Australia’s peak retail body, the Australian Retailers Association (ARA) has launched the inaugural ARA Awards, celebrating excellence and innovation within the Australian retail sector.
The ARA Awards 2024, sponsored by principal partner American Express, culminates in a ceremony revealing the winners at Crown Casino in Melbourne on 19 September 2024.
The marquee awards set to be presented will include the National Retailer of the Year and the Shop Small Retailer of the Year Award which is backed by American Express, founders of the nationwide Shop Small movement.
The event showcases the achievements of Australia’s highest performing retailers across categories, including:
- Sustainability
- People and culture
- Innovation
- Store design
- Customer experience
- Diversity, equality and inclusion
ARA CEO Paul Zahra said the groundbreaking event aims to highlight the resilience, creativity and success of retailers who have contributed to the industry’s growth in the face of challenging economic conditions.
“We’re thrilled to have this national platform to celebrate the remarkable achievements of our retailers, who continue to set new benchmarks during periods of great challenge and economic turbulence,” he said.
“The ARA Awards will be a night of recognition and inspiration for our sector, highlighting the leaps and strides many retailers are taking to succeed.
“There has never been a more important time to acknowledge the positive contributions retailers are making, not only to the industry – but to society and the broader economy.”
Robert Tedesco, Vice President and General Manager of Global Merchant Services at American Express said American Express is proudly continuing its legacy of backing businesses through the inaugural ARA Awards.
“The ARA Awards will recognise the extraordinary efforts of hard-working retail operators and provide a platform for them to be applauded,” he said.
“With small and family-run businesses accounting for almost 98 per cent of all businesses in Australia, we’re proud to back the Shop Small Retailer of the Year Award to celebrate a business owner who has gone above and beyond to reinvigorate and add vibrancy to their community through their hard work.”
The ARA Awards 2024 will also celebrate individual efforts, with 3 retail leader awards to honour exceptional individuals working in the retail sector.
These awards include:
- Store Manager of the Year
- Emerging Talent of the Year
- Retail Leader of the Year
Those who are interested in nominating a retailer or individual can pre-register here.
Nominations will officially open in April 2024.
