ECI Expands RockSolid MAX POS Platform Into Canadian Building Supplies Market
ECI Software Solutions announced the expansion of its RockSolid MAX point‑of‑sale platform into Canada, targeting independent hardware stores and lumberyards. The cloud‑based solution integrates with Canadian payment processor Moneris and adds features such as contractor pricing and high‑margin special orders. RockSolid MAX is positioned as a “right‑sized” alternative to ECI’s Spruce platform, which serves larger enterprises. The launch aims to give Canadian dealers operational control tailored to local market needs.
Google Rolls Out Onboarding Guide for Universal Commerce Protocol
Google has released an onboarding guide for its Universal Commerce Protocol (UCP) within Merchant Center, enabling merchants to embed checkout directly into AI‑driven search experiences like Gemini. The guide walks merchants through technical integration, interest‑form submission, and sandbox testing before...
Virid Relaunches Revere: A Smarter Ratings and Reviews Platform
Virid has re‑launched its Revere platform, a ratings and reviews solution designed for enterprise retailers. The upgrade adds a unified admin dashboard, 15‑minute implementation, AI‑enhanced reporting, and new integrations with Stripe, MailChimp, Klaviyo and Listrak. Pricing tiers have been restructured...
Galeries Lafayette Reviews China Presence Amid Slump
Galeries Lafayette announced a strategic review of its China operations as part of its 2030 plan, signaling a possible redesign of store formats and partnership models but not a full exit. The Paris flagship on Boulevard Haussmann still drives the...
How Viral TikTok Growth Is Leaving DTC Brands Vulnerable to Costly Logistics Breakdowns
TikTok Shop is turning viral videos into instant sales spikes for direct‑to‑consumer brands, but many lack the logistics framework to handle the sudden surge of international orders. Products classified as restricted, such as alcohol‑based perfumes, can cost $200‑$300 per unit...
Algolia Transforms Retail Recommendations From Black Box to Revenue Engine With New AI-Powered Analytics Unified with Search and Recommendations
Algolia launched Recommendation Analytics, a new capability embedded in its AI recommendation engine that delivers real‑time insight into clicks, conversions and revenue for retail sites. The tool provides intuitive dashboards breaking down performance by carousel, placement and model, and can...
Making Payments AI‑Ready: Outcomes, Guardrails, and Scale
Artificial intelligence is reshaping retail payments by enhancing real‑time transaction decisioning, linking connected terminals, and enabling AI‑driven purchase initiation. Faster, data‑rich approvals raise conversion rates while predictive maintenance cuts device downtime. New consent and verification models are emerging to secure...
Experiential Retail as a Loyalty Driver at a Heritage Brand With Tecovas CEO David Lafitte
Tecovas President and CEO David Lafitte explains how the heritage Western‑wear brand scales through experiential retail, "radical hospitality," and a disciplined omnichannel strategy. By treating cowboy culture as a tailwind rather than a core strategy, Tecovas preserves its authentic voice...
The Human Advantage in an AI-Driven World: Why Critical Thinking Is the Ultimate Retail Logistics Asset
Retail logistics is rapidly integrating AI for demand forecasting, inventory management, and fulfillment, but the technology cannot replace human judgment. The article warns against the shortcut of trusting algorithmic outputs without critical evaluation, especially during demand spikes or disruptions. It...
Italian Footwear Brand Rosso Brunello Plans Multi-City Retail Expansion with EBO Focus
Italian luxury shoe label Rosso Brunello is launching a multi‑city retail push in India, beginning with seven exclusive brand outlets (EBOs) slated for the next quarter. The rollout will span metro, Tier‑1 and Tier‑2 cities as well as high‑footfall malls and...
Sugar Factory Launches Frozen Rainbow Sliders at Jewel-Osco Stores
Sugar Factory is expanding beyond its restaurants by launching a frozen‑food line called Sugar Factory at Home, debuting its Rainbow Sliders in Jewel‑Osco stores across Illinois, Indiana and Iowa. The sliders—colorful buns with 0.8‑ounce beef patties—are sold in 5‑ and...
AI Is Changing Retail. Here’s How Businesses Can Keep Up.
Retailers must ensure their Google Merchant Center data is clean and complete to unlock AI-driven shopping experiences such as conversational commerce, virtual try‑ons, and shoppable CTV. In a recent Ads Decoded Podcast, Google’s retail product leaders highlighted that messy feeds...
