JB Hi-Fi, Funkos & Salmon Sperm: Retail’s Weird and Wonderful Week

In Episode 101 of This Week in E-Commerce, Mal Chia and Alex Ross take on a packed week of retail stories — from beauty trends and licensing meltdowns to JB Hi-Fi’s record-breaking run. It’s a wild ride through the strategic, the strange, and the surprisingly successful.

The duo dives into how legacy brands like ASICs are quietly crushing it, why Funko Pop’s licensing-heavy model is falling apart, and how an Aussie distributor turned Pokemon cards into a $200M empire. Plus, they unpack Urban Decay’s eyebrow-raising OnlyFans ad campaign, and what it signals about changing norms in influencer marketing.

All that — and yes, salmon sperm makes an unexpected appearance too.

🔑 Key Topics:

👟 ASICs’ Massive Growth

• Revenue up 17.7% to $2.74B; net profit margin at 13%

• Performance footwear is booming — and so is ASICs’ R&D-fueled product strategy

• Why it’s winning without trend-chasing

🧸 Funko Faces Collapse

• Sales down 22%; 20% of staff laid off

• Tariffs + margin squeeze from licensing = a business model under pressure

• Why relying solely on IP you don’t own is risky

🛒 JB Hi-Fi’s Unstoppable Streak

• FY25 revenue up 10% to $10.5B

• Outperformed ASX by 54%

• New CEO incoming — but can they keep the momentum?

🎴 Pokémon Cards = Big Business

• Aussie distributor Banter Toys turned a 2007 handshake into $200M

• What it tells us about licensing, nostalgia, and the kidult economy

• Pokémon is still the most-searched item on eBay

💄 Urban Decay x OnlyFans

• Is sex selling again — or just evolving?

• Risks, rewards, and what this means for brands chasing reach through controversy

🍣 Beauty Trend of the Week: Salmon Sperm Facials

• Yep, you read that right.