Masters employs muscle to keep control of obnoxious customers

Masters Home Improvement has employed security guards at all its stores during the clearance sale to keep control of abusive and unruly customers.

'I'm Robin Hood': Confessions of a supermarket thief

When one Canberra shopper impulsively stole a bag of potatoes at a self-serve checkout, it was the first time he'd ever stolen.

Woolworths hangs Hills out to dry after $6 million payment

Woolworths has agreed to pay Hills $6 million to terminate its licensing agreement with the supermarket giant.

Masters fire sale prompts complaints about poor pricing

Masters Home Improvement's firesale has been dogged by consumer complaints of discounts that don't live up to the promised bargains.

Tesco's turning tide raises Woolies hopes

Like Australia's Woolworths, Tesco has been under pressure from German discounters and criticised for understocked stores. But Britain's largest retailer is finally getting some things right.

Woolies, Coles ditch ads as Aldi ramps up

The discount German supermarket is defying an industry-wide slowdown in advertising to post a 16 per cent rise.

ATO sticks boot into uggs

One of Australia's top ugg-boot manufacturers battles the tax office as the local industry complains of cheeky imports.

Dick Smith boss saw opportunities, when others saw issues

• ANALYSIS

It felt surreal listening to Nick Abboud, the former head of collapsed retailer Dick Smith, at his final day testimony.

Spring floods have winemakers praying for a sunny spell

Heavy rains in South Australia, Victoria and parts of NSW have raised fears this years' vintage could be blighted by disease.

Tax Office hires customer service chief from Masters hardware

Fresh from hardware train-wreck, Masters executive will lead ATO service delivery.

'Even if you're saving $2, it's still shoplifting': Crackdown on DIY checkout theft

Retailers say they're sick of opportunists who lie about what they're buying to get a discount or who try to avoid paying at all at self-service checkouts.

Dick Smith CEO denies role in dud rebates

The chief executive of the failed electronics retailer has denied he was trying to inflate the company's profits by grabbing unsustainable short-term rebates from suppliers.

Masters cancels orders, cuts phones amid fire sale fail

Masters Home Improvement has tried to cancel supplier orders in recent weeks amid criticism Woolworths' failed hardware chain has not cut prices fast enough or deep enough to move stock.

Woolworths South Africa's $60 million swoop on Politix

Politix owner Peter Sitch has pocketed about $60 million after stitching up a deal to sell his 40-year-old menswear label to Country Road Group.

Retail growth eases consumption concerns

A solid rise in retail sales in August could be a signal that a slump in consumption growth is only temporary, economists say.

Spring storms whip up expensive cherries

Wild spring weather is expected to push up cherry prices this summer as growers warn of a smaller harvest of Australia's favourite Christmas crop.

Dick Smith's $100 million miss on stock

Retailer was carrying far too many types of merchandise the company's former chairman says.

Aldi urged to 'come clean' on accounts

German discount supermarket Aldi may be in breach of disclosure requirements, accounting expert says.

Costco set for record Australian sales

American discount retailer weighs up sites made available by the collapse of Woolworths' hardware chain, Masters.

'Bathtubs full of four-foot tusks:' Australia's ivory trade

The first ever comprehensive study into the sale of ivory and rhino horn in Australian and New Zealand auction houses has found trade of the product still takes place.

7-Eleven head office paid payroll tax, says state revenue office

7-Eleven meets all of our tax obligations, in full and on time, wherever they fall due. Our business has in fact paid almost $9 million in payroll tax in NSW and Victoria over the past three years that the story focuses on.

ACCC takes swipe at Coles and Woolworths

ACCC chairman Rod Sims has taken a swipe at supermarket heavyweights Woolworths and Coles for criticising planned changes to competition laws.

Officeworks stakes new territory in puzzles and pastels

In the shadow of its larger siblings Coles and Bunnings, the office supplies chain has been quiety pushing into the arts supplies and kids markets.

Cheesed off Pizza Hut franchisees get second bite of the pie

More than $80 million. That's how much cheesed-off Pizza Hut franchisees are hoping to take the company for, after reigniting their bid for compensation from the fast-food giant, claiming they were forced to sell unprofitable pizzas.

Woolworths win in Masters battle with Lowe's

Retailer Woolworths has won a legal battle with its former Masters joint venture partner Lowe's.

The store rewards card that people actually use

Almost half of all Australian consumers have a consumer loyalty membership with one store.

Country Road to get a British boss

The retailer's parent company has poached another Marks and Spencer executive.

Managerial militia in Dick Smith war zone

• COMMENT

Any remaining veneer of a collegiate-like has been revealed as a myth. The company sounds more like a factional war zone.