October
Zip banks on interest rate cuts as transaction volumes soar
The buy now, pay later group has endured a difficult two years and returned to growth, particularly in the US, where the majority of sales are processed.
- James Eyers
JPMorgan enters Australian payments as competition heats up
The world’s largest bank said it would start offering “merchant acquiring” services in Australia, in the latest threat to major banks’ payments margins.
- James Eyers
Turnaround tale Freedom Furniture back on the deals circuit
Sources said Callard would lead the sale preparations in-house, for now, adding that the process would get under way later this year or early 2025.
- Sarah Thompson, Kanika Sood and Emma Rapaport
September
Nick Scali wants to conquer Britain. Does it stand a chance?
The ASX-listed furniture retailer has made a big bet on the United Kingdom, where plenty of big Australian companies have come unstuck.
- Hans van Leeuwen and Carrie LaFrenz
July
Resurgent Zip raises cash and pays big break fee to eliminate its debt
Zip has indicated it will push the accelerator on growth in the United States despite regulators investigating whether it has violated consumer protection laws.
- James Eyers
February
Nick Molnar backs Block’s bid to reshape US banking
The billionaire Afterpay co-founder Nick Molnar tells AFR Weekend he’s been working with Jack Dorsey on Cash App, and they’re ready to tackle US banks.
- James Eyers
- Opinion
- Retail
Online winners and losers emerge as Amazon, Temu and Shein ramp up
Domestic marketplaces have been hit hardest by Amazon’s expansion and the arrival of new players, Temu and Shein.
- Sue Mitchell
November 2023
CBA’s Yello rewards program takes leaf out of Afterpay’s playbook
The bank’s new rewards program, being used by 8 million users of its banking app, is driving new sales to a host of large retailers.
- James Eyers
October 2023
- Exclusive
- Shopping centres
Why Unibail is building flats at its Westfield malls
An unloved district of south London could showcase Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield’s reinvention from mall owner to full-spectrum urban redeveloper.
- Hans van Leeuwen
September 2023
- Opinion
- Retail
Retailers hope new stores will beat the spending blues
New stores are helping retailers grow topline sales but if conditions deteriorate, they may drag on earnings.
- Sue Mitchell
August 2023
CBA ready to launch its challenger to Stripe
The bank will launch its Powerboard payment system next month, a core part of its strategy to fend off US fintech Stripe and protect the data it uses for lending.
- James Eyers
July 2023
- Analysis
- Bulls & bears
Kogan sales slump but shares surge as it goes back to basics
Ruslan Kogan started by selling TVs out of a garage, so running on the cheap has never been a problem, and investors are seeing the value of recent frugality.
- Paul Smith
June 2023
Square to roll out generative AI to help drive retail sales
Square will deploy 30 generative AI products this year to allow retailer customers to run their businesses more efficiently.
- James Eyers
February 2023
Kogan doubles loss but says return to profit ‘on track’
The online retailer was caught out with too much inventory, sending the company deeper into the red as it culled its dividend.
- Updated
- Carrie LaFrenz
January 2023
Kogan.com resets for a second coming
The online retailer’s shares soared to $25 in late 2020, but $2 billion of sharemarket value has vanished since those glory days.
- Simon Evans
December 2022
- Analysis
- Retail
City Chic’s big mess is going to get worse
The stock is down over 90 per cent for the year. And more pain is likely with discounting set to continue.
- Carrie LaFrenz
Lowe says RBA could use new payment powers to investigate Apple Pay
The RBA governor has asked Apple, Google and Samsung to share with banks their plans to let merchants send smartphone payments to eftpos, saving them money.
- Updated
- James Eyers
August 2022
NBA, NFL merch chain Lids comes Down Under
The well-known US specialty retailer sells more than 30 million hats a year and is backed by some high-profile names, including rapper Meek Mill.
- Carrie LaFrenz
June 2022
Westpac turns Android phones into payment terminals
Using Quest Payment Systems’ ‘Airpay TAP’ technology, the bank will allow customers to use their phones and tablets for ‘tap and go’ card payments.
- James Eyers
February 2022
Myer to close Blacktown store
CEO John King will close the Blacktown store as he aims to deliver on his plan to shrink total floor space by 20 per cent.
- Carrie LaFrenz