Flipkart Turns Umpire Billy Bowden’s Quirks Into a Clever Deal Decoder
Flipkart’s newest ad campaign stars former cricket umpire Billy Bowden, turning his signature gestures into a visual code for product categories on the platform. Viewers scan a QR code, match a gesture to a deal and unlock discounts, making the commercial itself an interactive shopping interface. The initiative builds on Flipkart’s broader cricket‑centric strategy, including its recent Namibia national team sponsorship for the T20 World Cup. By blending nostalgia with gamified commerce, the brand aims to deepen engagement and drive sales.
CRC Expands via No Brand Tie-Up
Central Retail Corporation (CRC) has secured an exclusive master franchise with South Korea's Emart to operate No Brand grocery stores in Thailand. The first outlet opened at Central Bangna, featuring roughly 2,200 items with 70% Korean imports. CRC aims to roll...
WSI Seals 10‑year Retail Deal At Australia’s First Major Airport In 50 Years
Lagardère AWPL, a 50:50 joint venture between Australian retailer AWPL and France’s Lagardère Travel Retail, secured a 10‑year contract to run duty‑free and travel‑essentials stores at Western Sydney International Airport (WSI). The agreement covers 11 outlets spanning roughly 33,400 sq ft, with 60 %...
Atelier Tuffery Opens a Boutique in the Marais, Paris
Atelier Tuffery, a family‑owned French denim maker founded in 1892, opened a 110‑square‑metre boutique in Paris’ Marais to bring its sustainable, locally produced jeans to a broader audience. The brand’s Florac workshop posted €5.2 million (≈$5.7 million) revenue in FY 2024‑25, a 13% increase,...
Mejuri Builds on Its Fastest-Selling Collection, with Most Shoppers Buying 3 Products
Mejuri has expanded its best‑selling Puzzle stacking‑ring line with sterling‑silver versions and modular slider charms, creating over 16 million possible mix‑and‑match combinations. The brand reports that 60% of Puzzle shoppers buy three or more pieces, turning the collection into a repeat‑purchase...
2026’s Biggest Retail Closings — And the Surprising Brands Still Growing
Coresight Research, referenced by CNBC, released 2026’s top retailers by store openings and closures. Dollar General leads with 483 new locations, followed by Aldi and Tractor Supply, while Gamestop tops the closure list with 467 shutdowns. Amazon Fresh eliminated all...
Perfect Moment and H&M Made a Ski Line. Here’s How It Performed.
The French luxury ski label Perfect Moment partnered with fast‑fashion giant H&M to launch an après‑ski collection priced far below the brand’s usual $800‑plus range. The line featured a $329 oversized puffer jacket and a $60 performance baselayer, both designed...
Amazon Live FAST Channel Joins Samsung TV Plus Lineup With Suite Of Shopping Features And Content
Amazon Live, a shopping‑focused FAST channel, is now part of Samsung TV Plus, the free streaming service that reaches more than 100 million monthly active users. The integration brings Amazon’s live‑shopping formats, celebrity hosts and original series to Samsung’s smart‑TV ecosystem. Viewers...
Sobeys VP Talks Compliments Brand Refresh, 'Innovative' New Products
Sobeys is revamping its private‑label Compliments range with a fresh visual identity and the new tagline “We’re full of Compliments.” The refresh is backed by a national ad campaign and aims to combine strong value with a warmer, more playful...
Retailers Sign on for Firmly Agentic Commerce Platform
Firmly has launched Firmly Connect, a no‑code platform that lets online retailers plug into AI shopping agents and emerging vertical apps within hours. The solution eliminates months of engineering by abstracting protocols and providing a centralized dashboard for pricing, inventory,...
Agentic Commerce-Era Lessons From Social Commerce And Digital Ad Channels
Agentic commerce is being touted as the next evolution of online shopping, echoing the hype that surrounded social commerce a few years ago. The article distills four lessons from social commerce—value proposition, flawless experience, right‑channel targeting, and trust—that are critical...
Mobilint Seeks to Supply NPU Chips for Shinsegae AI Checkout Systems
South Korean AI chip startup Mobilint has completed silicon proof‑of‑concept validation for its second‑generation NPU, Regulus, developed for Shinsegae Group’s AI‑powered checkout kiosks. The chip, fabricated on TSMC’s 12‑nm process, is slated for mass production in the second quarter and...
