Queensland Government to help small businesses prioritise mental health

The National Retail Association has welcomed the Queensland Government’s commitment to prioritise the mental wellbeing of small businesses operators...

The National Retail Association has welcomed the Queensland Government’s commitment to prioritise the mental wellbeing of small businesses operators through a state-wide $8.76 million Small Business Wellness Package. This package is a part of the Queensland Government’s $14.5 billion economic recovery plan aimed at keeping businesses open. The much-needed initiative will...

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Aussie consumers trim household budgets to pay for Christmas splurge

Australian consumers are cutting back on luxury goods and services, looking for bargains, and switching to cheaper brands as...

Australian consumers are cutting back on luxury goods and services, looking for bargains, and switching to cheaper brands as they battle rising inflation. However, shoppers are still gearing up for a bumper pre-Christmas sales season with almost half feeling confident and one in five planning to outspend last year, according...

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2022 Consumer Sentiment Report – Prepare your business for the retail events season now

Retail is ever-changing and consumers now have different expectations in the retail environment. Whether it is where they shop,...

Retail is ever-changing and consumers now have different expectations in the retail environment. Whether it is where they shop, how they purchase, or what they use to research, it is all now part of the evolving retail ecosystem. The National Retail Association, working in partnership with Retail Doctor Group, have...

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Message from our Chairman – 11 October 2022

It’s been three months since I was given the privilege of becoming chair of your Association, and even though...

It’s been three months since I was given the privilege of becoming chair of your Association, and even though I had been a Board member for seven years there’s still been a lot to learn about the day-to-day workings of the NRA. The thing that has impressed me most...

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Look out for counterfeit cash this Christmas season

Retailers have reported a recent rise in the frequency and quality of counterfeit banknotes. Overall, counterfeiting is at its lowest...

Retailers have reported a recent rise in the frequency and quality of counterfeit banknotes. Overall, counterfeiting is at its lowest level in a decade. This decline is due to fewer transactions being made with cash, COVID-19 lockdowns, the rollout of a new banknote series with upgraded security features, and ongoing...

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Priceline Pharmacy partners with WorkJam to accelerate internal communication and training

WorkJam – the leading digital workplace for organisations with frontline employees – has announced a new partnership with Australian...

WorkJam – the leading digital workplace for organisations with frontline employees – has announced a new partnership with Australian pharmacy, health and beauty store giant, Priceline Pharmacy. WorkJam has been tasked with improving communication between the leadership team, franchise owners and team members, reaching over 5,500 employees across Priceline’s 470...

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Get Business ‘Fit’ for Christmas and Prepare to Welcome Sales

Article by Josh Strutt Associate Director – Deployment, Retail Doctor Group ________________________________________________________ “Good retailers know there are reasons other than price for...

Article by Josh Strutt Associate Director – Deployment, Retail Doctor Group ________________________________________________________ “Good retailers know there are reasons other than price for consumers to shop and choose one store over another. Product range and convenience factor just as highly as motivators to shop.” Christmas seems to come earlier and earlier in retail. As...

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Free support for Victorian retailers phasing out single-use plastics

Regional business owners in Victoria will have access to free, in-person advice about the Victorian Government’s single-use plastics ban,...

Regional business owners in Victoria will have access to free, in-person advice about the Victorian Government’s single-use plastics ban, when experts from the National Retail Association visit over 3000 retailers between October and December. Problematic single-use plastics will be banned from sale or supply in Victoria from 1 February 2023. The ban...

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Tranche 1 of Aotearoa New Zealand Plastic Phase-Outs now in effect

Retailers operating in New Zealand should be aware that certain hard-to-recycle packaging and single-use plastic products are now banned. From...

Retailers operating in New Zealand should be aware that certain hard-to-recycle packaging and single-use plastic products are now banned. From 1 October 2022, it is illegal to provide, sell or manufacture the following plastic products in Aotearoa New Zealand: Single-use plastic drink stirrers (all plastic types) Definition: A single-use plastic drink stirrer is any...

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Getting ‘Fit’ For Christmas

Article by Josh Strutt Associate Director – Deployment, Retail Doctor Group ________________________________________________________ ‘Fit’ retail teams win their Grand Final of retailing each...

Article by Josh Strutt Associate Director – Deployment, Retail Doctor Group ________________________________________________________ ‘Fit’ retail teams win their Grand Final of retailing each year by ensuring the basics are in place. Visits to shopping centres and precincts this month have also strengthened my view on the other elements that contribute to a successful Christmas...

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Meet our 2022 Store Manager of the Year

The National Retail Association has unveiled its premiere gala event on September 16 at the Star Gold Coast, with awards to...

The National Retail Association has unveiled its premiere gala event on September 16 at the Star Gold Coast, with awards to recognise both retail businesses and the individuals who have excelled in the industry over the past 12 months. This year, the award winners showcased the very best that the Australian retail...

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“Santa needs more helpers”, retailers urged to fill Christmas vacancies

Peak industry body the National Retail Association is calling on businesses to prepare for the tough competition for Christmas casuals...

Peak industry body the National Retail Association is calling on businesses to prepare for the tough competition for Christmas casuals this year, with many already kicking off recruitment campaigns in the face of labour shortages. Retail is optimistic consumers will pick up spending momentum as the busy Christmas season approaches, but...

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Restaurant Industry Award wages increase on 1 October 2022

Employers in the restaurant industry are reminded that from 1 October 2022 minimum rates of pay will increase. Following the...

Employers in the restaurant industry are reminded that from 1 October 2022 minimum rates of pay will increase. Following the Annual Wage Review decision in June, the Fair Work Commission ordered the 5.2% increase to minimum rates for all modern awards. This increase was delayed for numerous industries, including the restaurant...

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Retailers support steps to eliminate sexual harassment, but employer education needed

Peak industry body the National Retail Association has supported the Albanese Government’s proposed reforms to address sexual harassment, introduced...

Peak industry body the National Retail Association has supported the Albanese Government’s proposed reforms to address sexual harassment, introduced to Parliament today. Interim CEO Lindsay Carroll said with the adoption of legislative change comes the need for greater education for employers, especially small businesses, to help the industry put an...

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Presenting 2022 Young Retailer of the Year

Stephen Poole, from Brisbane, Queensland was announced the National Retail Association’s 2022 Young Retailer of the Year on 16...

Stephen Poole, from Brisbane, Queensland was announced the National Retail Association’s 2022 Young Retailer of the Year on 16 September at the Star Gold Coast. In its 50th year of celebrating retail excellence, the Young Retailer of the Year award has been around for close to half a century because...

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Retail profitability returns to pre-Covid levels

Retail profitability in Australia has bounced back to pre-Covid levels for the first time since the pandemic began, the...

Retail profitability in Australia has bounced back to pre-Covid levels for the first time since the pandemic began, the economic insights report released by the National Retail Association has been revealed. The figures show the sector’s profits have increased by 4.9 percent year on year for the June quarter, following a...

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