This Month
White Fox, MJ Bale, Bing Lee hit in ASIC financial accounts crackdown
High-profile retailers, a food chain and an electronics company received infringement notices for alleged failure to file financial accounts.
November
Singapore firm’s AI teddy bear back on sale after shock sex talk
FoloToy had pulled its ChatGPT-assisted Teddy Kumma, along with the rest of its artificial intelligence-enabled plushies, from its website after criticism.
Essentials drive $6.8b Black Friday sales as splurges take back seat
Younger shoppers no longer hope the next flashy thing is discounted for the holiday shopping season. Instead, top of the wish list are cheaper, everyday items.
Quadrant-owned My Muscle Chef serves $23m dividend as earnings flatten
The food company rewarded its owners, including Quadrant and founders Tushar and Nishant Menon, with a $23 million dividend that outstripped its $11 million profit.
Australia should stand against global fast fake fashion
What is emerging is a high-volume, high-velocity system that redefines clothing as something designed to be discarded rather than worn.
Amazon, Temu, Shein to control a third of online retail by next year
The three giants are forecast to control 36 per cent of Australia’s online retail market, forcing local retailers to pivot.
Daigou empire’s unravelling ends with executive in Chinese prison
The businesswoman behind popular beauty brands Napoleon Perdis and Vida Glow is battling to keep the company working amid savage infighting with co-founders.
Shein’s global expansion plans hit a sex problem
France suspended access to the Chinese online giant over alleged sale of child sex dolls, as protesters targeted its global-first store opening in Paris.
Heavily backed Pet Circle slides deeper into the red as costs jump
The online retailer was valued at more than $1 billion amid a pandemic-era boom in household pet ownership. But rapid expansion has strained its finances.
September
Amazon to pay $3.8b to settle US Prime subscription probe
The company agreed to pay a mix of fines and reimbursements to resolve allegations that it deceived its customers to generate subscriptions.
Love, drugs and lawsuits: fashion’s former first couple in $95m fight
In the messy, public split of the Net-a-Porter founder Natalie Massenet and Erik Torstensson, no accusations seem off limits.
Country Road Group’s full-year loss blows out to $164m
In the year to June 29, before-tax losses almost quadrupled to $164 million from $46 million in the previous year.
August
Aggression towards postie staff on the rise in Victoria
Aggressive behaviour and break-ins are particularly evident in Victoria, Australia Post CEO Paul Graham says, as tough times coincide with tougher competition.
Cettire nearly doubles CEO’s salary despite horror year
Despite a poor annual result, the online luxury retailer decided to increase the pay of chief executive Dean Mintz and chief financial officer Tim Hume.
Kogan wheels out AI-powered CEO analyst call as it slides into loss
The Ruslan Kogan-founded business has been struggling with its New Zealand games and toys marketplace Mighty Ape, with revenues continuing to fall this year.
Ultra Violette pulls cult sunscreen amid doubts over SPF claims
The fast-growing Australian beauty brand spent months arguing that testing showing the product was not effective was wrong, before reversing its position.
Why you should ask your teens for shopping, investing tips
With birth rates falling around the world, Generation Alpha, born between 2010 and 2024, will have the largest economic footprint in our lifetime.
How a $0 handshake deal became a $200m trading card empire
Driven by Millenials and Gen Z influencers, a 30-year-old franchise is booming. And there’s a surprising winner: 75-year-old Banter Toys founder Garry Isaacs.
Temple & Webster cautious on consumer demand, despite revenue surge
The online furniture retailer reported strong growth in its home improvement business, which helped drive a 21 per cent lift in revenue.
Redbubble board’s carrot to activist shareholders to rack off
Given the activists have already seen off a chair and director, perhaps $50,000 is a good deal for Articore.