2025

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After the Christmas high comes the returns, here’s how to break the cycle

Inside Retail

Christmas and end-of-year sales are big business for retailers but they also drive enormous returns. The high volumes of unwanted gifts and remorseful sale purchases have implications beyond the bottom line the environmental impact of emissions, repackaging and damaged goods is becoming excessive. The Australia Institute projected an estimated $1 billion worth of unwanted Christmas gift waste in 2024, with 27 per cent of Australians expected to receive gifts they will not use.

Gifts 276
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natural elements and red brick engulf FG studio’s soup bun store in shanghai

Design Boom

below a skylight, an olive tree planted next to a serene water feature symbolizes vitality and growth, creating a meditative gathering zone. The post natural elements and red brick engulf FG studio’s soup bun store in shanghai appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.

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The Role of Visual Merchandising in Enhancing Sales Potential

Retail Focus

Visual merchandising is an essential tool for retailers aiming to boost sales and improve customer experience. It involves strategically presenting products in a physical space to engage customers and encourage purchases. This blog post will explore how effective visual merchandising can positively impact sales and offer practical tips retailers can implement to enhance their display tactics.

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Jeanswest collapses – all stores to be closed

Inside Retail

Casual fashion chain Jeanswest has been placed in voluntary liquidation with all 90 stores across Australia to be shuttered. The business’s owner, Harbour Guidance, which bought the brand out of administration in 2020, has appointed Lindsay Bainbridge, Andrew Yeo and David Vasudevan of Pitcher Partners Melbourne as administrators. However, in a statement issued Wednesday, Bainbridge said the brand and online store may continue to trade and “all restructuring options remain open”

Fashion 292
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AI In The Aisles: The Executives Guide To Better In-Store Experiences

Speaker: Steve Worthy, MBA

The rapid rise of AI-powered displays, touchless technology, and sensory marketing is reshaping the future of in-store engagement. Yet for many retail executives, the real challenge is not identifying new tools - it is knowing which signals to trust, which inputs to prioritize, and how to architect decisions that elevate in-store leadership rather than dilute it.

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How Mitre 10 personalised its e-commerce site for every store in its network

Inside Retail

As head of digital at Metcash’s Independent Hardware Group (IHG), the $2.1 billion business behind Mitre 10 and Home Hardware, Anna Kismet is a firm believer in using technology to solve unique business problems. One problem she has been working on since joining IHG in 2022 is how to manage the backend systems and processes for a business, Mitre 10, with over 500 stores that are all individually owned and operated. “From a technology point of view, you have multiple point-of-sale sys

Location 264
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How G-Star is recalibrating its local strategy for a post-Covid retail landscape

Inside Retail

After a four-year hiatus, G-Star Raw is poised to re-establish its presence in Australia and New Zealand, emerging from a turbulent chapter in the market. The Australian arm of the Dutch-founded denim giant, established in 1989, collapsed into voluntary administration in early 2020 as the advent of covid engulfed the market. G-Star Raws 57 outlets across the country closed their doors.

Strategy 264

More Trending

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Wesfarmers to wind down Catch, Kmart to acquire fulfilment centres

Inside Retail

Five years after acquiring the online marketplace for $230 million, Wesfarmers has decided to wind down Catch , citing a competitive Australian e-commerce landscape. “The recent increase in competitive intensity in the Australian e-commerce sector has affected Catch’s financial performance and growth prospects,” said Rob Scott, Wesfarmers MD. “In this environment, the Groups retail and health businesses, with their leading omnichannel offerings and trusted brands, are bet

Marketing 290
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Temu named fastest-growing website in Australia

Inside Retail

Temu has been ranked the fastest-growing website in Australia after recording a 72 per cent increase in unique visitors last year. The Chinese online marketplace took the top spot in Similarweb’s 2025 Digital 100 Australia report which measures the top 250 websites across various categories. Property.com.au and chatgpt.com were in second and third places, respectively.

