AusPost listening to customers

Alternative shipping and courier option are popping up all over the country and it seems Australia Post may be...

Alternative shipping and courier option are popping up all over the country and it seems Australia Post may be starting to pay attention. After facing a $222 million loss in FY2015, Australia Post has begun focusing on customer experience and faster more reliable delivery services. Earlier this year Australia Post announced...

Read More

Australian Geographic saved from closure

Iconic retail chain Australian Geographic has been saved from closure. All 67 adventure stores were likely to close by March...

Iconic retail chain Australian Geographic has been saved from closure. All 67 adventure stores were likely to close by March 2017 after experiencing difficult trading conditions and strong competition from online retailers. Melbourne’s Myer family, which founded the department store of the same name have owned the chain since 2007 but...

Read More

First place in sight for retailers

The Olympics may have wrapped up for another four years, but the National Retail Association is starting to gear...

The Olympics may have wrapped up for another four years, but the National Retail Association is starting to gear up for our very own medal ceremony. Australia’s top retailers are set to take home gold in a show of business prowess, dedication and innovation. Make the Rewards for Excellence Gala Dinner...

Read More

Exclusive customer experiences build loyalty

Generally speaking, retaining customers is always significantly cheaper than acquiring new ones. Marketing costs, advertising, time spent with sales staff...

Generally speaking, retaining customers is always significantly cheaper than acquiring new ones. Marketing costs, advertising, time spent with sales staff and third party expenses all add up. Surprisingly nearly 50% of businesses focuses on attracting new customers vs. retaining existing customers. The customer experience in the retail industry is vitally important...

Read More

SuperStream deadline extended for small businesses

Did you miss the 30 June SuperStream deadline? The Australian Tax Office recognises that some small businesses needed extra time...

Did you miss the 30 June SuperStream deadline? The Australian Tax Office recognises that some small businesses needed extra time to get ready so they are supporting you by extending the deadline. You now have until 28 October 2016 to make the changes and be SuperStream ready. There are a number of...

Read More

Message from the CEO: 22 August 2016

There’s nothing more frustrating and soul-destroying for any business owner than to see the results of your hard work...

There’s nothing more frustrating and soul-destroying for any business owner than to see the results of your hard work disappear into the pockets of complete strangers. Yet we know that’s the daily reality for many small business owners in the retail space. That’s why your association is working actively with law...

Read More

Who will take out gold?

Are you ready for Retail’s biggest night of the year? Who will take out gold at this year’s Rewards for...

Are you ready for Retail’s biggest night of the year? Who will take out gold at this year’s Rewards for Excellence Gala Dinner and Awards Ceremony? There are just over two weeks left to purchase tickets. The evening will be your opportunity to celebrate retail, network with industry leaders and support our...

Read More

Parking and its effects on the retail industry

Parking Australia is the national body representing the interests of the parking industry in Australia.  The NRA is currently...

Parking Australia is the national body representing the interests of the parking industry in Australia.  The NRA is currently assisting Parking Australia in the successful delivery of the Accredited Operating Scheme (AOS) In order to better understand the impacts of overstay/illegal parking on the retail industry, Parking Australia is conducting...

Read More

Message from the CEO: 15 August 2016

Last week we discussed the Australian Bureau of Statistics retail trade figures for June, which continued a year-long pattern...

Last week we discussed the Australian Bureau of Statistics retail trade figures for June, which continued a year-long pattern for the sector of almost standing still when population growth is factored in. As we’ve been analysing the highlights of the industry over the last year, however, there have generally...

Read More

Internet of Things and retail

“We are all now connected by the internet, like neurons in a giant brain.” – Stephen Hawking Over the June-July period...

“We are all now connected by the internet, like neurons in a giant brain.” – Stephen Hawking Over the June-July period our consumer insights division talked to some of our leading retail CEOs and CIOs regarding their digital capability investments over the next 12 months and on average an increase to the...

Read More

Impulse purchases increasing profits

Since the 1950’s, shoppers around the globe have succumbed to impulse buying and point of purchase displays. Impulse purchases can...

Since the 1950’s, shoppers around the globe have succumbed to impulse buying and point of purchase displays. Impulse purchases can drastically increase your profits and shouldn’t simply be an afterthought. How do you get the most out of your impulse offerings? Choose the right products Draw attention with promotions Encourage purchases...

Read More

Free returns lure new customers

Online fashion retail giant ASOS is going from strength to strength with sales surging in recent months and the...

Online fashion retail giant ASOS is going from strength to strength with sales surging in recent months and the company is only getting started. ASOS recently announced that shoppers will be able to return products free of charge. Working with Temando and Australia Post, customers were previously able to return...

Read More

MEMBER ONLY ARTICLE – Small retail businesses under review in Victoria

The Victorian State Government has commenced its small business regulation review to help identify barriers that are hindering growth...

The Victorian State Government has commenced its small business regulation review to help identify barriers that are hindering growth and sustainability across the state. The review will be led by the Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources, with a goal to reducing red tape and the regulatory...

Read More

Online retailers expanding into offline stores

Every man and their dog seems to have an online business these days with brands abandoning bricks and mortar’s...

Every man and their dog seems to have an online business these days with brands abandoning bricks and mortar’s hefty overheads. However 4 pure play (online only) retailers have done the opposite and expanded their online offering offline. Although online retail is booming, it is still only a small percentage...

Read More

Are you hiring for the Omni-channel environment?

Recruiting in the retail landscape is vastly different from BI (before internet) days. When considering taking on new employees,...

Recruiting in the retail landscape is vastly different from BI (before internet) days. When considering taking on new employees, retailers must evaluate the technological capabilities of a candidate as well as their ability to deliver a great customer experience. Customer experience has extended from in-store sales service to online customer...

Read More

Register for the Victorian Small Business Review

Over the next two years, the Victorian Government will examine how regulation is impacting the state’s small businesses in...

Over the next two years, the Victorian Government will examine how regulation is impacting the state’s small businesses in three sectors of the state’s economy, first focusing on Victoria’s retail sector. The Victorian Government is looking at what they can do to cut regulatory burdens for small retail businesses. They...

Read More