Check Out More Certified Refurbished Pixel Models on the Google Store and Amazon Renewed.
Google is expanding its Certified Refurbished program, adding the Pixel 8a to an existing lineup that includes the Pixel 7a, 7, 8, 8 Pro, and 7 Pro on the Google Store. Refurbished devices are inspected, repaired with genuine Google parts, and shipped in 100 %...
Florida Polytechnic University Partners with Starship Technologies for Nation’s ‘First Point-of-Sale Integration’
Florida Polytechnic University has teamed with Starship Technologies to launch the nation’s first point‑of‑sale integration for autonomous food‑delivery robots. The service, initially covering Einstein Bros. Bagels, Mosaic Café and Fire & Ash, lets students order via a mobile app, customize meals,...
Top Reasons to Hire a CBD Web Design Company for Your CBD Business
The CBD market’s rapid expansion has created a crowded, regulation‑heavy landscape, making a professional, compliant website essential for brand credibility and sales. Hiring a CBD‑focused web design firm brings industry‑specific knowledge of advertising rules, product presentation, and secure payment integration....
Luxury Ecommerce Growth Slows to 1.8% as Industry Enters Structural Shift
Tradebyte’s 2026 luxury e‑commerce report shows growth slowing to just 1.8% in 2025, marking the end of a multi‑year surge. The slowdown reflects a structural shift toward algorithm‑driven discovery, price transparency and tighter operational discipline rather than pure reach. Luxury...
Drôle De Monsieur Strengthens Its Retail Footprint with Concession at Galeries Lafayette Haussmann
Drôle de Monsieur has opened a 25‑square‑metre concession inside Galeries Lafayette Haussmann, marking its first brand‑run corner in the iconic Parisian department store. The space is managed by the label’s own team, allowing full control over merchandising and brand messaging....
Our Lego Agency’s Jennifer Berry on Building Connected Commerce Beyond Channels
Lego’s in‑house Our Lego Agency now unites commerce, creativity and retail under a single operating model, eliminating traditional channel silos. The agency focuses on delivering seamless, audience‑first experiences across direct‑to‑consumer (DTC), partner retailers and physical stores. AI tools are deployed...
Logile Launches Fresh Operations Management Suite to Help Grocers Turn Fresh Into a Scalable Growth Engine
Logile, Inc. unveiled its Fresh Operations Management suite, an AI‑driven platform that unifies demand forecasting, labor planning, inventory control, and food‑safety compliance for fresh‑food departments. By routing all decisions through a single real‑time demand signal, the system dynamically adjusts production...
More than a Store: 4 Ways Grocers Can Do More with Merch
Grocery retailers are increasingly using branded merchandise—tote bags, plushies, apparel—to deepen shopper engagement and generate incremental revenue. Trader Joe’s viral tote releases illustrate how limited‑time, low‑cost items can spark FOMO and drive foot traffic. Other chains such as Kroger, Stop & Shop, Aldi...
SpartanNash Zips Along with Store Renovations
SpartanNash announced the completion of a major remodel at its Martin’s Super Markets location in Goshen, Indiana, marking the store’s first significant refresh in two decades. The company also finished a series of renovations across several Family Fare locations in...
The Good Moon Turns Retail Into a Series of Intimate, Experience-Led Evenings
The Good Moon partnered with regional fashion label ELNALINE for a three‑night trunk show during Ramadan, turning the venue into an intimate, majlis‑inspired experience. Rather than chasing high footfall, the activation focused on curated displays, goodie bags, and a social...
Trader Joe’s Unveils Plans for 8 More Stores
Trader Joe’s announced eight additional store openings, bringing its 2026 expansion plan to more than 20 new locations. The chain has already opened two stores this year in New York and Connecticut and previously announced 17 other sites, including locations in...
Brands Briefing: How Oral-Care Brand Boka Made the Jump From Erewhon to Walmart
Oral‑care startup Boka, known for its premium $10‑$12 toothpaste, has secured shelf space at Walmart after building a foothold at upscale retailer Erewhon. The move marks the brand’s first foray into mass‑market distribution, aiming to capture shoppers willing to pay...
