Yvonne has been working with the National Retail Association for 3 years and as the director of training and industry projects, is an integral part to the success of the NRA training team. As a training specialist, Yvonne has over 15 years’ experience in managing learning and development and training teams as well as developing and […]
Tips and strategies to develop improved learning materials
Given that much of the training that occurs in Retail is non-accredited and takes place on the job, employers and workplace trainers are constantly developing new resources and learning material to use with employees. We found an excellent resource that we wanted to share with members, a Universal Design Checklist, which is a tool to […]
Try before you hire
It’s the time of year when many businesses start their Christmas casual recruitment and the National Retail Association (NRA) would like to offer you a way to “ try” potential employees before you hire them. There is no cost to you and minimal paperwork to complete. There may even be financial incentives for you, if […]
Jobs in Jeopardy Assistance
The Jobs in Jeopardy (JIJ) Assistance program, run by the Australian Government Department of Human Services, provides immediate support to an individual who is employed but at risk of losing their employment due to the impact of their injury, disability or health condition. If you have staff that have been employed for a minimum of […]
Member Testimonial – Nextra Mona Vale
Nextra Mona Vale Newsagency first decided to join the National Retail Association (NRA) when the Nextra head office brought in a staff member from the NRA to explain member benefits. Immediately our business saw the value in such membership and the opportunity to be represented by retail specialists. That was 13 years ago and I […]
Clothes for a Cause – taking training one step further
At the National Retail Association (NRA), we deliver retail training and work experience for students of all ages through our accredited Ready for Retail Program. Retail is a great place to learn transferable skills, however we are taking it one step further. The NRA Training Team noticed that many students, whether they are entering the […]
Anxious wait over for national retail Finalists
Innovative, resourceful, self-starting, and downright talented. These are the words used to describe the crop of incredible retailers who’ve made it through to be named Finalists in the National Retail Association’s (NRA’s) 2016 Rewards for Excellence. The NRA has today revealed who’s in the running for the most prestigious Awards in the country, which acknowledge […]
Funding available for Regional QLD
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 […]
Youth unemployment and the retail industry
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 […]
Message from the CEO: 20 June 2016
There are just 12 days left in the Federal Election campaign, and I think all Australians – including the politicians – are well and truly ready to see the end of it. Regardless of which side you support, we know that these events can have a disproportionate impact on consumer sentiment and business purchasing. I […]
Employee training – well worth the investment
Staff training is incredibly beneficial for specific purposes related to your business. You may need your new workers to undertake instruction in a new process or to develop new product knowledge. However including training that develops employees toward long-term career goals can also promote greater job satisfaction. A satisfied employee is likely to stay longer […]
Your guide to industry training and development
Training and Development The NRA training and development team help retailers of all sizes access specialised knowledge and industry-specific expertise in order to grow their business. Combining our specialist skills in vocational education and development with extensive retail industry experience, our trainers provide relevant and practical training solutions. Our experience and commitment to quality has […]
MEMBER ONLY ARTICLE – Want to receive up to 20%* off your next NRA membership renewal?
At the National Retail Association (NRA) we pride ourselves on the services, benefits and value for money that we offer our members. You can rest assured that an investment in a NRA membership can save you thousands in the running of your business. Did you know that as a member of the NRA, we can […]
Foundation skills for retail
Low levels of literacy and numeracy does not mean that an individual is not capable of reading or completing workplace maths tasks. Rather it means the reading and numeracy tasks of their job role may, on occasion, be beyond their existing skill level and they may need some additional time and assistance. At various points, […]
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 […]
Message from the CEO: 16 May 2016
More than a quarter of employed young people aged 15 – 24 work in retail, so the announcement of the youth jobs PaTH program in the budget should provide some encouragement for employees to actively engage young people into work. However, there has been some controversy surrounding the program, and it is disappointing to see […]
MEMBER ONLY ARTICLE – Exclusive NORA discount for NRA members
As a valued member of the National Retail Association, we would like to offer you $50 off when booking an event with our industry partners the National Online Retailers Association (NORA). Simply enter the promotional code 47492206 to receive your discount. NORA offers webinars, expeditions and more to educate you as a retailer and keep […]
FREE customer service training
Exceptional customer service is a critical element for any business, continually improving skills to achieve peak levels of performance and sales success. One of the most popular training programs the National Retail Association (NRA) offers is the one day Customer Service workshop. More than 350 employees have participated in this interactive and practical workshop over […]
Train and retain your staff to be fitter for business
After our last webinar we called for YOU to decide the next topic. From all the ideas submitted, there was one recurring theme: your staff. When it comes to retail, your store staff are a vital component to delivering new types of value by matching the customer problem with the solution and helping to promote […]
Message from the CEO: Monday, May 9
Last week, we commended Federal Treasurer Scott Morrison for recognising the important role small to medium businesses play when it comes to creating jobs for Australians into the future. Given the high proportion of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) within the retail sector, the proposed business tax cuts outlined in the budget provide a more […]