Retail

The founder of a Melbourne-based online electronics retailer shares his tips for eCommerce success, whether on its own or as a value-add to your bricks and mortar store.

Despite warnings of subdued confidence, consumers are continuing to purchase digital devices from local retail outlets as technology products continue to decline in price, new research has found.

In retail, it’s not uncommon to be left with surplus stock which can end up putting a strain on your profit margin. If you find yourself in this situation there’s no need to worry – there are several different ways to connect with prospective surplus stock buyers and get cash back from your excess inventory.

Dick Smith has spoken out on the negative impact ALDI and Costco are having on Australian producers, saying blame shouldn’t be directed at Coles and Woolworths for the supermarket price wars.

Woolworths has announced impressive third quarter sales figures of $14.07 billion, an increase of 3.8 percent over the previous year.

While many businesses are shifting focus away from traditional retail and onto the online marketplace, Brisbane-based gift and homewares store Dandelyon is doing the opposite.

Retailers welcomed today’s decision by the New South Wales Government to update retail trading laws, the most significant of which will allow them to open for business on Boxing Day.

Increasingly, online retailers are relying on cloud-based services and applications to run their businesses. But with this reliance on outside services comes a grave risk: they’re relinquishing control of the end-user experience.

New PayPal technology is enabling small businesses, service providers and casual sellers to accept credit card and PayPal payments via their smartphone, allowing them to complete transactions and monitor cashflow wherever they like.

Small businesses, especially those in retail and manufacturing, hold great concern over the impact the high Australian dollar will have on operations during the June quarter.

Online retail history has been made in Melbourne, after a small business made $50, 000 in less than 24 hours through a sale on its Facebook store.

Online retail sales grew 29 percent in 2011, far surpassing growth in traditional bricks and mortar sales for the year.

Australia has the highest consumer confidence of all developed nations, a new survey has found, with optimism increasing locally for the first time since July 2010.

After predictions of dismal Christmas and New Year sales were realised by smaller retailers across the country, many say they’re expecting 2012 to be another flat year for trade.

Over 30,000 local small to medium businesses are now online, thanks to Google and MYOB’s Getting Aussie Business Online initative, which kicked off just 12 months ago.

Getting into the minds—and wallets—of distracted, disinterested consumers is harder than ever. While the old way of doing things can still work, don’t overlook the possibility that there is a newer—and maybe better way—of doing things.

US discount giant Costco will open two new stores in Australia in 2013, after committing $140 million in capital to continue rolling out stores locally.

This week, your Friday Entrepreneur Fix features the founders of Dinosaur Designs, design-duo Louise Olsen and Stephen Ormandy.

The Australian Gift & Homewares Association have launched a program to help SMBs in the industry maximise opportunities presented during the Sydney Home and Giving Fair this month.

Your Friday Entrepreneur Fix this week features Maryanne Shearer, founder of T2 and the entrepreneur responsible for turning a nation of coffee-drinkers into tea lovers.