Christmas in shopping centres is no longer just about the decorations or carols playing through the PA system.Christmas in centres is about setting the scene for engaging and memorable experiences...

Traditional retail is changing. As it evolves, so do we in the shopping centre business and using enhanced data can increase advertising options and drive bottom line profitability. For many...

A fairly common response these days when booking a table at a successful restaurant is “We can take a 6.30pm booking but we’ll need the table back by 8.15pm”. This...

Electricity charges are a constant topic of conversation; talk-back radio is deluged with comments from homeowners and small business operators. And the larger users of power (like shopping centres) are...

The South Australian Government began a review of the Retail and Commercial Leases Act in 2014. A Bill has just been tabled proposing some 28 amendments to the Act. The...

FY19 Market Overview Transaction activity slowed substantially in the second half of FY19. Of the $6.5 billion of transaction volumes recorded in the 2019 financial year, only $1.7 billion (26%)...

First there were kiosks – someone thought about putting one in a mall and a new source of revenue was born. Then it was casual leasing followed by ‘pop-up’ shops....

Mainbrace is one of Australia’s leading shopping centre construction companies with an in-depth knowledge of shopping centre and retail construction. In an age in which we need to cut costs,...

Department Stores have been on the way out for some ten years. But why? Tony Dimasi explains; he tells us where they succeed and more importantly, what the future holds…...

You might find this difficult to believe, but there is a move afoot to legislate for free parking in shopping centres for retail workers. The issue has incredibly wide implications....

Investing in the future of business, especially retail, should be at the heart of our government’s economic strategy. The Australian retail sector has faced a dynamic of change during the...

It’s hard to believe that South Australia still clings to outdated laws governing retail trading hours. It beggars belief that the South Australian public still have to follow the dictates...

With the 2018 eftpos ARA Australian Retail Awards slowly approaching, retailers across the country have already started submitting their entries. The Awards this year are titled ‘The Retail Realm: thinking...

With the rapid development of technology in the retail industry and the constant rise of online retail, we continue to advocate for payments reform to promote a more innovative, competitive...

SCN readers will know, we publish comment from both the National Retail Association and the Australian Retailers Association. One would think that the aims and objectives of both organisations would...

Recently, the ACTU released a proposal to increase the minimum wage by $50 (7.2%) a week, claiming that it would create 57,000 jobs in the first year and a further...

Angus Nardi gives us an overview on trading hours reform in South Australia. He says that compromise and incrementalism is a potential trend that could continue. Shop trading hours reform...

Someone gives you a gift card for a retail purchase, and it expires in 12 months – any problems? It could have no expiry date – what a problem if...

It’s an extremely difficult task to bring myriad groups together to support a common cause. Our industry’s ‘Casual Mall Licensing Code of Practice’ was successfully re-authorised recently by the ACCC....

Sometimes, the evolution of public policy can feel a lot like the release of a ‘greatest hits’ album. There is an initial pique of excitement and curiosity, before you come back to reality...

With Christmas fast approaching, many retailers find this time of year both daunting and stressful. However there are some key business strategies that retailers can put in place to...

Australia’s Prime Minister, Malcolm Turnbull, recently launched a new national counter-terrorism strategy, which has specific relevance to shopping centre owners and operators...

Over the past few months much has been written regarding employment law issues, and I would like to update retailers on the work ARA has been doing over the past few months...

The eftpos ARA Australian Retail Awards are the industry’s largest and longest-running recognition of success, recognising remarkable leaders and disruptors in the retail space...

Melbourne has been experiencing a serious wave of crime, and has become something of a national hotspot.

The chatter about Amazon’s launch over the last 12 months has been steadily growing, with several reports now talking deeply about the timing and impact on Australian...

The New Year is upon us and, once again, it’s time to prepare for what is shaping up to be another big year for the retail industry...

Penalty rates are back in the news, as a decision will be handed down by January 20. Lower Sunday rates for the retail industry are ...

Technology has real impact on our business and will continue to do so. In the short term, it will lead to a dramatic change in the way we pay for things, and the ‘smartphone’ will lead...

The NSW Government is once again having a crack at introducing widespread Boxing Day trading.

Bruce Billson, as we’ve noted before, is regarded as one of the heroes of the Federal Government. He has a long list of achievements  for small business to his name,...