Category: World

Everyone shopping at a Haigh’s chocolate shop is offered a free tasting. They have done it for years and continue to offer it I am sure because it works. I was at the Haigh’s in Hawthorn near the office Friday last week to pick up a gift. They offered me a piece of broken Easter egg chocolate and, sure enough, I bought several Easter eggs. In fact, I bought all my Easter gifts. I went in intent on purchasing one product, a non-Easter product and walked out with seven products. For sure at some point I was going to purchase ... Read more

I’m grateful for the invitation from Shoptalk for myself and a newsXpress colleague, Anthony, to attend Shoptalk 2025 in Las Vegas a week ago. Here is a video of us discussing some takeaways from the conference and trade show. Whether you’re a retailer, a tech enthusiast, or just curious about where shopping is headed, this video offers a glimpse into the future. It highlights the importance of personalisation, the rise of AI, and the enduring need for unique, engaging customer experiences in an ever-changing landscape. What you’ll discover: The Buzz Around Personalisation: Learn how brands are using personalised merchandise, like ... Read more

It’s the critical issue that costs Australia an estimated $26 billion a year and rising — and one that, if you’ve been listening to Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton for the past four of this five-week federal election campaign, has barely crossed the lips of either leader. Already in 2025, an estimated 23 Australian women have lost their lives — the majority allegedly as a result of male violence — according to award-winning journalist and Australian Femicide Watch founder, Sherele Moody. Seven of those have occurred within the last week. “Each of them was a statistic. Each should still be ... Read more

Beware any card company trying to win your business by offering a better discount, especially if the discount is above what is common for your size card account. The best card  suppliers for your retail business are those producing cards that sell easily: cards that existing customers will buy, cards through which you can attract new shoppers and cards recipients love, and tell their friends about. By trying to entice you with a big discount, the card company representative probably knows they don’t have the best cards and are pulling the only lever they can: the discount lever. Discounting by ... Read more

Aussies have flocked to pubs across the country to play the traditional gambling game, two-up, on Anzac Day. The game is strictly illegal in Australia with the exception of Anzac Day. While there’s evidence the game was played by convicts in the 18th and 19th centuries, the coin tossing game is best-associated with Anzac Day. The game was played by officers during the First World War, and became an increasingly popular pastime for the men in the trenches. While it’s remained a much-loved tradition across RSLs, the game is illegal to play across the country for most of the year, ... Read more

A man has drowned at a popular holiday area outside of Melbourne. The man died at Cape Schanck on the Mornington Peninsula on Friday morning after being washed off the rocks. The police helicopter was called and found the man in the water, but he could not be revived. The death comes following nine drownings across Victoria and NSW on the Easter long weekend, in the deadliest Easter weekend ever recorded on Australian waters. This latest incident happened at a beach near Black Rock Beach, 70km south of Melbourne, about 9.45am, Victoria Police said. Cape Schanck is the southernmost point ... Read more

A man has been arrested after a teenager was shot dead during a fight in a beachside carpark in Newcastle. Ekampreet Sahni, 18, was found with a gunshot wound in the Bar Beach carpark on Memorial Drive about 11.40pm on Wednesday. Police were told a group of people were fighting in the carpark when a white SUV drove up. A man armed with a firearm got out of the car and fired the gun before leaving the scene in the car. A 22-year-old man was arrested about 11.20am on Friday. Newcastle City Police Acting Superintendent Steve Benson told reporters on ... Read more

It’s true, the retail landscape has shifted, Saturdays in retail are not what they used to be. Part of that is on us as retailers, we have let the day fade in significance and value. Maybe it is time to invest in Saturdays to make them more valuable. The advice I share is general. What you do in your business will vary based on your local situation. The key is to make shopping at your newsagency on a Saturday a more engaging and rewarding experience. Here are some ideas to spark your creativity: Think Fun & Engagement: Be Energised. This ... Read more

If you are aware of a newsagent selling illegal tobacco, report them. Yes, it’s as black and white as that. Any newsagent selling illegal tobacco damages the reputation of the channel, even for the majority of newsagents in our channel who do not sell tobacco. Whether we like it or not, our shingle binds us. This is why I think we need to call out bad behaviour, like selling illegal tobacco. With more newsagents getting back into tobacco, unfortunately, this is an issue we need to confront. The best way in my opinion is to report those we know to ... Read more

Footage has emerged of a veteran and Channel 9 reporter engaged in a charged conversation after a neo-Nazi led the booing of a Welcome to Country at a Dawn Service. Nine’s Mark Santomartino and a veteran were filmed discussing the incident at Melbourne’s Anzac Day ceremony. In the footage, the veteran can be heard to say “the reason why we’re here, is because our friends fought and died for this country, blood sweat and tears – like their ancestors did”. He questioned whether it was “the right time and place” for a Welcome to Country. “I have a lot of ... Read more