Retail

Analyst gives thumbs up to new JB Hi-Fi online deals model, but concerns remain over retailer’s future

pstafford@smartcompany.com.au (Patrick Stafford) — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 00:43:56 +0000

A retail analyst has praised a move by JB Hi-Fi to include more discounted products in a "daily deals" type strategy, even though investors remain glum about the chain's outlook as it prepares to reveal its finances for the first half.

Office furniture maker in administration as sector struggles

pstafford@smartcompany.com.au (Patrick Stafford) — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 00:19:30 +0000

An office furniture manufacturing and installation business has been placed in administration after the company was unable to meet supplier and financial commitments.

Amazon considers opening bricks and mortar stores: Report

pstafford@smartcompany.com.au (Patrick Stafford) — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 00:16:29 +0000

Retail giant Amazon may be exploring ways to open bricks and mortar stores, in what would represent a fundamental shift in the company's business model after remaining online for over 15 years.

Local group buying sector tipped to reach $1 billion by 2015, but pioneer says “gloss has come off”

pstafford@smartcompany.com.au (Patrick Stafford) — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 00:32:19 +0000

The former chief executive of Australian group buying pioneer Cudo says the "gloss has come off" the Australian sector, with international players hurting margins and profitability as they strive to acquire new customers.

Independent supermarket in receivership as price war continues to pressure suppliers

pstafford@smartcompany.com.au (Patrick Stafford) — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 00:25:29 +0000

An independent supermarket in New South Wales has been placed in receivership, as pressure continues to rise against suppliers as Coles and Woolworths beef up their discounting campaigns.

Can our retailers fight back against supplier and landlord rip-offs? Gottliebsen

ekrieger@smartcompany.com.au (Robert Gottliebsen) — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 22:32:33 +0000

Peter Birtles, chief executive of Super Retail, is one of our best conventional retailers and he ticks all the right profit and turnover boxes in a tough period. And he is also honest, and that honesty has me worried about whether enough of Australia's retail executives have the ability to handle the changes that are ahead. Retail was until recently a closed, highly-insulated industry. Now, suddenly, large segments are being exposed to the world.

Hamper company Chrisco fined for breaking New Zealand trading laws

pstafford@smartcompany.com.au (Patrick Stafford) — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 01:20:23 +0000

Christmas and holiday hamper company Chrisco has been fined $NZ175,000 for breaking the country’s Fair Trading Act, after it was found to have misled customers regarding their rights to cancel layby orders.

Will anyone buy Dick Smith? Here are the five most likely candidates

pstafford@smartcompany.com.au (Patrick Stafford) — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 01:05:47 +0000

Woolworths confirmed yesterday what every industry analyst predicted – it would sell off the Dick Smith chain as part of a strategic review.

ACCC accuses online supplier of resale price maintenance

pstafford@smartcompany.com.au (Patrick Stafford) — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 23:36:53 +0000

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has taken action against yet another company allegedly engaging in illegal price maintenance of online sellers, just days after chairman Rod Sims warned the watchdog is currently investigating a number of similar cases.

Woolworths' admission of failure: Bartholomeusz

ekrieger@smartcompany.com.au (Stephen Bartholomeusz) — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 22:44:42 +0000

The restructuring of the Australian retail sector is gathering pace, with the not unexpected announcement from Woolworths today that it had decided to offload its underperforming and under pressure consumer electronics business in Australasia once it has performed radical and expensive surgery on the network of Dick Smith stores.

Online sales tipped to exceed existing US levels, but bricks and mortar best placed: Expert

mheffernan@smartcompany.com.au (Madeleine Heffernan) — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 00:41:47 +0000

The percentage of sales made online is tipped to rise even further, with an analysis showing online sales account for 8% of major American retailers' sales, well above the Australian average.

Why retail rents simply have to come down: Gottliebsen

ekrieger@smartcompany.com.au (Robert Gottliebsen) — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 22:24:24 +0000

James Stewart of Ferrier Hodgson has prepared a graph about the likely growth in internet retailing that will frighten bankers, particularly those who are worried about their jobs. Bankers will look at business lending propositions with a degree of self-interest – they don't want to make a mistake. On the other side, retail tenants will also be frightened because they usually have to put their houses on the line and the changes taking place make them very nervous. And perhaps the greatest fear comes from those shop owners who are highly leveraged.

Can the big retailers change in time? Bartholomeusz

ekrieger@smartcompany.com.au (Stephen Bartholomeusz) — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 22:28:52 +0000

It may have taken awhile for Australian retailers to realise that the steep downturn in retail spending might have cyclical elements, but this overlays deep structural changes in the sector.

Myer, David Jones threaten suppliers: discount or we walk

pstafford@smartcompany.com.au (Patrick Stafford) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 01:02:12 +0000

Department store giants Myer and David Jones are urging suppliers lower their prices, saying persistently high labour costs and rents are the catalyst for the pressure.

Heat Group acquires Billie Goat Soap as it eyes acquisitions for export strategy

pstafford@smartcompany.com.au (Patrick Stafford) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 00:00:39 +0000

Cosmetics distributor Heat Group has acquired a soap business as it continues to search for new acquisition opportunities ahead of an aggressive export program.

99dresses shuts down amid financial woes

mheffernan@smartcompany.com.au (Michelle Hammond) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 21:44:34 +0000

Australian start-up 99dresses has temporarily closed its doors after 20-year-old founder Nikki Durkin ran into financial troubles, although the business’ former incubator is confident that Durkin will bounce back.

David Jones, Myer confident on inventory but experts suspect profit margins still under pressure

pstafford@smartcompany.com.au (Patrick Stafford) — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 23:56:51 +0000

Department store giants David Jones and Myer have confirmed their inventory management is on schedule, with winter stock coming on board to replace products sold through summer sales, but retail experts warn that may not necessarily be a sign of success.

Amazon rumoured to be eyeing Australia, but experts say there are still opportunities for local booksellers

mheffernan@smartcompany.com.au (Madeleine Heffernan) — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 00:25:21 +0000

It's one of the largest, oldest and most successful online retailers in the world – and it might be coming to Australia.

Specialty Fashion flags closure of 120 stores after downbeat sales report

pstafford@smartcompany.com.au (Patrick Stafford) — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 00:44:50 +0000

Specialty Fashion Group, the company behind the La Senza, Katies and Miller's chains, has announced a shock profit downgrade, along with the revelation that it may be forced to close over 100 stores if sales don't improve.

Woolworths launches daily deals site after boom, but experts say opportunities continue to grow

pstafford@smartcompany.com.au (Patrick Stafford) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 23:18:52 +0000

Retail giant Woolworths has launched a new daily deals site more than a year after the initial boom began, but experts say there are still opportunities for savvy companies to pick up on demand for cheaper products online.