in Kent and will be located on the Lower Guildhall opposite John Lewis. What’s more, the new Bluewater store will have the widest selection of products available in the region.

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Ikea Creates Training Ecosystem to Support AI Literacy for 3,500 Employees

Retail TouchPoints

Ingka Group , parent company of Ikea Retail , has set ambitious targets for boosting the AI literacy of its organization, including AI training for approximately 3,000 employees and 500 executives. The initiative will include a variety of courses, tailored to the needs of employees at various levels and in different phases of their AI journeys, with the overall goal of embedding a deep understanding of AI within the organization and ensuring that Ikea values are reflected in the ways the technol

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GM Reports Surge in Profit on Gas Car Sales

Retail Wire

Although General Motors has had trouble selling its electric cars, a recent report indicates that the increase in sales of gas-powered vehicles helped the company generate a profit.

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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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Myer sacks head office staff, outsourcing tech roles to India

Inside Retail

Department store Myer has laid off head office staff across its e-commerce and operations teams as it offshores functions to India. A Myer employee who requested anonymity told Inside Retail that Myer’s GM of e-commerce Lynna Barnard and chief customer officer Geoff Ikin oversaw the decision to implement the redundancies, which due to their suddenness left employees shocked.

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KIKO Milano Opens its Doors at Braehead

Retail Focus

Braehead, one of the UK’s most popular retail and leisure destinations, owned by property company SGS and asset managed by Global Mutual in conjunction with Savills as property managers, is pleased to welcome beauty brand, KIKO Milano, to the centre as the store opens its doors to customers. KIKO Milano, the Italian cosmetics brand, has opened a c.1,000 sq ft store stocking its range of beauty products including makeup, face and body treatments.

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JLL Rolls Out Virtual ‘Shopping Bestie’ in 13 Centers

Retail TouchPoints

JLL Retail Property Management has introduced a new virtual shopper agent named Cindy , designed to make the online experience more relevant and engaging at 13 of its shopping centers across the U.S. In addition to spotlighting the center’s sales and deals, Cindy gives consumers details on the latest fashion trends, acting as their exclusive “shopping bestie.

Shopping 277
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FTC Refunds Ring Customers $5.6 Million for Video Privacy Issues

Retail Wire

The FTC is giving back $5.6 million to consumers due to a settlement with Ring, an Amazon-owned company. The issue arose when Ring failed to protect customers' private video footage from unauthorized access.

Consumer 264
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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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Super Retail Group expects to face up to $50 million in legal proceedings

Inside Retail

Super Retail Group has warned shareholders that it expects two employees to jointly claim $30 million to $50 million in losses and damages in court proceedings lodged against the company. Harmers Workplace Lawyers will represent the two employees, whose complaints will include the non-disclosure of an intimate relationship between MD and CEO Anthony Heraghty and the former chief human resources officer Jane Kelly (who is not one of the claimants).

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Major brands invest in Derbion with new concept stores

Retail Focus

JD, New Look and Ann Summers are set to open new concept stores at Derbion, the Midlands retail and leisure destination, following a combined investment of over £5 million. The investment forms part of Derbion’s continuing growth strategy to reposition and support existing retailers alongside new lettings. By actively managing the centre, Derbion has unlocked space to ensure brands benefit from the optimum footprint and location to drive footfall and sales.

Location 147
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Walmart+ Members will Get First Dibs on New Products During 24-Hour Event

Retail TouchPoints

From 12 noon ET on Monday, April 29 through noon on April 30, the Walmart+ Early Access online sales event will offer program members a curated assortment of products new to Walmart — including Dolly Parton’s Rockin’ New Baking Collection, Doritos Flamin’ Hot Mystery Flavor, Pampers diapers and men’s and women’s shoes from Reebok. “Walmart+ members have shown significant engagement with our digital offerings, particularly in the grocery sector, so we’re excited to offer them a shopping event lik

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Walgreens Broadens Specialty Pharmacy Services for Cell and Gene Therapies

Retail Wire

Walgreens revealed its plans to collaborate directly with drug manufacturers to provide cell and gene therapies to patients in the U.S.

