Across the Desk (July):

In the last couple of weeks I have been visiting members across regional Queensland, including Cairns in the North and Toowoomba in the South and I have been hearing a common message – the greed of the Coles-Woolworths monster duopoly is crippling the retail sector. Nothing new you might say, but we are now seeing a further cash grab by the duopoly in areas like Toowoomba where Coles and Woolworths are talking up their push to extend their trading hours, to further steal market share from the local independent retail sector and at the expense of local consumers.

In Cairns, it’s all about the same duopoly attempting to establish a competitor retail precinct a kilometre from a retail precinct built up by local retailers for the last 20 years, with no regard for sustainability or impact on community.

On both counts, we as The Retailers Association are on the ground, supporting members in the fight for a fair go and positive outcomes. You can view a number of the media clips of the work we’re doing via our NEW “MEDIA” button at the top right of our website at www.qrtsa.com.au

I’ve also been speaking in Adelaide media about the move by the SA state government to ban all plastic bags in retail, a move that will cost independent retailers enormously, along with additional costs being passed on to consumers. Further upward pressure on grocery prices at this time, while not a cent more is passed on to farmers or local retailers is the last thing the community needs now. We will continue to lobby the SA state government to reconsider this flawed and ill advised policy.

Also in the media clips online at www.qrtsa.com.au, I have been talking to radio and newspapers in Canberra about the recent “revelations” provided by the Federal Treasurer, Wayne Swan. Mr Swan, having promised to put downward pressure on grocery prices during the recent election campaign, has turned his back thus far on solid and sound policy creation and implementation, in favour of creating “You Tube” video grabs advising consumers to basically put the weights on retailers for lower prices and to “shop around for specials”.

Far from what we seek by way of sustainable and good legislation that would provide greater opportunities for Australia’s independent retail sector to compete on a realistic playing field, we have this sort of glib and meaningless contribution from the new federal government. We will continue to put the federal government on notice publically, that it must come good on the expectations it built up for Australian consumers regarding creating downward pressure on grocery and retail pricing. We will also continue to shout long and loud that the real answer lies within supporting the existing Australian independent retail sector who we proudly represent and support.

Meanwhile, we see the announcement of the start of the cheap and nasty Uncle Sam offering wash up onto our shores – USA’s Costco Corporation is opening their first store in Melbourne mid 2009. Another recent federal government bright idea has been to relax the foreign investment rules that will allow foreign retail giants to buy up land and sit on it for up to two years. Coles and Woolworths have become masters of “Land Banking” as a means of locking out local independent competition, now it looks like we will have more players in this game that spells nothing but bad news for Australian consumers and independent retailers.

Now more than ever before, your membership of your Association, Qrtsa – The Retailers Association, is vital to ensure the voice of independent retailers is heard and your business is supported. There look like some real challenges on the horizon, but we are here working to support independent retailers, as we have done for the last 120 years, in any way we can.

Contact us today on 1300 721 730 if you require our assistance regarding industrial relations, staff training and recruitment, reduced merchant fees, leasing, business insurances or superannuation, just to name a few of our focus areas, or visit www.qrtsa.com.au to see an ever broader range of areas we are ready and able to assist you and your business with.

Over the next few weeks I will be visiting our offices and holding various meetings on behalf of our members in Sydney and Melbourne. With our membership growing rapidly right across Australia, we become even stronger and better prepared to support you and your family owned independent business.

Scott Driscoll
Executive Director