Back to Work is a new two-year initiative that will be available from the end of July 2016. The Queensland Government’s two year $100 million Regional Employment Package will provide support to businesses for up to 8,000 job opportunities for regional jobseekers. Eligible businesses will be able to access a $10,000 – $15,000 subsidy if […]
I’m sure most of us will be well and truly tired of the Federal Election campaign and the wash-up over the weekend, so I was hoping I would be able to use this column to reflect on the winner, and what it means for the retail sector. Of course, there’s not a clear winner and […]
With more than 1 million people working in Australia on temporary work visas, claims are revealing fraudulent visa applications on the black market and exploitation of Australia’s visa regime. The immigration department is currently facing more referred allegations of corruption in the past 12 months than the watchdog has received since 2006. In the past, […]
Lim v Comcare [2016] FCA 709 A worker has attempted to appeal an Administrative Appeals Tribunal decision to dismiss her worker’s compensation claim. The claim had been refused on the basis that her psychiatric injury was partly caused by a poor performance review. The Tribunal found that worker’s injury was excluded from worker’s compensation by […]
As we reach the beginning of the new financial year, many leading retailers are facing the challenge of keeping their teams inspired, aligned and on the right track to sustainable profitability. Brian Walker has worked with leading Australian and international retailers such as Telstra, Kookai, Woolworths and Metcash to overcome such challenges through advisory workshops […]
Gift HQ, a trade only event, will take place 9 – 11 July at the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre in South Bank and promises to enlighten visitors with industry knowledge, the latest business strategies, tips for social media, and employee engagement just to name a few items on the agenda. As a member of […]
Regional Australia will soon be home to the Swedish fashion house H&M, with the company showing no signs of slowing down its’ Aussie takeover. Since entering the market H&M have opened 10 stores in major cities like Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane. The mega-chain is to open stores in Wollongong and Toowoomba by the end of […]
While British shoppers put away their wallets, doom and gloom from the Brexit referendum hasn’t heavily impacted Australia’s retail sector. Despite the recent financial turmoil, ANZ-Roy Morgan consumer confidence index fell 1.7 per cent, however it remains above the monthly average. Although, Felicity Emmett, Head of ANZ Australian Economics warns that Australians are still vulnerable […]
On any given night 1 in 200 people in Australia are homeless with over 105,000 people without permanent accommodation each year. From those, 2 out of 3 people who look for crisis housing are turned away due to a lack of vacancies. The road to homelessness is different for each individual. Women make up 44% […]
Online review sites can be a cause for concern for many businesses, especially SMEs. A few scathing reviews can turn away potential customers, and encourage loyal ones to seek out competitors. However if handled correctly, online reviews can be a fantastic customer service tool, build brand awareness, upsell customers, and build brand trust. Negative reviews […]
The Fintech start-up scene is flourishing, and one Australian company has come out on top. Fintech describes the technology segment that is disrupting sectors such as mobile payments, loans, fundraising, money transfers, and more. Offering new solutions for B2B and B2C businesses as well as consumers, you may already be using this technology. From digital […]
Are you ready for Retail’s biggest night of the year? The countdown is on until the National Retail Association (NRA) hosts Australia’s most anticipated retail awards evening – The NRA’s Rewards for Excellence Gala Dinner. Tickets are now on sale for the extravagant Rio themed Gala Dinner which is to be held on 14 September, […]
On 15 June 2016, the Fair Work Commission released a statement to advise how the Full Bench proposed to deal with the payment of wages in relation to five issues; timing of payment of wages, removing a restriction on the days for payment of wages, timing of payment on termination of employment, penalty for late […]
On Thursday 23 June 2016, the Fair Work Commission announced it would increase filing fees, high income thresholds and compensation caps for unfair dismissal applications. For unfair dismissal claims occurring on or after the 1 July 2016, the high income threshold will be increased to $138,900 and the compensation limit will be increased to $69,450. […]
Anyone in business would know that it is always a good idea to register your trademarks to protect them for your business. In fact, there’s a little saying that’s been going around, especially when it comes to the topic of UGG boots: “Don’t be an Ugg. Register your trademark before it gets Ugg-ly” While it […]
For many years there has been intense debate across the retail and shopping centre industries concerning how retail leases are regulated and issues surrounding distortions in market power. There has been numerous reviews by the Productivity Commission resulting in the lodgement of significant numbers of submissions from both sides of the debate. In addition each […]
The Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO) declared the Director of security company ‘Step Ahead Security Services’ had deliberately underpaid eight casual employees hired as security guards by over $20,000 over a three-month period. The Director was ordered to personally repay the employees as well as paying penalties of over $50,000 with the FWO hailing this case […]
Throughout the current federal election there has been a consistent focus on jobs creation, and how more Australians can be assisted into the workforce. As part of this discussion, there has been a particular emphasis on jobs for young people, and what initiatives will best address the current issue of youth unemployment across Australia. The […]
Technology moves so fast it’s hard to keep up with the latest software and IT solutions. With new accounting software, payment gateways and CRM systems being launched every month, how do you, as a retailer, ensure you are using the best retail management solutions for your business? Our partners at iVend Retail have created a […]
Bricks and mortar stores have entered the era of digital, however it’s not all doom and gloom for retailers who believe physical store fronts are still key to the shopping experience. A report from brand intelligence firm L2 suggests that 72% of shoppers consider the bricks and mortar experience most important when making a purchase. […]