Chinese Furniture Maker Takes on US Incumbents in Bid to Expand Foothold
Sunon, a Chinese office‑furniture maker, is shifting from contract manufacturing to selling under its own brand in the United States. The company earned $60 million from the U.S. market last year and targets a 50% revenue increase this year, backed by tens of millions of dollars in investment. It will double output at its Monterrey, Mexico plant, add a steel‑fabrication line, and open two new U.S. showrooms in Chicago and Dallas. Sunon’s move reflects a broader Chinese trend of climbing the value chain amid slowing domestic growth.
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How eBay Generates Revenue: Key Streams Explained
eBay reported FY2024 revenue of $10.28 billion, driven by $74.67 billion in gross merchandise volume. The marketplace generated $1.98 billion in net income, down from $2.77 billion a year earlier, while active users held steady at 134 million. Revenue is split between marketplace fees, advertising,...
JBL’s Boombox 3 Drops to $300 and the Tour Pro 2 Earbuds Hit $140 During Amazon’s Big Spring Sale
Amazon's Big Spring Sale slashes JBL prices, with the Boombox 3 now $299.95—a $200 discount—and the Tour Pro 2 earbuds at $139.95, 44% off. The promotion also includes deep discounts on PartyBox, Charge 6, and a range of JBL headphones...
Empire Pulls ‘Buy Canadian’ Grocery Signage
Empire Company Limited is removing its “Buy Canadian” signage from all its grocery banners, including Sobeys, Safeway, IGA, FreshCo, Foodland and Thrifty Foods. The shift follows a decline in patriotic buying as inflation hit 5.4 percent in February, prompting shoppers to prioritize...
This iPhone Charger From Anker Comes with a Nifty Smart Display - and It's on Sale
Anker’s Nano 45W Smart Display charger is on sale for $28, a 30% discount on the black and white models, with blue and orange versions at $30. The compact charger features a tiny touchscreen that shows real‑time power delivery and battery...
Designer Brands Unifies U.S. and Canada Retail
Designer Brands Inc. has merged its U.S. and Canadian retail operations into a single "Retail Segment," covering 88% of total sales. The unified division now runs 665 stores, generating $2.66 billion in net sales, though comparable sales fell 3.9% in 2025....
Skullcandy Taps Riskified for Fraud Prevention
Skullcandy partnered with Riskified via the Shopify app to overhaul its fraud‑prevention workflow. By adding a secondary review layer and recalibrating AI‑driven thresholds, the retailer cut its fraud‑decline rate to about 0.1% and kept chargebacks around 0.06% over 12 months....
Baskin-Robbins Japan Reveals The Super Mario Galaxy Movie Collab
Baskin‑Robbins Japan is rolling out a Nintendo‑themed ice‑cream lineup to celebrate the upcoming Super Mario Galaxy movie. The menu features flavors such as Cotton Fruit Galaxy, single and double sundaes, and an 8‑in‑1 Galaxy set packaged in a reusable Rosalina‑themed bag....
Sunglass Hut Bets on Ray-Ban Exclusive Capsule
Sunglass Hut is rolling out an exclusive Ray‑Ban capsule, featuring four reimagined silhouettes in white frames with gray polarized lenses. The collection, which includes the Zena and Mega Wayfarer II models, will debut globally this week and reach U.S. stores in...
Meta Aims to Position WhatsApp as the New Frontier in Customer Relations
Meta is positioning WhatsApp as a core channel for B2C customer relations, citing that 80% of users interact with brands weekly and a billion daily business‑consumer conversations occur. The platform now supports promotions, live‑shopping, abandoned‑cart recovery (15‑20% recovered), payments and...
Afresh Expands Platform Across Full Store as Grocery Tech Matures Into the AI Era
Afresh, a grocery‑AI startup, announced it is extending its platform beyond fresh produce to manage inventory, ordering, and replenishment across an entire supermarket. The expanded solution now handles demand forecasting, inventory control, and distribution‑center operations for produce, meat, center‑store items,...
Refurbed and GoPro Announce Exclusive Partnership in Ireland
Refurbed has sealed an exclusive partnership with GoPro to sell refurbished HERO9‑11 cameras in Ireland, Denmark and Sweden. The collaboration follows a pilot that saw GoPro sales on the platform jump 195%, and reflects a 329% year‑on‑year increase in camera...
