Jacob Biviano

With the twice yearly four-day Afterpay Day sale taking place earlier this month, thousands of retailers across Australia took advantage of the “buy now pay later” online service, and according to Afterpay, revenue grew by more than 23% in the 2023 sale. It’s been called the “gateway drug to debt” for young people, and whilst it appears helpful at the beginning, it’s incredibly easy to get into a downward debt spiral. In this article, Trevor Greenhill, Managing Director of Cloud Payment Group, issues a stark warning of the hidden dangers of the BNPL industry. https://lnkd.in/gpe-KdfJ #BNPL #debtspiral #retailsales

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Today I spoke with a $10M e-commerce and light-manufacturing business still running on spreadsheets, Shopify, and Xero. Kudos to them for achieving so much with minimal tech investment—a testament to the power of a great product. Now, we’re exploring Cin7 Core to streamline their operations, gain a clearer read on their COGS, make informed pricing decisions, and get better control of their inventory. While a lean approach can work well in the early days, efficient systems are crucial to sustaining growth and scaling effectively. #Cin7 #InventoryManagement #ModernMerchants https://lnkd.in/gKnMMCJM

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"Not all heroes wear capes." There are some incredible technology solutions coming out of Australia to support retailers at the moment, and I take my hat off to the teams powering some of the biggest Australian brands and solving the ever-increasing challenges in the retail landscape. They are the unsung heroes, the late-night hustlers, and all-round smart humans doing one thing and one thing only: solving retailers' clunky, complex, and archaic ways of working. So, here's to those unsung heroes of retail, the silent weapons, the guys and girls who don't get awards yet exist purely to supercharge your brands growth. And best yet? They are all locally grown. 🎁 Giftnote is simplifying and personalizing the gifting experience for consumers and brands. It's so easy I even gift myself when I order online these days (adds new shoes to cart "Dear Nadia, You deserve these"). 🚩 Flagship had me geeking out from day one when I was lucky enough to beta test their product at Aje. Long gone are the days of VM teams not having visibility or accountability of what's happening on the store floor. I don't know how brands exist without it. 🌀 Fingertip.com "Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it's Superman!" I think that sums up how I felt when I first discovered Fingertip. A little Squarespace, sprinkled with a little Shopify, mixed with some LinkinBio with a dollop of Myspace 10.0. Fingertip is definitely one to get behind if you're a brand with a boring LinkinBio, a small business looking for appointment bookings, or Superman. The end applications are endless. P.S. This is not a paid post. I truly believe in the Australian tech landscape and want to see retailers and solution providers thrive. So do yourself a favor; go find a local unsung hero to include in your tech stack for the next financial year. I guarantee you, you won't regret it. Unsung Heros Adam Sharon-Zipser Nick Kennedy Matthew Ding Simon Molnar Gabby Leibovich Oliver Hoffman

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Our client NZ Post's eCommerce Spotlight report highlights why retailers are urgently investing in unified retail to provide a seamless omnichannel experience – whether the customer is shopping online, on a mobile or within a store. 💡Kiwis still prefer to shop in stores, with online retail just 10.1% of retail spending last year, down slightly from 10.6% in 2022. 💡However, ecommerce sales are much higher in similar countries - like Australia (19%) and Ireland (18%) – so there’s plenty of opportunity to grow online revenue! Check out the full report for more on the key drivers of the online spending decline in 2023 and what retailers are prioritising this year. ⬇️ #omnichannel #ecommerce #unifiedexperience #unifiedcommerce

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Had an interesting conversation with a retail fashion client who operates 4 stores around Brisbane. Me: "How's business going for you at the moment?" Client: "This year has been our best yet, all our stores are performing way beyond expectations." Me: "That’s interesting, I'm noticing the some of our customers are quiet and finding it difficult, and yet others are thriving. What do you attribute that to?" Client: "You must keep changing; you must keep fresh. If you don't change things around, your customers get bored and don't come back. Keep it interesting." It’s a reminder that we need to continually evolve, innovate, and change to keep our clients engaged and coming back for more. #retail #fashion #change #innovate

