Latest fromRetailing

Clamp 'cowboys' rile shoppers
Disgruntled drivers are being encouraged to take legal action after being hit with fines of up to $300 by a "cowboy" clamping company in Auckland.

Union to meet administrator over bookshop chains
Union representatives will meet the administrators of the troubled Whitcoulls and Borders bookshop chains on Monday.

Judge's plea on booze culture
Former Governor-General Dame Silvia Cartwright has made a plea to the Government to be bolder on alcohol reform.

Bookstores beef up security in face of fury
Extra security has been hired for Borders and Whitcoulls stores as staff face aggressive customers angry about conditions placed on redeeming gift vouchers.

Milk prices frozen for rest of year
Freeze comes a day after the Government ordered a review of whether the local market was working well for consumers.

'Get in now' Whitcoulls punters told
Whitcoulls customers are being told to get in now and redeem their gift vouchers or face them becoming worthless if the company goes into receivership. Customers with vouchers or gift cards have been told today they must buy the same value

Poor success rate for voluntary administration, says insolvency specialist
Voluntary administration - which Whitcoulls is now in - has about a 4 per cent success rate, says a New Zealand insolvency specialist.

Whitcoulls stores face closure
The future of Whitcoulls - one of NZ's most famous and enduring retail chains - is in jeopardy after administrators were called in last night to run the book-retailing business.

Opponents say Royal Oak Warehouse bid threatens local business
Wayne Thompson Shops serving neighbourhoods in Onehunga, Royal Oak and Greenwoods Corner are threatened by a bid to build The Warehouse's latest store, say business owners and residents.

Westfield posts healthy profit but vagueness on plans disappoints
Westfield Group delivered 2010 earnings in line with expectations amid improving global retail markets, but said it was too early to ramp up existing plans for new development investment of up to A$1 billion ($1.3 billion) a year.

<i>Brian Rudman</i>: Making Queen St a pedestrian mall won't fix tired old hick town look
We need better shop verandas and input from property moguls and their tenants.

Fair Trade products selling well in NZ
Fair trade certified products are booming in NZ, despite rising food prices and low consumer confidence, latest figures reveal.

Govt: Double-dip recession possible
Finance Minister Bill English confirmed today the Government is concerned about a double-dip recession, echoing Prime Minister John Key's caution in the face of weak employment figures and a fast-slowing Australian economy.

Good news at last for retail- new year card transactions up
After a long period of gloom, retailers are welcoming news from Stats NZ that January saw the largest monthly increase in electronic card spending for five years.

Sweltering weather causes run on fans
Retailers are struggling to keep up with demand for portable fans as customers seek relief from uncomfortably warm temperatures.