South Australia Retail and Commercial Leasing Guide

The Retail and Commercial Leasing Guide was recently released by the South Australian Office of the Small Business Commissioner. The...

The Retail and Commercial Leasing Guide was recently released by the South Australian Office of the Small Business Commissioner. The Guide has been prepared to assist current and prospective tenant deal with some main elements of the Retail and Commercial Leases Act, namely: Lease terms Rent Lease assignment Condition of...

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Message from the CEO: 11 March 2016

This week, we’ve seen suggestions in the media that recent high-profile collapses like Dick Smith, Masters and Laura Ashley...

This week, we’ve seen suggestions in the media that recent high-profile collapses like Dick Smith, Masters and Laura Ashley signal that the retail industry is entering a period of ‘doom and gloom’. Negative commentary never helps consumer confidence and retail spending. The National Retail Association has been working hard to...

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Customer based sexual harassment prevalent in the Australian service sector

A recent study, published in Gender, Work and Organization, suggests that customer-perpetrated sexual harassment is prevalent across the Australian...

A recent study, published in Gender, Work and Organization, suggests that customer-perpetrated sexual harassment is prevalent across the Australian service sector, including the retail industry. The study, titled “‘But it’s your job to be friendly’: Employees coping with and contesting sexual harassment from customers in the service industry,” suggests that...

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Product safety and compliance challenges

The National Retail Technical Standards Committee will be meeting in Sydney later this month to discuss the current challenges...

The National Retail Technical Standards Committee will be meeting in Sydney later this month to discuss the current challenges of product safety and compliance. The committee is an important forum for the development of the retail industry policy. It communicates regularly with government decision-makers and agencies, including Standards Australia, the...

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IoT as an upselling tool: Adding some sauce with digital technology

Following early trials of beacon technology at Westfield Hornsby in NSW, the Internet of Things revolution for retail is...

Following early trials of beacon technology at Westfield Hornsby in NSW, the Internet of Things revolution for retail is a reality. Zebra Technologies’ senior technical director for Asia Pacific Wayne Harper imagines a scenario in the near future: one where in-store IoT systems power dynamic cross- or up-sell opportunities. You pick...

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Marketing, media and analytics are changing…and fast! Are you ready?

At the National Retail Association (NRA) we understand that your business has a range of professional development needs. To help...

At the National Retail Association (NRA) we understand that your business has a range of professional development needs. To help our members meet their training and professional development requirements, we have partnered with the Association for Data-Driven Marketing and Advertising (ADMA) to deliver their marketing education program. We call it the...

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Hardware set for solid growth in 2015/16

The hardware, building and garden supplies category of retail is expected to generate in excess of $18.2 billion in...

The hardware, building and garden supplies category of retail is expected to generate in excess of $18.2 billion in turnover this financial year, representing growth of 6.9 per cent. Following a busy holiday trading period for the retail industry in general, the Australian economy, and retail in particular, is beginning...

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NRA launches Foundation Skills for Retail web portal

The National Retail Association (NRA) has launched the Foundation Skills for Retail Web Portal, providing free training and professional...

The National Retail Association (NRA) has launched the Foundation Skills for Retail Web Portal, providing free training and professional development resources for language, literacy and numeracy practitioners operating across the Australian retail industry. The portal has been produced by the NRA with the assistance of funding provided by the Australian...

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Message from the CEO: 4 March 2016

The retail trade figures for January, released today, showed a steady start to the year with an increase in...

The retail trade figures for January, released today, showed a steady start to the year with an increase in turnover 0.3 per cent for the month, seasonally adjusted, and a 4.0 increase compared with January last year. This steady, if not spectacular, growth is welcome as we see consumer sentiment...

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NRA supports annual Vinnies CEO Sleepout

In the retail sector we can often get caught up in day-to-day operational matters such as turnover, staffing, pricing...

In the retail sector we can often get caught up in day-to-day operational matters such as turnover, staffing, pricing or advertising. During the rush of commercial life, we can sometimes overlook the fact that some people are struggling to simply put a roof over their heads. An important part of...

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Demotion Not Necessarily a Dismissal

The demotion of an employee may not in all circumstances meet the meaning of dismissed in section 385 of...

The demotion of an employee may not in all circumstances meet the meaning of dismissed in section 385 of the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) (the Act). Consideration must be given to the continuation of employment, the whether the demotion imposed a significant reduction in status and payment. The recent...

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IR Update: Labour Hire Unfair Dismissal Case

This recent case warns that labour hire companies cannot “abrogate responsibilities to afford procedural and substantive fairness to...

This recent case warns that labour hire companies cannot “abrogate responsibilities to afford procedural and substantive fairness to a dismissed employee by relying on the fact that unfair treatment was meted out by another entity in which had placed the employee.” Adecco Australia were found by the FWC...

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Inside Retail – Deterring Domestic Violence

In Australia, one in four women has experienced violence from an intimate partner, whilst one woman is killed by...

In Australia, one in four women has experienced violence from an intimate partner, whilst one woman is killed by her male partner every five or six days. The retail industry has one of the largest female workforces in Australia, and is also one of the most gendered industries with almost...

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Message from the CEO: 26 February 2016

NSW and Queensland governments are both looking at banning plastic shopping bags. This issue has long been debated by governments...

NSW and Queensland governments are both looking at banning plastic shopping bags. This issue has long been debated by governments over the years. Some of Australia’s less populous states and territories have already implemented bans of certain types of plastic bags. Bans are a blunt policy response to most problems but,...

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CONSULTATION REMINDER: Extending unfair contract term protections to small businesses

A new law recently passed by the Federal Government will protect small businesses from unfair contact terms in standard...

A new law recently passed by the Federal Government will protect small businesses from unfair contact terms in standard form contracts. The new law will will come into force on 12 November 2016 following a 12 month transition period. A small business is defined as employing less than 20 people,...

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Hardware Australia – The unity of industry

As a result of 12 months of consultation and work, each of the State Hardware Industry Associations has now...

As a result of 12 months of consultation and work, each of the State Hardware Industry Associations has now united together into one national body. Hardware Australia is a single national voice for independent hardware operators and suppliers and comprises of a national committee made up of two representatives from...

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