A recent national survey into customer service experience confirms that online retailers are among Australia's best service providers, writes Brett Waters* Satisfaction levels are high when compared to other industries yet churn remains a signific...

Do you open new stores just to send other stores broke?In a large retail network, when you plan to open a new store, you MUST consider both the new store’s sales and the effect it will have on your surrounding stores. To ignore the latter can f...

Mangoes will sprout in each of the world’s cities if the Spaniards have their way...  Back in the 1980s pop band Tears for Fears released a hit single Everybody Wants to Rule the World. That’s certainly the theme for retailing wit...

New research shows service brands have put ‘trust-building’ on the top of their retail strategies. A study by retail experience design agency Judge Gill of the UK found trust and building a better connection with customers in store has o...

Howards Storage World will meet with prospective partners for its New Zealand master franchise next month.  Howards Storage World currently has two New Zealand stores, located in Tauranga and Albany, and is seeking a master franchisee to roll ...

China’s rapidly expanding affluent middle class are hungry for western brand names in fashion, food and services, writes John Downes.   There's no doubt about it: the growing number of Chinese consumers with cash in their pockets are cra...

Franchised Food Company (FFCo) has acquired Nutshack, the Australian retailer of nuts, confectionery and dried fruits.  Michael Sherlock, FFCo chairman and former Brumby’s CEO, confirmed settlement of the Nutshack deal, with all 28 store...

Shoe lovers in London have been glued to their mobile devices and computer screens in a race to win a pair of free Jimmy Choos.  The Jimmy Choo trainer hunt or "CatchAchoo" race offers the winner the chance to keep a free pair of the shoes s...

Australia’s first dual Cold Rock Ice Creamery and Pretzel World store has opened in Hobart.  Its owners say the new concept store attracted around 2000 customers in its first three days of operation. ...

The 2010 Excellence in Franchising Awards are now open for entry. The annual awards comprise 14 categories open to franchisers, franchisees and suppliers. An independent panel of judges assesses a range of criteria for each category. The FCA bo...