Retail and CPG’s Precision Era: How AI Is Reshaping Forecasting, Fulfilment and Customer Engagement
Retail and consumer packaged goods firms are entering a precision era where AI is no longer optional but essential for survival. By 2026, AI‑driven demand forecasting, real‑time logistics, and automated fulfillment are reshaping the operating model from reactive to autonomous....
Covent Garden’s Market Building Gets a New Signature Scent as INITIO Parfums Privés Opens First Standalone Store
INITIO Parfums Privés launched its first UK standalone boutique in Covent Garden’s iconic Market Building, occupying a 246‑sq‑ft space. The French perfume house, known for its neuroscience‑driven "neuroscents," joins a growing roster of luxury fragrance brands in the district, including...
BoAt Accelerates Global Play; Premiumisation, Localisation to Drive Next Phase of Growth in India
boAt is targeting a global consumer‑electronics footprint within the next three to four years, building on its dominant audio position in India. The brand has entered six overseas markets—starting with SAARC, then the GCC and Southeast Asia—where international sales now...
Stio to Open Store in Castle Rock, Colorado
Stio, the outdoor lifestyle brand founded in Jackson, Wyoming, announced it will open its 15th U.S. store in Castle Rock, Colorado, in May 2026. The new Mountain Studio will sit between Denver and Colorado Springs, expanding the brand’s foothold in...
EXEC: Levi Strauss CEO Talks Beyond Yoga’s Complement to Denim Lifestyle Portfolio
Levi Strauss & Co. reported that its Beyond Yoga brand grew sales 23% to $46 million in Q1, while the operating loss narrowed to $1 million from $3 million a year earlier. The company’s overall net revenue rose 14% to $1.7 billion, with direct‑to‑consumer...
Why Product Feeds Shouldn’t Be The Most Ignored SEO System In Ecommerce
Many ecommerce brands focus on category pages and backlinks while neglecting product feeds, which have traditionally been managed by PPC teams. Recent changes—Google Search Console’s Shopping report enhancements and OpenAI’s product‑feed specification—bring feed data into the core SEO ecosystem. Optimizing...
People Are Losing It over 7-Eleven Merch. Welcome to the Surprisingly Cool World of Convenience Store Chic
7‑Eleven’s online‑only apparel line, 7Collection, has turned convenience‑store branding into a streetwear phenomenon. Launched in 2022, the store offers everything from logo tees to limited‑edition collaborations that sell out within minutes. The line taps into music, art and summer culture,...
How to Use Google Gemini's New AI Shopping Features in India: Check Step-by-Step Guide
Google has rolled out AI‑powered shopping tools for Indian users across the Gemini app, AI Mode in Search, and Circle to Search. The Gemini app now delivers shoppable product listings, price comparisons and a Shopping Graph directly within chat. AI...
Young Shoppers Turn to Food and Drink to Kick Start the Anti-Ageing Process, Ocado Retail Reveals
Ocado Retail’s latest research shows that 64% of British consumers aged 16‑34 now prioritize longevity when shopping, the highest rate among all age groups. This shift is driving strong sales growth in fibre‑rich meals (+187% YoY), gut‑health drinks such as...
Bristol’s Beloved Mocha Mocha Coffee House Announces Nationwide Franchise Launch
Independent Bristol café Mocha Mocha Coffee House announced a nationwide franchise programme, opening its proven concept to entrepreneurs across the UK. The brand will offer comprehensive training, site‑selection assistance and supplier networks to maintain its high‑quality coffee and community‑focused experience....
Mitchell Halliday on Made by Mitchell’s Global Expansion Plans Beyond TikTok Shop
Made by Mitchell, a digitally native makeup brand launched in October 2020, survived early DIY struggles and a shaky wholesale debut with Beauty Bay before turning to TikTok Shop. The hiring of Gabrielle Grierson sparked the brand’s pioneering move into...
Beach Brand Orlebar Brown to Open at Hotel La Palma, Capri
Orlebar Brown, the Chanel‑owned luxury beachwear label, will debut a new boutique inside Hotel La Palma on the island of Capri on 16 April 2026. The store is designed as an immersive retail experience that blends stone flooring, natural light and curated displays...
