Woolworths – together with four overseas retailers – is to launch a US$125 million (A$190 million) venture capital fund called W23 Global that over five years will invest in retail industry-related start-ups and scale-ups. The other retail investors are the UK’s Tesco, Dutch-Belgian multinational Ahold Delhaize, Canada’s Empire Company, and South Africa’s Shoprite. The fund will invest in start-ups and scale-ups that deploy technology to improve customer experience in-store and online, boost productivity across the grocery value chain, or address the sector’s sustainability challenges ranging ..read more

Alibaba co-founder Jack Ma has penned a lengthy memo to employees that expresses support for the internet giant’s restructuring efforts, a rare move from the billionaire after spending the last few years out of the spotlight. Alibaba’s Hong Kong-listed shares surged 5% per cent after the post. The post, made in an internal company forum, comes one year after Alibaba announced its decision to split into six units – the biggest shake-up in its 25-year history. It has had a tumultuous time since then, installing a new CEO, announcing and then abandoning the listings of its cloud and logistics uni ..read more

E-commerce platform Temu has joined the Anti-Phishing Working Group (APWG) in a commitment to fight identity theft and online fraud. “A safe shopping experience is of utmost importance to our customers, especially as we expand into more markets globally,” a Temu spokesperson said. “Joining APWG underscores our dedication to shielding our users from scams and staying abreast of the latest global best practices in cybercrime prevention.” Currently, Temu’s footprint extends to 58 markets worldwide. In February, the company secured the Dekra’s Mobile Application Security Assessment certification ..read more

Eyewear retailer Luxottica – the parent of OPSM, Oakley and Sunglass Hut – has been fined $1.5 million for sending more than 200,000 spam messages to customers. The company sent 1231 marketing emails without a functional unsubscribe option and 112,348 texts and emails to customers who had unsubscribed between November 2022 and May 2023, according to the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA). About half of the emails without the unsubscribe option were order confirmations and password reset messages, but also included clearly commercial content. “Once emails include this kind of ..read more

Fast fashion giant Shein will provide a variety of interactive, immersive, and fashion experiences at Ultra Australia music festival in Melbourne on April 13.  As a lifestyle partner, Shein will bring the showroom experience to the event, offering statement-making outfits shoppable via QR code to festival attendees, an exclusive glam make-over station featuring SheGlam products, and photo booth moments for ticketholders. Ultra Australia goers will be able to combine fashion and music in an exclusive experience, which will feature Shein’s vast variety of on-trend, affordable, size-inclusiv ..read more

New pet retailer Swaggle – owned by grocery giant Coles – has launched its online shopping platform, aiming to help pets “live their lives to the fullest”. The store’s ‘petsonalisation’ feature enables pet parents to identify and comprehend the appropriate items for their pets, regardless of age, breed, or life stage. Swaggle’s petsonalisation engine, according to the business, has absorbed data on hundreds of dog and cat breeds, allowing it to deliver relevant suggestions to customers throughout their pet’s lifetime. “We know our pets have different needs throughout the various stages of life ..read more

One in four shoppers refrain from purchasing from international merchants due to concerns around returns, according to a recent study. ESW and Asendia completed a survey with 18,679 respondents in 18 countries between October 31 and November 14 last year. Based on the survey, nearly half of consumers are willing to make purchases even if there is a nominal return charge, with Gen Z more than 1.7 times willing to pay than Baby Boomers. Among the countries surveyed, India, the UAE and South Korea emerged as the most willing to pay for return charges. Meanwhile, 27 per cent of respondents said th ..read more

Kogan’s Mighty Ape has promoted CFO Daniel Balasoglou to the CEO position, succeeding Gracie MacKinlay. Prior to joining Mighty Ape, Balasoglou served as CFO at Lotto New Zealand. He also held key leadership roles at GE Oil and Gas and Capita Symonds. “Daniel has demonstrated strong leadership skills and strategic insights, qualities that we expect will drive strong results under his stewardship,” Kogan’s founder and CEO Ruslan Kogan said. “I am honoured and excited to be appointed as the CEO of Mighty Ape, one of New Zealand’s most loved and trusted brands. I look forward to continuing to del ..read more

When Michael Chmielewski first arrived in Melbourne to study communications and media, he had trouble finding friends who shared his passion for motorbike riding. He found social media platforms, such as Facebook Groups), weren’t effective when he wanted to find people nearby to join him. “Ironically, in 2017 I was on the couch for six months after a motorcycle accident, and in 2019 my mother was in hospital with cancer,” Chmielewski said. “During these hard times my partner and friends were incredibly supportive, but at times I just wanted to chat to someone new who wouldn’t ask how I was doi ..read more

The Calmer Co’s e-commerce sales hit $320,000 in March, representing daily sales of over $10,000. The ASX-listed kava health food producer attributed Amazon and Walmart.com for the 25 per cent month-on-month sales growth achieved in March. The company explained that e-commerce sales grew in January and February despite shipping delays, a situation that had already improved by March. “We also have received a high level of consumer engagement with the launch of our Taki Mai kava shots into Coles in Australia in March, and we are working on some new innovative product formats to support both reta ..read more