Retail News at a Glance, 22 October 2026

Retail News at a Glance, 22 October 2026. What happened this week in Australian retail and retail technology.

NSW introduces workplace protection orders for retail

The NSW Government introduces legislation that would let courts bar repeat offenders who threaten, intimidate or assault retail workers from returning to the workplace, Retail Biz reports. The Australian Retail Council calls for bipartisan support and faster passage, warning the scheme could take up to 12 months after passage to start. Woolworths and Coles back the laws. Why it matters: NSW retailers could gain a court route to keep repeat offenders out of their stores. Retail Biz.

TVSN to close after failing to find a buyer

Shopping channel TVSN will close permanently on 15 November after owner Direct Group failed to reach a binding deal with potential buyers or investors, Inside Retail reports, citing a memo to suppliers. The channel, founded in 1995 as The Value Channel, announced its closure earlier this month after 30 years on air. Why it matters: suppliers to the channel now face a fixed end date with no buyer. Inside Retail.

Coles to stock 200-plus menopause-certified products

Coles becomes the first Australian supermarket to adopt GenM's MTick menopause-friendly certification, Inside Retail reports. An online menopause support hub launches in early 2027, followed by more than 200 certified products online and in stores across skincare, personal care, vitamins and oral health. Chief commercial and sustainability officer Anna Croft leads the announcement. Why it matters: a major supermarket is adding a certified menopause range to its shelves. Inside Retail.

Stax relaunches and turns lost orders into credit

Activewear label Stax reopens online on 6 November under new owners, an investor group led by Justin Truong and Sandy Li-Truong, with Anna Cheng as chief executive, Ragtrader reports. About 13,000 orders left unfulfilled at its collapse become store credit one-for-one, usable until 30 June 2027; orders paid through third-party payment providers are excluded. Why it matters: the new owners are honouring orders they say they had no legal obligation to take on. Ragtrader.

Consumer confidence holds near historic lows

The ANZ-Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence index is 67.7, little changed from 68 a week earlier and 16.3 points lower than a year ago, Ragtrader reports. ANZ economist Sophia Angala says it is the twelfth-lowest result since the series began in 1973. The share of people who say it is a good time to buy a major household item rises 3 points to 17 per cent. Why it matters: ANZ expects household spending growth to stay subdued in the near term. Ragtrader.

Ulta Beauty sells product bundles inside ChatGPT

US beauty retailer Ulta Beauty launches a ChatGPT feature that builds a bundle of Ulta products from a conversation about goals, preferences and budget, Chain Store Age reports. Buying two to five eligible full-price items from a bundle earns 10 per cent off, loyalty points apply, and checkout moves to the customer's Ulta bag. Sephora is testing its own ChatGPT app in the US. Why it matters: beauty retailers are selling inside AI assistants, not only on their own sites. Chain Store Age.