THE biggest shopping season of the year kicked off this week, with Australian consumers expected to spend big on toys and games in retail stores over the Christmas period, with a total retail spend of $46.7 billion expected in the six weeks from November 15 to December 24, says the Australian Retailers Association (ARA).

New research by the ARA and Roy Morgan Research confirms that this year’s favourite stocking stuffers will be kids outdoor games and toys, closely followed by indoor games and toys.

“This week marks the beginning of what we expect to be a crazy couple of months for retailers and shopping centres, with consumers starting their Christmas shopping in earnest from around November 15,” said ARA Executive Director, Russell Zimmerman.

“The ARA expects spending on toys to spike significantly in the coming weeks, as Santa, along with parents and family stock up on Christmas gifts for the kids,” he said.

Compared with the rest of the year, in the Christmas shopping period between November 2014 and January 2015, kids outdoor games and toys saw a 143 percent increase, while indoor games and toys purchase popularity grew by 123 percent.

For the big kids among us, products with the largest growth for the period were women’s dresses, which grew 101 percent; men’s trousers, shorts and pants, also up 101 percent, and perfume and aftershave, up 77 percent.

“For adults this Christmas, we’ll see a rise in products generally seen as traditional gift purchases, such as apparel and perfume, while electronics and technology is also predicted to be a money spinner for retailers this Christmas.”

Comparing the best selling items of Christmas 2013 to Christmas 2014, phones and accessories saw the greatest rise, at 109 percent; while women’s socks rose 92 percent; personal entertainment and cameras, 92 percent; women’s hosiery, 88 per cent, and women’s sportswear, 70 percent.

“The growth in women’s sportswear for Christmas last year is evidence of the popularised trend that’s been picked up by social media of women donning activewear as everyday fashion, as well as for sports activities,” Mr Zimmerman said.

“Surprisingly though, sports equipment purchases last Christmas fell 36 percent on the previous year, along with manchester and soft furnishings, women’s sleepwear, and car accessories and care products.

“Christmas 2015 is shaping up to be strong despite rising home loan rates and wavering consumer sentiment, and this week will set the tone for the 3.6 percent growth we’re expecting to see,” he said.

About the Australian Retailers Association:

Founded in 1903, the Australian Retailers Association (ARA) is the retail industry’s peak representative body representing Australia’s $284 billion sector, which employs more than 1.2 million people. The ARA works to ensure retail success by informing, protecting, advocating, educating and saving money for its 5,000 independent and national retail members throughout Australia.

or more information, visit www.retail.org.au or call 1300 368 041.

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INITIATIVES to combat the financial abuse of women were among the winners of this year’s Financial Literacy Awards, announced at a dinner on Thursday night.

According to research by Good Shepherd Microfinance, eight in 10 women who experience family violence also experience financial abuse, such as withholding money, refusing to contribute to the family or running up debts in a partner’s name.

With efforts to address family violence now firmly on the national agenda, the awards recognised two projects that address the complex issue of financial abuse:

• Good Shepherd Microfinance ‘Women & Money: an introduction to financial abuse’ - Outstanding Achievement Award for targeted financial literacy program
• WIRE Women’s Information ‘Relationship Problems & Money’ - Outstanding Achievement Award for research

Good Shepherd Microfinance developed an online training program that equips microfinance counsellors, frontline staff and volunteers to identify financial abuse among clients and refer them to support services.

WIRE Women’s Information approached the issue by seeking to better understand the barriers women face to building financial independence after leaving an abusive relationship.

“This research formed the basis of a training program for financial practitioners and support services, a submission to the Victorian Royal Commission on Family Violence and a booklet for women who are facing financial abuse. This booklet is now WIRE’s most widely requested resource,” Rebecca Glenn, CEO, Financial Literacy Australia said.

Financial literacy helping migrant women

Another award winner focused on empowering refugee and migrant women through financial literacy. Melbourne-based Women’s Health in the North (WHIN) found that its program to help women start small businesses was held back by their lack of basic financial skills.

“Managing Money: Every Woman’s Business teaches topics such as budgeting and saving, in a visual, engaging and culturally sensitive way. WHIN has held several ‘Train the Trainer’ sessions for the modules, shared the resource with other community organisations and seen over 400 migrant women participate in workshops,” Ms Glenn said.
 
Corporate and government campaigns recognised

The awards also recognised the work of the corporate sector, with ANZ receiving two awards including an Award in the research category for a meta-evaluation of the Saver Plus program, which provides education, personal coaching and matched funds of up to $500 savings for low-income families. The study included a valuation on the social return on investment.