PayNearby Introduces Integrated UPI Cash Withdrawal Solution Through Retail Network
PayNearby has become the first Business Correspondent in India to launch a fully integrated UPI cash‑withdrawal solution, allowing users to pull physical cash from nearby retail outlets. The service is built in partnership with IndusInd Bank and supported by YES...
How Sony Electronics’ Creative Space Tour Acts as a Continuous Feedback Loop
Sony Electronics answered community demand for the Alpha 7 V by launching a 10‑city Creative Space On the Road tour, running from Feb. 26 in San Diego to Apr. 30 in Boston. The pop‑up experience uses a customized Airstream trailer where creators can test...
Deals – Big Spring Sale Day 3: Lenovo Idea Tab Pro 40% Off, TCL 60 NXTPAPER $180, Snapdragon X Elite...
Day 3 of Amazon’s Big Spring Sale delivers deep discounts across tablets, smartphones, laptops and accessories. Lenovo’s 12.7‑inch Idea Tab Pro falls to $237.50, a 40% cut, while TCL’s 60 XE NXTPAPER phone starts at $180, 30% off. Microsoft’s Snapdragon X Elite Surface Laptop is...
EXCLUSIVE: The Things We Do Expands to West Hollywood With Fifth Location
The Things We Do is launching its fifth clinic on March 30 at 8447 Melrose Avenue in West Hollywood, expanding its footprint in the high‑demand aesthetic market. Founder Vanessa Lee remains a minority owner after Age/Well Partners acquired a majority stake, positioning...
Lakeside Shopping Centre Unveils Brand New The White Company Store
Lakeside Shopping Centre has launched a new 5,000‑sq‑ft The White Company store, adding a high‑end lifestyle brand to its tenant mix. The retailer is celebrated for timeless design, quality fabrics and understated luxury, positioning the outlet as a flagship within...
MAC’s Viva Glam Teams up with Conner Ives for Limited Edition T-Shirt and Lipstick Launch
MAC Cosmetics has teamed with designer Conner Ives to launch a limited‑edition “Protect the Dolls” T‑shirt and Viva Glam lipstick collection timed with Trans Day on March 31. The partnership has already sold over 17,000 T‑shirts, generating more than $600,000 for UK...
In the Age of AI, Home Depot’s Stores Have ‘Never Been More Relevant’
Home Depot is embedding generative‑AI tools, branded as Magic Apron, into its omnichannel ecosystem to streamline product discovery and advice. A partnership with Google Cloud now lets shoppers converse in plain language, receiving personalized recommendations and compatibility checks. The retailer...
Best Canopy Management Alternatives for Amazon Sellers: Ranked and Reviewed
The article ranks the ten most viable Amazon agency alternatives to Canopy Management, highlighting Olifant Digital as the top overall choice. It evaluates agencies on client retention, senior‑level staffing, daily optimization cadence, and TACoS‑first reporting. Key pain points with Canopy—manager...
Commerce Media ‘Firmly in the Growth Phase’, Finds SMG’s New Maturity Index
SMG’s newly launched Commerce Media Network (CMN) Maturity Index reveals the sector is solidly in a growth phase, with 58% of networks classified as mid‑market and 28% reaching mature status. The Index evaluates networks across three dimensions—What (capabilities, data, inventory),...
Fashion E-Tailer Giglio.com Posts 14% Revenue Slump in 2025, Rallies in Europe in 2026
Italian luxury e‑tailer Giglio.com reported a 14% revenue decline in 2025, posting $43.5 million in sales versus $50.8 million the year before. EBITDA turned negative at $1.8 million, reflecting a –4.1% margin, while net loss widened to $2.8 million. Despite the downturn, the company...
Michael Kors UK Sees Lower Sales and Profits on Store Closures
Michael Kors UK reported a sharp decline in turnover, dropping to just under £60 million (≈ $75 million) from almost £71 million (≈ $89 million) as store closures and a weak economic environment weighed on sales. Despite the revenue drop, the gross profit margin improved to...
Matthieu Blazy’s Hit Chanel Look Is Heading for the High Street
Matthieu Blazy’s debut Chanel collection has quickly become a high‑street template, with retailers like M&S, Zara and Mango rolling out bouclé jackets and tweed pieces that echo the runway look. A video campaign starring Margot Robbie, which references Kylie Minogue’s...
