This Month
Myer says Black Friday sales were ‘encouraging’ despite tough trading
The retailer’s executive chairwoman Olivia Wirth used her first annual meeting in the job to sell plans for a merger with Premier Investments’ fashion brands.
- Carrie LaFrenz
November
- Updated
- Fashion retail
Brett Blundy reassures investors after Lovisa sales miss mark
The jewellery and accessories chain’s billionaire chairman insists he is still a “growth junkie” despite new store openings falling well short of expectations.
- Updated
- Carrie LaFrenz and Gus McCubbing
- Exclusive
- Retail
Premier claims sacked Smiggle boss ‘interfered’ in HR investigation
The disclosure was issued to proxy advisers, and is the first time that Solomon Lew’s retail empire has made a specific allegation against its former executive.
- Kylar Loussikian
Sacked Smiggle executive John Cheston faces loss of $4m in shares
The board of Solomon Lew’s Premier Investments has unanimously recommended shareholders strip him of stock handed over as part of executive incentives.
- Kylar Loussikian and Carrie LaFrenz
October
Lucy Henry-Hicks knows what young women want
A debutant on this year’s Young Rich List, Henry-Hicks took a successful clothing business, tipped it on its head and created a whole new business in Dissh.
- Lauren Sams
September
Adairs snares ex-Country Road boss as next chief
Two months on from exiting the turmoil at Country Road Group, Elle Roseby will next year take the top job at the ASX-listed home furnishings and linen company.
- Carrie LaFrenz
The stoush over Solomon Lew’s Premier Investments gets dirty
For decades, the billionaire has been the king of retailing in Australia. But a carefully leaked document shows not all is well in his sprawling empire.
- Simon Evans
- Exclusive
- Retail
Billionaire Brett Blundy plots new brand to relive lingerie glory days
The businessman was behind the Bras N Things chain, which was sold to Hanes for $500 million, and Honey Birdette, acquired by Playboy for $443 million.
- Carrie LaFrenz
August
Inflation slows; Tabcorp’s $1.4b write-down; $2.2b for Forrests
Read everything that’s happened in the news so far today.
Blundy’s Accent Group misses lofty expectations
After a tough 2023-24 when sales rose just 2.4 per cent and earnings fell, the new year began slower than investors expected, pushing shares down 16 per cent.
- Carrie LaFrenz
July
Bombed out retailers stage comeback ahead of results season
There is plenty of pressure on household budgets, but retailers from Universal Store to shoe chain owner Accent Group say trading is picking up.
- Carrie LaFrenz and Joanne Tran
Blundy’s Accent Group plots overseas expansion with Nude Lucy
The move would be the first time that the company, better known for its shoe brands including Platypus and The Athlete’s Foot, has operated in another market.
- Carrie LaFrenz
June
- Exclusive
- Retail
City Chic sales smashed by 30pc, capital raise documents show
The women’s specialty fashion retailer is raising $27.5 million at a steep discount, investors were being told this week, with its bottom line deep in the red.
- Carrie LaFrenz
Lovisa investors remain bullish despite high-profile CEO exit
But brokers have downgraded the Brett Blundy-controlled chain as the executive who oversaw rapid international expansion, Spaniard Victor Herrero, leaves.
- Carrie LaFrenz
- Opinion
- Chanticleer
Brett Blundy’s poaching of Solomon Lew’s exec leaves a big question
As Solomon Lew’s Premier Investments considers a spin-off of Smiggle, the departure of the chain’s boss, John Cheston, raises questions about the timing of such a deal.
- James Thomson
May
- Exclusive
- Luxury property
Racing heavyweight lists $5.3m penthouse with three terraces
Steve Rosich, who resigned as CEO of the Victorian Racing Club, is selling his Toorak penthouse, while former David Jones CEO Mark McInnes has completed his mansion upgrade nearby.
- Bonnie Campbell
March
- Updated
- Executive shake-up
Former Qantas Loyalty chief executive Olivia Wirth to run Myer
She will assume the role of executive chairwoman at the Solomon Lew-backed retailer, which also announced a fall in its interim net profit on Thursday.
- Updated
- Carrie LaFrenz
Cult label Aje cuts 20 staff after massive stock clearance
The fashion label has let a number of senior staff go, but its co-founder says the move is simply a restructure and that the business is trading as usual.
- Lauren Sams and Sarah Thompson
Queensland label Dissh lands investment from billionaire Brett Blundy
The businessman behind Lovisa and Accent Group has taken a 40 per cent stake valued at $135 million in the Brisbane-headquartered fashion brand.
- Carrie LaFrenz
February
Shares in Lovisa, Universal Store jump as dividends rise
The two retailers reported softer like-for-like sales but were bullish in their outlook, boosting returns for shareholders.
- Updated
- Carrie LaFrenz