
Heather McIlvaine
Heather McIlvaine is features and premium editor - retail at Inside Retail. In her nearly four years writing for Inside Retail, Heather has traveled to Shenzhen to cover the epic Chinese shopping event Single’s Day, doggedly reported the details of Amazon's launch in Australia, toured the biggest office supplies store in the world to understand the future of physical retail, dissected the 'Instagram aesthetic' with three brands that embody the look and followed the local fashion industry's pivot to making PPE during Covid-19. An LA-native who now lives in Melbourne (via Munich), she could happily survive on a diet of good tacos, coffee and beer and welcomes local recommendations for all three.
From the author

Why Flora & Fauna founder Julie Mathers is betting on baby swaddles
Six months after leaving the eco-friendly online retail business she sold to manufacturing and consumer goods company BW...
Aug 8, 2022

How Indigenous brands are using the ‘power of fashion’ to create change
Winners of the National Indigenous Fashion Awards share how they're using their businesses to create positive change for...
Aug 5, 2022

How viral DIYs on Facebook inspired Kmart Australia’s new product range
The discount department store has just launched its first range of DIY products, including wallpaper, flooring, curtains...
Aug 4, 2022

Swanndri is beloved by Kiwis, but can it become a global brand?
New Zealand outdoor clothing retailer Swanndri is looking to key overseas markets for growth, as it evolves beyond its w...
Aug 3, 2022

Exclusive: How Paul Waddy, Mal Chia built their dream e-commerce agency
Paul Waddy and Mal Chia are two of the most respected and experienced leaders in Australia's e-commerce industry, and th...
Aug 2, 2022

Advice from veteran retailers on how to get through a recession
‘Stay calm’, ‘keep your ear to the ground’ and ‘always be changing’ are just some of the top tips for navigating a finan...
Aug 1, 2022

How a trip to the bathroom inspired Pottery Barn’s inclusive furniture line
The retailer has launched a new collection of products designed to meet the needs of people who are injured, living with...
Jul 29, 2022

‘Dreams do come true’: Alémais wins top design award amidst global growth
The Australian fashion brand has been a runaway success since launching two years ago. Yesterday, it was crowned the win...
Jul 28, 2022

Fast Forward: Highlights from our series on the future of retail
While our Fast Forward series has come to an end, we've compiled some of the biggest themes and takeaways together.
Jul 27, 2022

Despite looming recession, Harris Scarfe is ‘full-steam ahead’: CEO
The Australian discount department store is aggressively expanding its bricks-and-mortar store network, particularly in ...
Jul 26, 2022

How The Outnet is tapping into the booming menswear market
The global menswear market is expected to grow at a CAGR of nearly 6 per cent over the five years to 2025, with 39 per c...
Jul 24, 2022

VIDEO | Fast Forward: What will retail look like in 2032?
In the third episode of our new video series on the future of retail, we find out whether online deliveries could be shi...
Jul 22, 2022

Welcome to David Jones’ new luxury menswear offer in Melbourne
Twenty new brands, complimentary styling services, made-to-measure suit fittings and more – David Jones' new menswear of...
Jul 22, 2022

Can ‘smart’ Blundstone boots help ease healthcare workers’ pain?
Researchers at Monash University have put sensors in the soles of Blundstone boots to measure the physical strain that h...
Jul 21, 2022

Why Amazon’s offer to change the way it uses seller data is a big deal
Amazon has offered to change the way it operates in the hope of settling a long-running antitrust investigation by the E...
Jul 19, 2022

Why StockX CMO Deena Bahri believes failure is key to growth
In this Q&A, we discuss what she loves about retail, who her business heroes are and why it’s important to take risks to...
Jul 15, 2022

VIDEO | Fast Forward: What will retail look like in 2027?
In the second episode of our new video series on the future of retail, we cover food, fashion and the metaverse, and ask...
Jul 15, 2022

Inside the first sexual wellness store in the metaverse
Erotic online retailer Lovehoney has launched the world’s first sexual wellness store in the metaverse. Officially openi...
Jul 15, 2022

Everything you need to know about retail’s facial recognition fiasco
How is facial recognition being used in retail stores and why is it so controversial? We spoke with consumer behaviour e...
Jul 14, 2022

This is how StockX is responding to the looming recession
Despite the current economic climate, the online marketplace has just launched its first ever global brand campaign. Her...
Jul 13, 2022