Marketing 275
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Lululemon CEO on doubling the business and targeting 1000 stores

Inside Retail

Canadian activewear brand Lululemon Athletica aims to double its business through category, retail and market expansion and product innovation. CEO Calvin McDonald recently discussed the strategy with CNBC s Sara Eisen at the National Retail Federation conference in New York. Sara Eisen : I want to talk about you and your journey. Its hard to believe it’s been over six years [since you joined Lululemon], I remember when it happened.

Expansion 277
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Emotional burnout is climbing in retail – and the warning signs are clear

Inside Retail

As strenuous schedules, rising living costs and the trend of ‘poly-employment’ become entrenched realities, more retail workers are reporting stress, disengagement and emotional fatigue at the end of their shifts, and the industry is feeling the aftermath. A recent report by workforce management platform Deputy found that the emotional wellbeing of Australia’s shift workers is showing signs of strain, according to new data tracking post-shift sentiment.

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Breaking The Commerce Bottleneck: Your SAP Exit Plan Starts Now

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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Rebecca Vallance names new CEO – just six months after the last one

Inside Retail

Deborah Foreman will be taking on the role of CEO at Rebecca Vallance, effective June 30. In January, Peter Halkett was announced as the company’s new chief executive, but then announced a move to Oroton as its group CEO in June. Foreman will help the international fashion label unlock new opportunities and strengthen its global presence. “Rebecca Vallance is a truly inspiring brand known for its distinctive creative vision and international growth,” said Foreman.

Fashion 268
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Dion Lee reportedly rescued by US retail group

Inside Retail

Fashion brand Dion Lee has been sold to US-based Revolve Group, a year after it collapsed into administration. The Australian Financial Review reported that Dion Lees administrator DVT Group has sold the brands remaining assets, including its archives, to Revolve for under $1 million. Revolve did not respond to the AFRs request for comment. People close to the negotiations said the Nasdaq-listed group has been in discussions to buy the label since last year.

Fashion 269
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‘Ghost stores’ plaguing Australian consumers with false claims, warns ACCC

Inside Retail

Businesses misrepresenting themselves as Australian fashion retailers are defrauding Australian consumers, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission warns. The ACCC describes the scammers as so-called ‘ghost stores’, where operators falsely represent themselves as local Australian businesses that sell high-quality clothing and footwear and are imminently closing down.

Consumer 249
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Day two at NRF: Pattern Beauty, Tommy Hilfiger and the power of storytelling

Inside Retail

If you don’t have your narrative set, someone else will tell your story, said Katie Welch, the chief marketing officer of Rare Beauty. That was one of the key messages delivered on the second day of Retails Big Show, the National Retail Federations (NRF) annual conference and expo, which is being held in New York City this week. Major players in the retail industry like Tracee Ellis Ross, the founder and co-CEO of Pattern Beauty; Tommy Hilfiger, founder of the iconic eponymous apparel bran

Pattern 289
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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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Why One Mile caters to tall girls and is evolving with founder Sammy Robinson

Inside Retail

Sydney-based fashion brand One Mile was founded by Sammy Robinson in 2020 after a collaboration with another brand sparked the desire to have her own label. The coastal-inspired brand launched with a sell-out knitwear collection, and caters to an often overlooked taller female demographic. Recently One Mile opened its first boutique in Bondi Beach, which has seen the brands cult following frequent the space and sell out stock.

Boutique 278
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Athleisure is reshaping Australia’s retail leasing market. Here’s why

Inside Retail

Strong growth potential of athleisure brands is expected to drive up demand for prime retail tenancies, according to a report by CBRE. CBREs Fitness Becomes Fashion report shows that demand for athleisure clothing in Australia has been booming thanks to the rise of remote work, active lifestyles, social media and a generational shift. As a result, many brands have been looking to expand their online success into physical retail stores.

