Retailers look for new voice

It’s a shame Richard Evans is gone. Evans, the executive director of the Australian Retailers Association, apparently reigned while on holiday in Paris. Apart from the usual PR release thanking Richard for his contribution, the ARA hasn’t been talking and did not respond to calls from SmartCompany this morning.

But the talk is that the board was impatient for Richard to address their financial concerns and that Evans did not do this urgently enough. The ARA membership base is 5,000 national and independent retailers, many of whom are doing it tough, and some no doubt would be deferring membership fees to cut costs. No surprise there. Most associations are doing it tough. Just two weeks ago we wrote about the collapse of the Finance & Treasury Association – ironic eh, given their main charter is financial risk management?

One source says that overheads at the ARA are too high, they are spending more than they can afford, providing resources to service the needs of the membership and they have spread themselves too thin.

Attempts to merge with some other associations fell through.

Evans was also an outspoken advocate of the retail sector. And it didn’t win him any friends – particularly political friends. As one source said: “He didn’t have a long line of friends in the Labor Party at a time when the Labor Party is very popular.”

He was quick with the press release sticking up for the small players at a time COSBOA was going through its own leadership changes, the business chambers were focussed on remodelling their services and groups like the AIG were feeling their way with the new Labor Government.

Evans was outspoken on the retail tenancy act, calling landlords of shopping centres to account when no one else gave a damn. He also took on the powerful interests in the grocery industry and made an interesting figure in his flowing scarves and long coats, mixing with the powerful suits representing giant duopolies.

Yes, he put a spin on the news. A drop in retail sales was presented as an exciting opportunity for retailers to re-focus.

So what will the ARA do differently? There are a few clues in the PR sheet. Over the coming weeks the new executive director Russell Zimmerman will be in contact with retailers throughout Australia to discuss the increased member services, including enhanced employment relations advice, and to clarify ongoing needs of Australian retailers, says the release.

The ARA will also “reignite the strong policy committee structures and engage with retailers to tackle issues in a timely and strategic manner.”

Whatever all that means, let’s hope the ARA doesn’t lose its voice. There are not nearly enough loud voices using a strident tone in this neck of the woods.