RetailBiz Round Up for Wednesday 12 March 2014 – with Patrick Avenell
Today's ASX results are here
After Google ‘changed the game’ for retailers and brands by launching Google Shopping in 2012, online retailers require more sophisticated campaign management, according to Software as a Service (SaaS) and cloud e-commerce specialist ChannelAdvisor.
At the launch today of its new Digital Marketing omnichannel software suite, ChannelAdvisor president and COO David Spitz said retailers need to stay on top of technology developments, lest they suddenly find themselves falling behind.
“Having worked with retailers and manufacturers for over a decade, we’ve seen the digital marketing space explode in complexity,” said Spitz.
“To stay ahead, retailers need precise and real-time linkage between their products, campaigns, tracking and optimisation across more channels than ever. ChannelAdvisor Digital Marketing brings all of these capabilities together on a single, integrated platform, giving our customers a strategic competitive advantage.”
“ChannelAdvisor Digital Marketing is designed to maximise sales while minimising spend. It includes features unique to product-centric marketing to enable optimal management of campaigns, including Google Product Listing Ads, comparison shopping engines, Inventory-Driven Search, product-level reporting and more.”
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ANRA CEO Margy Osmond has today hit out at laws regarding trading hours, specifically in New South Wales. Osmond’s main gripe is that onerous restrictions surrounding public holidays — such as Anzac Day and the Easter Long Weekend next month — are irritating consumers and inhibiting businesses.
“Our current trading laws are archaic and New South Wales is one of the worst states. It is just not good enough if the aim of the sector is to be modern, flexible, create more jobs and give customers what they want,” said Osmond.
“Retail is a service industry which means we need to be open when and where people want to shop. In a modern world that means weekends and public holidays.”
Osmond is hoping for restrictions to be the on the agenda when the various Federal and State Governments meet in May.
Westfield Garden City in Brisbane is giving away a $1,000 voucher to the person that posts the best image to that shopping mall’s new Instagram wall. This new 25-metre wall is being erected as part of the site’s redevelopment as in intended to get the youngsters re-excited about shopping centres.
"We're excited to see what people come up with, and ultimately, what they love about the centre through their own images,” said Westfield regional manager Stuart Elder.
"We haven't seen this kind of Instagram wall done in a shopping centre before, and think it's a great way to engage with our shoppers and showcase the best of Westfield Garden City through the eyes of our community.”
The competition runs from Thursday 13 March 2014 to Sunday 6 April 2014.
The Northland Shopping Centre is an official partner of the Melbourne Fashion Festival and will be hosting a number of free activities during the show, which runs 17-to-23 March 2014.
In-centre activities include mini makeovers, cosmetics and hair styling masterclasses, trend seminars and pampering zones.
“We recognise that our customers are passionate about fashion and our partnership with the Festival provides us with the ideal platform to showcase the latest Australian and International trends,” said centre manager Michael Bickers. “We have a number of iconic Australian retailers in our centre including Country Road, Witchery, Review, Cue, Sportsgirl, Bardot and Portmans.
“This campaign is the key platform for our retailers to launch their collections which are now available in-store.”
Quotes of the Day
“I believe it’s time for a change for me personally” — David Jones CEO and MD Paul Zahra, 21 October 2013.
“I feel a renewed sense of purpose and commitment to the business” — David Jones CEO and MD Paul Zahra, 11 March 2014.
Paul Zahra has gone from resignation to re-sign-ation, putting pen to paper on a new contract to remain CEO and managing director of David Jones. Zahra announced in October 2013 that it was his intention to stand down once a suitable replacement had been found. The company has now called of the search, however, and is “delighted” that Zahra has agreed to stay on.
Image of the Day
Rundle Place in Adelaide is currently hosting Rolling Stones exhibition to attract foot traffic to the busy retail strip.
“We’re pleased with the numbers we got through the doors over the long weekend and expect that as the excitement builds now toward the 22 March 2014 concert these figures will increase daily,” said centre manager Justin Dangerfield.
Video of the Day
Some people just don’t like to be kept waiting for their Domino’s…
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