Latest In finance
Buyers still spoilt for choice as prices rise
COURTNEY TODD DARWIN property values are up this quarter with the median home price sitting at a little over half a million dollars
Minister warns over house prices
Sophie Foster PARENTS may be cashing in on massive capital gains in the past 20 years, but many are freaking out over the possibility their children may not be able to get their foot in the door as a result.
Queen of style’s Coast apartment
Hannah Sbeghen ELIZABETH McMahon’s highrise pad overlooking the ocean could very well be the envy of all women.
Coast mansion fit for a movie star
Aleisha Pidgeon IF WALLS could talk there would be a story or two coming from this Isle of Capri mansion.
How to make the most of your house
ANTHONY KEANE USING your property wisely can have an affect on pension payments, but be careful not to get caught up chasing a few extra Centrelink dollars.
Something may not know about your super
Emma Blake IT’S never too soon to take charge of your superannuation so if you work for someone or are self-employed keep track of your super to make sure it is heading in the right direction.
Tax deductions for cars rev up
Anthony Keane TAXPAYERS are claiming larger work-related car expenses - but rule changes to be introduced this year are set to slow down many motorists.
When breaking up costs a bomb
Ellie Ross BREAKING up can be expensive — especially when your ex sues you for $85,000 over those repairs he made to your apartment.
Retail
Aldi eating Woolworths’ lunch
GERMAN discount chain Aldi continues its long march into Australia, with new data revealing more bad news for Woolworths.
Aldi eating Woolworths’ lunch
GERMAN discount chain Aldi continues its long march into Australia, with new data revealing more bad news for Woolworths.
Domino’s doco maker’s $60k bill
THE creator of a documentary film who lost a court battle with Domino’s last month has refused to pay the pizza chain’s $60,000 legal bill.
Jay Jays slammed over ‘degrading’ T-shirts
TEEN clothing staple Jay Jays has cancelled its reorder of a provocative range of T-shirts, which have been labelled ‘pornographic’ and ‘degrading’.
‘This Coles chicken has gangrene’
DISGUSTING pics of a chicken bought from Coles are turning stomachs on social media. WARNING: Disturbing content
KFC’s NSFW social media fail
KFC Australia just posted a seriously cringeworthy tweet to promote an upcoming “hot and spicy” product. WARNING: NSFW.
Target axes up to 180 jobs
TARGET will axe between 130 and 180 jobs from its Geelong headquarters after it announced a relocation to Melbourne.
900 Target workers’ jobs in limbo
IT’S been a tough week for Target staff. Days after the retailer was engulfed in scandal, 900 staff are at risk of losing their jobs.
Nurofen’s $6m headache worsens
NUROFEN is facing a fresh headache over its dodgy ‘Specific Pain’ range, with a class action seeking millions of dollars.
Chinese officers ‘arrest’ Ronald McDonald
CHINESE authorities weren’t lovin’ Ronald McDonald this week, hauling away a statue of the fast food mascot from a city store.
Shoppers want low prices, not rewards
AS THE price wars hit roast chooks, shoppers say they want consistently low grocery prices and not another loyalty program.
Baker sells shop for $1.50
GIVE a man a fish, and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.
Coles slammed over dumped fruit
SHOPPERS have threatened to boycott Coles over its sourcing of stone fruit after a local grower was forced to dump 30 tonnes of nectarines.
What went wrong with Target?
BE HONEST, when was the last time you went to Target? It’s been on a downward spiral and Aussies have fallen out of love.
Aldi banned from selling beer after bust
ALDI shoppers in this Sydney suburb will have to go elsewhere for their booze after the store was caught selling beer to underage teens.
‘Mind-blowingly stupid’ scandal
THREE Target managers have quit and several more face disciplinary action after doing something “mind-blowingly stupid”.
Starbucks prank’s awkward backfire
A STARBUCKS customer was left hurt and taken aback when he found this prank note stuck to the side of his takeaway cup.
‘Smash windows’ claims new victim
HOW do people keep falling for this? A prank caller claiming to be from the fire department has convinced staff at a Burger King to smash all of the windows.
Coffee-loving goat causes a stir
MILLIE the goat has become an internet sensation after the farmyard animal popped down to the local Starbucks for a “caffeine fix”.
