Fantastic agrees to $361m takeover

The South African owner of furniture brands Freedom and Snooze expands its Australian business bidding for Fantastic.

South-east Queensland trading hours extended

Major south-east Queensland stores will be able to open longer.

Housing boom gives retailers $300m reasons to smile

Household goods retailers Harvey Norman, JB Hi-Fi and Adairs are set to gain from rising house prices, near-record housing approvals, and falling savings rates.

'Moment in the sun': Beauty mega-brands challenge fashion for prized retail real estate

Beauty mega-brands such as Sephora and home grown cosmetics star Mecca are having "their moment in the sun", challenging high-profile fashion labels for prize retail sites in the process.

Shoppers turn out in droves as ribbon cut on Chadstone's new look

Shoppers camped out from 3am to get to the front of queue for the launch of blockbuster fashion brands in the first stage of the $660 million redevelopment of the Chadstone shopping centre.

Metcash assembles executive team to lead hardware operation

Heads roll as Metcash's new team starts to lead the merged Mitre 10 and Home Timber & Hardware business.

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 CEO of the failed electronics retailer denies he was trying to inflate 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.