Inside Retail Australia
Publication
0 followers
Asia-Pacific retail news and insights.
Recent Posts
Deals•Mar 2, 2026
InStitchu Secures $12.8M Equity Injection From Dayang Group, Raising Stake to 35%
Australian menswear retailer InStitchu announced a $12.8 million equity injection from Chinese partner Dayang Group, increasing Dayang’s ownership to 35% from 20%. The restructuring also involved the sale of InStitchu’s 45% stake in Jerome Clothiers and divestiture of its Taper.ai software arm, aiming to streamline operations and drive retail growth.
Inside Retail Australia
Deals•Feb 19, 2026
Winning Group Set for Sale to Private Equity Firm Ellerston Capital
Australian retail conglomerate Winning Group is slated for sale to private equity firm Ellerston Capital, according to sources. The transaction marks a strategic move for Ellerston to expand its portfolio in the retail sector. Deal terms and valuation remain undisclosed.
Inside Retail Australia
Deals•Feb 16, 2026
Genki Global Dining Concepts Acquires Sushi Sushi for $160M
Japan’s Genki Global Dining Concepts has agreed to acquire Australian sushi chain Sushi Sushi for more than $160 million. The deal aims to accelerate Sushi Sushi’s expansion, leveraging Genki’s portfolio of brands such as Uobei, Genki Sushi and Senryo. The acquisition was announced...
Inside Retail Australia
News•Feb 9, 2026
Retail Rewired: Why Human-Centred Retail Is the Priority for 2026
Retail leaders in Australia and New Zealand are re‑balancing AI‑driven efficiency with human‑centred strategies, according to iMedia’s Retail Industry Pulse 2025. Eight in ten executives now list personalized customer experience as the top growth lever, while loyalty is being elevated to...
By Inside Retail Australia
News•Feb 9, 2026
Myer Announces Exclusive D-Store Deal with Mac Cosmetics
Myer has secured an exclusive partnership with MAC Cosmetics, becoming the only department store in Australia to carry the brand from mid‑year onward. The deal follows the arrival of Fenty Beauty in May and adds to more than 22 new...
By Inside Retail Australia
News•Feb 9, 2026
Retail Spending Cools in December as Consumers Pull Back After Black Friday
Australian retail spending grew 4.8% year‑on‑year to $38.6 billion in December, a slowdown from November’s 7% surge. The deceleration reflects consumers pulling forward purchases to Black Friday and October sales, leaving December weaker. Growth was led by cafes, restaurants and takeaway...
By Inside Retail Australia
News•Feb 6, 2026
Bondi Sands Bets on Feeling, Not Forecasts, with ‘Summer Never Ends’
Bondi Sands launches the "Summer Never Ends" global platform, shifting its narrative from a seasonal tagline to a year‑round confidence mindset. The campaign relies on authentic, mood‑driven creative and diverse ambassadors, extending across social, OOH, digital and in‑store touchpoints. It...
By Inside Retail Australia
News•Feb 6, 2026
Coca-Cola, Colgate and the Benefits of Category Captaincy for Retailers
Category captains are experiencing a quiet resurgence as retailers seek smarter, data‑driven ways to grow categories rather than just individual brands. By partnering with leading suppliers like Coca‑Cola and Colgate, retailers delegate range, space and promotional planning while retaining strategic...
By Inside Retail Australia
News•Feb 6, 2026
Cosette to Close Australian Operations After 11 Years
Cosette, an online luxury multi‑brand retailer, announced it will shut its Australian operations and Sydney warehouse after 11 years in business. The decision cites changing market conditions following a year‑long investigation that cleared the company of allegations it sold counterfeit...
By Inside Retail Australia
News•Feb 5, 2026
‘A Beautiful Mess’: Best & Less Unveils New Branding Campaign
Best & Less has partnered with Connecting Plots Group to launch a new brand repositioning campaign called “So. Much. Better.” The campaign reframes value as freedom for Australian families, emphasizing authentic, messy moments over curated perfection. Research underpinning the work...
By Inside Retail Australia
News•Feb 5, 2026
Taste Meets Technology: How Dotshop Is Putting Curation Back Into Luxury
Dotshop, an Australian luxury e‑commerce platform founded by Lisa Ruffle and Steve Jensen, combines human editorial curation with AI to deliver intuitive product discovery. Unlike algorithm‑driven marketplaces that prioritize scale, Dotshop’s AI interprets taste, intent and behavior within a framework...
By Inside Retail Australia
News•Feb 5, 2026
JB Hi-Fi Launches Retail Media Network, a First for the Electronics Sector
JB Hi-Fi announced the launch of its own retail media network, the first dedicated to the consumer electronics sector. The service is built in partnership with Retail MediaWorks and will allow brands and agencies to run targeted omnichannel campaigns across...
