Mornings with Steve Austin, ABC

How many supermarket chains are too many

Steve Austin and the Retail Panel are back with more insights into the retail industry! In the latest podcasts we hear from the likes of NRA CEO Dominique Lamb, Christine Moody, Catherine Michael, Gary Mortimer and Jessy Cameron. Major online retailer to launch in Australia before Christmas One of the world’s biggest retailers has it’s […]

Message from the CEO: 12 September 2017

The retail trade figures for July released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics this week showed that the industry enjoyed a solid start to the financial year.  I’m always aware that these figures vary from state to state and sector to sector, but on the whole it was encouraging to see the 3.5 per cent […]

ABS retail figures show stable period for July 2017

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) retail trade figures for July 2017 released earlier today show a stable start for the industry in the second-half of the year. For the month of July, the trend estimate for Australian turnover rose by 0.3 per cent, closely in line with 0.4 per cent increases recorded in May […]

Message from the CEO: 5 September 2017

With another Father’s Day done and dusted the retail industry will now set its sight towards the busy Christmas trade period. While we don’t quite have the final figures yet, the NRA is confident that total retail sales for Father’s Day 2017 tipped the $800 million mark for the first time ever. I hope that […]

Message from the CEO: 8 August 2017

The retail sector is showing signs of recovery after a relatively flat year. The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) trade figures released Thursday have revealed a 0.3 per cent increase in June to $26.15 billion seasonally adjusted. Retail sales have now risen for three consecutive months, with June’s higher than the market expectations of 0.2 per […]

Message from the CEO: 1 August 2017

Last week the National Retail Association bid farewell to our office in Woolloongabba for a new headquarters situated in the bustling Inner-Brisbane suburb of Milton. While our old office had served the NRA well, in order for us to continue providing the very best service to our members, we felt the need to move to […]

Message from the CEO: 25 July 2017

One of the most important services that we provide members at the NRA is in relation to leasing and tenancy issues. The Leasing Department, headed by property specialist Kyle Swain, is on hand to provide an array of leasing and property services from network planning and site sourcing, to negotiating lease terms and conditions. Recently, […]

Message from the CEO: 18 July 2017

A number of major sporting events have been in the headlines recently, from the Jeff Horn vs Manny Pacquiao boxing match, to the State of Origin Series and English Premier League side Arsenal are currently touring Australia. In the coming months we will have the NRL and AFL Finals, the Australian Open tennis in the […]

Retail Figures Remain Steady According to ABS Stats for May

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) retail trade figures for May 2017 has shown a steady rise of 0.6% turnover, seasonally adjusted. NRA CEO Dominique Lamb said that while retail was experiencing a quiet period, the industry remains in steady shape and should continue to pick up following the introduction of reduced Sunday Penalty Rates. […]

Message from the CEO: 20 June 2017

Is speed really the new currency of business? There’s no doubt it’s been a tough year for retailers, as consumers continued tightening their discretionary spending purses. Shoppers have been rather prudent, and Deloitte Access Economics’ Retail Risk Review has forecast that it could take some time for this to turn around, and lift from its […]

Sunday trading coming to Warwick and Stanthorpe from July

Major stores in Warwick and Stanthorpe will be able to trade on Sundays and public holidays from next month, following a landmark decision handed down by the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission.  The QIRC ruled in favour of parallel applications brought by the NRA for the two centres, saying Sunday trading would boost employment, increase consumer […]

Message from the CEO: 13 June 2017

We’re never really not shopping, we’re just doing it differently. Take the mid-season sales for example, which have been in full swing around the country. Consumer outcomes are maximised during retail events like the seasonal sales, which play an integral role in retailers’ overall marketing strategies. Usually, consumers will shop around their lifestyles, but when it comes […]

Decision on penalty rate transition period handed down

In February the Fair Work Commission announced its decision to reduce Sunday penalty rates in the Hospitality, Fast Food, Retail and Pharmacy awards. At 2pm today the Commission handed down its decision on how these changes will be implemented. Fast Food Industry Award 2010  Only Level 1 employees are affected by the Sunday penalty rates […]

Message from the CEO: 16 May 2017

We had high hopes for this year’s Federal Budget, delivered in the midst of major challenges to the retail landscape, including weaker retail sales over three of the past four quarters, and an ever-increasing influx of overseas competitors. Despite it following the tough medicine approach of 2014 that sent shockwaves through retail, and the next […]

Message from the CEO: 2 May 2017

The media’s certainly been abuzz over the past week after retail giant Amazon finally (after months of speculation) confirmed it would be expanding onto Australian shores, with a distribution centre tipped to be in Melbourne or Sydney. While many are already heralding the end of the retail world as we know it, or tipping that […]

Message from the CEO: 11 April 2017

Dominique Lamb CEO National Retail Association

What a heartbreaking fortnight it has been for so many of you on the east coast of Australia. We have seen family homes, local schools, roads and local businesses decimated in many communities throughout Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria. We want to iterate that we are here to assist those of you who’ve been […]

Discussing disruption in retail

QUT BUSINESS BREAKFAST  BRISBANE: FRI 27 APRIL Just as Airbnb disrupted the hotel sector and Uber disrupted the taxi industry, retail is facing its own seismic changes. In the first retail-themed QUT Business Breakfast for 2017, National Retail Association CEO, Dominique Lamb and QUT’s retail expert Assoc. Prof. Gary Mortimer, will explore retail disruption and the issues […]

Former VP of Fair Work Commission shares insight with retailers

Graeme Watson Dominique Lamb Troy Wild

This week saw the successful launch of the National Retail Association’s State of the Retail Nation forums, proudly sponsored by REST Industry Super. Retailers from across multiple sectors met to hear from industry professionals and to share insight at breakfast briefings in Melbourne, Brisbane and Sydney, plus an online webinar. NRA CEO Dominique Lamb led the […]

Retailers call for respect for independent umpire, as Labor moves to overrule FWC penalty rates decision

MEDIA RELEASE The National Retail Association (NRA) has warned that Labor’s private members bill, introduced to parliament today to block the Fair Work Commission’s reduction in Sunday penalty rates, sets a dangerous precedent for all independent ruling bodies across the nation. NRA CEO Dominique Lamb said that leveraging political interests to undermine the independence of […]

Message from the CEO: 20 March 2017

Dominique Lamb CEO National Retail Association

This week, the Federal Opposition has indicated it will move a private members bill to retrospectively legislate against any cuts to penalty rates, after the independent Fair Work Commission’s ruling of a reduction in five out of the 122 modern awards. While it was an entirely independent decision, made by a Commission who thoroughly examined […]