Fonq, Dutch Home Decor Webshop, Declared Bankrupt
Dutch online home‑decor retailer Fonq, founded in 2003, announced bankruptcy after years of decline. The company once posted €66 million (≈ $71 million) in revenue in 2015 and was bought in 2016 by Ad Scheepbouwer, who hoped to expand sales to €200 million (≈ $214 million)....
Sock Brand Supersox Appoints Ahnaaf Nadeem as Head of Retail
Supersox, an Indian premium sock brand, has appointed Ahnaaf Nadeem as Head of Retail to accelerate its brick‑and‑mortar expansion. Nadeem brings extensive experience in retail development, having led store rollouts for SocksXpress! across malls and airports and managed multi‑city operations...
Italian Apparel Retailer OVS Targets India as Key Overseas Market with Phased Retail Expansion
Italian apparel retailer OVS is targeting India as its most important overseas market, adopting a phased, flagship‑led expansion. The company currently operates two stores in Delhi and Mumbai, plans to open a third in October and reach seven stores by...
After More than a Decade of Fan Demand, Taco Bell Finally Brings Diablo Sauce to Canada
Since Diablo first launched in the U.S in 2015, Canadian fans have repeatedly asked Taco Bell to bring the sauce north – on the brand’s own social channels and across online communities. The post After more than a decade of fan...
Grocers Enhance Their Focus on Foodservice
Supermarket delis are rapidly evolving into primary meal destinations, with consumers choosing deli‑prepared foods over restaurant meals rising from 12% in 2017 to 28% in 2025. Retailers are expanding assortments and positioning delis as affordable, convenient alternatives, especially for hybrid...
As It Celebrates Its 40th Anniversary, Andiata Aims to Become a Byword for Elegance in Europe and Beyond
Andiata marks its 40th anniversary as a Finnish luxury label steered by founder Tarja Rantanen and daughter Matilda Morelius. The brand recorded €6.3 million (~$6.9 million) in sales for 2025, with roughly half generated through its e‑commerce platform. Distribution remains boutique‑focused, limited...
Embrace Progress Says Sephora As ChatGPT Pilot Expands Across U.S.
Sephora has launched a U.S. pilot that embeds a dedicated beauty‑advisor experience inside the ChatGPT app, allowing shoppers to ask natural‑language questions and receive personalized product recommendations. The service taps into customers’ Beauty Insider loyalty data to tailor advice on...
Shake Shack Breaks Into Top 50 US Restaurants by Consumer Spending
Shake Shack has entered the top 50 U.S. restaurant brands by consumer spending, according to Circana’s 2026 Definitive U.S. Restaurant Ranking Report. To qualify, a chain must exceed $1.41 billion in annual spend, a threshold Shake Shack just surpassed. The top...
Square Signs Steak Escape and Other Digital Transactions News Briefs From 3/27/26
Block Inc.'s Square unit will outfit Steak Escape’s 23 locations with POS terminals, kiosks and kitchen-display systems, extending its fast‑food footprint. Visa partnered with Pinwheel to launch an Enhanced Subscription Manager, aiming to help consumers track the projected 12 billion global...
Oysho and Pull&Bear Bolster Their European Footprint with New Stores in Amsterdam and Copenhagen
Inditex’s Oysho and Pull&Bear are expanding in Europe, opening new stores in Amsterdam and Copenhagen. The 245‑square‑metre Oysho location features a dedicated 50‑square‑metre Running Club, while Pull&Bear’s 900‑square‑metre Copenhagen flagship showcases a digital‑first retail concept. Both openings complement recent launches...
'Ripple of Fear' Over Iran War Hits Consumer Confidence
GfK's March Consumer Confidence Barometer shows UK confidence falling to minus 21, the lowest in months. The drop coincides with a 0.4% decline in February retail sales and rising energy costs, as Brent crude jumped 50% to $110 per barrel. Higher...
Co-Op and EG On The Move ‘Drive Forward’ Growth with New Essex Roadside Service Station and Grocery Convenience Launch
Co‑op and EG On The Move have opened a new forecourt‑convenience site in Norton Heath, Essex, combining eight fuel pumps, upcoming EV chargers, a Greggs bakery and a Co‑op franchise store. The location brings British‑sourced food, Starbucks coffee, meal deals...
