JB Hi-Fi, Funkos & Salmon Sperm: Retail’s Weird and Wonderful Week

In Episode 101 of This Week in E-Commerce, Mal Chia and Alex Ross take on a packed week of retail stories — from beauty trends and licensing meltdowns to JB Hi-Fi’s record-breaking run. It’s a wild ride through the strategic, the strange, and the surprisingly successful.The duo dives into how legacy brands like ASICs are quietly crushing it, why Funko Pop’s licensing-heavy model is falling apart, and how an Aussie distributor turned Pokemon cards into a $200M empire. Plus, they unpack Urban Decay’s eyebrow-raising OnlyFans ad campaign, and what it signals about changing norms in influencer marketing.All that — and yes, salmon sperm makes an unexpected appearance too.🔑 Key Topics:👟 ASICs’ Massive GrowthRevenue up 17.7% to $2.74B; net profit margin at 13%Performance footwear is booming — and so is ASICs’ R&D-fueled product strategyWhy it’s winning without trend-chasing🧸 Funko Faces CollapseSales down 22%; 20% of staff laid offTariffs + margin squeeze from licensing = a business model under pressureWhy relying solely on IP you don’t own is risky🛒 JB Hi-Fi’s Unstoppable StreakFY25 revenue up 10% to $10.5BOutperformed ASX by 54%New CEO incoming — but can they keep the momentum?🎴 Pokémon Cards = Big BusinessAussie distributor Banter Toys turned a 2007 handshake into $200MWhat it tells us about licensing, nostalgia, and the kidult economyPokémon is still the most-searched item on eBay💄 Urban Decay x OnlyFansIs sex selling again — or just evolving?Risks, rewards, and what this means for brands chasing reach through controversy🍣 Beauty Trend of the Week: Salmon Sperm FacialsYep, you read that right.