The Christmas trading figures are in, with total sales for the entire Christmas period – the second half of November and all of December – reaching $47.5 billion. This closely compares with the $48 billion that the NRA forecast for the Christmas trade period and is a record high for the Australian retail sector. It’s […]
As the March 31 implementation date nears for a minimum three-year validity on all gift cards sold to consumers in NSW, the State Government has agreed to give retailers a six-month transition period in which you can further run-down your existing stocks. The NSW Office of Fair Trading will allow retailers over the transition period […]
The push for a nation-wide ban on single-use plastic bags has been underway for such a long time, it’s exciting to see it finally becoming a reality, with each state pursuing its own legislative amendments, and bans already implemented or pending in all states and territories except NSW. Other environmental legislation underway includes container deposit […]
Consumer confidence is up (although not expected to translate into any giant spending sprees anytime soon), and people are feeling more positive about the outlook for the economy and the jobs market, according to the Westpac-Melbourne Institute consumer sentiment index. Whether measured by Westpac or ANZ, consumer sentiment is at its highest level in more […]
Retailers this week may feel a little like drought-stricken farmers following a drenching, after the Australia Bureau of Statistics (ABS) released its retail trade report for November. The nation enjoyed a rather robust jump of 1.2 per cent in total sales to $26.4 billion – three times the market forecast of 0.4 per cent – […]
Retailers naturally love a bustling store environment, but following 2017’s frenetic pre-Christmas rush and Boxing Day madness, on the back of what seemed like an entire year of uncertainty, it may be time for a little rest and reboot! 2017 certainly threw us a few curveballs – from the absurd politicisation of the penalty rates […]
Hard to believe that we’ve already reached Boxing Day in what has been a bumper Christmas for the Australian retail sector. We’re forecasting this Christmas trade period to be the biggest ever and I’m pleased to say that we’re predicting today’s Boxing Day sales to also be a record-breaker! In total, we’re calculating Aussie’s to […]
The Shopping Centre Council of Australia (SCCA) and the National Retail Association (NRA) have welcomed today’s determination by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) to re-authorise the Casual Mall Licensing Code of Practice. The Code, which provides for the balanced and consistent management of casual mall licensing in shopping centres, was first authorised by […]
Brisbane retailers are teaming up with the Brisbane City Council and Crime Stoppers in a high-tech bid to stamp out crime in the CBD and Fortitude Valley. The National Retail Association’s SafeCity Network will be switched on in March next year, thanks to backing from the Federal Government’s Safer Streets program and support from the […]
Time-poor shoppers who’ve left knocking over their Christmas lists until the last minute will be able to shop till they drop right up until Christmas Eve, after Westfield today rolled out extended, state-wide trading hours. Scentre Group Regional Manager Richard Heinz said hundreds of thousands of people would flock into Queensland’s Westfield shopping centres over […]
The retail industry holds so many events through the year that it can be hard deciding which to attend. Here are 5 reasons why you should attend the Retail Fulfilment Summit, held in Melbourne from 26-28 February 2018, so save your spot today! 1. Industry backed The summit is truly for the industry and is […]
The National Retail Association (NRA) has today predicted consumers are on track to drop a hefty $48 billion on festive cheer, during the busiest time of year for the nation’s retailers. NRA CEO Dominique Lamb said despite sluggish retail spending, Aussie retailers will be run off their feet from next week through to December 31. […]
Last week, the NRA was concerned to hear the Federal Government announce that they would be cracking down on so-called ‘dodgy franchisees’ through the Fair Work Amendment (Protecting Vulnerable Workers) Bill 2017, which currently sits before the federal parliament. The legislation seeks to make franchisors more responsible for underpayment of employees by franchisees and in […]
jobactive PaTH starts April 1st Retail is an important industry for young people seeking an entry-level job. Retail is the industry most likely to employ a young person and teach them transferable employability skills. jobactive PaTH is a new national program being introduced by the Australian Government which is designed to prepare young people and […]
This week, we’ve seen more upset for Melbourne’s Bourke St Mall, after the discovery of a suspicious package left on the makeshift memorial for the now six people murdered in the 20 January vehicle rampage. After the hundreds of flowers, stuffed toys, cards, photos and balloons were removed on Monday to be replaced with a […]
The long-awaited decision on weekend penalty rates in the retail and hospitality sectors is right around the corner, however the Federal Opposition has reignited debate this week after saying the ALP would move to change the law on the penalty rates, if the decision is to reduce Sunday overtime to the same rate as Saturday’s. […]
How are retail businesses performing across each of Australia’s states and territories? Each quarter CommSec analyses key indicators across the Australian economy and compares current performance with decade averages, and each of the states. According to the CommSec State of the States January report, NSW has maintained the top spot on the retail rankings with solid activity […]
As the excesses of Christmas and New Year make way for positive resolutions for the year ahead (eating healthily and exercising more always seem to top those lists!), we’ve continued receiving great feedback from our members on the pre-Christmas spending and Boxing Day sales periods, particularly in areas now able to trade with fewer restrictions, […]
Over 3000 executive retail delegates and 120 exhibitors are expected to descend upon the revamped International Convention Centre in Sydney in March for an all-encompassing retail event. To be held over three days in the new convention centre at Sydney’s Darling Harbour, Inside Retail Live will be a celebration of Asia-Pacific retail and a partnership […]
NRA HAVE YOUR SAY The Shop Distributive and Allied Employees’ Association (SDA) have made a claim with the Fair Work Commission (FWC), as part of the four yearly review of modern awards, for the inclusion of blood and bone marrow donor leave to be included in the following modern awards: General Retail Industry Award 2010 […]