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After 35 years in corporate retail, I reached a breaking point. I worked with some of the biggest global brands, helping them dominate the Australian market, but it lost its charm. Constant battles with owners who didn’t understand the Australian and NZ markets and didn’t value our customers took their toll. So, I made it my mission to help local retailers outperform global brands and give their owners the lifestyle they dreamed of. Retail is a tough game, and we see many owners facing the same challenges: ❌ Sales ❌ Cash Flow ❌ Staff ❌ Marketing This often translates to: No CASH, No TIME, No LIFE, and NO CERTAINTY. Does this sound like you? You're stuck on the sales, cash flow and profit roller coaster You want to turn your existing products, stock, and services into cash and gain certainty You want to transform your customer network into super-hungry loyal ambassadors You want your ideal customers, gain loyal buyers, entice first-time shoppers, and encourage repeat purchases You need cash flow solutions tailored to make your products and services highly sought after Resolving cash flow issues is just the beginning. We tackle a variety of challenges: ✅ Increase foot traffic ✅ Turn staff into brand champions and sellers ✅ Transform marketing ✅ Boost sales with improved in-store experiences 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗗𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗠𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝗬𝗼𝘂? Increase sales, cash flow and profit Taking back control of your time Total brand clarity More ideal customers with higher average spend Absolute control over stock More certainty We believe there has never been a better time to develop a healthy cash flow and profit-driven business model. Book your Free Consultation Today!

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E-commerce Manager [email protected] https://lnkd.in/g-uTgAc6 #Ecommerce #manager #revenuegrowth #brandalignment #merchandising #websiteoptimisation #salesgrowth #customerexperience #contentstrategy #customerjourney #sitesearchoptimisation #ABtesting #permanent

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First up today at iMedia Summits & Events AU, NZ & SEA was Craig Woolford, Senior Research Analyst at MST Marquee. He talked about the shift towards profitability in online retail. He provided an outlook for consumer demand and online retail in Australia over the next three years, focusing on the growing importance of profitability for online businesses. Craig's takeaways included that retail is on a path of mean reversion. Retail is currently at 32.6% of total consumer spending, compared to only 31.0% as of December 2019. Retail spending continues to show mean reversion, with volumes mostly back to their pre-COVID-19 levels. Sales trends are expected to improve in late 2024, driven by tax cuts, wage growth, and a steady increase in population. Much of the growth in online sales due to COVID-19 may have been temporary. However, online retail is expected to reach 21% of total sales by 2031, up from the current 13%. Despite weak growth over the past year, online retail is expected to continue growing and taking a larger share of total retail sales. Online retailers are improving profitability. Amazon focuses on at least cash flow break-even, which means a positive EBITDA margin. Amazon focused on infrastructure build-out. Online retailers spend almost as much on marketing and delivery as physical stores spend on rent and inbound freight. To maintain cost advantages, online retailers must exercise greater control over their marketing expenses. In 1H24, Kogan spent 11% of sales on marketing, while Step One spent 34% of sales on marketing. Supercheap Auto's click-and-collect option accounts for up to 75% of online sales, which is higher than the average of 20%- 40% for other retailers. As we all know, retail businesses aim for optimal inventory levels, known as "goldilocks" stock levels. By reducing inventory, retailers can increase profit margins and minimise the need for clearance sales. Finally, Retail sales growth of 2.7% for 2024 will be weaker in January-June and start to improve in July-December. Income tax cuts, wage rate growth, and population growth all point to better sales trends as we look towards 2025. Online retail's weak sales trends will likely turn soon, albeit with more restrained growth. Online success depends more on managing inventory, costs, and delivery options than pure top-line growth. Thanks, iMedia, for delivering a great, insightful speaker. Now to head home. digiDirect Haig Kayserian #MarketPlaces #iMedia

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A common misconception is that when times get tough, customers become less loyal. But the opposite is true. Customers seek safety and known value. 🤗 In fast, 83% of customers are still loyal to a company and 30% of Australians are signed up to a paid loyaltly scheme. Segments such as grocery are incredibly loyal but interestingly, we become less loyal as we get older. Those Gez Z's can't have all the fun. These are the findings from Martin Filz from Pureprofile and Anastasia Lloyd-wallis from Retail Doctor Group, in their 'How To Grow Loyalty Report' - link in comments. One of the most interesting ideas in this conversation was the difference between loyalty and habit. We may assume someone is loyal when we look at the data - frequent and regular purchases. But they may just be stuck in a habit. Are they a true advocate? Are they telling their friends about it? Are they interested to try now things? If they are, that's when the customer moves from a habit to a loyalist. And while habitual customers are great, loyalists are gold. Anastasia gives us some great examples of brands such as Barbeques Galore Pty Ltd and Nike who are aiming for loyalty not just habit. This is a great chat if you want to dive into recent data around Australian customers loyalty habits and whether you need a structured loyalty program. Link to the full episode in the comments. #loyalty #brand #customer #ecommerce

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In case you missed it; Kinora had the opportunity to speak with part of the Brain's Trust at My Plan Manager on Cybersecurity concerns for NDIS (small) businesses this week. And for those who are time poor; TLDR - Cybersecurity comes down to: 1. Knowing exactly what you're protecting i.e. do mini-audits of all your data/information and where it's stored, regularly. 2. Have robust internal policies and procedures on how to manage said data and make sure your staff know these inside and out. 3. For support, templates and in times of breach, go to the Industry experts for FREE and un-biased advice, the Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC) and many others. Full webinar replay, resources and transcript are available on the Kinora website, with further discussion in the community. Is Cybersecurity a concern for your NDIS business?

