‘Eye off the ball’: Woolies lays blame for limp results
A string of "distractions" are the reason why Woolworths failed to deliver for shareholders, the company's leaders say.
retail
Coles puts heat on Woolworths with strong sales growth
Supermarket giant Coles continues to take market share from key rival Woolworths, posting stronger quarterly sales growth than its bigger competitor.
Workers threatened with weapons as retail crime spikes
Retail crime is worsening with a drastic number of Bunnings and Kmart workers threatened with violence every month, parent company Wesfarmers says.
Retailers ponder quitting ciggies as illegal sales soar
Supermarkets and smaller retailers are feeling the pain of the illegal tobacco trade, posting super-sized drops in revenue in recent reporting.
Refurb for Adairs as homewares retailer reads the room
Homewares and furnishings retailer Adairs is pulling back from a deep discounting model as it plans to unveil a more "aspirational" refresh.
Super Retail chair survives protest vote after scandal
Super Retail enjoyed 4.5 per cent financial year-to-date sales growth but its AGM was focused on the board's decision to sack chief executive Anthony Hegarty.
Jeweller accused of ringing up counterfeit luxury bling
A man faces years in jail for allegedly trying to sell counterfeit copies of high-end jewellery such as Cartier at inflated prices totalling more than $100,000.
Billions in unworn clothes hanging in Aussie wardrobes
The hidden fashion fortune hiding in wardrobes across Australia is estimated to be worth tens of billions of dollars.
Spending rebound staggers as Aussies kick booze, smokes
Strong growth in household spending earlier this year is unlikely to be matched, which could ease Reserve Bank fears of a return of inflation pressures.
Lovisa CEO denies misconduct allegations at Smiggle
Billionaire businessman Solomon Lew has made sensational allegations against the fired CEO of his back-to-school chain Smiggle, who is now the boss of Lovisa.
Myer’s troubled robotic warehouse costing it dearly
Myer shareholders won't see a final dividend after its full-year profit took a 30 per cent hit, driven by costly issues with a robotic warehouse.
‘It starts to hurt a lot’: big toll of deaths, manhunt
As the manhunt for an accused killer enters a fourth week, a relief package for businesses impacted by the search will be a drop in the ocean for many.
Woolworths, Coles say underpayment costs could hit $1b
Woolworths estimates it owes up to $750 million to thousands of salaried team leaders after a court ruling, while Coles' liability could hit $250 million.
Consumer boom drives surprise jump in economic growth
Australia's economy surpassed expectations in the last financial year, taking some urgency out of the Reserve Bank's plans to cut interest rates.
Buying frenzy for Coles shares after bumper sales year
Coles shares posted their best single-day gains in more than five years after the supermarket giant announced strong sales growth and a billion-dollar profit.
Shoppers check out of Woolies as Coles registers gains
Shoppers are switching supermarket brands with Woolworths losing sales to arch-rival Coles as the giant chains post contrasting financial results.
Bricks and mortar thrive as beauty retailer expands
The expansion of a major beauty retailer's flagship is in line with trends of specialty stores moving into physical retail at the expense of department stores.
West is best economically as eastern states left behind
Western Australia remains the top economic performer in CommSec's State of the States rankings, but its "breakneck" growth is starting to lose momentum.
Dozens dead after fire at shopping centre in Iraq
A massive fire has ripped through a hypermarket in eastern Iraq, leaving at least 61 people dead, including children, and others missing.
Surprise rate hold another blow for consumer confidence
Fewer rate cuts than expected will further weaken already fragile consumer confidence, as the Commonwealth Bank records a gradual household spending recovery.
Big bank shifts rate cut tip as retail sales disappoint
A slow start to the year for consumers continues, with weaker-than-expected retail sales a sign of "scarring" from a spike in inflation.
Lower energy use just the beginning for retail giant
Lower energy prices might make its way into the Bunnings catch-phrase as the retailer looks to fast-track the decarbonisation of its services.
Retail spending tipped to stay soft as home prices soar
Housing prices are expected to climb ever higher, even as a predicted recovery in dwelling consents shines a ray of hope on Australia's supply ambitions.
What’s the crime, say accused $10m fake merch dealers
Caught with over 500 fake luxury items, three founders of an alleged $10 million counterfeit empire have attacked the investigators who put them in custody.
Bless your cotton jocks: town’s cheeky bid to retailers
A social media campaign is highlighting the absurdity of being unable to buy a decent supply of socks and jocks in one of Australia's leading cotton regions.
Warm weather, Cyclone Trump hit consumer recovery
Australia's economic momentum remains fragile with unseasonably warm weather and consumer concern contributing to weaker retail sales.
Weary retail recovery has rate cut almost in the bag
All the smoke signals point to an interest rate cut as Australian retail spending continues to grow amid cooling consumer and producer inflation.
‘Horrific’ triple-zero calls mounted during mass attack
Ambulance officers responded to up to 4000 calls for assistance on the day of a horror mass stabbing attack in the Bondi Junction shopping centre.
Ambos left waiting outside mall after stabbing spree
Paramedics feared people were dying as they were left outside a shopping centre when more than a dozen people were critically injured in a stabbing spree.
Contamination fears: supermarkets pull popular products
Five supermarket chains have pulled dozens of products from their shelves, warning customers of a potential health risk.
Tough times haven’t stopped Aussies shopping online
Online shopping continues to soar in popularity in Australia, as cost-of-living pressures change the way we spend, and determines which retailers will survive.