Retail
Chemist Warehouse is killing it
IT STARTED with a single store, now Chemist Warehouse is Australia’s biggest health and beauty retailer — and its secretive owner is rolling in cash.
Myer’s embarrassing VIP shopping fail
NO FOOD, long queues and rude staff: Guests of Myer’s VIP shopping night at its newest store say the event was anything but exclusive.
‘Trumplock’ a real-life nightmare
ONCE the setting for a reality TV show, Trump Tower and Manhattan’s Fifth Avenue is now bringing a city to a standstill.
Kathmandu is raking in the dough
THE winter chill has added a puffy layer to the profits of outdoor retailer Kathmandu, which says sales are booming.
Farmers speak out about Woolworths milk
THE fine print on this bottle of milk prompted accusations of “sneaky tactics” by Woolies. Now a dairy farmer wants to set the record straight.
Big changes coming to Chicken McNuggets
MCDONALD’S says it is eliminating some ingredients from its most popular menu items, including Chicken McNuggets.
Coles beefs up meat security
COLES has gone to extreme measures to stop carnivorous thieves, with this hi-tech packaging spotted in the meat aisle.
Burger chain targeted with bugs
COCKROACHES, locusts and crickets were released as part of a protest against a burger chain’s role in an immigration swoop.
How Myer beat the internet
THE department store, which just a few years ago seemed headed for the grave, might yet survive thanks to its new tactic.
Crazy queues at lululemon sale
“APPALLING. I will never do this again. What a test of my zen.” Lululemon fans got more than they bargained for at day one of the label’s warehouse sale.
Kmart’s extreme choc-a-box move
STICKY-FINGERED chocolate thieves have forced a Kmart store in Melbourne to resort to extreme measures to protect its Cadbury stocks.
Real reason Woolies is struggling
WOOLIES is finally closing some of its supermarkets. The great Australian chain has been bleeding for a long time.
Woolworths slashes 500 jobs
WOOLIES has announced plans to cut 500 jobs as part of a $1 billion restructure.
Woolworths to ‘axe 500 jobs’
SUPERMARKET giant Woolworths says it will cut 500 jobs as part of a major overhaul of its business, which will involve closing underperforming stores.
Woolworths kills off family business
IT WAS was supposed to create more competition, but Woolies wiped the floor with this family-run supermarket.
Bunnings’ new $2 billion rival
IT’S BEEN dominating the $46 billion home improvement sector for years, but Bunnings could finally have a real competitor.
What really killed Eagle Boys
THE downfall of Eagle Boys Pizza makes one thing clear - there’s one very important difference between Australia and America.
IGA ‘picking up Woolies shoppers’
INDEPENDENT supermarkets are absorbing Woolworths customers, the boss of Australia’s largest IGA network claims.
Frankenstein veg making Coles rich
IN THE rolling Adelaide Hills, the Samwell family have brought to life their very own Frankenstein monster: an “exclusive” vegetable for Coles.
Eagle Boys pizza goes under
AUSTRALIA’S third largest pizza chain has finally come crashing down to earth, and they can thank Domino’s for the experience.
7-Eleven clerk with balls of steel
INSANE security footage has emerged of a 7-Eleven worker wrestling a shotgun pointed at his face from a would-be robber.
David Jones reveals sales figures
SALES at David Jones increased by eight per cent in the year to June, even though a warm start to winter dented clothing sales.
Coles is now delivering booze at night
IN THE latest volley in the war against moderation, Coles will now deliver grog to your house at night and on weekends.
More rough weather hits Surfstitch
ONLINE retail group Surfstich has been dealt another blow in a year of turmoil which has wiped most of the value off the company.
Truth about Dick Smith revealed
THE administrator for Dick Smith has released its report into the collapse of the electronics retailer. Here’s what they found.
The price you’re paying for loyalty
INTIMATE data about your shopping habits collected by Coles and Woolworths is being sent all over the place, a new report warns.
Coles is slashing its home brand prices
MUD cake, pasta sauce, sandwich bags, shredded cheese and ... A4 paper? The supermarket price war is getting pretty weird.
Woolies sets sights on telco market
PRETTY soon you’ll be popping down to Woolies for an NBN plan. The supermarket is gearing up for a major expansion into telco services.
All 67 Aus Geographic stores to close
MYER plans to dump troubled retailer Australian Geographic by early next year unless a buyer is found for the 67 stores around the country.
Billabong to pay $45m over action
ICONIC Aussie surfwear group Billabong will pay a total of $45 million, inclusive of legal costs, to settle the claims of a class action.
Iconic retailer set to close 67 stores
ICONIC adventure store Australian Geographic is set to close down its 67 stores unless a new buyer can be found for its loss-making operation.
Woolworths morale ‘at all-time low’
MORALE at Woolworths is at an “all-time low” due to lost sales opportunities and disengagement, analysts have warned.
Big change that will cost Domino’s
IT’S BEEN an Aussie fast food success story, with tech innovations boosting sales. But Domino’s is about to take a major hit.
Woolies shopper finds ‘special offer’
THERE’S something wrong with this price tag, as a savvy Woolies shopper discovered. As specials go, it’s unimpressive.