Woolies rolling out Qantas Points
WOOLWORTHS has begun to roll out its new Qantas points loyalty program. But will it be enough to win back customers?
Aldi’s cringe-worthy social media fail
ALDI is no stranger to social media missteps, but in light of the backlash they’re currently facing, you’d think they’d have thought this one through ...
Rewards points ‘gone in five years’
SAY goodbye to your frequent flyer status. One industry figure believes points-based loyalty programs will be all but gone in five years.
Aussie fast food has a new winner
CUSTOMERS are voting with their feet. New data has revealed the big winners and losers in Australia’s fast food wars.
The future of shopping centres?
A BRISBANE shopping centre has radical plans for a former Myer store that could see every convenience right at your doorstep.
Ikea recalls children’s bat costume
SWEDISH retail giant Ikea has recalled a bat cape costume sold in Australia amid fears it could cause strangulation.
Ikea recalls deadly bat costume
IKEA is urgently recalling a popular bat costume after three reports of injuries and fears children could be strangled.
Coles and Woolies struggle to keep up
AUSTRALIAN retailers, particularly Coles and Woolworths, are at risk of being left behind in a crucial area, a new report has warned.
Dick Smith gift card catastrophe
HOW’S this for unlucky? A woman holding $3600 in now worthless Dick Smith gift cards has received even more bad news.
Cottee’s hits back at death claims
CORDIAL lovers, you can relax. Cottee’s has hit back at claims sales of the iconic drink are collapsing as Aussies abandon sugar.
What Dick Smith looks like now
IT’S NEARLY over for Dick Smith. This is what the inside of a store looks like now, and it’s pretty depressing.
Death of an Australian icon?
SAY goodbye to your childhood. New sales data has revealed an Aussie icon and backyard staple is on the way out.
Can Domino’s deliver on this promise?
IT SOUNDS like a gargantuan task: prepare, bake and serve an entire pizza within the space of three minutes. We put them to the test.
War no supermarket wants to have
IT’S a battle no supermarket really wants to have, but analysts say an all-out war is inevitable as big brands fight for market share.
Thugs attack JB Hi-Fi security guard
A WILD brawl erupted at a Melbourne electronics shop as up to five young men rushed a security guard who had grabbed a mate suspected of shoplifting.
Formula scammers’ sneaky new trick
THE government is cracking down on them, but the sellers of grey market baby formula are still boosting their profits.
Haircuts at Caltex? It could happen
CALTEX is planning to overhaul its petrol stations to become a major retail force offering everything from dry cleaning to haircuts.
Aldi worker's appalling insult
A MOTHER was left stunned when an Aldi staff member made a comment about her disabled son — but the response has only added to the insult.
Why Aldi shoppers are blowing up
WOOLWORTHS and Coles are committed to the change, but customers are angry that Aldi won’t follow suit.
Domino’s to hire 3000 new drivers
DOMINO’S is going on a pedal power hiring spree as it gears up for unprecedented delivery demand ahead of the winter football season.
Meet fashion’s hottest new trend
IT TOOK a session in a teddy workshop that gave Mon Purse fashion entrepreneur Lana Hopkins her business ‘light bulb’ moment.
How Woolies is playing into Aldi’s hands
OPINION: WOOLIES is playing into Aldi’s hands, with its new brand strategy part of a race to the bottom by the supermarket chains.
Bunnings has a cunning new plan
WITH Woolworths’ big hardware brand Masters sinking fast, Bunnings has developed a plan to help it stay ahead of the pack.
Dick Smith closing dates confirmed
FINALLY, some certainty for Dick Smith workers as the failed electronics chain’s receivers reveal when its remaining 363 stores will close.
Kraft’s trick fools everyone
TWEAKING a popular product has been a disaster for the likes of Vegemite, Milo and Cadbury. So they might want to try this.
Why Woolies killed Homebrand
THERE’S an extremely good reason Woolworths had to get rid of Homebrand products. Packaging affects our tastebuds big time.
‘Child killer’ in a soup can
THE world’s most iconic soup brand has pledged to dump a toxic ingredient from its tinned cans after pressure from activists.