Planning 263
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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 four trends defining online retail in 2024

Inside Retail

Thanks to rapid innovations in supply chain management, AI technology and digital marketing, e-commerce is increasingly playing an integral role in the lives of everyday Aussies. With this momentum continuing into this year, it’s the perfect time for retailers to reexamine their strategies and restructure with growth and scale in mind. Four key trends stand out as high-growth opportunities for online retailers.

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Sensormatic Solutions showcases new, sustainable SPX AM Label designed to protect merchandise and the environment

Retail Focus

Sensormatic Solutions , the global retail solutions portfolio of Johnson Controls , today showcases a new, sustainable Acousto-Magnetic (AM) label designed to protect merchandise and the planet: the Sustainable SPX AM Label. With the new patent-pending label, the organisation replaced previous polystyrene with renewable, Forest Stewardship Council (FSC TM )-certified material, ultimately helping retailers with their sustainability objectives while safeguarding against shrink. “ Responsible reta

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TelevisaUnivision to Debut Shoppable TV Experience at Latin American Music Awards

Retail TouchPoints

Spanish-language media and content company TelevisaUnivision has partnered with Shopsense AI to make some of its programming, on both linear and streaming platforms, shoppable. Using onscreen QR codes and dedicated URLs, the Shopsense technology makes onscreen content shoppable via mobile devices by directing viewers to a show-specific digital store.

ATS 273
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Pink Sues Pharrell Williams Over ‘P.Inc’ Trademark

Retail Wire

Pink has filed a lawsuit against Pharrell Williams to prevent his plans to trademark the term "P.Inc.

Planning 260
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Master Off-Page SEO: Boost Traffic, Build Trust, and Drive Conversions

Off-page SEO is the key to building trust, attracting qualified traffic, and boosting conversions. This guide explores how to leverage backlinks, guest blogging, social media, and influencer marketing to expand your website’s reach and authority. Discover the synergy between on-page and off-page SEO, ensuring your site is optimized for success. Learn how to create valuable content, engage with online communities, and track your progress to fine-tune your strategy.

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Nick Scali to acquire Fabb Furniture to enter UK

Inside Retail

Furniture retailer Nick Scali is entering the UK market through acquiring Anglia Home Furnishings, trading as Fabb Furniture, for £3.5 million ($6.7 million). Nick Scali intends to pay $1 million to exercise the option to exit the existing distribution centre arrangement and inject up to $11.5 million of working capital. After the acquisition, Nick Scali said it plans to invest in the existing Fabb Furniture network, which will include store refurbishments and rebranding, setting up a new distri

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EE and Calm unite on new offering to ease in-store shopping stress

Retail Focus

EE is taking the stress out of shopping this Stress Awareness Month, by teaming up with Calm, the mental health brand with the #1 app for meditation, sleep and relaxation, to launch three new soothing soundscapes in EE’s UK-first Digital Spa. It comes as research from EE reveals that two-thirds of Brits (68%) prefer a relaxing and calm environment when shopping, with nearly two in ten (19%) admitting they find the in-store experience to be stressful.

Shopping 147
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Four Ways Retailers can Boost Retail Media Network Profitability

Retail TouchPoints

Retail media networks (RMNs) are rapidly becoming one of the most lucrative digital ad formats, with predictions suggesting that by 2028, RMNs will contribute to 15.4% of all ad revenue , outpacing television advertising. How can retailers capitalize on this shift and the emerging market opportunities? Here are four ways retailers can enhance the efficacy of their retail media network and boost profitability in the process: Venturing into Untapped Markets While some markets are already reaping t

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Whole Foods and Amazon Fresh Offer Unlimited Deliveries for $10 a Month

Retail Wire

Amazon has unveiled a new program that allows customers of both Whole Foods and Amazon Fresh to receive unlimited grocery delivery for just $10 per month.

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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