First the good news. I declare this column a US election-free zone. There’s plenty of speculation about what it all means for Australia and our economy. I’ll leave that to the “experts”. Much closer to home and, I think, far more relevant to NRA members is the research released by the Commonwealth Bank on Friday, […]
The National Retail Association has notched up another win on the Christmas trade front with the West Australian Government extending retail trading hours in Perth over the Christmas/New Year period. The ruling will allow general retail shops in the Perth Metropolitan area to trade from 7am to 9pm Monday to Friday, from 7am to 6pm […]
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 point out that retail is […]
Shoppers are expected to hit the pavement in droves this weekend, with retailers hoping the traditional last-minute sales spike of the third week in December and tumbling Australian dollar helps deliver a strong Christmas sales period. Tills have already started ringing loud and clear throughout Aussie bricks and mortar stores this December, according to data […]
Because Boxing Day falls on a Saturday this year, an extra public holiday was gazetted by the Queensland Government on Monday 28 December. For major retailers in regional areas of Queensland, this meant that they could not open their doors for four consecutive days over the Christmas Period – namely December 25, 26, 27 and […]
Aussies are spending more than ever before but visiting stores less, according to a snapshot of the country’s retail sector released this week. The annual Roy Morgan State of the Nation report this year featured a special focus on retail. It found spending on commodities topped $100 billion for the year to June, with approximately […]
The Retail Trading Amendment Bill 2015 (NSW) was introduced on the 11th of November and is the first major reform of trading laws since 2008. The bill (which has passed but will come into effect on the date of assent) removes the restrictions on NSW businesses from operating on Boxing Day (26th December). Previously, trading […]
In a shock move, banking giant Westpac recently lifted their mortgage rates. The effect on retail sales at this stage is unknown as it is still unclear whether other big banks will follow suit. The impact on consumers will also depend on what the Reserve Bank of Australia will do in relation to interest rates. […]
In 2014 the NSW Government introduced extended Christmas shopping hours to help give NSW retailers a boost during the vital shopping season. All shops within a business zone will be allowed to open 24 hours a day from 12:00am Friday, 11 December 2015 until 11:59pm Thursday, 24 December, without planning approval for the additional trading […]