Woolworths is killing Homebrand
IT’S one of the most recognisable grocery labels in the country: Woolies’ red-and-white, no frills Homebrand. Not anymore.
Used syringe found in Easter egg
A MELBOURNE man was shocked to discover a used syringe inside of a Cadbury white chocolate Dream Easter egg on Good Friday.
‘Shoppers stopped and stared’
BURNS victim Sarah Manganas fled Woolworths in tears after being humiliated in the midst of the Easter shopping rush — by the last person who should attack her.
Woolies’ hot, cross customers
SUPERMARKET giant slammed over early store closures, fruitless hot cross buns and a cockroach found in an Easter egg.
Radical plan to rescue Masters
THE loss-making hardware stores could turn a profit in only 12 months under a new plan that was right under Woolworths’ nose.
What is open over Easter?
THE long weekend is here at last, and to make things just that little bit easier here’s a guide to store trading hours.
Coles warns of higher grocery prices
COLES has warned its agile, innovative customers to brace for higher grocery prices if Malcolm Turnbull gets his way.
Winners from ‘nanny state’ pain
THERE has been one bright spot since our nanny state took hold, with thriving businesses replacing wild, boozy nights out.
Lifeline for desperate Dick Smith workers
DICK Smith employees are facing growing anxiety as an internal memo shed new information on the closures. But there is a way you can help.
Dick Smith staff vent their anger
DICK Smith staff are venting their frustration with passive aggressive signs protesting their uncertain futures.
The brands we can’t live without
PRIVATE labels are taking over, but these are the 20 brands we’re willing to pay more for. No prizes for guessing the winner.
Amazon ‘loyal’ shopper black-listed
SELF-CONFESSED Amazon nut Greg Nelson has bought more than 340 items from the online retailer, but the “fervently loyal fan” has been black-listed.
Australia, your shops are all wrong
FRIENDLY super computers, specialty food and same day online delivery. When will Australian retail wake up to what the rest of the world is doing?
Is this the new Dick Smith?
HE’S built an empire with no shops and a finger in every pie. Now he’s taking on the mantle of Australia’s other great self-made man.
7-Eleven appoints new chief executive
ANGUS McKay is rolling up his sleeves and gearing up for what could well be the toughest gig in town.
Domino’s launches pizza delivery robot
DOUGIE the pizza boy is looking incredibly archaic right now, with Domino’s launching a world first that is set to shake up the delivery game.
Myer’s most annoying problem solved
IT’S ONE of the most frustrating parts of shopping in a department store, and Myer reckons it has a solution. But will it save the struggling retailer?
Would you pay $11 for milk?
WHAT’S the fair price for a litre of milk? Certainly more than $1, according to Barnaby Joyce. The Chinese pay $11.
Dick Smith is in full panic mode
WITH its 363 stores set to shut, Dick Smith is desperate to clear stock. Not everything is going to plan, and it’s scared.
They know more about you than you do
IT’S not just your paranoia. These store nerds know whether you’re rich or poor, single or married, pregnant and even where you went to school.
Where Woolworths is dominating
IS THIS Woolworths’ shining light? While Woolies’ supermarkets struggle against Coles and Aldi, sales are surging in one area.
‘The consumer is the loser’
COLES, Woolworths and other big retailers could be forced to raise their prices following a surprise backflip by Malcolm Turnbull.
$1.8m worth of TVs must go in six weeks
THOUSANDS of cut-price television sets are bound for Dick Smith shelves in time for the mother of all fire sales.
Good news for Dick Smith customers
IF YOU bought something from Dick Smith amid the electronics retailer’s collapse, there’s one thing you can relax about.
Pester power ploys face whacking
COMPANIES whose advertisements encourage children to use pester power would be whacked with million-dollar fines under new state and federal plans.
Why Dick Smith could kill Kogan
WHAT is Kogan thinking buying Dick Smith? The failed retailer is like a serial killer in a movie and Kogan is just inviting them in.
Dick Smith reacts to Kogan bombshell
DICK Smith says he’s “very happy” his old company has been rescued by Ruslan Kogan and believes the brand’s damage can be repaired.
Dick Smith is back from the dead
IN A surprising development to say the least, online retailer Kogan has thrown a lifeline to ailing electronics retailer Dick Smith.
