Christmas and New Year Trading Hour Fact Sheet

The Christmas and New Year Trading Hours Fact Sheet for 2016/2017 is now available for NRA members. Click here to...

The Christmas and New Year Trading Hours Fact Sheet for 2016/2017 is now available for NRA members. Click here to access the fact sheet (updated 29 November 2016). If you require assistance or you would like more information about these trading hours, contact our Employment Law division via email or phone...

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Message from the CEO: 14 November 2016

First the good news. I declare this column a US election-free zone. There’s plenty of speculation about what it...

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...

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Perth Trading Hours extended

The National Retail Association has notched up another win on the Christmas trade front with the West Australian Government...

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...

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Christmas shopping to top $1 billion a day

MEDIA RELEASE With 50 shopping days until Christmas, the National Retail Association (NRA) has today released its pre-Christmas and Boxing...

MEDIA RELEASE With 50 shopping days until Christmas, the National Retail Association (NRA) has today released its pre-Christmas and Boxing day trade projections which show that Australians are poised to spend more than a billion dollars a day during the busiest trading period for the year. The pre-Christmas and Boxing Day...

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Message from the CEO: 31 October 2016

It’s shaping up as possibly the most significant week for retail industry data, as we look for indications of...

It’s shaping up as possibly the most significant week for retail industry data, as we look for indications of the upcoming pre-Christmas period.  Firstly, the Reserve Bank Board will meet tomorrow for its regular discussion of monetary policy. And while general financial industry talk is playing down the chances...

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Are You Ready for Business Christmas Functions?

With the festive season rapidly approaching, businesses are gearing up for Christmas work functions, but as we all know...

With the festive season rapidly approaching, businesses are gearing up for Christmas work functions, but as we all know alcohol and employment don’t necessary pair well. When things get ‘out of hand’ at a Christmas party the ‘hangover’ for employers can last well beyond the morning after. We all know...

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Message from the CEO: 24 October 2016

Retailers have reason to be hopeful of a very Merry Christmas in 2016, following the release of the Commonwealth...

Retailers have reason to be hopeful of a very Merry Christmas in 2016, following the release of the Commonwealth Bank Business Sales Index (BSI) for September. The BSI – released late last week – was jam-packed with good news for retailers on the consumer spending front and this should act...

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Trading hours win for Regional Queensland retailers

IMAGE The National Retail Association has succeeded in its application for a one-off exemption for major stores in regional Queensland...

IMAGE The National Retail Association has succeeded in its application for a one-off exemption for major stores in regional Queensland to trade on the Boxing Day public holiday this year. In a judgement released today, the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission ordered that stores may trade between 8am and 5pm on the...

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Christmas shoppers shop early and want more discounts

Commonwealth Bank Australia (CBA) says 74% of retailers won’t be changing their approach to sales this Christmas, even though...

Commonwealth Bank Australia (CBA) says 74% of retailers won’t be changing their approach to sales this Christmas, even though about half (46%) of shoppers expect larger discounts during the festive season. According to CBA’s latest research from the Retail Insights Report, 18% of Australian retailers have commenced some form of Christmas...

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Message from the CEO: 12 September 2016

This coming Wednesday evening September 14, the National Retail Association is eagerly anticipating one of our hallmark events for...

This coming Wednesday evening September 14, the National Retail Association is eagerly anticipating one of our hallmark events for the year, with our Rewards for Excellence Gala Dinner occurring at the Sofitel Sydney. It promises to be a spectacular event, with winners to be announced in several award categories. Rewards...

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Employment outcomes for our Ready for Retail students

This week the NRA Ready for Retail Program has reached our 51st job outcome for our program, which is...

This week the NRA Ready for Retail Program has reached our 51st job outcome for our program, which is funded through the Queensland Government Skilling Queenslanders for Work (SQW) Program. Danielle Owen trained in our course in Chermside and undertook her work experience at the Chemist Warehouse in Ashgrove.  She...

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Message from the CEO: 5 September 2016

Last week’s retail trade data may not have been the most high-profile activity performed by the Australian Bureau of...

Last week’s retail trade data may not have been the most high-profile activity performed by the Australian Bureau of Statistics in recent months.  That honour clearly went to the national Census.  But in terms of outcomes, this exercise was almost as disappointing! The ABS reported that retail trade flatlined in...

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Ready for Retail –MiHaven Cairns Program

This week we have completed our third Ready for Retail course delivered in conjunction with MiHaven in Cairns. Using our...

This week we have completed our third Ready for Retail course delivered in conjunction with MiHaven in Cairns. Using our industry endorsed training program, MiHaven and the National Retail Association have trained seven participants in a Certificate II in Retail Services, giving them skills in customer service, visual merchandising, point...

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Try before you hire

It’s the time of year when many businesses start their Christmas casual recruitment and the National Retail Association (NRA)...

It’s the time of year when many businesses start their Christmas casual recruitment and the National Retail Association (NRA) would like to offer you a way to “ try” potential employees before you hire them. There is no cost to you and minimal paperwork to complete. There may even...

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Message from the CEO: 5 February 2016

Today’s official retail trade figures for December have confirmed the NRA’s predictions of steady and “sensible” spending by Australian...

Today’s official retail trade figures for December have confirmed the NRA’s predictions of steady and “sensible” spending by Australian consumers in the lead up to Christmas. The figures showed spending during the pre-Christmas period (the final six weeks of the year) reached $44.63bn – only just above our prediction...

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Give the gift of a mentally healthy workplace

As the holiday period approaches, some businesses are preparing for a well-earned break while others are looking ahead to...

As the holiday period approaches, some businesses are preparing for a well-earned break while others are looking ahead to one of their busiest periods of the year. Whether you’re winding down or cranking up, the coming weeks are an ideal time to thank employees for their efforts over the year,...

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