The 2017 Retail Yearbook: Part two
Part two of our Retail Yearbook includes the Secret Squirrel, the Least Graceful Exit and the 'I'll Get my Coat' awards.
The 2017 Retail Yearbook: Part one
As we battle our way through the busiest time of the retail year, it pays to take a moment to reflect on what’s taken place over the last 12 months. Like every year recently, 2017 saw successes and failures, as well as a hefty helping
Momentum slowing in consumer spending
There are growing signs that the slowdown in the housing market is weighing on people’s willingness to spend. Westpac’s recent confidence surveys suggest that consumers remain in a relatively good mood, but spending on debit and credit cards has flattened out over the course of
A dedication to design
New Zealand’s retail and hospitality markets are increasingly influenced by international counterparts, and larger markets than our own often dictate trends for shop and restaurant designs here. Yet New Zealand design can offer new and innovative ways for local operators to target our consumer in
Editor’s view: Here’s to the outliers
Driving through the central North Island towards Wellington one day a few years back, I passed a shop which claimed to sell computer systems and firewood. The premises were a former service station painted rose pink. It sounds like something out of a dream, but
Deadly Ponies’ Liam Bowden talks creativity, coolness and pop culture
Deadly Ponies founder and Creative Director Liam Bowden was the People's Choice winners for Most Creative in fashion/footwear for Idealog and Accenture's Most Creative People. Bowden began making one-off leather pieces and jewellery in his garage. And now Deadly Ponies has become an internationally renowned
Freedom Kids’ Rachel Hansen considers creativity and Kiwiness
Rachel Hansen was one of the People's Choice winners for Most Creative in retail for Idealog and Accenture's Most Creative People. Perplexed by the massive gender-divide in children's clothing, Hansen decided to do something about it and began offering kids an ethically-made alternative to the
Putting customer convenience at the heart of everything
With the increasing dominance of online shopping and Amazon knocking at our door, it might seem like lowest price is the only question in a customer's mind. In some cases this may be true, but good data is key to understanding customer behaviour.
Top Shop: Behind the Customer Experience Award
The 2017 Top Shop Awards hosted by Retail NZ saw many deserving retailers credited for their outstanding work. One such retailer was John Franich Jewellers, winner of the Customer Experience Award, Sponsored by NZI.
The changing face of fast food: Inside the design of KFC’s new urban restaurant
The rise of fast-casual dining is having an influence on some of the most well known fast food restaurant chains in the business – most recently, fried chicken giant KFC. It opened up an urban restaurant on Fort St in Auckland’s CBD earlier this year.