Proud Poppy's Comeback, Cue's Collapse, and the RBA's Surcharge Ban: TWIE 153

<p>Black Friday prep is well underway, and this week opened with something you don&#39;t get often on this show — genuinely good news. Tara McKeon has won back control of Proud Poppy after creditors voted to keep her running the business rather than winding it up, a real vote of confidence from the people she owes money to.</p><p>But the story every operator listening needs to act on is the RBA&#39;s card surcharge ban — from October 1st, surcharges are banned outright across eftpos, Mastercard and Visa, paired with cuts to interchange fees. That&#39;s just fifteen days&#39; notice for a change the RBA claims will save businesses and consumers up to $1.8 billion a year, though the real story is who actually recoups the cost.</p><ul><li>Tara McKeon has regained control of Proud Poppy after creditors approved a Deed of Company Arrangement rather than winding the business up.</li><li>Ralph Lauren posted another quarter of margin expansion by selling fewer units at full price, adding 1.5 million new direct-to-consumer customers in the process.</li><li>Frasers Group has demanded Accent Group chair Lawrence Myers resign immediately, drawing a line in the sand at the end of September.</li><li>Cue Clothing has entered administration just 18 months after Hilco Capital bought it, despite narrowing losses and growing sales.</li><li>Card surcharges are banned outright from October 1st, and the RBA&#39;s promised savings may not reach consumers the way it&#39;s being framed.</li><li>A new category of &quot;dopamine sites&quot; lets people simulate the entire online shopping experience — cart, checkout and all — without ever placing a real order.</li><li>Culture Kings turned the NFL&#39;s first regular-season game in Australia into a 635% sales week without ever officially sponsoring the event.</li></ul>