Representatives from major Australian companies descended on the Australian Retailers Association’s Leader’s Forum today, as the industry grapples with new technologies and aims to spur consumer confidence.
The event is on in Sydney 26-27 February. It will host leaders from Australian businesses including Telstra, Bunnings, and AusPost, as well as international companies like Amazon.
“Day one of the ARA Leaders Forum 2025 offered attendees a stellar lineup of industry leaders, from Ian Bailey discussing the rise of Kmart to Aimee Dixon of Australia Post unpacking customer connectivity. Consistent themes emerged around continued disruption caused by economic pressure, retail crime, global turbulence and AI," said Australian Retailers Association (ARA) chief industry affairs officer Fleur Brown.
“What also became clear was the incredible resilience of retail in spite of these challenges," Brown said. "Businesses are finding innovative ways to build loyal customer bases, foster brand awareness, and also commit to sustainability practices that benefit all of us.
Sessions today covered the emerging technological trends in the retail industry, including artificial intelligence, automation, and data-driven insights. Panels also focussed on the ways retailers can attract ethically minded shoppers, and retail leaders’ plans for navigating an industry in flux.
The ARA projects that the Reserve Bank of Australia’s rate cut earlier this month will bolster spending confidence this year.
“The Reserve Bank’s decision to cut the cash rate to 4.10% is a step in the right direction. This should provide modest relief to households, helping restore spending confidence and set a more optimistic tone for 2025,” said Brown.
The retail industry’s seasonally adjusted financial turnover in Australia was $36.99 billion in December 2024, down 0.1% month-on-month, but rising 4.6% over the previous December.
The ARA represents over 120,000 retailers in Australia.
