Remote working and access to global talent has reshaped how Australian consumer brands build their teams. From customer service in Manila to creatives in Bali, D2C businesses are tapping into international talent to scale efficiently. However, the cost-saving illusion of contractor arrangements often masks greater risks.

You’ve polished your Shopify store, optimised your Meta ads and stocked your warehouse. But here's what most DTC founders miss in the lead up to BlackFriday: the regulatory risk embedded in your promotion could cost you more than an underperforming ad ever will.

Now more than ever, Australia’s consumer brands are assuming bolder and more direct marketing strategies in an effort to outmanoeuvre their competitors. Capitalising on another brand’s reputation has become far more common in Australia, although the financial and reputational costs of getting it wrong can be substantial.

Last week, former Australian fashion retailer, Mosaic Brands Pty Ltd (“Mosaic”), which owned prominent brands such as Millers, Noni B, Rivers, Katies, Rockmans and W. Lane, was ordered to pay a $25.05 million penalty that serves as a stark warning for Australia’s consumer and retail community.

Australia's supermarket landscape is set for a fundamental reset with the introduction of the Food and Grocery Code of Conduct (Mandatory Code), transitioning from the existing voluntary code to a binding regulatory framework that aims to regulate commercial interactions across the grocery supply chain.

On 17 December 2024, the Federal Court of Australia sided with baby and infant snack food brand, Little Bellies, in a watershed copyright infringement case against ALDI.