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Articles by Winitha Bonney
The founder and director of Babyboo on staying true to the brands mission
Inside Retail’s Top 50 People in E-Commerce is an annual ranking of the most impressive and inspiring leaders in Australia’s online retail industry. Our 2024 report features C-level executives with decades of leadership experience, alongside start-up founders and digital specialists with a wide range of skills, from marketing to logistics. You can download it here. Over the next few weeks, we’ll be sharing in-depth profiles of this year’s Top 10.
Sephora CEO Guillaume Motte shares his four ingredients for success
French prestige beauty retailer Sephora is widely recognised as a leader in its category, with 3000 stores and 52,000 team members operating worldwide. Founded in Limoges in 1969, the company was acquired by LVMH in 1996 and over the past decade, it has been on a growth trajectory, as evidenced by its record sales and profits in 2023.
Revamped Pak'nSave Albany showcases Foodstuffs' newest design for the brand
Pak’nSave has unveiled the revamped store layout in Albany, the latest rendition of Foodstuffs North Island’s Pak’nSave’s store design. The revamped store features an expanded entrance with a cafe serving barista coffee and freshly made snacks such as breakfast muffins and hot chicken and chips. It also has a customer service desk and a Lotto counter.
Noel Leeming launches gadget trade-in program
Electronic goods retailer Noel Leeming has launched a trade-in program, allowing customers to exchange old gadgets for a gift card to use in-store or online. Jason Bell, technology lead at Noel Leeming, said the program is designed to help customers save money during tough economic times. “Right now, customers are counting every extra dollar, and our trade-in program may be all it takes to help them get one step closer to their next device,” he continued.
Dr Martens names new CEO to replace departing Kenny Wilson
Kenny Wilson will step down as CEO of footwear brand Dr Martens by the end of this year. Chief brand officer Ije Nwokorie will succeed Wilson as the new CEO. To ensure a smooth transition, the company said Wilson and Nwokorie will be working together, with the latter becoming CEO before the end of the current financial year. Paul Maison, chair for Dr Martens, said Wilson’s contribution to the company has been immense, and he is confident that he will ensure an orderly transition.
Greenwashing claims on trial: should NZ ban fossil fuel advertising?
According to independent watchdog Consumer NZ, New Zealand is “rife with greenwashing”, with many companies positioning themselves as “sustainable”. No doubt you’ll have seen such claims on the products in your weekly shopping basket. The practice is coming under increasing scrutiny, in New Zealand and around the world, due to concerns that it denies meaningful consumer choice.
Moncler posts double-digit growth in revenues, driven by Asia
Luxury fashion retailer Moncler Group reported consolidated revenues of EUR2.98 billion (US$3.2 billion) for FY23, up 17 per cent at constant exchange rates versus the previous year. The group’s EBIT was EUR893.8 million compared with EUR774.5 million in FY22. For the Moncler brand, revenues were up 19 per cent to EUR2.57 billion, driven by a 30 per cent increase in Asia (which includes Apac, Japan and Korea). Revenues also rose 14 per cent in EMEA but slid 1 per cent in the Americas.
Mosaic Brands faces court for failing to deliver online orders on time
Mosaic Brands is facing legal action across the Tasman for allegedly breaching the Australian Consumer Law by failing to deliver “several hundred thousand products” to its customers within advertised timeframes. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission commenced proceedings in the Federal Court alleging that the fashion retailer dispatched over 26 per cent of orders from its warehouses as long as 20 days – and in some cases more than 40 days – after the purchase date.
Hong Kong’s retail sales revival ran out of steam in January
January Hong Kong retail sales rose by a meagre 0.9 per cent according to data released by the Census and Statistics Department on Friday. That followed a revised estimate of a 7.8 per cent increase for December. A government spokesman attributed the “moderated pace” of January’s growth in part to a change in the timing of the Lunar New Year.
Australians are visiting liquor stores more often, but spending less
Australian liquor retailers are facing stiff competition for a share of consumer spending, according to consumer intelligence company NIQ (Nielsen IQ). The company’s Omnishopper liquor data shows that while the number of households purchasing liquor has decreased by 3.2 per cent, the average number of trips to liquor stores per household has grown by 3.5 per cent.
Australian startup launches smart kitchen bin
Australian startup Carden has introduced The Twin, a functional garbage can designed to rethink ignored homewares. The Twin aims to convert the average kitchen bin into an attractive feature that should be showcased rather than hidden. According to the firm, customers have responded well to the Twin’s launch, with the Kickstarter campaign earning more than $50,000 from hundreds of backers in just a few days.