By Inside Retail Australia
News•Feb 5, 2026
How Brands and Retailers Should Strategically Respond to the GLP-1 Consumer Boom
Coresight Research projects the U.S. GLP‑1 drug market to surge from $42.6 billion in 2024 to $137 billion by 2030, driven by broader insurance coverage and next‑generation oral therapies. The rapid adoption of GLP‑1 medications is reshaping retail demand, with consumers buying...
By Inside Retail Australia
News•Feb 5, 2026
Tribunal Partially Overturns Ruling on Bunnings Privacy Breach
The Administrative Review Tribunal (ART) partially overturned the Australian Information Commissioner’s finding that Bunnings breached privacy law with its facial‑recognition trial. While the tribunal accepted Bunnings’ reasonable belief that the technology was necessary to combat retail crime, it cleared the...
By Inside Retail Australia
News•Feb 5, 2026
How Zegna Accepts Full-Year Revenue Pressure to Reset Its Luxury Growth Model
Ermenegildo Zegna Group posted €1.92 billion in full‑year 2025 revenue, a 1.5% decline year‑on‑year, while the fourth quarter saw organic sales rise 4.6% driven by direct‑to‑consumer (DTC) growth across Zegna, Thom Browne and Tom Ford Fashion. The group accelerated its strategic shift toward...
By Inside Retail Australia
News•Feb 5, 2026
Viva Energy Taps Former Myer Exec Teresa Sando as Retail CEO
Viva Energy Group has appointed Teresa Rendo as CEO of its convenience and mobility retail division, bringing more than 25 years of experience from Big W, Woolworths and Myer. The hire follows a challenging period in which the segment’s sales fell...
By Inside Retail Australia
News•Feb 4, 2026
Stake Launches Clothing Brand Stake Supply
Australian fintech platform Stake has entered the apparel market with Stake Supply, its first clothing and accessories label. The debut collection, called Drop 1, offers eight minimalist‑styled items ranging from apparel to a basketball, all sold online. Stake’s senior brand designer...
By Inside Retail Australia
News•Feb 4, 2026
When Shoppers Become the Audience: How Retail Theatre Is Rewriting the Store
Retail theatre is shifting stores from pure transaction hubs to staged experiences, where staff act as cast and purchases become props. In Melbourne, the MC Takeaway pop‑up replaces food with plush collectibles, turning a simple order into a nostalgic performance....
By Inside Retail Australia
News•Feb 4, 2026
The Social Outfit CEO on Building Commercial Success Through an Ethical Model
The Social Outfit, a Sydney‑based fashion brand that blends charity, retail and manufacturing, employs refugee and migrant women while operating its own workroom and stores. CEO Amy Low is adding commercial systems—cash handling, sourcing, inventory controls—to a model that has...
By Inside Retail Australia
News•Feb 4, 2026
ARC ‘Thrilled’ to Launch After Seven-Year Merger Effort
The Australian Retail Council (ARC) officially launched on February 4, merging the Australian Retailers Association and the National Retail Association after a seven‑year consolidation effort. Members approved the merger with 92.7% support and the Fair Work Commission gave its sign‑off...
By Inside Retail Australia
News•Feb 3, 2026
Rate Rise Reality Check: Why Retailers Must Pivot to Productivity and Cash Flow
The Reserve Bank of Australia raised the cash rate to 3.85%, ending a brief period of monetary easing. The hike lifts borrowing costs for households and retailers, squeezing disposable income and prompting shoppers to trade down and chase promotions. Retailers,...
By Inside Retail Australia
News•Feb 3, 2026
Briscoe Group Sees Record Year as Online Sales Grow
Briscoe Group posted record fourth‑quarter sales of $220.6 million and a full‑year total of $686.8 million, despite a challenging consumer environment. Online sales rose to 20 percent of revenue, up from 19.7 percent, following a migration to a new Adobe platform. Homeware sales grew...
By Inside Retail Australia
News•Feb 3, 2026
Bain on China’s More Selective Luxury Consumer and What It Means for Brands
Bain & Company’s 2025 China luxury market report shows the mainland personal luxury segment contracted 3‑5% in 2023 after a sharper decline in 2022. Growth is now limited to affordable‑luxury and ultra‑premium categories, while mid‑priced items lag. Beauty products posted...
By Inside Retail Australia
News•Feb 3, 2026
Retail Crime and the Price of Justification in 2026
Victoria has introduced tougher penalties for assaults on retail staff, including up to five years in prison and reclassifying ram raids as aggravated burglary with sentences up to 25 years. Retail crime incidents rose over 20% in 2025, making the...