From Stockroom to Screen: How Real-Time Inventory Feeds Elevate In-Store Digital Signage
Retailers are increasingly linking digital signage to live inventory and point‑of‑sale data, turning static ads into context‑aware displays. A rules‑based engine automatically promotes in‑stock items while suppressing sold‑out products, ensuring screens reflect real availability. This integration creates a feedback loop...
Grocery Shopping Is Now the Second-Largest Online Sector in the Netherlands
Dutch e‑commerce is stabilizing, with total online spend projected at €35.7 billion in 2025 (about $39 billion), a modest 1 % dip from the prior year. While travel and event services are losing ground, physical goods are regaining momentum, propelled in part by...
Wrights Plastics Appointed Global Display Partner For JD Sports
Wrights Plastics has been named JD Sports' global display partner, supplying point‑of‑sale and visual‑merchandising solutions across the retailer’s worldwide estate. The UK‑based manufacturer will provide LED Halo displays, glow light boxes, illuminated signage and other acrylic‑based fixtures, all produced in‑house...
Leading Global Online Retailer Expands Vuzix Smart Glasses Deployment Across North America with Follow-On Orders and Initial Ultralite Pro OEM...
Vuzix announced that a leading global online retailer is expanding its smart‑glass deployment across the United States and Canada, adding follow‑on orders for the M400 platform and its first OEM order for Ultralite Pro devices. The rollout builds on earlier pilots...
The Next Era of Retail Won’t Be Browsed, It Will Be Prompted
Retail is transitioning from search‑driven browsing to AI‑driven intent commerce, where autonomous agents complete purchases before a human even opens a site. Walmart reported that shoppers using its Sparky assistant generated baskets 35% larger than traditional shoppers, underscoring the revenue...
Visa Pushes Subscription Management Tool
Visa announced a partnership with Pinwheel to embed an enhanced subscription manager directly into banking apps, giving cardholders a consolidated view of recurring charges, alternative payment options, and one‑click cancellation. The rollout begins this summer for North American issuers, with...
Albertsons on Its ChatGPT Ads Test and Push for Retail Media Transparency
Albertsons Media Collective made its debut at the IAB NewFronts, using the stage to spotlight its nationwide grocery footprint of over 2,200 stores across 13 of the top 15 U.S. markets. The unit released a joint report with Ovative Group...
Tamannaah Bhatia Wants to Build India’s Answer to Cartier
Actress Tamannaah Bhatia has launched Tamannaah Fine Jewellery, positioning it as India’s answer to Cartier. The brand builds on her father’s fifteen‑year jewellery business, giving it in‑house manufacturing and design control. It targets modern, urban consumers who want contemporary pieces...
From Gen Z to Retirees: Digital Wallets’ Cross-Generational Rise Will Unlock £453 Bn of UK Spend by 2030
Global Payments’ latest report projects UK digital‑wallet transactions to surge from $342 bn in 2025 to $575 bn by 2030, a 68% increase. Adoption spans generations, with two‑thirds of 18‑24‑year‑olds and nearly a third of 55‑64‑year‑olds naming wallets their preferred method. While...
Manchester Creatives Take over Schuh’s Market Street Window
schuh is launching its first community‑led window at the Manchester Market Street store, partnering with local creative agency HEADS Creative. The permanent fixture will host rotating installations every four weeks, showcasing emerging Manchester talent from March 23 to June 14....
Tilda Backs Premium Rice Growth with Biggest-Ever Campaign Reaching 65% of UK Adults
Tilda has launched its largest-ever marketing push, the "Live Like You Mean It" campaign, to accelerate growth in the premium rice segment. The multi‑channel effort, rolling out nationwide on 1 April, is projected to reach 65% of UK adults through TV,...
Aldi Invests £16 Million in Easter Price Cuts
Aldi is spending roughly $20 million to slash prices across its Easter assortment. The cuts include up to 29% off Nicolas De Montbart Champagne, 11% off Spumante Prosecco, and a 40% discount on Cadbury Easter eggs to $1.26. Aldi also promises...
Albert Heijn Under Fire for Unhealthy Bulk Discounts
Albert Heijn, the Dutch market leader, runs over 1,000 bulk‑discount promotions each week, far outpacing rivals such as Jumbo and Plus. An analysis of 44,000 promotions across eight supermarket chains found that 57% were bulk deals, many tied to unhealthy...
