Modern consumers, especially those within the Gen Z age bracket, are becoming increasingly interested in shopping methods that differ from the traditional e-commerce model of a direct-to-consumer website or shopping online via big-box retailers. According to eMarketer, social commerce sales hit US$67 billion in 2023 and are expected to reach up to US$144.5 billion in 2027. To put that into perspective, social commerce sales were barely US$27 billion in 2020.  A major player in the social commerce field that has been picking up traction as of late is TikTok.  In addition to providing ..read more

Former MySale CEO Kalman Polak and ex-Catch beauty category manager Sarah Frazer are teaming up to launch an online space offering discounts and hard-to-find beauty brands. The website – Ontrendbeauty.com.au – is a response to consumer demand for the best big brand products for less, said Polak, co-owner of On Trend Beauty. “We know customers are paying too much at the checkout both online and in-store, and we know we can make a big impact on the beauty category.” Frazer, director and co-owner of On Trend Beauty, said she brings her over 15 years of experience in the beauty industry to the ven ..read more

A new report highlights how TikTok has grown to be a powerful tool for big and small businesses alike, revealing that more than 8.5 million Australians and more than 350,000 Aussie businesses are on the platform. The inaugural TikTok Economic Impact Report by Oxford Economics has found that in the last financial year, TikTok contributed $1.1 billion to Australia’s GDP and supported nearly 13,000 jobs.  The report found that investments in advertising and marketing on TikTok during FY23 generated $1 billion in direct revenue for Australian businesses, and with flow-on impacts, th ..read more

Over the decades, Australia’s major supermarkets have emerged from various parliamentary and regulatory agency inquiries, not to mention political, media, union and consumer group pressures, relatively unscathed. A little bruised, a tad constrained but unbroken and unbowed. There have been legitimate concerns about the consequences of the dominance and concentrated power of Woolworths and Coles in the grocery market. In fairness, Australia’s two biggest retailers have also been an easy mark for political populism and tabloid journalism over the years. However, the latest challenges for the sup ..read more

Thrift retailer Savers is opening its first Sydney store in the suburb of Hoxton Park Prestons on May 30. The new 1590sqm store will stock more than 100,000 pre-loved items including clothing, accessories and home goods and over 25,000 unique finds arriving weekly. Savers is known as a second-hand shopping destination with the majority of its items priced under $10. “At a time when the cost of living and demand for sustainable shopping solutions are surging, now is the right time for Savers to expand into New South Wales,” Savers Australia managing director Michael Fisher said. The company add ..read more

The former operators of three Din Tai Fung restaurants in Australia have been fined a combined $4 million for underpaying workers and using false records, according to the Fair Work Ombudsman. The Federal Court has imposed a $1.99 million penalty against DTF World Square, which employed workers at Din Tai Fung restaurants in the Sydney CBD, Chatswood and the Melbourne CBD. The court also placed a $1.89 million fine against Selden Farlane Lachlan Investments, which employed workers at the Melbourne location. The two companies deliberately underpaid 17 employees $157,025 under the Restaurant Ind ..read more

Last month, it was reported that Selena Gomez was mulling a potential IPO or sale of Rare Beauty, her cosmetics business worth an estimated $2 billion.  Rare Beauty is not the only beauty brand in transaction talks, with Glossier, Merit Beauty and Kosas all reportedly exploring various IPO and sale options.  Coincidentally, perhaps, all four brands are also stocked in premium beauty retailer Sephora in the US. Last year, its first year in partnership with Sephora, Glossier was expected to hit over $100 million in sales with the LVMH-owned retailer alone, whereas, in the same year, Ra ..read more

The inventor of the teddy bear, Margarete Steiff GmbH, has joined forces with China trading expert Melchers Group to enhance the marketing and distribution of Steiff products across mainland China.  The joint venture, announced in February, marks the establishment of Steiff Asia Ltd and the inauguration of an Asia supply chain hub situated in the Shanghai free trade zone, functioning as a pivotal logistics centre to cater not only to the Chinese market but also to other key markets across Asia and the US. Steiff’s rich legacy, spanning over 140 years, traces back to Margarete St ..read more

Knockoffs, fakes, replicas and imitations have long held a place in retail but dupes and their growing acceptability on TikTok have taken consumer behaviour to new heights. No product category appears to be safe with the existence of retailers dedicated to systematically ripping and profiting off popular designs, products and formulas. Sydney-based entrepreneur, Julia Sakr, founded the luxury dog-bed brand, Barney, one of the brands that was “duped” recently by multinational supermarket Aldi.  “I understand the desire for accessibility and affordability, however, as someone that puts a lo ..read more

Totally Workwear, Australia’s largest network of workwear specialist destinations, has revealed its plan to add more stores across the country following its rebranding late last year. The company said it has entered the sustained profitable growth phase of its strategic plan, which includes a series of initiatives to enhance system scalability and a network development framework supporting franchisees with footprint growth. This phase will also introduce “world-class” store design, customer service and range architecture programs. “Substantial stakeholder engagement, time and investment has go ..read more