Flipkart Expands Hemant Badri's Role to Drive AI Agenda
Flipkart has expanded Hemant Badri’s responsibilities to spearhead the company’s artificial‑intelligence agenda, pairing him with chief product and technology officer Balaji Thiagarajan. Badri, who currently runs supply‑chain for Minutes and ReCommerce, will identify and operationalise AI use cases across customer...
JonnyPops Expands to Canada
JonnyPops announced its official launch in Canada, partnering with major retailers such as Whole Foods Market, Save‑On‑Foods, Nature’s Fare Market, City Avenue Market, and select Costco locations. The company will roll out its organic, vegan, gluten‑free frozen pops nationwide, with...
Thorne Taps Misty Copeland and Lana Condor for Women’s Health Campaign
Thorne, a supplement and health‑solutions brand, announced two new products—Perimenopause Complete and Women’s Libido Boost—targeting under‑served stages of women’s health. The company enlisted ballet star and activist Misty Copeland to front the perimenopause line and actress Lana Condor to promote the libido...
Levi’s Opens Largest Mainline Store in Ireland Elevating Dublin Presence
Levi Strauss & Co. opened a newly relocated 530 m² flagship store on Dublin’s Grafton Street, marking the largest main‑line Levi’s location in Ireland. The two‑floor space showcases an expanded denim lifestyle assortment, from classic 501 jeans to dresses, outerwear and...
La Vieja Fábrica Grows Presence in UK Supermarkets
La Vieja Fábrica, the premium Sevillian marmalade brand, is expanding its UK supermarket footprint by adding its Fine Cut, Thick Cut and St Clements varieties to Asda shelves. The rollout begins the week of 6 April and is supported by a focused...
Unilever Launches Innovation Across Sure, Dove, Lynx, and Radox Brands as an Official Sponsor of the FIFA World Cup 2026™
Unilever is leveraging its official FIFA World Cup 2026 sponsorship to roll out limited‑edition and new‑product innovations across its Sure, Dove, Lynx and Radox personal‑care lines. The company is committing roughly $6.9 million to Lynx’s World Cup campaign, while Sure, Dove...
Bodycare Set for High Street Return with 25 Stores to Open by End of Year
Bodycare, the former 147‑store health‑and‑beauty chain, was bought out of administration in October 2025 by an investment group led by former Body Shop CEO Charles Denton. The new owners have signed six leases for flagship locations and plan to open...
How Aldi Wants to Get Belgians on Board with Private-Label Beauty
Aldi is launching its private‑label beauty range, Lacura, across Belgian stores to capture price‑sensitive shoppers. Belgian women spend about $488 annually on cosmetics, and 64 % say they would switch from premium brands to a discount alternative. Despite this willingness, 60 %...
Cross Switch, Absa Expand Secure Checkout with Absa Pay
South African bank Absa has partnered with payments‑infrastructure provider Cross Switch to launch Absa Pay, a bank‑authenticated checkout option for e‑commerce merchants on the Cross Switch platform. The solution uses a payment‑initiation API that lets customers pay via phone number...
Kroger Brings Its Near-Expired Food to Flashfood App in 100-Plus Stores
Kroger is expanding its partnership with the Flashfood app to more than 100 stores across the Mid‑Atlantic, turning near‑expiration groceries into discounted items for shoppers. The pilot in Richmond, Virginia diverted over 320,000 pounds of food that would have been...
Alcohol E-Commerce Misses US$40bn Opportunity
A new survey by DRINKS reveals a $40 bn gap between how U.S. consumers discover alcohol brands and their ability to purchase them online. Social media now drives 63% of purchases among 21‑34‑year‑olds, yet 70% say they cannot buy directly where...
FatFace Launches In-Store Personal Styling Service
FatFace has introduced a complimentary in‑store personal styling service called “Face to Face” across six UK locations, offering one‑to‑one appointments to help shoppers refine everyday looks or special‑occasion outfits. The rollout complements a newly launched WhatsApp customer‑service channel, which now...
Strong Growth in Europe for Levi’s
Levi Strauss & Co. reported a 14% jump in first‑quarter net revenue to $1.7 billion, driven largely by a rapid shift toward its direct‑to‑consumer (DTC) model. Europe emerged as the strongest region, posting 24% total growth and 10% organic growth, while...
