Smartphones could sell for less than $100 within 12 months, says 2degrees chief exec Eric Hertz.

It's hard to be a young designer in New Zealand right now, but the Westpac Young Fashion Designer competition is looking to help out those who are starting out in the industry.

In an exclusive interview, the book and stationery chain's new owners tell Karyn Scherer about their plans for one of the best-known names in NZ retailing.

Retail buyers who stock the big chains say NZ production has almost disappeared.

Stock Takes assumes the powers that be at The Warehouse are sharpening their pencils now that book retailers Whitcoulls, Borders and Bennetts have been put up for sale by REDgroup's voluntary administrators.