PEAK retail body the Australian Retailers Association (ARA) encourages all retailers to be in quick to purchase tickets to the retail industry’s most recognised awards event of the year - the 2014 eftpos ARA Australian Retail Awards.

Winners of all categories, including the 2014 eftpos Australian Retailer of the Year, will be announced at the Awards Breakfast on Tuesday July 15 at the Grand Hyatt, Melbourne in front of over 500 of Australia’s finest retail professionals.

ARA Executive Director Russell Zimmerman said judging has now officially been confirmed and this year’s winning retailers have been chosen.

“The extremely high calibre of this year’s entries simply blew us away. Our expert judging panel had the difficult task of assessing each submission and confirming an overall winner for each category.

“The ARA and all of our sponsors are excited to announce the 2014 award winners in front of their peers and media at the Awards Breakfast.

“Retail has been doing it tough over the last year, but we mustn’t forget to stop and celebrate those innovative retail leaders who are managing to succeed in the face of adversity. We can all learn a great deal from hearing their stories.

“Derek Dyson, Specsavers Global Retail Director, will be delivering the keynote address at the breakfast and we believe the Specsavers story is certainly one worth sharing.

“The Specsavers brand has become a centrepiece of Australian retail, initially entering the Australian market in 2007 as a wholesale business before opening their first stores in 2008 in Melbourne. There followed one of the fastest retail roll-outs ever seen in Australia with 100 Specsavers stores opened over the course of just 100 days – a truly inspiring retail story that needs to be shared.

“Retailers are also looking forward to an address from The Hon Russell Northe MP, Minister for Small Business, who will also present the coveted Victorian Government Victorian Retailer of the Year Award.

“The ARA Awards Breakfast is shaping up to be one of ‘the’ retail events of 2014 and we look forward to recognising the industry’s most successful players ranging from mums, dads and family businesses to retail graduates, entrepreneurs and multi-channel superstars. Grab your tickets now and join the ARA as we celebrate those who are shaping the retail landscape of tomorrow,” Mr Zimmerman said.
 
Tickets are on sale now. Prices are as follows:
ARA members $60
Non members $80
ARA members table of 10 $500
Non members table of 10 $700

eftpos ARA Australian Retail Awards -  key information and dates:

WHAT: 2014 eftpos ARA Australian Retail Awards Breakfast
WHEN: Tuesday 15 July 2014
WHERE: Grand Hyatt, Melbourne (123 Collins Street)
TO BUY TICKETS: Visit www.australianretailawards.com.au
MORE INFORMATION: Go to www.australianretailawards.com.au, call 1300 368 041 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

AWARD CATEGORIES: eftpos Australian Retailer of the Year, BDO Australian Retail Employer of the Year, Visa Australian Independent Retailer of the Year, Quest Payment Systems Australian Retail Innovator of the Year, Expr3ss! Staff Selection Software Australian Retail Graduate of the Year, eBay Inc Australian Multichannel Retailer of the Year, FCB Australian Retail HR Practitioner of the Year, Rest Industry Super Individual Retailer of the Year – male & female, Roy Morgan Customer Satisfaction Retailer of the Year, Victorian Government Victorian Retailer of the Year and the Shop for Shops Australian Retail Store Upgrade of the Year.
 
Since 1903, the Australian Retailers Association (ARA) has been the peak industry body representing Australia’s $265 billion retail sector, which employs over 1.2 million people. The ARA ensures retail success by informing, protecting, advocating, educating and saving money for its 5,000 independent and national retail members throughout Australia.

Visit www.retail.org.au or call 1300 368 041.

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PEAK retail industry body the Australian Retailers Association (ARA) has welcomed the recent announcement that the former Myer building in Liverpool St, Hobart will now be redeveloped.

ARA Executive Director Russell Zimmerman said local retailers, including an ARA Tasmanian board member, are extremely pleased with the outcome delivered by the new Liberal Government and strongly supported by the ARA.