Virgin Australia’s BP fuel deal
VIRGIN Australia will become only the second airline in the world to give frequent flyers the option of using their points to pay for petrol.
Surprise assault by an unlikely crusader
AS IF Labor’s “Mediscare” campaign wasn’t enough, this anti-Coalition leaflet was handed to thousands of voters by a surprise disrupter.
Will Bunnings’ colossal gamble pay off?
IT TRUMPETS low prices, but Bunnings paid top dollar to enter a new market. The move has raised questions, and it could prove costly.
Sizzler on life support as stores shut
COLLINS Foods has returned to profit as its grows its KFC network while closing loss-making Sizzler restaurants.
Bunnings set for Brexit disaster
BUNNINGS’ $700 million UK expansion could be in for a world of hurt following the shock Brexit vote last week.
The big winners from Brexit
GERMAN discount like Aldi chains will thrive while traditional stores face higher costs as Britain looks set to exit the European Union.
Low prices are the real problem
YES, shopping can be “too cheap”. And Bunnings isn’t the only one worried about Aldi’s low prices. The Reserve Bank is as well.
People are paying $50 for Weet-Bix
IT’S, dense, dry, and practically tasteless. But there’s a very simple formula to how this humble breakfast product became sexy.
Woolies cleaners ‘underpaid $21k’
THE workplace watchdog has switched its attention from Woolies’ trolley collectors to its cleaners, with contractors in the firing line.
This is why we hate supermarkets
HELL is other people at the supermarket. A new study has revealed our biggest pet peeves — and what Aldi shoppers hate most.
How low will Aldi’s prices go?
ALDI has given meat prices the chop with cuts to lamb legs and other fresh meat products. And it’s not done yet.
Aussies snared in Kate’s fashion rort
KATE Hudson’s Fabletics activewear business has been forced to revamp its website after Australian customers complained of a new type of rort.
Bunnings’ surprise competitor
IF IT’S a cordless drill you’re after, you might head to Bunnings. Or you might head to a store that’s not traditionally thought of as a rival.
Massive changes coming to Target
THE man who turned Kmart into a profit powerhouse has now been tasked with fixing Target. The overhaul has already begun.
Woolies to revamp $500m rewards scheme
WOOLWORTHS is to give its much maligned loyalty rewards a revamp only eight months after rolling out the $500 million program.
Coles’ spooky new ‘dark store’
IT’S JUST like an ordinary Coles supermarket, except there are no customers to be found. But the radical idea could be the retailer’s saving grace.
Historic 7-Eleven fine could benefit you
MASSIVE fines being handed out to rogue 7-Eleven operators could mean good news for Aussies. Here’s why.
Will new concept save Woolies?
WOOLIES is on a rescue mission. The under-pressure supermarket giant has a new focus to target time-poor, modern Australians.
Risk of supermarket price war growing
WINTER is coming for IGA. The risk of a price war is growing and Metcash is the “most likely to lose”, investment bank UBS has warned.
Toddler snack with 60 per cent sugar
HEINZ is in hot water for claiming a product targeted at toddlers containing 60 per cent sugar was just as nutritious natural fruit.
Is this the turning point for IGA?
SUPERMARKET wholesale supplier Metcash is back in the black with an annual net profit after posting a nearly $400 million loss last year.
Lamb gets the chop in price war
WOOLIES has opened a new front in the price war by announcing a significant cut to its price for lamb and other fresh meat.
Secrets behind $14 billion empire
THERE’S a side of Ikea you never knew existed. Behind the mega brand’s success is a sophisticated operation.
The future of retail is pretty weird
MILLENNIAL stores, “joy facilitators” and hi-tech emotional manipulation. The future of shopping is looking creepy.
$20m deal could wipe out SurfStitch
A COLLAPSED $20m deal with a mysterious company could be the final wave that sinks struggling surfwear giant SurfStitch.
Coles refuses to boost casual workers’ pay
COLES is digging in its heels over casual workers’ pay, in defiance of the Fair Work Commission.
Why parents are furious at Target
MANY parents struggle every year to afford expensive Christmas presents for their kids. For some, it’s set to get a whole lot tougher.
Amazon is coming ‘like a tsunami’
RETAIL bosses have a sense of doom as the online goliath begins its march on Australia. But will it survive here anyway?
Has Domino’s finally gone too far?
DOMINO’S keeps on rolling out the tech innovations. But has the pizza company gone too far this time?
Spot the dodgy $21,000 mistake
CLOTHING retailer Sportscraft has been left red-faced and fined by the consumer watchdog over a mistake on this receipt.
Kogan reveals key sales, traffic figures
ONLINE electronics retailer Kogan will list on the stock market later this month in a bid to raise $50 million from investors.
Good Guys boss’ swipe at Gerry Harvey
THE head of whitegoods retailer The Good Guys has called out rival Gerry Harvey over a very cheeky manoeuvre.
Ikea unveils future store plans
THE Swedish furniture giant released a statement on Wednesday revealing plans to turn its traditional business model on its head.