Marketing 249
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Blue Sky Kids Land fined $5 million for exploiting Chinese workers

Inside Retail

Children’s clothing retailer Blue Sky Kids Land has been fined more than $5.1 million for exploiting Chinese migrants. The company previously operated stores in Sydney, NSWs Central Coast, Newcastle and Canberra, according to the Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO). The penalties include a $4.3 million penalty against Blue Sky Kids Land, $760,000 against company director Guo Dong Gu, and $43,000 against company director Fei Rong Yang.

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Amazon is set to take off in Australia this year, get ready

Inside Retail

Amazon, the $2 trillion gorilla, arrived on our shores officially in December 2017, just in time for Christmas. And some seven years on, much to the dismay of retailers, it is now starting to shake the tree and become a real force in the market , as Australian shoppers increasingly turn to alternatives to manage the cost-of-living crisis. Amazon announced it posted over $3.1 billion in sales revenue (across cloud, advertising and marketplace sales) in calendar year 2023, up from $2.63 billion in

Expansion 240
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Staying Ahead of UFLPA Enforcement: Best Practices for Retail Supply Chains

Speaker: Ethan Woolley, Director at Kharon

This webinar will explore how companies can proactively address compliance risks–rather than reactively responding to–UFLPA enforcement actions. Ethan Woolley will provide insights into the latest CBP enforcement trends, entity list updates, and industries under increased scrutiny, with a look at potential shifts under the Trump administration. Ethan will also explore how predictive data and strategic due diligence can help organizations stay ahead of regulatory challenges and strengthen complia

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Why retailers must rethink their Meta and Google ad strategies in 2025

Inside Retail

The digitalisation of media has seen advertising budgets diverted towards social media campaigns and search engine marketing in Australia, 70 per cent of digital advertising spend goes to Meta and Google. For many retailers, these platforms have grown to consume the whole marketing funnel and their templated options have become the default. Metas advertising revenue in 2024 grew year-on-year, with ad impressions up 6 per cent across all platforms, however, price per ad increased by 14 per cent

Strategy 237
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SurfStitch website offline as shoppers await response on orders

Inside Retail

Australian online retailer SurfStitchs website has been down and inaccessible for at least two weeks with customers waiting on orders since last year, raising questions about whether the brand has ceased trading. The retailers website shows a blank page, while its mobile version shows a message stating that the site is currently undergoing maintenance and that it will be back soon.

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Black Friday boosts Australia’s November retail sales

Inside Retail

Australian retail sales saw significant year-on-year increase in November, largely attributed to the Black Friday sales. “Black Friday sales events proved once again to be a big hit, with widespread discounting and higher spending across all retail industries,” said Robert Ewing, head of business statistics at the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). “The popularity of Black Friday sales continues to grow with promotional activity now stretching across the entire month of Nov

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Mosaic Brands unlikely to repay suppliers and landlords

Inside Retail

Mosaic Brands will unlikely be able to pay its creditors, including suppliers and landlords, for goods and services supplied before October 28 last year, when the fashion retailer entered administration and receivership. Even secured creditors look to be out of pocket. “There is not expected to be sufficient funds from the realisation of assets to pay amounts owed to secured creditors in full,” said FTI Consulting, the voluntary administrators of Mosaic Brands.

Gifts 272
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Secrets of a Successful Sale: Optimizing Your Checkout Process

Speaker: David Nisbet, Everett Zufelt, and Michaela Weber

Once upon a time, in the vast realm of online commerce, there lived a humble checkout button overlooked by many. Yet, within its humble click lay the power to transform a mere visitor into a loyal customer. 🧐 💡 Getting checkout right can mark the difference between a successful sale and an abandoned cart, yet many businesses fail to make payments a part of their commerce strategy even when it has a direct impact on revenue.

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Frasers to take stake in Accent Group, fuelling expansion

Inside Retail

British retailer group Frasers will sign a deal to increase its stake in ASX-listed Accent Group, enabling further expansion nationwide. Frasers is set to raise its shareholding to 19.99 per cent from the 14.65 per cent it acquired from Brett Blundy in August , the Australian Financial Review reported. The new deal would allow the British giant to leverage Accents distribution network to establish a physical presence of Sports Direct in Australia.

