It has taken three decades, but New Zealand food manufacturer Cookie Time has established its first overseas venture, opening a store in Japan.

Since Key's return, the PM's department has reached out to various New Zealand businesses to ask them for their views, writes Fran O'Sullivan.

Dressed in expensive suits and designer frocks, they make a beeline for Britomart bars like Tyler Street Garage and 1885.

The chances of GST being applied to all overseas web-based retail purchases appear more distant after the Govt changed tack on a review into tax of online shopping.

Customers are being tracked by bugging devices fixed to their shopping trolleys and baskets as they shop in an Auckland supermarket.

Budget retailer the Warehouse is warning its first-half profit will fall by as much as 13 percent after strong Christmas sales failed to compensate for a margin squeeze in the first quarter.

Shares in lightbulb maker Energy Mad surged after it announced it had begun selling its energy-efficient products online in the United States through internet retail giant Amazon.

A Warehouse security guard who called a customer an "arrogant p****" and allegedly made a racist comment because they were white was wrongly dismissed.

NZ shares rose to a two-month high, paced by Chorus, Kathmandu and Sky Network Television as the prospects of strong economic growth drew retail investors to the equity market.

The pay packets offered to retail workers jumped almost 10 per cent last year, according to a major jobs website, in another sign of improving fortune for the sector.

So-called "showrooming" and "click and collect" will be two major retail trends in 2014, according to an industry commentator.

Retailers are "over the moon" at record Boxing Day sales on Thursday.

Eftpos transactions reached record highs today as Kiwi shoppers, filled with "Christmas spirit'', packed out stores around the country.

Today's final rush to complete pre-Christmas shopping will also complete a highly successful period for retailers.

Paymark figures show shoppers spending up large as malls brace for last-minute Christmas splurge.

December has so far seen spending growth unseen for several years, Paymark says.

People will be heading for the great outdoors to try out their presents this Christmas, if Trade Me searches are any indication.

Our Kiwi retailers have been embracing digital change. This doesn't mean they're abandoning their High St stores.

Balmoral residents and their local MP Phil Goff are angry about plans for a large expansion of The Warehouse.

Businesses are smiling, frazzled customers are queuing and there are still nine more days of shopping to go.