Being customer-obsessed is different to being customer-focused said key retail CEOs this week, and businesses need to know the difference.

Local ​retailers​ are not keeping up with ​consumer expectations​, costing the Australian economy billions in abandoned sales.

​In response to the changing retail and media landscapes, Woolworths Group has launched a retail media business, Cartology, and is rolling out a national digital screen network across Woolworths Supermarkets and new performance tracking modelling.

Amid talk of a retail recession in Australia, there is a real opportunity for savvy brands to meet and exceed customer expectations to create a retail renaissance.

Grabbing a precious few minutes for a spot of online retail therapy has become commonplace and few would give up this convenience and pleasure. Yet sometimes the retail experience can seem a little one-sided, clicking through clothing categories and navigating menus to find desired items.

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.

Myer has put out a call for suppliers to participate in its new Myer Market after launching a beta of the online marketplace this week.

While many Australian brands struggle with what impact Amazon’s arrival in Australia might have on their sales channel, at least one has had first-hand experience with the American online behemoth for years.

Restoring Target to its former glory could well come at some cost to Kmart, its new chief, Guy Russo, admits. But he’s equally bullish about turning the business around and claims both retailers can co-exist – even if it does mean stores could switch.

Japanese retailer UNIQLO has rolled out its first-ever neuroscience fashion campaign that matches clothing selection to consumer’s moods.

The Woolmark Company has unveiled a new ecommerce market place aimed at extending the reach of Merino wool fashion products worldwide.

Using data analytics to predict when customers want to access home delivery services can help retailers lower delivery fees and become more efficient, researchers claim.

Australian retailer, Glue Store, is claiming a digital and social first by allowing consumers to purchase goods showcased on TV in real-time via Twitter.

A new marketing approach based on recognising and responding to customer behaviour at different times of the day is being offered up as a way of revitalising the fortunes of high street retailers.