Consumers crack it over egg shortage
IT’S enough to put egg lovers in a flap. Australia has been hit with an egg shortage and it’s left consumers scrambling for supplies.
Woolies’ ‘defensive’ move against Aldi
WOOLIES’ decision to dump its struggling ‘Select’ products are a defensive response to Aldi’s popularity, but an expert says it won’t have the impact it wants.
They’ve got to be kitten us
MANUFACTURERS of products such as Whiskas are using some jaw-dropping justifications for why they are shrinking the size of their products — but bumping up the cost.
Woolies dumps struggling ‘Select’
WOOLWORTHS’ Select brand will join Homebrand and the supermarket’s ‘Cheap Cheap’ ad campaign on the scrap heap.
Woolies dumps its ‘Select’ products
WOOLWORTHS’ Select brand will join Homebrand and the supermarket’s ‘Cheap Cheap’ ad campaign on the scrap heap.
Woolies comes clean on laundry scam
WOOLIES ordered to pay massive fine over a deal which duped Aussie customers into paying more for laundry detergents.
Retail giant bans music in its stores
MUSIC lovers look away. A major department store has sparked controversy by switching off music in shops, and some want restaurants and pubs to follow suit.
Insane supermarket of the future
SOON your trip to the supermarket could be very different. More than a million people have already seen what’s coming.
Woolworths is now cheaper than Coles
WOOLWORTHS is finally cheaper than Coles. While the big two are still more expensive than Aldi, the price cuts are starting to show.
Part-time worker wins fight with Coles
A PART-TIME Coles worker has won a David and Goliath industrial fight with the supermarket giant over wages and conditions.
Retail cannibals eat their friends
RETAIL cannibalism is the new thing taking down giant department stores, with some stores “eating” their friends out of business.
Big mistake stores keep making
STRUGGLING department stores are already putting out the winter sales signs. There’s one big change they need to make if they want to survive.
Big problem facing ‘unstoppable’ Aldi
ALDI is now nearing a “tipping point” in Australia, a major new report says, but Coles is putting up a fight in one key area that could spell trouble.
‘No, we don’t want fries with that’
THE battle to stop McDonald’s from opening in Glebe may have been lost but residents are still fighting on regardless.
How cheap milk costs you more
ONE buck milk isn’t just bad for farmers — it’s also a clever trick that could end up with you paying more for groceries.
How McDonald’s is changing
MCDONALD’S, under intense pressure in a competitive industry, says it is making changes to its food and service that customers want.
Shopper abused for cheap milk
A TOWNSVILLE shopper who copped abuse at the checkout for buying $1 milk has received some very unlikely support.
New superstore to replace Masters
A MAJOR retailer has its sights set on the space left behind by Masters, and it’s one you never saw coming.
Get ready for Target’s $200 million sale
A MAMMOTH winter sale is around the corner as Target struggles to turn its fortunes around, after Wesfarmers downgraded its profit forecast.
Woolworths launches another price blitz
FIRST it was roast chickens and $1 milk, then baguettes and tampons. Now Woolworths has opened a new front in the supermarket price war.
Shoppers win fight over Aldi eggs
ALDI has backed down in a massive win for consumers, who were bombarding the supermarket giant with complaints about its eggs.
Shoppers’ fury over milk shortage
COLES and Woolworths are facing a PR nightmare with shoppers furious that they have been unable to buy alternatives to supermarket milk brands.
Lego becoming increasingly violent
CONFLICT in the age of Lego. Evidence suggests products are becoming more violent to retain childrens’ attention.
Simple typo that angered Coles shoppers
OOPS. Coles meant to assure its irritated customers but instead set off a storm of criticism with a three-letter typo.
Aussie bootmaker kicked over ugg battle
AN AUSTRALIAN maker of “ugg” boots is fighting to continue producing the iconic footwear as a US company cracks down.
How to get rid of these annoying signs
THERE’S nothing more frustrating than popping out for a bite to eat, only to be stung with a credit card surcharge. Here’s how to make sure it doesn’t happen.
How Woolies won the Anzac Day chook fight
WOOLWORTHS was facing potential fines of $2.75 million for sneakily letting staff in early on Anzac Day. Here’s what happened next.
Myer to close two more stores
MYER is closing two of its department stores as part of chief executive Richard Umbers’ turnaround plan.
Is this goodbye for The Good Guys?
JB HI-FI says it is in talks to purchase rival retailer The Good Guys in a move that could massively boost its store network.
Go shopping in the virtual world
SHOPPING has become even easier thanks to eBay and Myer who have teamed up to launch the “world’s first virtual reality department store”.
Cotton On sued over ‘knock-off’ shirts
TREND researchers employed by Cotton On to trawl Pinterest for “inspiration” are at the centre of the retail giant’s latest legal stoush.
Coles kicks off new milk price war
AFTER years of driving down the price of milk, Coles says it will launch a new, more expensive home brand to help struggling dairy farmers.
How long can 7-Eleven survive?
7-ELEVEN, spooked that it could be forced to repay up to $100 million to exploited workers, is now trying to weasel its way out.