By Inside Retail Australia
News•Feb 2, 2026
Gymshark’s Jennifer Lai Discusses Building Range Before Chasing Titles
Jennifer Lai, a former Adidas and Dyson executive, has joined Gymshark to design and launch its first North American brick‑and‑mortar stores. She will oversee expansion, operations and people, creating a community‑first retail experience that mirrors the brand’s digital DNA. Lai...
By Inside Retail Australia
News•Feb 2, 2026
Piccolo Me Parent Acquires SA Chain Bean Bar
Fabe, the multi‑brand franchisor behind Piccolo Me and Sol Bowl, has acquired the five‑store Bean Bar chain in South Australia, integrating it into the Piccolo Me network while keeping former owner Nitin Jakhwal to run daily operations. The deal gives...
By Inside Retail Australia
News•Feb 2, 2026
Strong BFCM Season Underpins Significant KMD Brands Sales Boost
Outdoor‑wear retailer Kathmandu, part of KMD Brands, posted a 12.9% sales increase in the five months to December 25, driving a 7.9% rise in group revenue. The strong Black Friday and Christmas performance prompted KMD Brands to lift its full‑year EBITDA...
By Inside Retail Australia
Deals•Feb 2, 2026
Fabe Acquires Bean Bar Franchise Chain in South Australia
Fabe, the multi‑brand franchisor behind Piccolo Me and Sol Bowl, announced the acquisition of the Bean Bar franchise chain, which operates five stores in South Australia. The deal will integrate Bean Bar into the Piccolo Me network, with former owner...
Inside Retail Australia
Deals•Feb 2, 2026
Woolworths to Sell $300M Property Portfolio to Forest Endeavour
Australian supermarket chain Woolworths Group is finalising the sale of a shopping‑centre portfolio worth about $300 million to Forest Endeavour, a company controlled by Taiwan’s Lin Family. The transaction covers up to eight east‑coast sites and is part of Woolworths’ strategy...
Inside Retail Australia
News•Jan 30, 2026
How China Turned Trump’s Trade War Into a Record Surplus
China leveraged Trump’s aggressive trade stance to pivot toward new partners, driving a record $1.2 trillion trade surplus in 2025. Monthly foreign‑exchange inflows surged to a historic $100 billion, while the yuan’s global settlement share more than doubled. Exports to the United...
By Inside Retail Australia
News•Jan 30, 2026
Why ‘Natural’ Isn’t Enough: The Science of Pregnancy-Safe Skincare
Pregnancy fundamentally changes skin physiology, increasing permeability and absorption of topical ingredients, which means that products deemed safe for the general population may pose risks to mother and baby. The article debunks the myth that “natural” automatically equals safe, highlighting...
By Inside Retail Australia
News•Jan 30, 2026
Country Road Group Increases Sales Despite Challenging December
Country Road Group posted a 2.3% sales rise for the 26‑week period ending 28 December, with comparable‑store sales up 2.5%. December performance softened to 1% growth, while net trading space grew 0.2% and online sales held at 27.2%. The newly appointed...
By Inside Retail Australia
News•Jan 30, 2026
Avani K Chandan on Scaling The House of Ara in India’s Ready-to-Wear Market
The House of Ara, founded by designer Avani K Chandan, is scaling a craft‑led ready‑to‑wear label that translates heritage Indian textiles into modern, everyday silhouettes. The brand fills a market gap between fast fashion and high‑end ethnic wear by emphasizing slow...
By Inside Retail Australia
News•Jan 29, 2026
Put a Face on It: Unpacking the Uniquely Australian Obsession with Heads in Logos
Australian retailers frequently feature founders' heads in their logos, a trend highlighted by Dan Murphy’s recent eye‑contact campaign. The practice taps into a cultural love for personable, “battler” narratives that signal authenticity and local origin. Both real and fictional founder...
By Inside Retail Australia
Deals•Jan 21, 2026
Cortina Watch Acquires Kennedy's Patek Philippe Boutique in Australia
Australian jeweller Kennedy has agreed to sell its Patek Philippe boutique at Chadstone Shopping Centre to Singapore‑based Cortina Watch. The acquisition expands Cortina's Australian footprint while Kennedy refocuses its portfolio. Deal value was not disclosed.
Inside Retail Australia
Deals•Jan 20, 2026
Secrets Shhh Sold to Dubai‑based Amaar Jewels After Administration
Australian jewellery retailer Secrets Shhh, after entering administration, has been sold to Dubai‑based Amaar Jewels. Administrators executed binding documents to transfer the business and assets, including over 100 staff and most retail stores, for an undisclosed sum. The acquisition aims...
Inside Retail Australia