Updates on the South Australian single use plastic ban

Retailers should be aware of updates to the South Australian single use plastic ban due to come into effect...

Retailers should be aware of updates to the South Australian single use plastic ban due to come into effect from 1 March 2021. The legislation prohibits or restricts single use plastic straws, cutlery and stirrers being sold, supplied or distributed in South Australia. Compostable (bioplastic) products The legislation includes both fossil-fuel...

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Digital Champions: Leafe’s Gifts and Crafts

Creating a modern digital business in a small country town has it challenges as the owners of Leafe’s Gifts...

Creating a modern digital business in a small country town has it challenges as the owners of Leafe’s Gifts and Crafts, Peter and Dylan have discovered.   The business sells gifts such as soap, candles, incense and aromatherapy online and at weekend markets in Dubbo and Wellington. Many of their older...

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Message from the CEO | 2 February 2021

One month into 2021 and the COVID-19 pandemic continues to take centre-stage. On Sunday, Western Australia became the latest state...

One month into 2021 and the COVID-19 pandemic continues to take centre-stage. On Sunday, Western Australia became the latest state to impose a short-term, hard-lockdown following a hotel quarantine guard contracting the virus. The WA lockdown is due to last until this coming Friday, depending on the size and scope...

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Perth metro, Peel and South West regions of WA enter snap lockdown

Sunday night saw Perth metropolitan areas, Peel and South West regions of Western Australia enter a snap 5 day...

Sunday night saw Perth metropolitan areas, Peel and South West regions of Western Australia enter a snap 5 day lockdown. All residents in those areas need to stay at home unless it is for essential work, providing healthcare for a vulnerable person, essential shopping or to exercise in your local...

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The Essential Shopper Experience: Safety, Speed and Convenience

Insights from Zebra’s 13th Annual Shopper Vision Study   Despite the disruption caused by COVID-19 on the retail industry, shoppers’ basic...

Insights from Zebra’s 13th Annual Shopper Vision Study   Despite the disruption caused by COVID-19 on the retail industry, shoppers’ basic motivations remain unchanged. Shoppers still expect the items that they want to be readily available at the best value with transactions that are a breeze. However, many retailers are struggling...

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Retailers call for clarity and consistency on WA lockdown laws

The National Retail Association (NRA) has called on the Western Australian Government to provide clarity over business restrictions following...

The National Retail Association (NRA) has called on the Western Australian Government to provide clarity over business restrictions following the state yesterday being plunged into a five-day hard lockdown. Under the Directions announced yesterday, it is possible for a retailer to technically be able to open its doors for trade,...

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Greater Sydney restrictions to ease on Friday

Restrictions will be eased across the Greater Sydney region (including Wollongong, Central Coast and Blue Mountains) from 12:01am Friday,...

Restrictions will be eased across the Greater Sydney region (including Wollongong, Central Coast and Blue Mountains) from 12:01am Friday, 29 January. Venues including hospitality venues, places of worship and corporate event venues (fully seated with no singing or dancing) will be subject to the 1 person per 4sqm rule. ...

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Lunar New Year marketing campaigns that flourished … or flopped

This year, the Lunar New Year, one of the most significant holidays in the Asian calendar, falls on Friday,...

This year, the Lunar New Year, one of the most significant holidays in the Asian calendar, falls on Friday, 12 February 2021. Also known as the Spring Festival, this date marks the beginning of a calendar year that follows the cycles of the moon and is the most important...

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Message from the CEO | 27 January 2021

Federal Parliament will resume for the year in two weeks’ time, and the NRA will be renewing our lobbying...

Federal Parliament will resume for the year in two weeks’ time, and the NRA will be renewing our lobbying efforts on a number of fronts to ensure the concerns of retailers are front of mind for the government, and indeed all MPs.  No doubt the hottest topic of discussion...

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New guides to keep workplaces mentally healthy

2020 has been challenging for all Australians. Across this great southern land, bushfires, floods and in particular, the global COVID-19...

2020 has been challenging for all Australians. Across this great southern land, bushfires, floods and in particular, the global COVID-19 pandemic has had an undoubtable impact on each and every one of us. One area in particular is the retail sector. COVID-19 has had, and continues to have, a significant impact on...

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Strong growth for retail in December confirms bumper Christmas season

Strong year-on-year growth for Australian retail in December has confirmed reports from businesses on the ground that sales before...

Strong year-on-year growth for Australian retail in December has confirmed reports from businesses on the ground that sales before and after Christmas defied COVID close downs in some states. In its preliminary data for December, released today, the Australian Bureau of Statistics reported growth of 9.4 per cent for the...

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5 tips for retailers to make the most of Lunar New Year

Friday, 12 February 2021 will mark another new year - the Lunar New Year. Also known as the Spring...

Friday, 12 February 2021 will mark another new year - the Lunar New Year. Also known as the Spring Festival, the Lunar New Year marks the beginning of a calendar year that follows the cycles of the moon and is the most important of traditional Chinese holidays. While the absence...

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Message from the CEO | 19 January 2021

Late last year the Federal Government released a couple of seemingly contradictory decisions that affect thousands of small Australian...

Late last year the Federal Government released a couple of seemingly contradictory decisions that affect thousands of small Australian retailers.  The first was to allow the sale of e-cigarettes and smoke free tobacco products for the first time, but to restrict sales to pharmacies and only with a prescription...

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New report: Packaging consumption and recycling in Australia

APCO has published the next iteration of the ‘Australian packaging consumption and recycling data 2018–19’ report today, tracking progress...

APCO has published the next iteration of the ‘Australian packaging consumption and recycling data 2018–19’ report today, tracking progress towards the 2025 National Packaging Targets. This is the second in a series of annual publications, originally launched last year, mapping the state and fate of packaging in Australia.  The current...

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Message from the CEO | 12 January 2021

It’s traditional in our first newsletter each January to wish members and all retailers a happy new year.  I...

It’s traditional in our first newsletter each January to wish members and all retailers a happy new year.  I think though, those words carry a special significance in 2021. After the most challenging calendar year in memory, I think we are all looking forward to a “new” year –...

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Sourcing face masks for your team

New face mask rules have come into effect over the past several days, as Queensland, Victoria and New South...

New face mask rules have come into effect over the past several days, as Queensland, Victoria and New South Wales grapple with growing outbreaks of COVID-19.   Face mask rules in Queensland Effective from 11 January to 22 January across Greater Brisbane...

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