Australian Retailers Association (ARA)

Retail crime has gone well past the tipping point in Australia, and our retail workers deserve better protection. In this piece for The Australian, ARA CEO Christopher Rodwell highlights why technology, including facial recognition, must be part of our response to the escalating retail crime crisis. With more than 800,000 retail crime incidents occurring each year, often involving violence, intimidation and threats, it’s clear we need stronger measures to keep retail workers safe and create a secure shopping environment for everyone. “We owe it to retail staff to protect them with technology” - Chris Rodwell #Retail #RetailCrime #Opinion

The top 10% of retail crime offenders are responsible for around 60% of total harm. A key theme highlighted at the ARA x NRA Retail Crime Symposium 25 last month in Melbourne was ‘Organised Retail Crime and Collaborative Prevention’. The session dived into organised retail crime, from coordinated theft and staff intimidation to sharp spikes in break‑ins. Cross‑retailer collaboration is emerging as a powerful local lever while longer‑horizon policy work advances. Frontline capability building was another focus. Immersive VR training is being rolled out at scale so store teams can practise situational awareness, safe interventions and de‑escalation in environments that mirror their own layout and systems. Early diagnostics revealed 60% of learners chose an unsafe option in a first scenario - exactly the kind of insight that allows rapid retraining and safer outcomes. View our media release: https://lnkd.in/dxwWjqP3 View event highlights: https://lnkd.in/dwC238D5 #RetailCrime National Retail Association

In the newly released ARA Retail Insights Report 2025, Shopify explores how hybrid shopping is reshaping Australia’s retail landscape - and why unified commerce is the key to sustainable growth. In 2024, 43% of Australian consumers preferred shopping in-store, significantly more than the previous year, while 26% enjoyed both online and offline shopping equally. With shoppers expecting flexibility and consistency across channels, unified commerce is fast becoming the benchmark. Shopify’s Australian Retail Report reveals that 99% of retail decision makers are planning to invest in innovation, with a focus on business intelligence, integrated customer experiences and delivery models that serve consumers anywhere, anytime. The opportunity is clear: Retailers that prioritise unified data, hybrid experiences and omnichannel agility are best placed to thrive. Learn more about Shopify’s insights on Online & eCommerce in the ARA Retail Insights Report 2025. Access now: https://lnkd.in/dgKchwdk #RetailInsights #Omnichannel #RetailInnovation Shaun Broughton

Amex is backing small businesses with its Shop Small campaign. With a fully-funded Bonus Points Offer for August, there's even more reasons to join the Shop Small community. Learn how accepting Amex could benefit your business. Eligible Card Members and Merchants only. T&Cs and exclusions apply. Find out more: https://lnkd.in/g3jfizpA American Express

Retail spending in June grew by 4.9% compared to the same period last year, with the latest data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) showing a spike in consumer activity amid the EOFY sales blitz. All categories experienced year-on-year growth. Other retailing – which includes cosmetics, sports and recreational goods) – experienced the most significant increase (up 6.9%), followed by clothing, footwear and personal accessory retailing (up 6%). Spending increased in department stores (up 5.9%), household goods retailing – which includes furniture – (up 5.6%), food retailing (up 4%) and cafes, restaurants and takeaway (up by 3.3%). Australian Retailers Association (ARA) CEO Christopher Rodwell said the healthy spending in June is a sign consumer confidence is steadily improving but noted Australians are still holding back on big-ticket items, preferring to wait for major bargains - indicating caution remains in the cart. “This is the highest monthly growth we’ve seen across the past year, compared to 2024 spending, which is a promising result during a period of challenging trading conditions. However, it’s important to call out that while retail sales have lifted, this doesn’t necessarily translate to a better operating position for retailers as EOFY discounts are more prominent in June,” Mr Rodwell said. View media release: https://lnkd.in/dsR5aUGf National Retail Association

Vale Sir Michael Hill.   Like many in our community, we are saddened by the passing of Sir Michael Hill, founder of Michael Hill Jewellers and celebrated jeweller, entrepreneur and philanthropist. In 1979, Sir Michael and his wife Lady Christine created the Michael Hill brand in New Zealand, then growing it into one of the most recognised names in jewellery in Australia. Heartfelt condolences to Michael's family and friends, and the Michael Hill team during this time. (Image source: Michael Hill website)

Elevating crime to a productivity issue is part of a suite of recommendations from the ARA and National Retail Association ahead of the Treasurer Jim Chalmers’s productivity summit next month writes Eli Greenblat of the Australian. A crime spree gripping retailers is costing Australia’s largest private sector employer $9bn a year in damages and stolen stock. Halving the cost and severity of retail crime would deliver major dividends to the economy and the retail workforce. “Retail crime is a growing national challenge, with rising incidents of theft, aggression, and organised crime affecting the safety and viability of retail workplaces,” the joint submission reads. “In addition to the human and social toll, retail crime imposes significant operational and compliance costs, particularly on SMEs that lack the scale to absorb these impacts.” The ARA & NRA's full roundtable submission is at this link: https://lnkd.in/gPMzWRjE Christopher Rodwell https://lnkd.in/gXqAzQyi

Together with the National Retail Association, we’ve lodged our submission to Treasury’s Productivity Summit Roundtable, outlining practical reforms to improve productivity and strengthen economic resilience. Retail is Australia’s largest private sector employer, supporting 1.4 million jobs and contributing $430 billion to the economy. But rising costs, complex regulation and workforce challenges are holding the sector and the broader economy back. In our submission to Treasury’s Productivity Summit Roundtable, we’ve outlined bold, practical reforms to unlock growth and resilience, including: - Cutting red tape and streamlining planning - Harmonising national regulations - Supporting small business with digital and AI capability - Addressing retail crime - Aligning tax settings, including a unified 25% company tax rate A more productive retail sector means a stronger Australian economy. It’s time for reform that delivers for businesses, workers and communities. Read our full submission: https://lnkd.in/gPMzWRjE

Session One Highlights: Retail’s Impossible Dilemma: Serving the Community without Compromising Safety and Security at the ARA x NRA Retail Crime Symposium 25, brought to you by MA Services Group.       The session featured keynotes from: - The Hon. Sonya Kilkenny MP, Attorney-General and Minister for Planning, Victoria State Government (Victorian Government) on the importance of cross-sector collaboration to drive meaningful change. - Commander Karen Nyholm APM, Strategic Lead, Retail Theft, Victoria Police who offered insights into the current and emerging trends in retail crime across Victoria and how police strategies are evolving to respond. - Dr Xanthe Mallett, Associate Professor of Criminology, Queensland Centre for Domestic and Family Violence Research, Central Queensland University (CQU),who discussed the broader societal impacts of retail crime. - Darren Bark, Deputy Chairman, Biometrics Institute & Executive Director, Investigations and Counter Terrorism, NSW Police Force who explored the theme ‘Balancing Innovation and Trust’ in the use of emerging technologies to address crime.    Thank you to our Presenting Partner - MA Services Group. Thank you to our event partners – Reveal Media, Safer Places Network and Start Beyond   #RCS25 #RetailCrimeSymposium25 #RetailCrime National Retail Association

We’re grateful to our event partners who made the ARA × NRA Retail Crime Symposium 25 possible.    Your support fuels collaboration, industry leadership and real progress for Australian retail.    MA Services Group, Reveal Media, Safer Places Network and Start Beyond    #RCS25 #RetailCrimeSymposium25 #RetailCrime