Google Merchant Center Will Highlight Vehicle Ads Data Quality Issues
Google announced that starting mid‑April 2026, Merchant Center will surface data‑quality issues for Vehicle ads directly in the account‑issues page. The new checks compare each vehicle's feed attributes—availability, condition, price, mileage, VIN, and landing‑page URLs—with the corresponding details on the...
Costa Coffee Embarks on Tour of the UK with Giant Iced Matcha Cup
British coffee chain Costa Coffee has kicked off a nationwide promotional tour featuring a giant, walk‑around iced matcha cup. The oversized prop, created by creative agency Circle Agency, will travel to major UK cities over the next several weeks to...
Garage Continues UK Expansion with Manchester Stores
Canadian fast‑fashion label Garage is opening two new stores in Manchester’s Arndale and Trafford centres in 2026, extending its recent UK rollout that began with a flagship on London’s Oxford Street and a Bluewater store in Kent. The brand, which...
Inditex to Open Lefties at the Forthcoming Central Park Valvert
Inditex will launch its Lefties brand at the Central Park Valvert retail hub in Sainte‑Geneviève‑des‑Bois on May 21, 2026, marking the chain’s first French store. The outlet will feature the group’s “Digital Store” concept, including RFID‑enabled Easy Pay, automated lockers and social spaces. Lefties, originally...
Laura Mercier Re-Enters India with 150 POS Plan; Orveon Bets on Premium Beauty Growth
Orveon Global is re‑entering India with its prestige brand Laura Mercier, targeting 150 points of sale within three years. The rollout combines e‑commerce on platforms like Nykaa and premium offline locations through partners such as Sephora and Tira. Orveon has teamed...
How to Protect Razor-Thin Retail Margins with AI
Retail margins are collapsing, with grocery net margins falling below 1.5%, echoing the 2008 crisis. A recent NVIDIA study shows 89% of retailers using AI report higher revenue and 95% see lower operating costs. AI delivers the strongest returns in...
India's Luxury Promise Hits a Wall: Not Enough Malls to Shop In
India’s luxury market, valued at $12.1 bn, is constrained by a severe shortage of premium retail space, with only three true luxury malls—two in Delhi and one in Mumbai. Top brands such as LVMH, Kering and Richemont report zero availability for...
TechnoSport Taps IPL Buzz with ‘Real Movement’ Campaign
TechnoSport unveiled a brand film titled “Real Movement” during the Indian Premier League, shifting its narrative from gym‑centric performance to everyday activity. The campaign, part of a broader identity refresh, will run on connected TV, digital platforms and transit media...
Grocery Shopping via ChatGPT: How Carrefour Is Embracing AI
Carrefour has become the first European retailer to embed its product catalogue directly into ChatGPT, allowing French users to browse items, check stock, and build a shopping cart within the AI chat interface. The service launched Thursday and is instantly...
Connected Vending Machines Pass 8 Million Units as Cashless Payments Accelerate Adoption
Berg Insight reports that 8.1 million connected vending machines were operating globally in 2025, and projects the fleet to climb to nearly 11.7 million by 2030, driven by a 7.6% CAGR. The bulk of installations are in the Rest of the World...
Tesco Beats Clubcard Copycats to Claim Loyalty Scheme Crown
Tesco’s Clubcard has been crowned the UK’s most valued loyalty scheme, scoring 8.38 out of 10 in HyperFinity’s index that surveyed over 50 retailers. The programme’s appeal stems from its straightforward discounts, including a 40 p (≈ $0.50) meal‑deal cut, and strong...
How to Achieve Seamless Shoppable CTV
At Streaming Media Connect 2026, leaders from Fuse Media, Disney, Spaceback and LG outlined the next wave of shoppable CTV innovations. They highlighted homepage tile ads as a low‑funnel performance tool, Roku’s phone‑number‑linked click‑to‑buy flow, and LG’s Shop Time platform that leverages...
Libas Hits Rs 1,000 Cr ARR; Eyes 30 Pc Growth with Offline Scale-Up and Quick Commerce Push
Libas, an Indian fast‑fashion ethnic‑wear D2C brand, has reached a Rs 1,000 crore (≈ $120 million) annual run‑rate while staying EBITDA‑positive. The company posted 30‑plus percent year‑on‑year growth and projects FY26 revenue of Rs 750‑800 crore (≈ $90‑$96 million). It is accelerating offline expansion, opening 28 stores in...