Expansion 262
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How the AFC and RM Williams plan to kickstart fashion manufacturing in Australia

Inside Retail

The Australian Fashion Council (AFC) has teamed up with RM Williams to develop Australia’s first national manufacturing strategy for the fashion and textile industry. As part of the partnership, the AFC and RM Williams will conduct conversations with members of the industry in Adelaide, Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Perth to create a comprehensive roadmap to revive the sector’s onshore capabilities.

Fashion 246
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Woolworths profit falls 20.6 per cent amid strikes, changing consumer habits

Inside Retail

Woolworths Group booked lower profit in the first half, attributed to the 17-day industrial action impacting its supermarket business last December and a trend of customers seeking more value when shopping. The group’s net profit fell 20.6 per cent to $739 million after earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) slid 14.2 per cent to $1.45 billion.

Consumer 243
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The trademark dilemma: Protection vs priorities for Aussie retailers

Inside Retail

In Australias current retail terrain, an abundance of businesses may assume they are protected from copycatting and opportunistic competitors, simply because they have registered their business name with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission. According to franchising expert, Tereza Murray, this common misconception may result in an arduous and complex legal process, particularly for new business owners.

Form 235
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Brick & Mortar Retail Relevance: How to Stay Ahead of the Curve

Speaker: Jay Black, Senior Account Executive

Let's set the record straight: in-store retail isn't dead - it's evolving! Faced with the digital age and the demands of omnichannel shopping, some retailers are thriving while others are struggling to adapt. Join Jay Black in this exclusive session as he explores the strategies that set successful stores apart, including: Crafting unique and unforgettable in-store experiences 🛍️ Mastering the art of retail demands 🛒 Navigating inventory challenges in today's climate 📦 an

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Premier Retail forecasts lower sales in fiscal first half

Inside Retail

Premier Retail expects lower global sales in the fiscal first half, with Australian sales broadly flat compared to the year-ago period. The company forecasts global sales to be between $855 million and $865 million and underlying earnings before interest and taxes to be in the range of $160 million to $165 million. It estimates global sales of its apparel brands business to range from $405 million to $412 million and its underlying EBIT between $31 million and $35 million.

Apparel 264
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ABS data shows healthy rise in retail sales across Australia

Inside Retail

Australian retail sales rose by 4.3 per cent year on year in March, continuing a positive improvement in recent months. Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) data showed a rise of 0.3 per cent from February to March. While the steady growth is heartening, cost-of-living pressures and economic uncertainty continue to impact consumer behaviour,” said Australian Retailers Association chief industry affairs officer, Fleur Brown.

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‘Not just another beauty store’: Adore Beauty CEO on entering a crowded market

Inside Retail

Transitioning one of Australias leading beauty retailers from a pureplay e-commerce operation to a truly entrenched omnichannel business has been a really positive experience, Sacha Laing, Adore Beauty CEO, told Inside Retail. Becoming an integrated omnichannel retailer meant that a lot of the businesss back-end processes had to be re-engineered with its brand partners and internal teams.

Marketing 250
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How Henne is rethinking the in-store experience

Inside Retail

If the Apple store was a womenswear boutique, it would be Henne. The Australian fashion label delivers a unique in-store retail experience. Rather than stocking clothing in multiple sizes on shelves or racks for customers to try on and purchase, Everything that you see on display is just for display, Nadia Bartel, Hennes director, told Inside Retail.

Fashion 250
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Industry Shake-Up: 2023 Commerce Trends To Rock Your World

Speaker: Ashlee Aldridge - Reach Partners LLC | Bill Mirabito - Chameleon Collective | Ronak Shah - PSA Retail & CPG, Amazon Web Services | Wayne Teigen - Pivotree

What trends can online merchants expect after more than two years of exponential growth? Companies must expand on the trends that exploded during the pandemic if they want to see continued growth in their businesses while facing a recessionary economy. From social commerce to BOPIS, the name of the game is to meet and sell to customers wherever they are, through multiple channels.