Outrage over Nazi memorabilia store
AN ANTIQUES store has defended selling tens of thousands of dollars worth of Nazi memorabilia after an outcry from the Jewish community.
Myer stores on the chopping block
MYER stores in western Brisbane, western Sydney, and Melbourne’s far east are likely to get the axe as the company overhauls.
Outrage over man ‘peeing on cereal’
VIDEO footage has emerged that appears to show a Kellogg’s employee urinating all over a conveyor belt while it is in operation at a factory.
Deal Bunnings should be worried about
THE days of Bunnings’ reign could be numbered, with reports of a private equity deal set to shake up the $46.7 billion home improvement sector.
Surefire way to kill a shopping centre
WANT to turn your bustling shopping centre into a ghost town? Here’s a very simple way to make a lot of customers furious in record time.
The ‘Vladimir Putin of Macquarie St’
SHOCK jock Alan Jones took aim at the NSW Premier today calling him a “bully” and “pig-headed” for his support of lockout laws.
Coles pays for its dirty secret
COLES is battling to salvage its reputation, after an embarassing blunder that could cost it more than $760,000.
Woolies kicked in the ‘privates’
ALDI is the fans’ favourite, but Coles is winning hearts and minds across the country in the private label department.
Woolies loses its crown to Coles
BOOMING grocery and hardware sales have helped Wesfarmers overtake Woolworths as Australia’s top company by revenue for the first time.
Dick Smith workers’ hopes dashed
IT COULD have been the miracle deal that saved 48 Dick Smith workers’ jobs, but it was not to be.
‘Dick Smith collapse is not my fault’
THE blame game is not over for Dick Smith, who has snubbed a meeting request from the private equity boss he says “destroyed” the electronics retailer.
Domino’s filmmaker faces ‘ruin’
DOMINO’S boss Don Meij says this filmmaker must face the financial consequences for attempting to “blackmail” the pizza chain.
Subway Jared packs on the kilos in prison
FORMERLY obese Subway spokesman Jared Fogle is packing on the pounds in prison, where he’s locked up for child-sex offences.
Chrisco caught out being a grinch
HAMPER company Chrisco won’t be having a very Merry Christmas after copping a massive fine over dodgy claims.
Where petrol prices remain sky high
WHILE some motorists are enjoying petrol prices below a dollar a litre, spare a thought for the Aussies paying more than $1.40.
Aussie supermarket named world’s best
THERE are no self-serve check-outs and shoppers get to enjoy live music on weekends. It’s no wonder this little Aussie supermarket has been named the world’s best.
Nurofen ‘specific pain’ drugs class action
A CONSUMER class action has been launched against the makers of Nurofen over drugs the company claimed targeting pain for specific areas, sold at double the price.
Harvey Norman’s next big move
RETAIL mogul Gerry Harvey, riding high from a stunning profit result, is now eyeing off one of collapsed rival Dick Smith’s key assets.
Shocking supermarket act caught on film
HAVE you ever had a sudden urge while doing your grocery shopping? This woman did, and CCTV cameras captured what she did next.
Aldi suffers rare setback in Australia
DISCOUNT grocer Aldi is closing a key part of its Australian operations less than three years after it was launched.
Why Harvey Norman is laughing
IT’S the strange anomaly in Australian retail. While Dick Smith closes its stores Harvey Norman is announcing amazing profits. So what’s going on?
Woolies share plunge after $2.09b loss
SHARES in Woolworths have plunged 3.5 per cent after the embattled supermarket giant unveiled a shock total first-half loss of $2.09 billion in the wake of its Masters DIY stores disaster.
Flight Centre offers Dick Smith lifeline
DICK Smith employees facing redundancy have been offered a lifeline by Flight Centre who will fast track their way into the travel industry.
Supermarket apocalypse survival guide
HAVE you ever wondered how long you could survive after an apocalyptic event, if you were trapped inside a supermarket?
Surcharging ‘will escalate under new laws’
IT’S BEEN hailed as the reform that could save Australian shoppers hundreds of millions of dollars a year — but some fear it will have the opposite effect.
ACCC takes aim at big end of town
THE Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has put the top end of town on notice, stating greater effort will be devoted to tackling big business behaving badly.