IMG names Australian Fashion Week's 2024 Next Gen winners
Global sports and fashion company IMG has declared Amy Lawrence, Emily Watson, House of Campbell, and Potirakis as Australian Fashion Week’s 2024 Next Gen winners. The prize is valued at over $100,000 and includes runway show production by IMG Focus, a content package including runway photography and livestream, and international shipping credits from DHL.
Sol de Janeiro launches pop-up store at KL International Airport
Sol de Janeiro, the Brazilian-inspired and L’Occitane-owned beauty brand, has launched a pop-up store at Kuala Lumpur International Airport until the end of this month. Located in Terminal 2’s International Departures area, the store is similar to one opened at Sydney Airport last year. Its purpose is to catch the eye of passengers and showcase key products. A “Wishing Wall” is an interactive space where customers can take a photo and share it on social media to redeem gifts from the brand.
Hermes strengthens its presence in Japan with Azabudai Hills store
Luxury fashion house Hermes has boosted its presence in Tokyo with a new stand-alone store in Azabudai Hills. The store is located in a two-story building surrounded by parklands, gardens, and city lodgings. The brand said the venue sparkles like a lantern at night, and its vibrant interiors can be seen from the park during the day.
‘Targeting the vulnerable’: Asic halts Urban Rampage Centrelink payment scheme
Retailer Urban Rampage has been ordered to stop deducting payments for purchases through deductions from Centrepay benefits. Financial regulator the Australian Securities & Investment Commission (Asic) has issued an interim stop order to prevent the practice, stating that the retailer was taking advantage of vulnerable First Nations customers.
Lukumades reveals ‘mega’ overseas growth plan
Melbourne-born Greek doughnut chain Lukumades is in expansionist mode. It has signed master rights for the UK and is poised to open its first US store. The eight-year old business already has a single store retail presence in Dubai, Singapore, Malaysia and Taiwan. It had ventured into Indonesia but has since closed the eight stores. Lukumades started as a food truck, and had opened a bricks and mortar store within nine months.
Mosaic Brands names Erica Berchtold as new CEO
Mosaic Brands has appointed Erica Berchtold, former The Iconic CEO and Rebel Sport MD, as its new CEO. Berchtold succeeds Scott Evans who is retiring after serving the company for nearly a decade. “As we accelerate our big box and digital strategy, Erica not only has the right skillset to drive the future direction of the group but also a strong understanding of our customers as a former GM of of two of our brands,” said Mosaic Brands chairman Richard Facioni.
Booktopia’s revenue plunges amid transition to new fulfilment centre
Booktopia Group’s revenue plummeted in the first half of FY24, which the retailer attributed to issues related to the transition to its new fulfilment centre. For the half ended December 31, revenue was down 22 per cent year-on-year to $86.3 million, with units shipped also down 21 per cent to 3.1 million. The decline was attributable to operational disruption from the transition to the company’s new Customer Fulfilment Centre.
The North Face to take direct control of ANZ retailing
US apparel and footwear company VF Corporation is taking control of its The North Face (TNF) business in Australia and New Zealand by transferring from a distributor model to a direct-sales model. The company expects the transition to be completed by the second half of this year. The change aims to maximise the full market potential of the brand as Australia and New Zealand are considered key retail markets.
Mosaic Brands names Erica Berchtold as new CEO
Mosaic Brands has appointed Erica Berchtold, former The Iconic CEO and Rebel Sport MD, as its new CEO. Berchtold succeeds Scott Evans who is retiring after serving the company for nearly a decade. Berchtold previously served as GM of Specialty Fashion Group and Rebel Sport.
Harvey Norman's revenue falls on softer property yields, lower franchise fees
Harvey Norman’s net profit fell amid lower revenue in the fiscal first half as large format retail property yields softened and franchise fees declined. The furniture and electronics retailer’s attributable net profit plunged 45.3 per cent to $200.01 million as revenue slid 8.2 per cent to $2.15 billion. Franchising operations segment revenue fell 14 per cent to $511.81 million while overseas company-operated retail segment revenue went up 0.9 per cent to $1.4 billion.
Pop Mart to launch first IP-themed store in Thailand
Collectible toy retailer Pop Mart has partnered with local distributor Minor Lifestyle to launch its first IP-themed store in Thailand, as part of its expansion in Asia. Located in Central Ladprao, the store exhibits Crybaby, a popular character that has captivated collectors both domestically and internationally, as well as other collections. The store features a whimsical style, with purple, pink, and red as the predominant colours and ceiling lighting to showcase the products.
Harry Winston opens new store in Hangzhou
Luxury jewellery and watch brand Harry Winston has opened its retail salon in Hangzhou – in the heart of the Wulin commercial district – after opening its first location in Nanjing last year. Located on the first floor of Hangzhou Tower, the store occupies 140sqm and showcases the brand’s jewellery and timepiece collections.
