The reputation of global coffee chain leader Starbucks has taken a hit in recent months, with declining sales leading to 600 store closures in America and a further 61 in Australia (more than two-thirds of their Australian outlets). The company is by no means in dire straits, quarterly revenue of US$2.57 billion highlights that point, but things certainly don’t look as rosy as they did just a couple of years ago. Starbucks posted their first quarterly loss on Wednesday since going public in... ...Read more »
Starbucks has announced they will close more than two-thirds of their Australian outlets by Sunday August 3. The decision to close 61 of their 84 Australian stores was finalised following a meeting of store managers yesterday afternoon, and comes at the end of a turbulent month for the company. The American coffee giant announced earlier this month that they would close 600 stores in America as part of their “transformation strategy” in the wake of declining sales caused, in part, by... ...Read more »
Starbucks cafés are set to close at 2pm this afternoon for a meeting between managers, which has fuelled speculation the company may close stores in Australia. An email sent to the Sydney Morning Herald last night suggested that store managers were asked to shut up shop at 2pm to attend a 4pm meeting, and rumours are beginning to circulate that the Seattle-based giant may even pull out of Australia. The news comes following the announcement of 600 store closures in the US at the beginning of the... ...Read more »
The Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Senator Chris Evans, yesterday released new data showing a 27 per cent increase in the temporary skilled migration (subclass 457 visa) program for 2007-08. Senator Evans said the rise in the subclass 457 visa grants highlighted the importance of the program in delivering skilled labour to employers across a wide range of professions and industries. The largest increase was, not surprisingly, seen in Western Australia where the mining boom has... ...Read more »
The Australian Fair Pay Commission (AFPC) has announced a 4.2% rise in the minimum wage, which will come into effect in October this year. The rise, equivalent to $21.66 per week, has been met with concern from the Australian National Retailers Association (ANRA) and the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI). ANRA believe it will put increasing cost pressures on retailers who are already feeling the pinch, with the ACCI adding that it is “economically risky”. “We... ...Read more »
The colour, vibrancy and range of choices of a good seafood retail display are a sight to behold. Thus, whilst there can be no doubt that the numbers of independent fishmongers are declining we are fortunate in Australia that they are still a key part of the seafood industry. Reputedly, the oldest fishmonger operation in Australia is Canals Seafood, now in its 77th year of trading at the same address in Nicholson Street, North Carlton, Victoria. Michael and Delores Canals started their Melbourne... ...Read more »
ABS Retail Trade figures for May 2008, released yesterday, indicated that there is still some resistance to the rising cost of living by consumers.ANRA (Australian National Retailers Association) CEO, Margy Osmond, believes the figures, while more positive than in recent months, are still worrying for some retailers. “Retail turnover has picked up, rising by 0.7 per cent in May. This is the best result by far for the year to date,” she said. “Consumer spending has been strongest... ...Read more »
NCR, a leading global technology solutions company, has today announced that prominent Australian retail food brand manager and franchisor, Retail Food Group Ltd, will deploy over 1,000 NCR RealPOS point-of-sale (POS) touch screen terminals. The high-tech terminals, which integrate NCR’s POS terminals with Task Retail Technology’s Xchangexec software suite, allow for the creation of “bounce back” vouchers by individual stores, customised in-store promotions, product ordering... ...Read more »
Starbucks Corporation has announced the next step in its multi-faceted plan to transform the company, with a decision to close approximately 600 underperforming company-operated stores in the U.S. market. The decision followed extensive evaluation of their US company-operated store portfolio and includes the 100 stores targeted for closure in the company’s previously announced plans. In addition, Starbucks now expects to open fewer than 200 new U.S. company-operated stores in fiscal 2009, below... ...Read more »
The self-service revolution is upon us, as Australian consumers demand greater choice and retailers begin to understand the considerable benefits of the new technology. It is changing the way businesses operate and interact with consumers; with supermarkets, airlines and banks key symbols of the trend. The introduction of ATM’s some 40 years ago can be attributed to the growth of self-service options, but it has only been in the past 5-10 years that self-service technology has really taken... ...Read more »