Did you say ‘free’?!
I couldn’t call myself a retail law expert if I didn’t love keeping a close eye on the retail market and engage in a little not-so-guilty shopping myself. So, when I heard that MAC cosmetics was offe...
3 fun competition ideas to promote your business (legally) on Instagram
You might remember our previous post about the legal issues associated with running promotional competitions. This week, we thought we would help to inspire your next competition with a list of 3 f...
Competitions and trade promotions
Nothing gains quite as much attention as the word ‘free’, but make sure your business complies with the law or it could end up costing you. Who doesn’t love a good freebie? Running competitions, trad...
Always qualify your ‘no refunds’ statements
As a retail-specialised lawyer, I’ve worked on more Returns Policies than I can count, and it always surprises me that retailers continue to get caught telling customers “no refunds” without regard to...
Subscription models – are automatic renewals allowed?
If you offer a subscription service, make sure your renewal and cancellation terms are transparent. Like most people in 2017, I’m a big fan of Spotify and Netflix. While subscription-based business m...
Are your negotiations legally binding?
I’ve worked with many businesses to negotiate their commercial agreements, including retail leases. It can be a lengthy process of back and forth – in many cases, there are documents drafted prior to...
Entering new markets by working with other businesses
Throughout my career, I have assisted several clients to enter new markets of goods and services. While there are commercial risks to consider, for example Will the product be a hit?&...
Online retailers offering “buy now, pay later” alternative
A growing number of online fashion and retail stores in Australia are offering a new lay-by alternative called Afterpay and other similar payment plans. The payment provider allows customers to...
How fool-proof are your contracts? Top 3 Wholesale Agreement Oversights
Welcome to the final part of our three-part retail contract series. This series takes some of the key contracts from retail businesses and focuses on the three key aspects that tend to be overlo...
How fool-proof are your contracts? Top 3 Procurement Contract Oversights
Welcome to Part 2 of our three-part retail contract series. This series takes some of the key contracts from retail businesses and focuses on the three key aspects that tend to be overlooked by...
How fool-proof are your contracts? Top 3 Supply Term Contract Oversights
Welcome to our three-part series on retail contract terms. As a retail lawyer, I’ve read and reviewed more retail contracts than I can count – from supply terms, to distribution agreements, to p...
Don’t overlook your Terms of Use!
I have seen many online businesses in the retail space start with a “copy and paste”, template Terms of Use (or Terms & Conditions/T&C) on their website. While it is convenient for...