Retail

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.

Dairy producer Devondale has signed a decade-long deal with Coles to supply the supermarket giant's home brand milk.

Troubled surfwear retailer Billabong appears closer to being taken over, but at a significantly lower price than previously offered.

Wesfarmers has parachuted in the head of operations at its Coles supermarkets chain, Stuart Machin, to run discount department store Target following the shock resignation of Dene Rogers.

Wesfarmers' inexorable shift from its Western Australian roots has continued with the announcement this week that Jennifer Westacott will join its board, ensuring that the Perth-headquartered congl

Shares in troubled retailer Billabong have been suspended indefinitely so it can continue takeover talks with two potential suitors.

Billabong's shares have been placed in a trading halt as talks with two potential suitors drag on.

Fruit and vegie prices fell in March, but the savings were eaten up by increases in the cost of fuel, alcohol and tobacco.

Supermarket giant Woolworths has raised concerns in the dairy industry with a plan to deal directly with a group of farmers to secure milk supplies.

Cash Converters has obtained $60 million from Westpac Bank that the second hand dealer and short-term loan provider will use to grow its personal loan book.

Apple has blamed global music labels and movie studios for making it more expensive for Australians to download music, television shows and movies than people in the US.

Billabong shares have staged a partial recovery after the troubled retailer reassured investors it was still in takeover talks with two potential suitors.

Billabong shares have been placed in a trading halt while the retailer investigates why its shares have plummeted by more than 20 per cent.

Premier Investments, the retailer behind brands including Just Jeans and Portmans, has brushed off the retail gloom and lifted its first half profit by 21 per cent.