Doba Launches Unified AI Platform to Consolidate Every Dropshipping Automation Tool in One Place
Doba has launched the beta of Doba Pilot, an AI‑driven platform that consolidates core dropshipping functions into a single natural‑language interface. The system automates product discovery, Shopify store creation, AI‑generated listings, and real‑time inventory sync across its largely US‑based supplier...
Designkit Launches E-Commerce Design Platform to Streamline Product Visuals for Global Sellers
Designkit has launched a globally available e‑commerce design platform that lets merchants create conversion‑ready product visuals in hours instead of days. The platform combines a Generative AI Suite, which can produce full image sets, lifestyle scenes, videos and localized copy...
Abercrombie & Fitch to Make Northern Irish Debut at Victoria Square
Abercrombie & Fitch announced its first Northern Ireland store, opening in Belfast’s Victoria Square shopping centre. The new outlet will occupy the upper ground floor between LEGO and Sephora, the latter of which debuted in Ireland last month. Victoria Square...
Lidl Is Looking to Hire 240 New Employees in Belgium
Lidl announced plans to hire more than 240 new employees in Belgium over the next year as it targets opening six stores annually. The hiring spree includes store associates, logistics staff, and corporate roles, highlighted by a new 1,714 m² flagship...
Swipe Fees Hit Record-Setting $198.25B
U.S. merchants paid a record $198.25 billion in credit and debit card swipe fees in 2025, according to the Merchants Payments Coalition. The total represents a 5.9% jump from 2024 and an 80% increase since the pandemic, with fees climbing 219%...
Wasbar Launches a Franchise Scheme in Belgium and the Netherlands
Wasbar, a Belgian hospitality concept, is launching its first franchise location in Antwerp’s historic Melkmarkt district. The franchise will be operated by 25‑year‑old entrepreneurs Florjan Bex and Jonathan Habex, who have already worked within the brand. Owner Top Brands is...
Colruyt Is Rolling Out a Driverless Delivery Vehicle in Leuven
Colruyt Group’s Collect&Go is piloting an unmanned electric delivery vehicle in Leuven from mid‑May through August, marking Belgium’s first autonomous vehicle on public roads without a fixed route. The compact vehicle, limited to 25 km/h, can transport groceries for two customers,...
UK Consumers Shift From Browsing to Intent as High‑value Home and Finance Leads Surge
Analysis of 67 million email messages shows UK consumers are becoming more selective, clicking less but converting at higher rates. The shift toward an “intent economy” is driven by cost‑of‑living pressures, prompting shoppers to focus on home improvements and financial services...
M&S to Launch at London Town Centre; The Elephant
Get Living’s £500 million (≈ $635 million) “The Elephant” town‑centre in Elephant & Castle is set to open in late 2026. Among the first confirmed tenants, Marks & Spencer will launch a fresh‑market style food store with a dedicated click‑and‑collect point for fashion,...
How Interactive Engagement Is Boosting Shopper Participation in Retail Environments
Retailers are increasingly deploying gamified experiences—points, badges, QR‑led quests, and spin‑to‑win offers—to make shopping more interactive across physical stores and digital platforms. These mechanics aim to boost repeat visits, increase basket size, and enrich first‑party data for personalized marketing. Successful...
Initio Parfums Privés Opening First UK Boutique Due to ‘High Double-Digit Growth’ in Region
Initio Parfums Privés will open its first UK boutique on 2 April in London’s Covent Garden, capitalising on reported double‑digit growth in the region’s premium fragrance points of sale. The store will showcase the brand’s Feel Lab Experience, an immersive headset‑driven...
Food Price Rises Unlikely Before Summer, Says Boss of Sainsbury’s
Sainsbury’s chief executive Simon Roberts told reporters that food price increases are unlikely before summer, despite the Middle East conflict affecting fertilizer supplies. The retailer has secured long‑term contracts worth £5 bn (about $6.3 bn) to lock in farmer prices and has...
Garage CEO: ‘Wholesale Slows Us Down’
Canadian womenswear label Garage opened its second United Kingdom store on London’s iconic Oxford Street, marking a rapid push into the European market. CEO Andry Lutfy told Drapers that the brand’s growth engine relies on urgency, agility, and a granular...