When I went to Europe, what struck me was how many shops similar to my clients were stocking men's grooming products. Which brings up the obvious question: why not here?

How Do You Find Products That Actually Sell?

You don't need to guess. Start with what is already proven to sell in Australia.

The first point to note is that the market has two main categories: mass and premium. The problem with mass is that sales are good, but because they're low-value, you don't make much. Consider 50% of AUD $7.00 on a mass product vs. 50% of AUD $40.00 on a premium item.

Go to local shops in your area that sell these products. Look at what they display prominently at the counter and on the shelves. What you are looking for is their movers. See if they are the sort of product you would be comfortable selling, and if so, make a list of the types of products they are. Use your camera to take pictures.

Now, when you go back, check Amazon Australia Best Sellers in Men's Grooming. If it is a top seller, it will probably be listed there.

Then ask your wholesalers what they recommend.

Now check AliExpress trending. Search for products like shaving brush, safety razor and sort by orders. Products with 1,000+ orders have proven demand.

Where Do You Source the Products?

You have two paths, and most smart retailers use both.

1. AliExpress for low-cost entry and hardware

AliExpress is suitable for testing with small quantities and a low outlay. For example, a shaver might cost AUD 6.50 plus AUD 3.00 freight.

To get your true landed cost in AUD, you must add banking fees, GST, freight, and other charges.

AUD $6.50 product + AUD $3.00 freight + AUD $0.95 GST = AUD $10.45 landed. If, say, you can sell it at AUD $38 EX, you make AUD $27.55.

2. Australian wholesalers and brands for compliance and speed

Also check labelling. Some small exporters print in Chinglish, a Chinese-influenced English. It looks terrible on a product and kills trust. Australians will take US or English spelling, but Chinglish no. Chinglish broadcasts a bad product.

How Should You Market Men's Grooming Products?

I recommend the front counter. Once you get a feel for the product, move it to an appropriate position. Use your POS system to monitor sales and profit in AUD by tracking sell-through, margin, bundles, reorders and customer repeat purchases in real time.

How Should You Display It?

Initially, put it at the front counter. We are experimenting, and you need to see how the product will sell. Once you get a grip on the product, move it to a more permanent position.

See how you go!

How Does Your POS System Track Sales and Profit in AUD?

Your POS System will tell you how good a product is. I would suggest creating a separate department in your Point of Sale (POS) system called "Men's Grooming." Put every new grooming item there. That way, you can run a report for sell-through, AUD margin, bundle performance and reorder points without mixing it with your existing categories.

What Is the Future for Australian Retailers Who Add Men's Grooming in October 2026?

The future for Australian retailers who add men's grooming in October 2026 is expected to go up. It looks good, with a market growing at over 8%. These are a great gift line. Start small and see where it takes you.

Written by:

Bernard Zimmermann is the founding director at POS Solutions, a leading point-of-sale system company with 45 years of industry experience. He consults to various organisations, from small businesses to large retailers and government institutions. Bernard is passionate about helping companies optimise their operations through innovative POS technology and enabling seamless customer experiences through effective software solutions.

The Australian dollar (AUD) is in a decline against its major currencies. It presents a significant economic challenge. Some people attribute this problem to external factors, such as trade tensions with other countries. However, the real causes are deeply rooted in Australia’s financial situation.

Here is a table to show this.

Just looking at the table, you can see that it's not Trump, as we received only the minimum 10%, and yet almost everyone, including those who received more, is doing better than we are: Japan, 24%; China 54%; and India, 27%. None have seen their currencies drop as much as ours. 

The Australian dollar is now at a five-year low. It has been going down for years, and the forecast for it is not good.

We are facing significant challenges for retailers since nearly everything is imported. Let's now examine Australia's Retail Outlook.

Retailers must adapt

Why Is the Australian Dollar Dropping?

That's a good question I wish would be asked more often now.

Our economy

This decline is compounded by external factors such as global trade dynamics and Australia's reliance on commodity exports. It has not been pretty for quite a while, and now our currency is viewed as a “risk currency.”

China’s Economic Slowdown

As Australia’s largest trading partner, China’s weaker economy and economic uncertainty are dragging down the AUD.

Commodity Dependence

Australia relies heavily on exporting commodities. Much of this is in uncertainty.

Unemployment

While unemployment rates are currently low, job availability in high-paying, export-oriented sectors, such as mining, is shrinking. This trend could lead to problems.

To many of you, this will affect your customers' spending habits.

How Does a Weaker AUD Affect Retailers?

Fewer tourists

Many of my customers tell me how they miss the Chinese tourists. Tourism is vital to us.

Rising Business Expenses

As we all sell products sourced internationally, you’re likely to be hit by higher wholesale prices soon. A weaker AUD makes imports more expensive.

These increased costs often lead to higher retail prices and/or a squeezing of profit margins.

Increased Operational Expenses

Beyond inventory costs, other business expenses will rise:

####Energy Prices In addition to the rising electricity prices we now face, Coal remains a dominant source of electricity generation in Australia. Since coal prices are set in US dollars, a weaker AUD directly increases electricity expenses for businesses.

Shipping Costs

Importing goods becomes more expensive as freight costs are typically calculated in foreign currencies, often the US dollar.

What Can Retailers Do to Adapt?

Consumer Spending Slowdown

With inflation now eating into household budgets, shoppers have prioritised essentials over discretionary purchases. This trend is if you sell non-essential items, such as fashion or gifts. I suggest stocking items that are necessities. Children are not being affected by this trend.

Diversify Your Supply Chain**

Relying on a single supplier is risky when currencies fluctuate; local goods and local suppliers might reduce reliance on imports. Shop around; different suppliers in different countries are affected differently. For example, a New Zealand supplier is only marginally affected, whereas a Japanese supplier would be significantly impacted.

Use your POS System

As prices and the economy change, the quickest and best way to assess your business and its current status is through your POS System. It will tell you trends, what is working and what is not working. What you need is actual data in real time.

Conclusion

Retailers in Australia faced a challenging period.

We need to focus on the customer experience.

The future belongs to those retailers who adapt.

Written by:

Bernard Zimmermann is the founding director at POS Solutions, a leading point-of-sale system company with 45 years of industry experience. He consults to various organisations, from small businesses to large retailers and government institutions. Bernard is passionate about helping companies optimise their operations through innovative POS technology and enabling seamless customer experiences through effective software solutions.