‘Tis the season to think about Christmas spending in a different way.
Dan Himbrechts/AAAP
Five tips on how to spend in a way that contributes to social movements this Christmas.
Aldi has mastered the phantom product, even though customers know it’s not a brand in disguise.
Dave Hunt/AAP
More supermarkets are starting to stock “phantom brands”- private label products without any reference to the business’ brand or logo.
Emerging retail players struggle to grow.
Shutterstock
South Africa’s concentrated formal supermarket industry stands as an obstacle against economic transformation and competitive pricing for consumers.
The success of companies like T-shirt brand Threadless shows innovation matters in retail.
Todd Kopriva/Flickr
It’s a tough time to be a retailer in Australia, but there are some retailers that have found the formula for success.
Woolworths, along with other big grocery retailers, is backing away from smaller convenience stores.
Joel Carrett/AAP
Some of the bigger grocery retailers are moving away from convenience stores because of increased costs, difficulties reading the market and cannibalisation.
New rules around what merchants can charge for use of credit or debit cards may be difficult to police.
David Crosling/AAP
The RBA has revised regulations on how much merchants can charge for using a credit or debit card which might make the practise more common.
Gloomy times for workers at BHS.
EPA/HANNAH MCKAY
Will MPs make an example of the BHS owners or create a moral hazard that dents welfare reforms?
Kmart has cannibalised Target.
AAP/Paul Miller)
If you can’t really tell the difference between Target and Kmart, you’re not alone.
An extended federal election alone won’t be enough to derail consumer confidence.
AAP/Jane Dempster
Fears from retailers that shoppers will curtail purchases is generally unfounded - but not for a few categories.
This has gotta be the deal of the century!
EPA/ERIK S. LESSER
You’re no mug right? Think again. We all get fooled by anchoring, and probably use it ourselves as well.
Far from safe.
Ben Birchall/PA
Previous attempts to revitalise one of Britain’s best-known retail brands have gone awry. Has the rot gone too far this time?
Woolworths is changing its “Homebrand” label name to “Essentials.”
DAVE HUNT/AAP
Woolworths’ move to rebrand its private labels may lead to no points of difference for customers between supermarket products except price, where Aldi is strongest.
Danger lurks when customers are the be all and end all.
From www.shutterstock.com/Jirsak
Putting the purchasing public at the heart of your business is getting harder and harder as technology drives ever more interaction.
In the past large retailers could squeeze out competitors but new challengers like Aldi are still in the game.
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The big supermarkets, Woolworths and Coles, will need to think of new strategies to compete with new chains such as Aldi which continue to steal market share.
It couldn’t get worse, could it?
David Moir/AAP
Shareholders should be worried about how much it’s costing Woolworths to run its business.
Business and consumers are demanding more data than ever, and the traditional barcode isn’t cutting it any more.
Pink ones are better?
REUTERS/Paul Hackett
Men and women may be charged differently for the same product, but the problems come when you don’t have the choice.
The burgers that had people lining up around the block in Sydney.
supercake/flickr
Pop-up stores allow retailers to test demand for their product, while playing on customers FoMO - fear of missing out.
That big pile of presents under the Christmas tree just seems right.
Image sourced from www.shutterstock.com
Don’t feel bad if you can’t resist buying up at Christmas.
Campaigners play a crucial role in bringing about change.
REUTERS/Andrew Biraj
How campaign groups and trade unions play a crucial role in bringing about change after companies are rocked by scandals.