Ipsy Joins the WNBA Craze as the Official Beauty Partner of the Las Vegas Aces
Ipsy announced a three‑year partnership making it the official beauty partner of the Las Vegas Aces, the WNBA champion team. The deal puts Ipsy’s logo on jerseys, the free‑throw line and arena backboard, and includes game‑day activations and a media‑day...
Le Printemps Is Cutting 229 Jobs and Closing Its Store in Rennes
French department store chain Le Printemps announced the closure of its Rennes location in the Alma shopping centre, resulting in the loss of 229 jobs. The cuts represent roughly 8% of its near‑3,000‑employee workforce. The retailer cited a persistent slowdown...
MoU Between SRA, TikTok Shop and WSG to See Deeper Focus on Social Commerce Scene
The Singapore Retailers Association, TikTok Shop, and Workforce Singapore signed a Memorandum of Understanding to develop social commerce capabilities across the retail sector. The partnership will create training programmes for three new roles—livestream hosts, sellers, and engineers—through job redesign and...
How Korea Is Boosting Domestic Spending Through a Nationwide Shopping Event
South Korea’s Ministry of SMEs and Startups launched the Donghaeng Festival, a 30‑day nationwide shopping event that synchronises tourism, cultural programs and retail discounts. In April 2026 the festival mobilised more than 33,000 SMEs across roughly 200 distribution channels, linking...
Shipping Cost Pressures Intensify for UK Ecommerce Sellers
UK ecommerce sellers are grappling with sharply rising shipping costs, with 84% reporting higher last‑mile expenses and 39% seeing increases above 10% in the past year. The last‑mile now accounts for 53% of total delivery spend, squeezing margins even as...
Primark Continues US Expansion with Texas Opening
Primark is opening a new 30,000‑square‑foot store at North East Mall in the Dallas‑Fort Worth area on April 30, marking its latest push into the U.S. market. The launch follows recent Texas openings at Katy Mills and Grapevine Mills, adding to existing...
Business-to-Business Brand Colruyt Professionals Is Expanding Into Flanders
Colruyt Professionals, the B2B arm of Belgium’s Colruyt Group, opened its first two stores in Flanders – a location on Ottergemsesteenweg Zuid in Ghent today and a second at the former Makro site in Machelen on April 15. The brand already...
Almost 50% of US Consumers Would Use Palm Biometrics Payments, Research Finds
A Handwave survey of 2,001 Americans finds that almost half of U.S. consumers would adopt palm‑based payments if they trusted the security of their biometric data. Acceptance is strongest among younger shoppers, with 46% of 25‑34‑year‑olds comfortable using palm verification,...
Levi’s Accelerates Growth as ‘DTC-First’ Strategy Pays Off
Levi Strauss & Co. posted first‑quarter net revenue of $1.7 billion, a 14% year‑on‑year increase, driven by a 16% rise in direct‑to‑consumer sales that now represent 52% of total revenue. The company lifted its full‑year 2026 outlook, forecasting 6% revenue growth...
Luxury Unfiltered: Kering’s 80pc Opportunity Starts with a Question Most Brands Won’t Ask
Kering currently commands roughly 20% of a $380 billion luxury market, leaving an $305 billion opportunity that CEO Luca de Meo aims to capture. De Meo, who turned around Renault’s €8 billion loss with a purpose‑driven brand story, now wants Kering to redefine the emotional...
Wednesday Briefing: Has the Sacking of a Shop Worker Highlighted Our Unease Around How Crime Is Tackled?
Waitrose dismissed a store employee after she confronted a shoplifter, igniting a national debate over how retailers handle rising shoplifting incidents. The case has become a flashpoint, with unions and consumer groups questioning whether staff are being asked to act...
ATTACK and CJ WORX Turn Fragrance Tech Into Behaviour with ‘Tap Tap, Pull Pull, Hug Hug’
ATTACK Detergent, in partnership with CJ WORX, launched a Thailand‑wide campaign that turns its micro‑encapsulation fragrance technology into everyday gestures. The "Tap Tap, Pull Pull, Hug Hug" routine lets consumers activate scent by tapping shoulders, stretching fabric or hugging, making freshness a visible behavior....
Liquid Death Lets Incrementality Decide What Tactics To Kill And What To Keep
Liquid Death, the metal‑themed canned water brand, has adopted Ibotta’s LiveLift platform to measure the incremental sales impact of its promotions in near real time. By comparing shoppers exposed to offers with a control group, the brand can identify which...