Retail

Retail giant Woolworths grew sales by 4.3 per cent to more than $59 billion last financial year.

Woolworths is bracing for its home improvement division to lose $139 million as the building sector struggles and wage costs blow out.

After running some of Perth's best-known nightclubs for five years, businessman David Heaton is taking a decidedly different tack in his next business venture.

Shares in ailing surfwear retailer Billabong are riding a wave after news chief Launa Inman will step down as part of a deal with a US private equity group to help refinance its debts.

Beleaguered surfwear icon Billabong is expected to announce asset sales and new loans within days as it fights to overcome weak revenues and oversized debt.

New vehicle sales are on the rise, with new data showing 4.8 per cent more cars were sold in the six months to June 30 than the same six month period last year.

Consumer confidence has improved, but remains weaker than it was at the beginning of the year.

Charter Hall has bought a shopping centre in Perth's southern suburbs for $33.2 million.

The state's retail market will remain the nation's strongest over the next 12 months, despite consumer spending growth expected to ease as expansion in the resources industry tails off, new researc

Lord Mayor Lisa Scaffidi's personal war on poor customer service has culminated in a City of Perth awards program, with businesses offered the chance to meet with Ms Scaffidi as part of a monthly p

Supermarket giant Coles has been wrongly labelling its bread as baked in-store, the competition watchdog says.

There was a sharp bounce in consumer confidence in June, but it may be short-lived.The Westpac/Melbourne Institute index of consumer sentiment in June rose 4.7 per cent to 102.2 points.

Target has announced 260 jobs will go in a restructure of its business operations.

Consumer confidence in Western Australia has fallen to a record low, in terms of both short and long-term outlooks.

Car dealer network Automotive Holdings Group has added Mazda to its stable of WA dealerships, with the acquisition of Jason Mazda in Osborne Park for $13 million.

Billabong will look to offload assets and cut costs to deal with debt after yet another takeover bid for the troubled retailer collapsed.

Wesfarmers chief executive Richard Goyder believes intervening to save failing companies stifles innovation and discourages creativity.

Westfield Group chairman and Australia's second-richest person Frank Lowy has defended his right to receive directors' fees.

Wesfarmers chief executive Richard Goyder is hopeful the conglomerate will seek out new acquisitions offshore in the years ahead.

David Jones says weak consumer sentiment and an unseasonably warm start to winter contributed to a 2.2 per cent fall in third quarter sales.

The federal government needs to restore consumer confidence by securing jobs and ensuring less red tape, says Australia's peak retail group.

Perth company ThinkSmart has predicted an after-tax profit of $0.5 million for the first six months of 2013, at its annual general meeting today.

Wesfarmers has downgraded its earnings forecast for its Target stores, predicting a "disappointing" result for the department store chain.

US home ware retailer Williams-Sonoma is understood to have chosen Perth as the location for its third Australian store amid a growing number of international retail giants coming west.

Shopping centre owner Westfield Retail Trust (WRT) says consumer confidence is improving, but shoppers are still cautious and sales growth is still low.

Luxury yacht brand, Princess Yachts Australia is ramping up its Perth operations following its purchase of major yacht broker Grant Torrens International Marine.

Australian retailers hope March trading figures are just a "temporary blip" as they urge the Reserve Bank to slash interest rates even further.

Wesfarmers expects to free up $400 million of capital after establishing a joint venture with unlisted property fund manager ISPT.

Car dealer network Automotive Holdings Group is increasing its presence in Victoria, snapping up two Toyota dealerships in Melbourne's northern suburbs for $20 million.

Troubled surfwear retailer Billabong has extended its exclusive takeover talks with the Sycamore consortium.

Wesfarmers' supermarket chain Coles has lifted its quarterly sales by 6.4 per cent despite it having slashed prices for shoppers.

Australian grocery giant Woolworths is considering setting up shop overseas, but won't say where it's looking.