Singapore’s Qoo10 to acquire e-commerce platform Wish for US$173 million
Singapore-headquartered e-commerce company Qoo10 has entered an agreement to acquire American e-commerce platform Wish from ContextLogic Inc for US$173 million. The price represents a bargain at about 1 per cent of its value at the time the struggling marketplace listed on the stock market a little over three years ago. The sale will include all operating assets and liabilities associated with Wish. The platform will become a part of the Qoo10 family of businesses after the transaction closes.
Switch to solar: The Warehouse Group converts first 26 stores
The Warehouse Group said that 26 of its stores and sites have switched to solar power following its agreement with Lodestone Energy. These stores trade under The Warehouse, Warehouse Stationery, Noel Leeming and Torpedo7 banners, across Northland, Auckland and Waikato, which are now drawing 25 per cent of the power of Lodestone Energy’s 64-hectare Kaitaia solar farm.
Three ways to make the recruitment process more inclusive
We all understand the business and social case for greater diversity in our teams. The research has been done, from innovation to greater profits, the evidence for representation is there, and we know it. As social and ethical businesses, we also know that lifting representation isn’t just something we might do, but something we need to do. But what we need to understand is that historically marginalised people have been let down by employers time and time again.
Why I’m feeling IWD fatigue, and how businesses can do better
it gets closer to IWD, I start to feel a little queasy. In my debriefs with DEI colleagues and friends, it has become all too clear that there are some inherent issues in the way the corporate world celebrates IWD. After attending and speaking at an exhausting number of IWD events in 2022, I decided this year to say no to the majority of them. And here’s why The purple cupcakes and the unconscious bias.
Want to be a better leader? Become antifragile
The last few years have tested us personally and professionally on many levels. It's taken the meaning of VUCA (volatile, uncertain, complex, ambiguous) to a whole new level, asking us all to deconstruct reality and push the boundaries of possibilities in how we live and lead.
Want to be a better leader? Become antifragile
Workforce management and keeping up with rapid growth became the two core challenges, and their intersection made things especially difficult. Leaders need to learn how to leverage and scale growth with a rapidly changing workforce that is making demands (not requests) in the middle of a talent shortage. Not to mention managing to be inclusive and create a sense of wellbeing and belonging within a culture in which everyone thrives. Exhausting just thinking about it, isn’t it?
The secret to fighting racial profiling in stores
communities. What is racial profiling? For the purposes of this article, let’s clarify what racial profiling is: a belief that someone has committed an offence (or will do so) because of their race or ethnicity. These biases are often created by organisational culture, policies, media influence and sociocultural conditioning.
How to keep doing business in a landscape of uncertainty
Ruwin Perera :Different co-founder Website | LinkedIn | Facebook For starters, nothing is ever set in stone, regardless of the external environment. We know the vast majority of startups will fail, even in a good climate, so if you are not comfortable with this level of risk, don’t launch a startup. For those up for the challenge, success hinges on how quickly your company can learn, solve problems and capitalise on opportunities.
How should entrepreneurs approach networking during a pandemic?
Gautam Mishra Inkl chief executive officer Website | Twitter | LinkedIn | Medium This may seem counterintuitive, but I’ve actually found networking much easier during the pandemic. There are probably a few reasons for this. First, people generally have had greater availability. Second, the pandemic has pushed us to think more globally. And third, people around the world are becoming more open to remote collaboration.
What does systemic discrimination and racism look like for corporates?
Today I learned that a large organisation contracted an Anglo-Saxon man to conduct leadership training for a group of emerging First Nations leaders. This man is successful in his field and is heading to retirement. I would like to think that the organisation had well meaning intentions in reaching out to him to conduct this work. But I am hoping you can also see what is wrong with this picture; an Anglo-Saxon man will be teaching emerging First Nations leaders, ‘how to be a leader’.
“Get unstuck, get clear, get moving”: How to be a more effective ally to the BIPOC in your business
Business Advice, Leadership, People Winitha Bonney speaking on a panel at the launch of ColourFULL 2020. Source: YBF Ventures. Imagine seeing a child playing by themselves in a park or a school. They’ve been taunted and deliberately singled out by the other kids for being different. Maybe it was your kid. Maybe it was you. Heartbreaking isn’t it, to think of something so simple as a kid playing by themselves with a deep sadness in their heart because they have been left out by the other kids?
Normal will be when Leadership and entrepreneurship are ColourFULL
As women of colour we believe that we deserve to be seen and heard for who we are. We want a seat at the proverbial ‘table’ of leadership and entrepreneurship just like our fellow Anglo-Celtic female colleagues. We don’t want tokenism. We want equality.
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