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🛒 Woolworths faced a tough quarter with sales up just 2.8% to $16.8B as consumer sentiment took a post-Christmas dive. Shoppers are feeling the pinch and trading down to budget options. 📉 The silver lining? Food inflation has FINALLY eased, down to -0.2% in Aussie supermarkets. Great news for household budgets, but a sales growth speed bump compared to last year's inflated Q3. 🌐 Bright spot alert: eCommerce sales surged 18.4% as Woolies' speedy same day delivery and direct-to-boot options hit the mark with convenience-driven shoppers. 86% of orders were shipped within 24 hours - not too shabby! 🥦 Own Brand products are the real MVP with sales jumping 2.3% as price-conscious customers stock up on pantry essentials. Woolworths Food Co. is winning the value war in Frozen and Household categories. 🎁 BIG W is battling as discretionary dollars dry up, with sales slumping 4.1%. No surprise clothing and homewares have taken the biggest hit. Time to get creative and dial up the value message to budget-strapped families. 🐕 The Petstock acquisition brought in a handy $254M this quarter. The ACCC-mandated store sell-off is tracking along but could be a distraction in the current climate. So what's the outlook? Woolies is bracing for more tough times ahead as consumers keep a tight grip on their purse strings. But with their scale, data smarts, and customer-first focus, they're well placed to keep delivering the goods for value-hungry shoppers.

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Wondering how to make your grocery store stand out? Check out our guide to the best loyalty apps in Australia. We'll give you a rundown on their standout features so you can find the perfect one for your business. #stampme #groceryloyaltyapp #customerloyalty

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Dive into the world of digital marketing with strategies tailored for NDIS Providers! 🌐✨ From social media savviness to video advertising prowess and influencer collaborations, these are the game-changing tactics you need to try. Expand your reach and connect with your audience more effectively than ever! Ready to enhance your digital strategy? Comment 'COURSE' for a deep dive into innovative marketing techniques. 🚀 #ProvidersMarketing #MarketingTips #NDISProviders #NDIS #DigitalMarketing #SocialMediaTip #SocialMediaManagement #SEO #WebsiteManagement #SocialMediaMarketing #NDISAustralia #NDISMarketing #NDISSupport #AffordableMarketing #ImpactfulMarketing #SimplifiedStrategies #MarketingDigital #ContentCreation #EmailMarketing #Coaching #Branding

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Retailing in a downturn: What can we learn from the past? My latest feature for Inside Retail Australia. Whether we define it as a formal 'recession', a 'downturn', or just a rough patch, it's pretty clear that retailers are doing it tough amid inflationary pressures, cost of living pressures, and fluctuating consumer confidence. So when Heather McIlvaine asked if I could write a feature on strategies to help retailers I was keen to help BUT conscious of not telling brands what to do when I'm not living the realities day to day. Thankfully (or maybe not!?), we have quite a bit of research from past downturns about how consumer behaviour changes during and even after, and the kinds of strategies that can still be successful for retailers. For the article, I focused on three main ideas: 1. Learning about how consumers adapt 🛍 With a link to Maria Sarmento's work tracking consumers during and after recessions 2. Continuing marketing efforts, and even opportunities of new launches Linking to the analysis from M. Berk Talay and colleagues on the success of product launches in recessions 3. Focusing on value over price An idea Dr Jessica Pallant and I have been talking a lot about in light of retail mega sales. Full article available for subscribers at https://lnkd.in/gpeqDjCq Would love to hear other ideas or strategies! RMIT University RMIT College of Business and Law The Lumery, part of Accenture Song

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In an otherwise challenging 1st quarter for Australian retailers, there are promising signs of growth. The standout was the 54% increase in white good sales in NSW during the last week of March compared to the same period in 2023*. This insight might seem niche, but what if it could benefit other retail sectors too? Collaborative Marketing allows brands to team up, to offer tailored deals to the right audience at the right time. Imagine delving deeper into this data and discovering that the top white goods retailers had customers also linked to the tea and coffee sector. One potential strategy could involve the white goods retailer partnering with the tea/coffee brand, providing a subscription delivery deal for every kettle or coffee appliance sold. The possibilities for innovative marketing collaborations are truly endless. Curious to explore more about #collaborativemarketing and how it could transform your business strategy? Reach out to DataCo Technologies. *ANZ Household Spending Report April 2024 #datacollaboration, #dataanalytics, #conumerpreferences #retaileconomy #datainsights #retail #australianeconomy

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