Labubu Mania, Lego Moves & EOFY Chaos

This week marks a fresh chapter for This Week in Ecommerce as Alex Ross officially joins as co-host! In this packed episode, Mal and Alex dive into three major stories shaping retail right now:The ACCC Cracks Down: Major Aussie retailers like Michael Hill and Hairhouse have been penalised for misleading Black Friday discounts. What this means for trust, and how brands should rethink their promotional strategies.The Fall (and Pivot) of Alchemy Brands: With the closure of National Geographic stores and the pivot toward Lego and General Pants, Mal and Alex explore the deeper strategy behind brand licensing and experiential retail.The Rise of Labubu: From viral TikToks to $250K plush toys, the hosts dissect the Labubu phenomenon and how novelty, scarcity, and celebrity seeding are fueling a new wave of “dopamine shopping.”Key Takeaways:Why urgency-based EOFY offers are working—and where brands get it wrong.The cost of consumer mistrust and why compliance is non-negotiable heading into Black Friday.What the closure of NG stores tells us about brand reach, licensing power, and cultural relevance.How Labooboo and fruit charms are driving a “lipstick effect” resurgence in novelty shopping.