The Commerce Brief: Fri 7th Nov

Welcome to another exciting week in the world of eCommerce and retail 🛍️

🗓️ This week’s industry updates

🤖 Walmart has rolled out a suite of AI-powered shopping experiences both in-store and online ahead of the holiday season. The Walmart app now helps shoppers find deals at their local store, locate products in aisles, and even build wish lists organized by aisle - a move designed to bridge digital convenience with in-store discovery. (source)

🇬🇧 Primark saw UK sales drop -3.1% year-on-year, as weak consumer confidence hit spending. Parent company Associated British Foods (ABF) warned that a “subdued” retail market will likely persist into 2026 and confirmed it’s exploring a possible spin-off of Primark from its food division. (source)

🎥 Marks and Spencer is tapping into social commerce, launching a curated selection of hero products on TikTok Shop to reach younger audiences and drive engagement through creator-led content. (source)

💻 SilkFred.com has entered administration, appointing advisory firm Quantuma to oversee the process - a significant setback for one of the UK’s early online fashion marketplaces known for championing independent brands. (source)

💄 Augustinus Bader is expanding its reach with a lower-priced line co-created with Dua Lipa. The new “Dua by AB Science” range includes three products priced between $40 and $85, positioning the brand for a younger, more accessible audience. (source)

🧾 HUGO BOSS reported a 1% drop in Q3 group sales amid “persistently challenging” market conditions. Growth of 3% in the Americas helped offset a 2% decline in EMEA and a 4% dip in Asia Pacific, highlighting the brand’s uneven global performance. (source)

👔 ZARA has opened its first standalone menswear boutique in the US, marking a new retail chapter for Inditex as it experiments with segmented formats tailored to different customer groups. (source)

🏰 Primark continues its Disney partnership with the launch of its largest-ever shop-in-shop beside Disneyland Paris, offering an immersive retail experience for fans of both brands. (source)

☕ John Lewis & Partners is elevating loyalty with a touch of exclusivity - opening a VIP area for loyalty card members in its Oxford Street flagship, a move designed to deepen customer engagement and reward brand advocates. (source)

🌎 ME+EM Ltd continues its international growth story with US sales surging. The British fashion label has appointed a new chief commercial officer to lead its next phase of expansion as it scales globally. (source)

The Commerce Brief