Warehouse chief executive Mark Powell says it will be "a very difficult ask" for the group to beat last year's profits after it announced weaker-than-expected sales.

Warehouse shares have plunged today after it said profits for the first half of the financial year are likely to be down 20 per cent.

Boxing Day is over but retailers are stretching their sales by as much as a week to persuade shoppers to open their wallets.

Shoppers spent a record-breaking amount on Christmas Eve and Boxing Day, according to figures released by Paymark today.

Before many New Zealanders had even unwrapped the bounty under their trees, dozens of gifts were already hitting Trade Me for resale.

New Zealand cleaning products company ecostore has signed a deal that will see the company export to South Korea from next year.

The car that controversially raced across the South Island clocking speeds well above the limit so then-prime minister Helen Clark could get to a rugby test on time has been sold in Auckland.

An online petition criticising Trade Me's Gift Finder tool as "sexist" has attracted 250 signatures in its first few days.

Kiwis have spent a total of $2.3b through Paymark so far this month with Christmas spending up 4.3%

Christmas spending is off to a strong start with, up 4.4 per cent on the same time last year.

As chief toy tester and buyer for Farmers, the 31-year-old has a big role choosing which toys will be hot at Christmas.

Christmas shoppers have bent the plastic, spending a whopping $2.3 billion in the first fortnight of December.

In NZ, our supermarkets won't even sign up to a code of conduct, let alone agree to legislation being debated, writes Dita De Boni. It's time for the Govt to step in.

Australian company profits have ticked higher, thanks to healthier returns from the battered and bruised retail and manufacturing sectors.

Retailers are hoping positive economic conditions will offset a blustery and wet start to the spring and summer period.

New Zealand-based Cooks Global Foods is eyeing the Australia and New Zealand market - one of the few places it does not hold the rights to the Esquires coffee shop brand.

Pumpkin Patch has hired Goldman Sachs as an adviser on its capital and funding requirements and says a share issue is an option for the children's clothing retailer, which has warned it could breach....

Pumpkin Patch says this Christmas would be make or break for the children's wear retail chain.

The rebirth of an old market, once teeming with hippy and bohemian traders and curious customers, has lured three Aucklanders back to Victoria Park where they spent happy times as teenagers.

The Warehouse lifted first-quarter sales 3.5pc, opening more Noel Leeming stores, and widened margins at its dominant 'Red Shed' unit.

ComCom clears merger of online travel agencies Expedia and Wotif.com after assessing concerns the tie-up would increase commission rates.

Higher wages and a specialised degree are among the initiatives helping change the perception of retail from a boring job to a high-flying career, says Warehouse boss.

The consumer watchdog wants a law change making it illegal for dodgy door-to-door salespeople to ignore "do-not-knock" notices posted by homeowners.

Sick of door-to-door sellers? You're not alone. Serious complaints have led Consumer NZ to launch a nationwide campaign against the sales tactic.

Digital disruption was the hot topic at the Institute of Finance Professionals (INFINZ) conference last week, writes Liam Dann.

Pumpkin Patch auditor PwC says the former high-flying retailer may have difficulty continuing as a going concern if it is unable to comply with banking covenant agreements with its bank, the ANZ.

Warkworth's village character and market town charm is being put at risk by a big retail development aimed at luring motorists on SH1, say residents.

UPS is expecting an 11 per cent jump in December shipments as the holiday shopping season heats up.