Message from the CEO: 30 May 2016

The media attention surrounding the 7-Eleven chain last year was a wake-up call for the entire retail industry. At the time, the National Retail Association urged all retailers to ensure they understood and were actively complying with their obligations to employees in relation to pay rates and conditions. This week the former head of the […]

Are you Superstream ready?

There are only a few weeks remaining before small businesses must change the way they make their super contributions. Employers with 19 staff or less will need to be “Superstream” ready by the 30 June 2016 deadline. In order for employers to be compliant with Superstream standards, they will need to make their super contributions […]

Improve your retail sales in 20 mins!

Are you truly maximising the shoppers who come into your store? We hate to say it, but probably not. So many retailers today are getting distracted by the process of attracting new customers through marketing and promotion that they are forgetting to invest in the vital process of converting the sale and developing a loyal […]

ADMA Techmix discount for NRA members

With ever-squeezing margins, retailers need to know about the marketing automation technology that can provide efficiencies needed to delivery greater return on marketing investment (ROMI). Confused by the complex landscape of marketing technology?   ADMA’s Techmix is a new, vendor-neutral event to help marketers understand the plethora of marketing technologies now available and how they […]

Empowering the next generation store associate

The role of a store associate in the retail environment has never been more important as it is today. In this digital era, where shoppers have constant and immediate access to all kinds of product information, it is your staff who have the power to add real value when engaging with your customers face to […]

Managing stress at work

Workplace stress is a major risk factor for anxiety and depression. Most jobs have some degree of stress, and this is often beyond our control – we can’t always set our own workloads and deadlines, or change the workplace culture. However, there are some strategies everyone can adopt to manage and reduce their own stress […]

A Few Wise Words from Some Witty Women

Who runs the world? As Beyoncé postulates – girls. We have seen strong women rise to the top of their field, be they the arts, business or politics. The benefit of this go beyond equity and social justice – research from La Trobe University found a positive link between female board membership and financial performance. […]

H&M to clean up supply chain

The spotlight is shining bright on fashion but for all the wrong reasons with a consistent flow of reports over the past 6 months of clothing companies failing to pay their overseas manufacturing workers enough to meet their basic needs, with a handful of companies accused of slave labour. Increased risk of child labour and […]

The world’s first virtual reality department store

What if shopping as you know it was to change and give you more options than ever before? That’s the questions Myer and eBay is posing to shoppers around Australia. Together they have created Shopticals, a virtual reality shopping department store experience. In a world first, customers can shop in the comfort of their own […]

Copywriting is key!

Think that content marketing and copywriting are one in the same? Think again. Although content and copy should be developed together, most businesses do not have a dedicated copywriter. While it’s fantastic to have a content plan in place, if your copy isn’t up to scratch, your site will lack traffic and influence. Gone are […]

Coalition propose new plan to protect vulnerable workers

Details of the Coalition’s plan for a strong new economy have been revealed including a policy to protect vulnerable workers following the recent 7-Eleven wages scandal. The controversy and issues surrounding the exploitation of staff at 7-Eleven has demonstrated the need to strengthen existing laws. More specifically, this saga has exposed a widespread practice amongst […]

Sales forecast downgraded for Hardware

The National Retail Association has revised its sales forecast for the hardware, building and garden supplies category to 6.7 per cent, with projections suggesting soft trading conditions across the final quarter of 2015/16. It is now expected that the category will generate total actual sales of $18.19 billion for the current financial year. To download […]

Helping the next generation transition to work

There are nearly a quarter of a million young Australians out of work, and the number of people starting an apprenticeship or traineeship has fallen by 40 per cent over the last three years. The National Retail Association (NRA) has partnered with Busy at Work to deliver the Transition to Work program in the Sunshine […]

Final call for Rewards for Excellence nominations

Nominations for the National Retail Association’s (NRA) 2016 Rewards for Excellence close this Friday 3 June. Rewards for Excellence is a fantastic opportunity to go for gold and be recognised as a leader within the industry. This awards program is considered amongst the highest of accolades and those that are nominated are deemed the best […]

Message from the CEO: 23 May 2016

Taxation, employment, economic stability – they’re terms that get thrown about a great deal during a federal election campaign. But while they aren’t the most exciting concepts for the average voter, their long-term effects for retailers are profound. The GST Low Value Threshold (LVT) on imports under $1000 for example, has been a thorn in […]

Extending public holiday trading hours for Perth

General retail shops in the Perth metropolitan area will now be able to operate from 8am to 6pm on Western Australia Day, 6 June. In a move to gradually ease retail training restrictions, Michael Mischin, commerce minister, said the extra trading hours would mean greater convenience, choice and flexibility for consumers and for retailers, the […]

The recipe for a ‘fit’ Omni-channel retailer has people at it’s core

As consumers demand more inspiring shopping experiences, and we see our retail stores transform from simply ‘stores’ to ‘social hubs’ on an omni-channel purchase journey; store staff are one of a retailer’s most powerful weapons. Not only do they help build genuine human to human relationships with your customers, but our research tells us that […]

Enterprise Agreement declined due to inadequate notice

This week we look at a recent case which serves as a timely reminder to employers engaging in enterprise bargaining to take note of the time requirements as detailed in the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth). If you are considering bargaining or if your enterprise agreement is due to expire, call and speak to an […]

Free training for job-seekers

The National Retail Association, in conjunction with Hardware Australia are pleased to offer free* training to eligible job-seekers looking to start a career in hardware. The course aims to provide job-seekers with the skills and knowledge to work effectively in a hardware and customer service environment. This 7 week course consists of 4 weeks of […]