​Many companies across the marketing ecosystem, including private equity players, have been sold the dream marketing is now a science, Rakuten Marketing’s global CEO, Stuart Simms, says. But it’s not exactly true.

Opening a bricks-and-mortar store in an increasingly digitally-driven consumer culture seems counterintuitive. Yet Greenstone Financial Services are banking on its new store giving customers what they want.

Over the last 12 months, Caroline Patrick has created a new brand to take the Radio Rentals Group into the NSW market. She says it’s been one of the most important – and arguably the most challenging – decisions she’s made so far at the South Australian-based retailer and household goods financier.

When your company is credited with creating a product as enduring as blue jeans, it might be easy to rest on your laurels. But despite it being almost 150 years since Levi Strauss patented his iconic trousers, his eponymous company is continuing to innovate both in product and service.

​Customer experience is crucial for brands moving into the future, as consumers become less interested in products and more interested in experiences.

Far from it being a retail apocalypse, the proliferation of data and technology has pushed us into a retail renaissance, said Salesforce at Dreamforce this week.

It’s 70 years this year since Sportsgirl opened its doors in Australia. And in all that time, its core demographic – the 16-24 year-old transitioning from girlhood to womanhood – has remained constant, national marketing manager, Kate Rees, says.

​Myer has confirmed its executive GM of marketing and customer, Louise Pearson, is one of a number of executive and senior-level roles slashed from the department store giant this week.

Friction is costing Australian businesses $29 billion a year, according to Facebook head of global brand partnerships, Marco Corsi.

Temple & Webster will accelerate marketing spend beyond digital channels and is keen to invest in more technology innovation as it looks to drive commercial growth in the next year.

​AI-powered research, voice-based care instructions, ‘adjacent possible’ marketing principles, augmented reality on farms and eco-storytelling in immersive retail stores – they’re all in a day’s work for the innovation and digital team at The Woolmark Company.

Woolworths has reported a 9.5 per cent rise in group earnings and 3.4 per cent growth in sales off the back of its long-term customer-led turnaround efforts and strong supermarket performance.

Data-driven intelligence is key to the next-generation organisation, according to Sephora Asia’s head of business intelligence. But in order to get there, employees not only need to have access to data; they also need to be able to interrogate it effectively.

High shipping cost is causing more than half of Australian consumers to ditch their shopping carts before completing an online purchase, according to a new report.

Alibaba has a vision for the future of retail where there is no distinction between online and offline shopping, and the customer experience is enhanced by augmented reality, artificial intelligence (AI) and facial recognition.

Australia-based value fashion retailer, Cotton On Group, has an ambitious mission: To drive 30 per cent growth next year through digital commerce and engagement improvements.

​What started as a potentially career-ending sea change for Splosh CMO, Sally Boyes, has ended up being the best and most unique opportunity of her profession to date.

No one would doubt it’s been a tough decade for retailers, and many have failed in the face of digital disruption and transformation. But for Salesforce senior VP of retail and consumer goods, Shelley Bransten, the rise of relationship-based engagement is offering up reasons to be increasingly optimistic about the retail market moving forward.

Mirvac Retail’s fresh digital partnerships with foodora and Mall Ops are part of a wider digital marketing and CX strategy aimed at lifting customer connectedness.

Customers don’t look at shopping as an in-store or online phenomenon anymore, they shop with a brand, Fantastic Furniture’s head of digital, Leigh McKnight, says. And thanks to an investment into a cloud-based omni-channel platform and approach, the ability to provide seamless, personalised experience is becoming a reality for the furniture retailer.

Australian café chain, Michel’s, is claiming an Australian first for franchise café brands after launching an online home delivery service for cakes.