Making a Break: How likely are you to financially plan for a career break?

Career breaks hit women hardest, reducing average superannuation savings by nearly $160k Media Release: REST Industry Super Women are 30 per cent less likely than men to make any superannuation plans for their career break, despite taking 13 per cent more career breaks by choice After a career break, women returning to work earn 29 […]

What goes into creating a Retail Concept?

There often seems to be confusion between what is a retail concept and retail design – or sometimes even more confusing when reference is made to a design concept. A retail concept is really about combining a whole range of ideas and aspects, with design being one of these. Some aspects would include location, the […]

PwC Skills for Australia Research: Share your views

PwC’s Skills for Australia is conducting important research into three cross-sectoral skills areas that have been identified by the Federal Department of Education and Training as being at the forefront of growth and innovation – across multiple industries – in Australia. Input is currently being sought from stakeholders around Australia and from a broad range […]

HeadCoach tackles mental health in the workplace

HeadCoach Program

The prevalence of depression and anxiety among Australians is high and often goes unrecognised, despite the substantial labour cost of mental illness in Australia (estimated to be $49 billion). Supervisors hold a key leadership responsibility in managing and enhancing the welfare and mental health of their staff. Clear guidelines have been made available outlining the […]

ABS: Retail turnover increases in September

Australian Bureau of Statistics

Australian retail turnover rose 0.6 per cent in September 2016, seasonally adjusted, according to the latest Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) Retail Trade figures. This follows a rise of 0.5 per cent in August 2016. In seasonally adjusted terms, there were rises in household goods retailing (2.3 per cent), cafes, restaurants and takeaway food services […]

Youth unemployment and the retail industry

Throughout the current federal election there has been a consistent focus on jobs creation, and how more Australians can be assisted into the workforce. As part of this discussion, there has been a particular emphasis on jobs for young people, and what initiatives will best address the current issue of youth unemployment across Australia. The […]

BDO’s Federal Budget breakdown breakfast

Last week Mark Molesworth, BDO’s Tax Partner provided an analysis of the Budget and explain the implications for business, sectors and individuals. Dr Ray Weekes of The CEO Institute moderated a discussion with a guest panel to explore the wider impact of the 2016-2017 Budget. The panel of experts were: • Dr Adam Walk, Consulting […]

Retail Connect – Industry Insights Report April 2016

The National Retail Association has this week downgraded its annual forecast for actual retail sales in 2015/16, following sustained, flat growth across the third quarter. Between January and March, retail sales have been soft, with only minimal growth in trend terms. For this reason, the NRA now forecasts that the Australian retail industry will generate […]

Women and the Australian retail industry

The Australian retail industry continues to be a key employer of women, providing a variety of opportunities in both sales, and non-sales roles, according to a recent report prepared by the National Retail Association (NRA). The report highlights the significant contribution made by women across the industry and gives particular attention to the wide variety of […]

Call for submission: Australian Consumer Law Review

Consumer Affairs Australia and New Zealand (CAANZ) are currently undertaking a review of the Australian Consumer Law (ACL), which is the national law governing fair trading and consumer protection across all jurisdictions of Australia. The National Retail Association (NRA) will be making a submission to CAANZ, on behalf of members and other interested parties, and […]

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 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 to head in the right […]

Message from the CEO: 4th December 2015

As a business owner or manager, you deal on a daily basis with a wide range of expenses – some large and some small, but each one impacting on your bottom line.  And, no doubt you often stop to reflect on the worth of each overhead to your ultimate performance. Membership of an industry association […]