The Australian Retailers Association (ARA) is proud to announce a landmark partnership with Shopify focused on delivering the latest commerce trends and insights to Australian retailers.
Powering more than 25% of online commerce in Australia, Shopify is a leading provider of essential infrastructure for millions of retailers around the world. Recently Shopify passed $1 trillion (USD) in lifetime gross merchandise value (GMV).
ARA CEO Paul Zahra says with eCommerce playing an increasing role in retail success, the Shopify partnership will deliver enormous value to retailers.
"Shopify is a visionary platform that makes it easier than ever for Australians to do business," he says.
"Through this partnership, the ARA and Shopify will share valuable insights and knowledge that will help bolster the sector and increase consumer confidence."
Shopify offers an all-in-one commerce solution for businesses. With Shopify, retailers of any size can sell online, in-store, wholesale or through social-commerce - to reach more customers and scale fast. The platform powers many iconic businesses, with customers including JB Hi-FI, LSKD, Toys R Us and July.
Managing Director of Shopify APAC and Japan, Shaun Broughton, says the platform's scale in Australia provides an unmatched level of insights into the Australian retail landscape to help businesses.
"Shopify brings every aspect of commerce together under one roof. This unified approach helps retailers consolidate their data in one place, from operations to sales management, and managing payments in digital and physical locations," he says.
"By partnering with the ARA, Shopify will share local retail insights to help Australian businesses make data-driven decisions."
"In 2024, there couldn't be a better time for businesses to embrace data and insights to power advanced conversion, customisation and automation, which is why we are proud to be entering this partnership."
The first initiative between Shopify and the ARA is the Australian Retail Report 2024, which has been conducted with industry research firm YouGov. Studying 1000 Australian consumers and more than 200 senior business leaders, this report unpacks how retailers can invest for lasting success in today's economy. The report finds that the majority (99%) of retailers are investing in customer experience over the next 12 months. It also examines new consumer spending habits driven by the cost-of-living crisis.
Mr Zahra says this data is invaluable for retailers – helping them make data driven decisions that will cement their businesses well into the future.
"Knowledge is power, especially when it comes to investment," he says. "We're seeing a change in spending habits from shoppers, which means this is the time for retailers to stand out when it comes to their customer experience offering.
"Through this research with Shopify, the ARA is ensuring retailers have the information they need to make decisions that are right for their businesses," said Mr Zahra.
