Message from the CEO – 13 November 2018

dom's ceo column

The Australian retail sector is now just days away from the commencement of the official Christmas trade period, encompassing the second half of November and all of December. In recent weeks I’ve used the CEO column to provide helpful hints on how to maximise sales and ensure that your business is running as efficiently as […]

Forget everything you know about the traditional marketing funnel

Written by: Alyce Mokrzycki, News Xtend Google has spoken. And it wants you to forget everything you know about the traditional marketing funnel. In the last six months, the search engine looked at thousands of users’ clickstream data from a third-party opt-in panel and found that no two consumer journeys are exactly alike. “Most journeys […]

Over and above – attracting and retaining quality employees

keeping employees

By Calum Woods and Lindsay Carroll, NRA Legal Last week, Westpac’s workforce voted overwhelmingly in favour of a ground-breaking new enterprise agreement. The agreement, which was supported by the Finance Sector Union, contains a novel entitlement for transgender employees undergoing gender transition to access up to four weeks’ of paid leave per year. It also […]

Message from the CEO: 30 October 2018

dom's ceo column

It’s hard to believe that we are now less than two months away from Christmas. The difference between a good Christmas and a bad Christmas can be crucial to the viability of a retail business. A strong festive season can not only provide a strong injection of profit, but also help a small business weather […]

Member Spotlight: Emma Miller, HR Manager of Boardriders Inc

emma miller HR Manager Billabong

We interviewed our members to hear their insights and adventures in the retail world. Meet Emma Miller, HR Manager of Boardriders Inc, previously know as Billabong Group.  How long have you been in retail? / How did your retail career begin? My first job was in a retail environment, whilst still in school.  My first […]

Fair Work Commission resolves ambiguity around casual penalty rates

casual penalty rates

You will recall at the beginning of this month the NRA had reported on the Fair Work Commission’s (FWC) decision to introduce additional penalties for casual employees under the General Retail Industry Award 2010 (the Retail Award). Last week, the National Retail Association (NRA) intervened in the matter and filed written submissions to the FWC […]

Meet our Store Manager of the Year, Madison Keynes.

madison keynes

We interviewed our winners from the 2018 National Retail Awards. Meet Madison Keynes from Target our Store Manager of the Year. Where did your retail journey begin? My journey began as a 15 year old fresh faced, fresh food kid at Woolworths in Lavington, NSW.  I began on the registers and worked my way up […]

Message from the CEO – 23 October 2019

dom's ceo column

There is currently a case before the Federal Court that could have real ramifications for small businesses across Australia. First, a bit of background. In August this year the Federal Court found that a casual truck driver previously employed by labor hire company WorkPac was entitled to back pay for entitlements traditionally reserved for permanent […]

Give Your Dead Inventory A Second Life: Social Value Potential of Retail in the Circular Economy

inventory and goods

Written by Emma McCourt, Worlds Biggest Garage Sale. In retail, shifts in culture, technological disruption, and increased competition on a global scale has led to intensifying volatility and uncertainty as consumers become more demanding and unpredictable in their spending. This is in part due to changing consumer values; people are seeking out experiences over ‘stuff’, […]

Still not measuring up: sexual harassment survey paints grim picture of Australia workplaces

sexual harassment

By Alex Millman and Victoria Hansen, NRA Legal In June this year, Sex Discrimination Commissioner Kate Jenkins launched a dedicated national inquiry into sexual harassment in the workplace, conducted by the Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC). This Inquiry coincides with the AHRC’s Fourth National Survey into Workplace Sexual Harassment, which has been run every five […]

Message from the Deputy CEO – 16 October 2018

Lindsay Carrol talks young workers

I spotted a sign once that read, “Hire a teenager now, while they still know everything.” When you consider those aged 15 – 24 are the most likely of all groups to face unemployment, and that we’re the most likely of all industries to give them a job, you know how much time and resources […]

How to reach your target audience on Facebook

Facebook target audience

Written by Dionne Alaveras, News Xtend Effective marketing relies on placing the right content, in front of the right people, at the right time. This is relevancy. You want to be creating content that is relevant to users. You want to serve it to them at a time that is most relevant for them. Do […]

Meet our Lifetime Achievement Award winner, Mary Booth.

mary booth retail exmperience

We interviewed our winners from the 2018 National Retail Awards. Meet Mary Booth Owner of Wine Glass Gallery and winner of our Lifetime Achievement (30+ years of service) award. Where did your retail journey begin? When I was 15 years old my family moved from Country NSW to the Hills District north west of Sydney […]

Message from the Deputy CEO – 9 October 2018

Lindsay Carrol talks young workers

You may be wondering why you’re hearing from me today instead of Dominique? The newest addition to the National Retail Association clan – Dominique’s and husband Tony’s first baby, Wilhelmina – made her grand entrance into the world a little earlier than expected late last week, weighing in at 7lb 7oz and measuring a petite […]

The nightmare before Christmas – new penalty rates from 1 November 2018

new penalty rates

By Calum Woods and Lindsay Carroll, NRA Legal From 1 November 2018, retailers will be required to pay a new evening penalty rate to casual employees for work performed after 6:00pm Monday – Friday. In a decision issued 27 September 2018, the Fair Work Commission (Commission) determined that the new penalty rate (which is similar […]

How employing staff with disabilities reaps big benefits.

benefit

Having the Conversation: the benefits of employing staff with a disability, shows through case studies how Tasmanian businesses have taken the lead, and never looked back. This video was developed in partnership with the not-for-profit MEGT (Australia) Ltd, the Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce and industry, with funding from the Tasmanian Government. And remember,  the NRA […]

Boost for women in business

boost for women

Minister for Employment and Small Business and Minister for Training and Skills Development The Honourable Shannon Fentiman Tuesday, October 02, 2018 Boost for women in business Australia’s largest food and drink incubator is one of 15 small businesses run by women that will benefit from more than $550,000 in Queensland Government grants. Minister for Employment […]

Message from the CEO – 2 October 2018

dom's ceo column

Earlier this week PayPal released its mCommerce Index which surveyed over 1,000 consumers and 400 businesses. The report contained some interesting findings that the retail industry should acknowledge. Rest assured, the NRA has long maintained that traditional bricks and mortar outlets will continue to be at the forefront of the Australian retail scene. However, a […]

Meet our Medium Retailer of the Year Champion, St Frock.

st frock

We interviewed our winners from the 2018 National Retail Awards. Meet Sandradee Makejev, owner of St Frock, our Medium Retailer of the Year.  Where did your retail journey begin? My retail journey began 8 years ago at Sydney’s Bondi Markets. I was working full-time in fashion PR & Marketing, and would run a small market […]