The National Retail Association (NRA) has urged small and medium retailers to take full advantage of the Queensland Government’s steady funding injections into the economy before it’s wound back.
NRA Chief Executive Officer Greg Griffith said the government’s hundreds of millions of dollars in grants and financial incentives has made the state a destination of choice for people and businesses alike, with 2000 people a week moving to Queensland.
“This uptake in migration presents small businesses with opportunities for growth in the midst of economic pressures, which makes it all the more important for SMEs to make full use of the funding available to them,” Mr Griffith said.
“All retailers know the costs of running daily business operations have increased significantly in recent years. High commercial rents and energy prices, and supply-chain issues are still burdening small businesses.
“Increased investment attracting more businesses to the state, while beneficial to the economy, will exacerbate these issues making continued government funding more important than ever.
“It’s pleasing to see how supportive of the sector the state government has been in recent years and the NRA hopes it will continue to aid SMEs through the current economic climate.
“We encourage retailers to be on the lookout for ways to lower their costs and to ensure that they are at the forefront of any developmental opportunities being provided by the state.
“The NRA is here to help, and we have people with the expertise to put businesses on the right track,” he said.
The National Retail Association is the voice of modern retail, representing more than 60,000 stores across Australia. It has been serving businesses in the retail and fast-food sectors for close to 100 years.
For more information, please contact the NRA media unit at marketing@nra.net.au or 1800 RETAIL (738 245).