Inside Retail Australia
Asia-Pacific retail news and insights.
What Happens when Cold and Calculating AI Bots Start Doing the Shopping?
Retailers are confronting a surge in agentic AI, where bots make purchasing decisions on behalf of consumers. In Australia, 39% already rely on AI for shopping choices and 27% are open to buying directly through AI tools. To stay competitive, brands must restructure website back‑ends and product feeds, as traditional banner ads lose relevance. David Jones exemplifies the dilemma, pouring roughly $43 million USD into a digital overhaul while bolstering its loyalty programme to preserve emotional brand ties.
Myer Teams with News Corp to Launch Glamour in Australia
News Corp Australia is set to launch Glamour Australia, a digital‑first lifestyle platform aimed at Gen Z and Millennial women, later this year. Myer has signed a multi‑year exclusive agreement to serve as the magazine’s beauty partner, integrating e‑commerce and insider...
Why Leo Lin’s Alison Trang Is the Quiet Architect of Digital Luxury
Alison Trang, head of e‑commerce at Australian luxury label Leo Lin, has turned the boutique into a global growth engine by marrying creative storytelling with data‑driven operations. She pre‑emptively re‑architected the US digital platform ahead of tariff changes, deploying a...
Gérard Darel’s CEOs on China: “We’re Here to Build Something Long-Term”
Parisian ready‑to‑wear label Gérard Darel has opened flagship stores in Shanghai and Hangzhou, marking its first physical foothold in mainland China. Co‑CEOs David Maruani and Laurent Gerbi say the brand’s understated Parisian elegance aligns with Chinese shoppers’ appetite for authentic,...
Gen Alphas Grew up in a Social Media World and Will Reshape Retail
Gen Alpha, born from 2010 onward, is the first fully AI‑native, phygital generation and is set to reshape retail. McCrindle Research projects they will command over $5.46 trillion in spending power by 2029, while already acting as household gatekeepers across categories....
Five Smart Questions to Optimise Your Business Payments Setup
Payments are a core business function but often go unchecked after initial setup. The article outlines five questions merchants should ask their banks or payment service providers, covering fee structures, Merchant Choice Routing, system resilience, alignment with Australian consumer habits,...
Online Churn: The Three Leading Reasons Customers Don’t Come Back
Humii’s 2026 Online CX Report shows shopper tolerance for bad experiences has plummeted, with 84% now unlikely to return after a mishap, up from 76% last year. The study, based on thousands of mystery‑shopper journeys, identifies three primary churn drivers:...
Michael Hill Axes 60 per Cent of Its Brands to ‘Move Fast’
Michael Hill International announced a return to growth in its half‑year results, driven largely by a boom in Canada, and continued momentum into Q3. As part of its turnaround, the retailer cut its five‑brand portfolio—TenSeven Seven, Watches Galore, Bevilles, Medley and...
Universal Store Holdings CEO Steps Down, Former Store Worker Named Successor
Long‑time CEO Alice Barbery will step down from Universal Store Holdings on October 31 after 24 years with the company, transitioning to a non‑executive director role. Effective November 1, George Do, who started on the shop floor in 2005 and...
The E-Commerce Founder Who Made Sleep a Serious Business
Olivia Carr, founder of Australian sleepwear brand Shhh Silk, was named #3 in Inside Retail’s Top 50 People in E‑Commerce. She grew the company by linking luxury silk products to the hospitality sector, landing six‑figure contracts with hotel groups such...
Revive Collagen President Shawn Hayes Discusses the Changing State of Beauty
Shawn Haynes, president of the Americas at Revive Collagen, reflected on a three‑decade journey that began with launching Girl Cosmetics in 1997 and later leading roles at e.l.f., Revolution and Palladio. He highlighted the rise of ingestible skincare as Revive’s...
Can Retail Food Group Sustain Its Turnaround?
Retail Food Group (RFG) has emerged from years of franchise disputes, ACCC scrutiny and a heavy debt load through a balance‑sheet recapitalisation and brand‑portfolio reshuffle. Under turnaround chief Peter George, the company cut debt, settled disputes and refocused on six...
MCoBeauty Files Bid to Dismiss Landmark ‘Dupe’ Lawsuit
Australian beauty brand MCoBeauty has moved to dismiss two U.S. copyright lawsuits filed by Sol de Janeiro and Aramara Beauty, the latter behind Glow Recipe. The suits allege MCoBeauty sells "dupe" versions of Sol de Janeiro’s Cheirosa Perfume Mists and other...
The Quiet Shift Putting Content at the Centre of Retail
Retailers in Australia are confronting a quiet but decisive shift: content has become the central engine of the omnichannel experience. Legacy, siloed systems struggle to keep pace with shoppers who expect real‑time, consistent information across web, mobile, stores and marketplaces....
Harbour Town Adelaide Boasts Sales Surge as New Tenants Join Offer
Harbour Town Adelaide reported a 6% rise in sales on a moving annual total basis and a 4% increase in foot traffic over the past year. The centre welcomed ten new premium‑outlet stores, adding brands such as Michael Kors, Swarovski and...
