Australia’s top retail bodies have agreed on a merger

After toying with the idea for several years, Australia’s largest retail organizations have firmed up their plans to merge, in a bid to give one voice to the $420 billion sector amid the growing challenges facing the sector.

The Australian Retailers Association (ARA) and the National Retail Association (NRA) have signed a formal agreement to join forces and immediately began working together in a move they say is for the ‘greater good’ of the industry and economy is. .

“The ARA has been on a mission to unite the industry in recent years and today’s announcement is the result of important discussions between our two organizations,” said ARA President Nicole Sheffield.

“It makes absolute sense to create one voice for retail and join forces to support the growth of this vital sector, which employs one in https://www.businessnewsaustralia.com/10 Australians.

“While the resilience of retailers has been unprecedented in recent years, the headwinds we face as an industry have never been more challenging – from supply chain challenges and retail crime to sustainability outcomes and the rise of artificial intelligence.

“Joining forces for the benefit of our sector is a clear victory for all parties.”

The ARA has approximately 7,500 retail members with more than https://www.businessnewsaustralia.com/100,000 storefronts, while the NRA is described as the most representative organization of the retail sector in Australia serving more than 39,000 stores and storefronts nationwide.

NRA chairman Tim Schaafsma says the combined strengths of the two organizations will amplify the sector’s impact for the benefit of all Australians.

“Retail contributes enormously to the economic success and social well-being of our country and a strong retail sector is in the interests of all Australians,” Schaafsma said.

“Our two organizations are aligned in focus and we come together in the spirit of doing what is in the best interests of our retail community.

“There is great power in numbers and we are confident that our members and the industry as a whole will appreciate and embrace this progress towards a united voice for retail.”

Schaafsma says the merged entity will “truly represent the entire Australian retail sector, regardless of size, segment or geographic location”.

“In the meantime, we look forward to working together on a range of collaborations in the coming months as we take active steps toward the proposed merger,” he said.

Retail is the second largest industry in Australia, with https://www.businessnewsaustralia.com/1.2 million employees, and the largest employer of women and young people.

The peak bodies, which are both not-for-profit organisations, have yet to formalize their merger application with the Fair Work Commission.

In the meantime, they plan to work together “where it makes sense” on joint advocacy in priority areas such as retail crime, which costs the sector billions a year, as well as retail opening hours and the sector’s application to general retail sector. Awards.

The organizations say it will be “business as usual” before a new framework is announced for the proposed merged entity.