Retail News at a Glance, 20 October 2026

Retail News at a Glance, 20 October 2026. What happened this week in Australian retail and retail technology.

Bellroy opens its first store after 16 years

Melbourne accessories brand Bellroy opens its first standalone store, on Little Collins Street in Melbourne's CBD, after 16 years of selling through partners including David Jones, John Lewis and Nordstrom, Inside Retail reports. Stores in New York and Kuala Lumpur are due over the coming months, and the company targets sales growth of 10 to 20 per cent in 2026. Why it matters: a wholesale-led Australian brand is adding its own stores at home and overseas. Inside Retail.

Modibodi chief executive Kerry Cusack steps down

Kerry Cusack steps down as chief executive and executive director of period-apparel brand Modibodi, Ragtrader reports. She joined in July 2023; Essity bought Modibodi for $140 million in 2022. Ragtrader says the business grew by double digits in each of the past two years under Cusack, who joins Merino & Co as a non-executive director. No successor is named. Why it matters: the Essity-owned brand is looking for a new leader. Ragtrader.

Department stores lag in Stockland's centres

Stockland's town centres post moving annual turnover of $5.25 billion, up 5.5 per cent, and comparable sales up 4.2 per cent in the first quarter of FY27, Ragtrader reports from Stockland data. Department and discount department stores are the weakest category, with turnover of $608 million, up 0.3 per cent; mini-majors rise 5.4 per cent on a comparable basis. Why it matters: department store formats are trailing the rest of the centre. Ragtrader.

Retail hours per employee fall for a second month

Total shift-work hours fall 1.3 per cent in September after a 2.7 per cent fall in August, the first back-to-back decline since Deputy's Hourly Work Index began in January 2026, the workforce software company says. Retail hours per employee fall 1.9 per cent, while retail new hires rise 9.4 per cent, the strongest month of the year. Why it matters: retailers are adding staff ahead of peak trading while cutting hours per worker. Deputy.

Walmart opens its fifth next-generation fulfilment centre

Walmart opens its fifth next-generation fulfilment centre, a site of more than 900,000 square feet in Stockton, California, the company says. Its automated high-density storage and retrieval system, supported by machine learning, cuts a traditional 12-step fulfilment process to five steps. Retail Dive reports Walmart aims to automate all 42 of its US distribution centres. Why it matters: the largest US retailer is standardising on automated fulfilment. Walmart.

NRF forecasts 4.2 per cent US holiday sales growth

The National Retail Federation forecasts US retail sales in November and December will rise 4.2 per cent to US$1.013 trillion, after growth of 3.1 per cent to US$972 billion last season. It expects retailers to hire 325,000 to 375,000 seasonal workers, against about 356,000 last year. Why it matters: US retailers are planning for a stronger peak season than last year's. NRF.