The Marketplace Meltdown & Australia’s CPG Innovation Problem

This week, Mal and Alex wade into a very marketplace-heavy news cycle — from Princess Polly jumping into physical retail, to the quiet death of flash-sale platforms, to the Iconic proving you don’t need to spend more to grow more. Then we get into the big stuff: Kogan’s New Zealand headaches, Myer’s surprisingly strong marketplace success, and why Australia’s supermarket shelves are suffering from a chronic case of “innovation avoidance”. It’s packed, it’s punchy, and it’s peak 2025 retail chaos.  QuickiesPrincess Polly goes IRL at Westfield Bondi Junction with flashy mirrors, LED screens, and 50 new weekly styles — continuing the shift from pure-play to omnichannel.  OzSale to shut down in 2026, signalling the slow death of flash-sale marketplaces and the brutal economics of discount-led models.  The Iconic rejigs its marketing budget, growing NMV 5.8% through smarter spend, AI, and better channel discipline — not bigger budgets.  Deep DivesKogan’s NZ marketplace (Mighty Ape) drags profitability, highlighting the risks of cross-border marketplace ownership, low margins, and crowded competition.  Myer Marketplace surges +41%, with strong online sales, high brand trust, and a major Mirakl partnership to onboard thousands more sellers by 2026. Retail media revenue incoming.  Why Australia’s CPG innovation sucks — supermarket duopoly, high costs, low risk tolerance, shrinking investment, and a culture of “incrementalism over invention”. Plus the consumer role in pushing innovation forward.  Other Bits You’ll Hear About Black Friday chaos (or lack thereof) and early read-outs on trading performance.Whether Aussie shoppers are more loyal to price than brand.The slow decline of in-store sampling — and how that affects new product discovery.Why D2C CPG brands struggle with shipping, AOV, and margins.