Retail

Retail spending rose 4.9 per cent in October as COVID-19 restrictions eased across the country however WA only reported a 0.2 per cent increase in sales.

Wide Open Agriculture has landed its first major distribution deal, signing an initial one-year agreement with Woolworths to carry the company’s OatUP brand nationally.

Wages lifted 0.8 per cent in the three months to September in Western Australia, slightly more than the national increase.

Drawing a line in the sand and setting a date to reopen the state’s borders will help speed up vaccinations, Wesfarmers chief executive Rob Scott has said.

The ASX-listed company behind Dan Murphy’s and BWS is in the process of purchasing family-owned liquor store Swanbourne Cellars.

Coles has opted not to follow Woolworths in requiring all employees be vaccinated against COVID-19, instead relying on health orders in some states.

Listed security business MCS Services has won a $4.8 million contract to monitor all shopping precincts owned and managed by Vicinity Centres in WA.

Tony Galati’s Spudshed empire made $420 million of revenue in the year to June, but rising costs have put pressure on margins.

Shoe retailer Betts has posted a profit as it worked to rein in costs, but its annual report reveals negative net assets and falling cash reserves.

Podiatrist and business owner Rachael Ferguson has persevered through the pandemic, landing another retail deal for her new pain relief product.

Arts and books prove to be a winning combination at Paper Bird.

Woolworths has settled a wage theft claim worth about $300 million and pledged to pay more underpaid workers $50 million.

Wesfarmers has bolstered its chances of taking over Australian Pharmaceutical Industries after buying a 19.3 per cent stake.

Australia’s competition watchdog will not oppose Bunnings’ acquisition of specialist tile retailer Beaumont Tiles.

Perth’s Lester Group has agreed to purchase a Butler retail precinct worth an estimated $50 million, from Adelaide’s Axiom Properties.

Retailers in Perth’s Carillon arcade will need to close by the end of October as plans to redevelop the centre continue to face delays.

Wesfarmers looks like it may have sealed a takeover of Australian Pharmaceutical Industries (API) after an increased offer for all shares.

Retail giant Myer has returned to full-year profit and the turnaround may ease pressure on its embattled board members.

Retail property players are trying to keep pace with the structural shift in shopping habits accelerated by the pandemic.

Fortescue and Wesfarmers were among the Western Australian ASX 100 companies which provided the most comprehensive statements to the modern slavery register.

Perth retailer Daneechi Swimwear continues to carve a niche in a saturated market.

Growth in Western Australia’s domestic economy was the second lowest nationally in the June quarter, but state final demand was still 12 per cent larger than June quarter 2020.

DevelopmentWA was running blind on foot traffic data at Yagan Square during two key periods in the precinct’s operation and demise, documents obtained under freedom of information suggest.

Singaporean property developer Fragrance Group has purchased London Court for more than $28.3 million.

Harvey Norman has repaid more than $6 million in federal government JobKeeper wage subsidies following repeated lobbying.

Mark McGowan says he feels sorry about business failures at Yagan Square, while a process revealed by Business News in April to move market hall retailers to perimeter locations continues.

Journalist Matt Mckenzie talks to Cash Converters managing director Sam Budiselik about the company's financial year results, the subprime loan market, and use of machine learning.

Retail turnover has taken its largest dive for the year, falling 2.7 per cent in July.

Wayne Osborn has retired from the board of Wesfarmers and will be replaced by former Alcoa of Australia managing director Alan Cransberg.

Wesfarmers is planning a massive capital return to shareholder after a strong year, despite the coronavirus pandemic.

Woolworths boss Brad Banducci has baulked at mandatory coronavirus vaccination for staff despite the Delta strain posing the biggest challenge to maintaining profits.

Westfield shopping centres operator Scentre has swung to a half-year profit of $400.4 million as customer traffic rebounded when lockdowns eased in the first half of the year.