“We were very pleased to hear the news that Premier Will Hodgman approved a $15 million commercial loan that will enable developer ­Emmanuel Kalis to get his $100 million redevelopment of Myer off the ground.

“It has been almost seven years since fire destroyed the Myer store on Liverpool Street, and it is great to see that action is finally being taken to support the local retail sector.

“The ARA has long supported this initiative and looks forward to seeing how Myer’s redevelopment progresses. This is a strong move forward for Tasmania’s largest private employer - the retail sector,” Mr Zimmerman said.

Since 1903, the Australian Retailers Association (ARA) has been the peak industry body representing Australia’s $265 billion retail sector, which employs over 1.2 million people. The ARA ensures retail success by informing, protecting, advocating, educating and saving money for its 5,000 independent and national retail members throughout Australia.

Visit www.retail.org.au or call 1300 368 041.

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AUSTRALIA’S resource industry employer group AMMA is calling for superannuation to be removed from industrial awards as retail and industry superannuation funds continue to battle over which should be the default for award-covered employees.

“This has degenerated into a complete mess,” says AMMA executive director, policy and public affairs, Scott Barklamb.

“Australia’s retail superannuation funds and industry superannuation funds are at war over the billions in contributions from working Australians who do not choose where their superannuation should be directed.”

AMMA says the review of which superannuation funds are named in industrial awards, designed by Julia Gillard and implemented by Bill Shorten, has become farcical, with two of the three superannuation experts appointed by Labor being disqualified or resigning due to potential conflicts of interest.

It has also placed the President of the Fair Work Commission in a very difficult position and led to his disqualification from heading the review by the Federal Court.

“The Abbott government should fix the mess it has been bequeathed by removing superannuation from the industrial awards system altogether,” Mr Barklamb says.

“Superannuation became a legislated entitlement more than 20 years ago and the My Super products now offer low-cost default fund options with no commission fees.

“There is simply no longer any need for awards to mandate the funds into which employee contributions should be made.

“We urge the government to review recent events in this area, including the Federal Court decision and yesterday’s response from the Fair Work Commission, and to commence a process to remove superannuation from the matters regulated by modern awards.

“The government should either introduce amending legislation or commence an independent expert inquiry, external to the Fair Work Commission, to consider what if any case there is for superannuation contributions to continue to be regulated by awards.

“Those who advocate for regulating default super through awards should be challenged on why this should continue.

“We particularly extend this invitation to the ACTU, union officials, and others who sit on the boards of industry superannuation funds.”

www.amma.org.au

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VICTORIA's peak business body today urged Parliament to quickly resolve the current dispute and get back to the matters of vital importance to the state.

"Parliamentarians must focus on managing the business of parliament and debating important issues crucial to the financial future of Victoria,” says VECCI Chief Executive Mark Stone.

“Most importantly they must pass the budget.

"Both parties must resolve the current dispute as a matter of urgency.

"The government has delivered a very good budget and business wants it to be passed and implemented.

“We support the fiscal management, the emphasis on infrastructure including Stage 2 of the East West Link, Melbourne Rail Link and the payroll tax rate reduction.

"However the current uncertainty raises questions for Australian and international businesses looking to invest in Victoria. The budget must be passed so Victoria remains open for business.

"In the coming months we expect both parties to put forward their priorities so Victorian business, and the community, can make a decision on how they will vote at the November election.”

VECCI's recently released Taking Care of Business state election agenda urges both major parties to commit to VECCI’s program to grow the Victorian economy.

"We are calling on the next government, regardless of party, to commit to our four key priorities: jobs, infrastructure, skills and international engagement,” says Mr Stone.

“VECCI has detailed its key recommendations across these four priorities and is seeking support for our recommendations.

"We hope the election brings a government with a clear majority and policies that drive greater investment confidence and business activity.”

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The Victorian Employers' Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VECCI) is the peak body for employers in Victoria, informing and servicing more than 15,000 members, customers and clients around the state.

www.vecci.org.au

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