Retail

Debt claim surge prompts credit warning

8:32PM | Monday, 29 August 2011 |  New statistics reveal business-to-business debt claims were 40% higher in July than the average for the same period over the previous six years, with experts urging start-ups to be wary of extending credit.

Father’s Day tipped to bolster hardware sales

8:53PM | Monday, 29 August 2011 |  Father’s Day spending will grow by 1.72% this year, according to research firm IBISWorld, with hardware and electrical retailers tipped to experience the largest percentage of spending growth.

Coles’ clothing range prompts add-on advice

8:27PM | Friday, 26 August 2011 |  Retail experts say Coles’ new clothing range won’t threaten smaller players, while others say it highlights the pros and cons of introducing add-on products.

Start-up rate surges 16% in June quarter: D&B

8:54PM | Thursday, 25 August 2011 |  More than 41,000 new businesses have entered the market since the March quarter, according to new Dun & Bradstreet data, but the amount of retail start-ups fell 91% in the 12 months to June 2011.

Job cuts could spark entrepreneurialism: COSBOA

8:40PM | Tuesday, 23 August 2011 |  Job cuts sweeping through sections of the economy could prompt more people to work for themselves, according to a small business group, with hospitality and financial services identified as sectors set for growth.

Newsletters Direct

8:36PM | Monday, 22 August 2011 |  Nikita Novikov, co-founder of a new promotional search engine, talks to StartupSmart about creating a connection between consumers and retailers.

Job losses tipped to trigger surge in franchising

8:27PM | Thursday, 18 August 2011 |  The franchising industry is tipped to undergo a surge in enquiries as job losses ripple through the economy, but a small business lobbyist has issued a warning to prospective franchisees.

Invasion of the big brands

8:27PM | Wednesday, 17 August 2011 |  Despite the doom and gloom in the retail sector, there’s been a plethora of large, overseas brands enter the Australian market recently. So what does this mean for homegrown start-ups?

UK retail site Asos.com set for Australian launch

8:57PM | Wednesday, 17 August 2011 |  British online fashion retailer Asos.com will launch a dedicated Australian website at the end of September, suggesting local fashion start-ups could be up against some stiff competition.