Retail

Empty shopfronts in some of Perth’s high-profile retail strips are a sign of WA’s wider economic malaise.

The ABC will close its brick and mortar shops and focus on online retail in a move that will slash 300 jobs.

Retail, not mining, has borne the brunt of the slowdown in Western Australia during the past 12 months, with a study of the state’s economy by the investment bank Goldman Sachs revealing a startling decline in retail jobs of more than 20 per cent.

Bradken has sold its Bassendean engineering facility to Sydney property group Charter Hall in an off-market sale and leaseback deal worth about $32.8 million, while the Champion Drive Shopping Centre in Seville Grove has been sold for $13.5 million.

Seventy-five per cent of local businesses and 56 per cent of consumers believe the economy will deteriorate over the course of the new financial year.

Global fashion giant H&M says its first Western Australian store will open at Lakeside Joondalup Shopping City on August 29, while it also appears to be making progress on opening its planned C

Coles has avoided a public review by the consumer watchdog by offering to divest its freehold interest in a development in Perth's southern suburbs so it can operate a new supermarket nearby in Lakelands.

Struggling outdoor clothing and equipment retailer Kathmandu has caught the eye of a New Zealand homewares and sports retailer seeking a takeover.

Coles will refund more than $12 million to small suppliers, on top of paying a $10 million court-ordered penalty for illegally squeezing them for funds.

EXCLUSIVE: Aldi is continuing to stake its territory in Perth, with Wattle Grove the next frontier for the supermarket giant.

Shares in Myer have risen on news the troubled department store chain has refinanced its $600 million debt arrangements.

Narembeen is typical of many small Wheatbelt towns confronting challenges with an array of business and community development initiatives.

More than 37,000 Cash Converters customers who claimed they were charged excessive interest on short-term loans will get refunds after a multi-million dollar class action was settled out of court.

Cash Converters International is close to settling a class action launched by customers who claimed they were charged excessive levels of interest and fees on personal loans.

Woolworths's $3 billion bid to take Bunnings down a peg with its Masters hardware chain could come to an early end following the sudden resignation of the retailer's chief executive, Grant O'Brien.

Grocery wholesaler Metcash will sell its automotive business to Burson Group for $275 million and cut food and grocery prices, as it struggles to compete with the major supermarkets.

Western Australia’s neighbourhood shopping centres are among the standout performers for retail asset sales across Australia, with six transactions this year totalling at least $112 million.

Perth-based scooter manufacturer and retailer Vmoto has received firm commitments for an $8.9 million capital raising to fund its various investment initiatives.

shares have plummeted to their lowest level in 14 years after the grocery wholesaler shocked investors by suspending its dividend payments after making $640 million worth of writedowns.

Australian retail spending has hit a wall after 10 straight months of gains, with big falls in sales of liquor, footwear, food and recreational goods.

The Fair Work Commission has announced a 2.5 per cent increase to the national minimum wage to start from July 1, prompting fears it could worsen an already tough job market.

Some smaller retail operators in and around Perth are taking advantage of the ad hoc nature of regulation in Western Australia to open 24 hours a day.

Woolworths has signed up Telstra to help the retail giant offer mobile services direct to its customers.

Developers are bringing the main street back to the suburbs by integrating them, as well as housing, into new shopping centre builds.

Coles will expand the number of its own branded products to drive growth and to rival Woolworths' plans to match Aldi prices.

Michael Chaney’s return to Wesfarmers confirms his standing as the most influential company director in WA. Click through to see our listing of the 12 Most Influential company directors in WA.

Frank Lowy's Westfield Corporation expects to decide on an offshore stock market listing for the international shopping mall giant by early 2016.

Troubled department store Myer has delivered some good news to investors with a solid lift in third quarter sales.

Michael Chaney will take the role of chairman of conglomerate Wesfarmers when Bob Every retires at the company’s next annual general meeting in November.

New car sales were down 11.6 per cent in Western Australia, with nearly 1,000 fewer cars sold in the month of April.

Supermarket giant Aldi is facing headwinds on its plan to acquire and demolish the Hilton Fresh shopping centre and construct one of its own supermarkets on the site, with local residents and the City of Fremantle raising concerns over the design of the proposal.

Retail spending growth seems to be slowing a bit, but no more than might have been expected, and there is no good reason to expect the deceleration to continue.