Lessons in loyalty from a company with no customers
After working in ad agencies across retail clients for more than 20 years I moved to a startup. It was a fascinating place – innovative and very well-run. Still is. Beyond the wake-up call of an industry change, I found the startup mentality incredibly interesting and refreshing. Finding customers is one thing, but evoking a […]
Why Coles is doubling down on home brands at both ends of the price spectrum
While the ongoing inquiries into supermarket pricing have been generating plenty of headlines in recent weeks, they barely came up during Coles’ Q3 earnings call on Tuesday. Instead, Coles’ CEO and managing director, Leah Weckert, spent plenty of time explaining how the retailer is providing value to customers as cost-of-living pressures continue to weigh on […]
As France weighs fast-fashion ban, is the circular economy the future of retail?
This week, France announced legislation to “limit the excesses of ultra-fast fashion”. Key measures include a ban on advertising for cheap textiles and an environmental charge on low-cost items. While the proposed laws need to pass a vote in France’s senate, they signal an increased need for focus on sustainability in the retail industry. It’s […]
Consumer confidence just got a boost. How can you capitalise on it?
The Reserve Bank’s decision to keep interest rates on hold is set to have a ripple effect throughout the economy. While the smart money says rates probably won’t go down until well into the July-December half, very few people – if any – are predicting more rises. Add to that news of pending tax cuts […]
Is this the end of Australia’s supermarket duopoly?
The allegations of price-gouging during a cost-of-living crisis by Australian supermarkets Coles and Woolworths could finally be the death knell of the duopoly that has long dominated the country’s grocery sector. On Jan 25th, the Albanese government announced the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) will conduct a twelve-month probe to examine if Australian supermarkets […]
Perspective – The year of Birth, Death and Apeshit
2023. We all walked out of a long dust storm back into the office a few days a week. Great to see common sense prevail with flexible WFH arrangements. The relentless push to do more with less meant the people doing more for less ended up doing more for more for someone else. Many were […]
Perspective – The year we started to respect people’s time
Time has flown even faster this year than last, but on reflection, it also feels like the year of slowing down to speed up. In times of uncertainty, it appears we’ve found a way to protect ourselves and regain some of the control we lost over the pandemic. We’ve all read the gazillion opinion pieces […]
Can a Blundy-owned Best & Less take on Kmart and win?
The move by seasoned retailer Brett Blundy to takeover discount fashion retail Best & Less (B&L) resulted in plenty of headlines for the reason that the bid was lower than what the company’s shares were trading at. The fact that the board accepted the lowball offer had many questioning what Blundy and Ray Itaoui have in store […]
Good, better, best: How Myer is winning during the ‘shift to thrift’
Australians have been bombarded with cost-of-living pressures from many sides. From essentials – at the supermarket and the petrol pump, in the mortgage and in the power bills – to the not-so-essentials, such as the local café, the fashion boutique, the travel agent and the new car dealer. Even if you’ve got cash to splash […]
Do retailers have enough cash in the post-Covid coffers to stay afloat?
If you follow economic commentary and official statistics, you’d be forgiven for doing a little head-scratching of late. From Covid to the cost-of-living crisis and ever-increasing interest rates, there’s no shortage of doom and gloom. Many shopkeepers and larger retail chains are saying the market feels like we’re already in the throes of a recession, despite Australia’s […]