Many retailers will begin to see a light at the end of the tunnel in 2013, but they shouldn’t hope for a miracle, according to Inside Retail’s annual Australian Retail Outlook 2013.
While 2012 delivered a year of administrations and dwindling budgets for many retailers, the tide appears to be slightly turning, with predictions of a stronger 2013 emerging from retailers included in this year’s publication.
Don Grover, CEO of Fusion Retail Brands, believes that in 2013 the market overall will be modest.
“It’s not going to be something that’s going to turn around on a pin,” says Grover.
“It’s been tough, and we should as retailers consider thay it’s still going to be tough and manage your business accordingly.”
Erica Berchtold, MD of sports retail at Super Retail Group, holds similar sentiments for the year ahead.
“I don’t think 2013 is going to be easy. The challenges we had last year haven’t gone away,” she says.
This year’s Australian Retail Outlook 2013 features predictions on Australian retail from Andrew Reitzer, CEO of Metcash; Mark Ward, MD, Officeworks; Sally-Anne Newson, Australia country manager, Asos; Gary Perlstein, CEO, Specialty Fashion Group; Tristan Harris, director buying and marketing, Harris Farm Markets and Craig Kind, CEO of General Pants; among others.
The forecast publication provides a definitive look at the year past and a guide for the year ahead, with the spotlight this year on e-commerce, store design, retail employment, and food retailing.
This year also features a look at the headline trends of 2012 and the forces set to influence the 2013 retail environment.
In addition, Australian Retail Outlook spoke to more than 500 Australian retailers in a survey revealing the views of those in the thick of it, on issues as diverse as business strategy, e-commerce, international competition, and leasing.
Responses were comprehensive, with 44 per cent of respondents expecting to see a little improvement in 2013, against 30 per cent who believe this year will be worse than in 2012, and 26 per cent who see things as remaining the same.
Inside Retail’s Australian Retail Outlook 2012 report can be purchased at RetailBooks.com.au for $110 each.
