Wesfarmers must face up to retail reality

Wesfarmers must balance its ambitions to reap $1.5 billion from the sale of the Officeworks chain with the reality.

Oroton shares dive after forecast of $10m earnings plunge

Luxury handbag and fashion retailer Oroton Group has warned it expects its full-year earnings will slump by more than 75 per cent, sending the company's share price plunging.

Dulux paints bright outlook, thanks to home renovators

Duluxgroup says it isn't worried that a slowing housing market could hurt its business, because most new homes are painted with cheaper paint made by competitors.

Wesfarmers shelves Officeworks IPO

Wesfarmers has shelved plans to spin off its stationery and office supplies chain Officeworks into a separately listed company.

Can kombucha get Coca Cola back on track?

Coca-Cola Amatil is looking to healthier beverages to bolster its sales and make up for declining sales of its sugary soft drinks.

Myer returns fire at David Jones with new brand

Myer signs Australian label We Are Kindred a week after two labels jump ship to David Jones.

Harvey Norman hits back at sour sentiment

Harvey Norman has sought to improve investor confidence by releasing figures showing sales have grown despite signs of subdued spending and moderating house price growth.

Consumer confidence plunges after budget

Consumer confidence has tumbled following the federal budget to its lowest level in nearly two years.

How retailers are wooing Chinese shoppers

Mainstream retailers are catching up to the Paris end of Collins Street by employing new tactics to attract Chinese shoppers.

Gelato shop forced to apologise after 'blackface' social media storm

An Australian gelato company has suspended a member of its social media team and publicly apologised for posting what it says was a "careless and insensitive caption" about ''blackface'' over the weekend.

Oroton halts shares as sales deteriorate

• UPDATED

Oroton has entered a trading halt as it prepares to reveal that sales have continued to deteriorate.

Big W's big advertising slowdown

Troubled discount department store urged to look to Zara and Ikea for inspiration on how to generate excitement about its products.

BP's bid to dump Virgin frequent flyer deal delayed

The court battle between petrol giant and Australia's No. 2 airline is set down for September, many months after BP wanted their agreement killed.

Retail recession 'fake news', Gerry Harvey says

There's no shopper strike and investors need to stop jumping at shadows, retailers say.

'Dark days' for retailers as Cyclone Amazon approaches

• COMMENT

The arrival of Amazon will be an existential moment for some retailers and it will almost certainly trigger of wave of industry rationalisation.

How the fidget spinner origin story spun out of control

Several publications credited Catherine Hettinger as the inventor of the fidget spinner. Only she isn’t.

'More than just price': Myer hits back over Amazon fears

Myer boss hit backs at claims that Amazon will devastate its business, saying it was not clear what the online retail juggernaut would offer in Australia.

How Amazon's retail revolution is hurting Coke

Consumers are increasingly shopping online, spending more time on mobile apps, and getting groceries delivered to their homes. And that's hitting Coca-Cola in ways you might not expect.

Amazon to slash JB Hi-Fi, Harvey Norman earnings: Citi

Australian retailers will cut the price of electronic goods by about 10 per cent to remain competitive, market analysts say.

Myer shares fall as store closures hit sales

Myer says the challenging retail environment, Cyclone Debbie and offering fewer discounts all crunched its sales last quarter, with revenue across the department store falling by more than $20 million.

Crazy Clark's and Sam's Warehouse liquidation enters final stages

Crazy Clark's creditors will receive a little more than originally expected

Retailers on verge of a 'recession'

There is no sign of respite for the nation's struggling retailers, particularly department stores, as shoppers refuse to spend in the face on an uncertain economy.

Lower dollar does little to stop surge in online sales

Australia's appetite for online shopping is surging -  despite a lower Australian dollar - as growth in overseas sales drives the online retail market.

Domino's cops landmark fine for 'screw up'

Domino's Pizza has been hit with a landmark fine for failing to comply with the rules governing franchise chains.

'All too much for Myer' - Brutal note crashes Myer

Struggling department store chain Myer has suffered a massive fall in its share price in the wake of a devastating revaluation from a leading analsyt.

How Sali the Swisse master came back from the brink

The business world is filled with rags to riches stories, but Australia has few like the tale of Swisse Wellness.

DJs and Myer battling it out for top staff

Staff are the new front in the retail war between Myer and David Jones as the two chains prepare for life headquartered in the same city.

Investors checking out of Woolworths recovery story

The glow from Woolworths' strong sales performance through the start of the year has worn off in less than a day as concerns mount about margins and the continued struggles at discount chain Big W.

Woolworths blitzes Coles but Big W woes deepen

Woolworths has flagged higher costs for labour, fruit and vegetables and a wider loss for its troubled discount department store Big W this half, as it blitzed supermarket rival Coles with the strongest quarterly sales growth in years.