Retail news

‘Ghost stores’: the online retailers promoting closing-down sales for physical shops that don’t exist

12-04-2025 22:00

Australia’s consumer watchdog says it is investigating complaints of social media ads purporting to be from local boutiquesElection 2025 live updates: Australia federal election campaignGet our afternoon election email, free app or daily news podcast“With tears in our eyes, we must share the news with you,” the ads, which have been sponsored to appear on people’s social media feeds, begin. “After so many years of love and dedication to our Maison Canberra boutique,

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We need to take our feathered friends under our wing – before it’s too late | Alison Phillips

12-04-2025 17:00

My resident blue tit is grumpy, and with avian numbers decreasing at an alarming rate who can blame him?Brian sits, puffed up with his own importance, glowering at me through the kitchen window. He wants to come in and occasionally lunges at the window to make his point. I’m not even sure what he is grumpy about – it’s a great week for Brian. Because blue tit sightings (sorry, did I mention Brian is a blue tit, or Cyanistes caeruleus as he’d put it on his LinkedIn?) in ga

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Eggs or bunnies? The best UK deals on Easter chocolate treats

12-04-2025 08:00

Rising cocoa costs has led some brands to ramp up prices or shrink their products, so this is how to avoid shelling outAre you going to be handing over more cash for less Easter egg this year? You’ll need to have your wits about you to bag a bargain – or at least not get ripped off – as the surging cost of cocoa has pushed up the price of popular Easter eggs from many big brands, and some have shrunk, too.But the consumer group Which? says there are still plenty of ways to get

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‘Christmas without the stress’: British shoppers embrace Eastermas

12-04-2025 08:00

Trees, decorations and gifts such as sheep jumpers and bunny-shaped trinkets are a distraction from the gloomEaster is nearly here, but it’s beginning to feel a lot like Christmas as Britons decorate trees, buy pricey gifts and pull crackers.High street stores are decked with wreaths, baubles and table decor, although it is the Easter bunny, not Santa, that looms large. With shelves full of chick- and bunny-shaped trinkets it’s clear that putting up an Easter tree, or twig, is increa

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