“The results demonstrated the long-term benefits for participants included increased financial capabilities, levels of financial self-efficacy, financial resilience and improved personal and social wellbeing. It’s an important validation of the work that we know, anecdotally, makes such a big difference to families in Australia,” Ms Glenn said.

The Australian Taxation Office was awarded for its innovative approach to targeting young people to reduce multiple super accounts. The campaign used animated video, infographics, paid media and social media, and PR, to encourage young people to engage with their super. It saw a 35% uplift in the target audience checking their balances and 17% consolidating their accounts.

“The winning entries were creative and considered, with a strong focus on evidence and research to ensure they get results,” said Ms Glenn. 

“Increasing the financial literacy of all Australians has benefits for both individuals and the broader economy. However, different groups have different needs, which is why it’s important to have a diverse range of initiatives led by government, community and commercial organisations. The Financial Literacy Awards prove that this model is working well and delivering real results.”
 
Full list of award winners
 

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WORLDWIDE specialists will converge in Brisbane next week to present the latest trends in 3D printing and to identify how the changing landscape will impact Australian businesses.

The Griffith University and QMI event on Tuesday November 24 is aimed at helping industries to transition to new business practices, to identify new opportunities and to protect themselves from becoming out of sync with global developments.

According to event organiser Professor Jennifer Loy, Program Leader of Industrial Design at Griffith University, things in this field are moving at a rapid pace and Australia should be at the forefront.

“Wohler’s latest report predicts that 3D printing will be a two billion dollar industry within five years,” she says.

“3D printing is not just an add-on technology within the digital landscape – it has matured and now completely changes what is possible.

“It can impact the world of fashion, medicine, automotive, engineering, criminology and manufacturing and so many other fields that businesses need to be open to rethinking customer relationships and product possibilities.

“In the last five years alone we’ve seen exponential growth with what it can do and major companies, such as Airbus and Lockheed Martin are leading the way in utilising the technology for topologically optimised industrial applications, whilst creative industry companies such a Legacy FX, are relying on 3D printing in the latest films.

“Medical applications are particularly relevant because the digital technologies allow for accurate customisation. It won’t be long before doctors can scan a patient during an operation, print a new implant, such as part of a bone, on the spot and replace it all in a few hours.”

The event will feature experts including Dr Lionel Dean (Future Factories); Professor Olaf Diegel (Lund University); Professor Ian Gibson (Co-Author of Additive Manufacturing Technologies); Dr Matt Dargusch (UQ Centre for Advanced Materials Processing and Manufacturing); and Gail Greatorex (Product Safety Solutions).

To close, an exhibition including 3D designs of chairs, lighting and musical instruments from Future Factories, a full length 3D printed dress from 20,000 individual components, metal printing and jewellery, and a range of Griffith University student work will be on show.

Beyond 3D Printing: The Evolving Digital Landscape

9.15am - 5.00pm, Tuesday 24 November, 2015

The Edge, Stanley Place, Brisbane

griffith.edu.au

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VECCI Chief Executive Mark Stone believes the Andrews Government’s Victoria’s Regional Statement has a positive focus on supporting skills, improving infrastructure, boosting connectivity and developing tourism in our regions.

"VECCI is pleased that the Premier has highlighted the importance of supporting regional businesses with a heartfelt presentation in Milawa today, which was supported by the business and local government communities in attendance," Mr Stone said.

He said especially welcome is the announced:

• $34 million Regional Skills and Training package to support access to training for people in need.
• $20 million investment in the next stage of the Macalister Irrigation District project which will benefit local agribusinesses.
• Improvements to mobile device reception through the Regional Rail Connectivity Project.
• The development of a pipeline of the 10 most significant regional tourism projects.
• Fast-tracking of major state and regional projects to boost local economies and create jobs. 

"It is encouraging that the Statement’s priorities are consistent with recommendations put forward at the VECCI Victoria Summit 2015 – Regional Victoria, our submission to the government’s review of regional service delivery and our ongoing dialogue with the Premier and senior ministers," Mr Stone said.

"VECCI welcomes these announcements as they will support the development of a skilled regional workforce, a more competitive regional business community and job creation throughout Victoria.
 
"We look forward to continuing to work closely with the Andrews Government on the implementation of these important measures."

The Victorian Employers Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VECCI), established in 1851, is the most influential business organisation in Victoria, informing and servicing more than 15,000 members, customers and clients around the state.

vecci.org.au

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