Australia’s Spending Surge, Super Retail’s Scandal & The Search Wars Begin

Q4 is coming in hot — and retail is already on fire 🔥This week, Mal and Alex dig into a scandal shaking one of Australia’s biggest retail groups, the quiet downfall of viral sensation Labubu, and what TikTok’s rise as a search engine means for brands heading into peak.Also on deck: Aussie consumer confidence is defying global trends, David Jones’ web traffic spikes unexpectedly, and discoverability is shifting away from Google… fast.If you’re planning Black Friday, betting on bundles, or wondering how to bring your brand story to life in a TikTok-first world — this one’s for you.🔎 Key Stories:Super Retail Group CEO ousted over undisclosed relationship — costing him millions in shares.Labubu's $6B valuation crash shows what happens when hype outpaces strategy.Australia Post resumes U.S. parcel shipping (earlier than expected!) — great news for merchants.David Jones traffic jumps +1M users in August — has their site overhaul paid off?Aussie shoppers to spend 14% more this holiday season, says Deloitte.TikTok and YouTube are now key discovery platforms — what brands must know.Black Friday pricing strategies & PDP optimisation tips — how to win wallet share without eroding margin.