Australian retailers are uniting to tackle retail crime at the industry-wide Retail Crime Symposium on 18 July 2024 in Melbourne. In an industry first collaboration, Australian Retailers Association (ARA) and the National Retail Association (NRA) have joined forces to host the 2024 event, bringing together police, government, SDA union, Crimestoppers and retailers large and small from across the nation to tackle one of the sector's most significant issues.
The symposium will be held at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Melbourne on Thursday July 18, featuring speakers in law enforcement, loss prevention, security, work health and safety and cybercrime.
It comes as retail crime remains widespread across the country, with both theft and customer abuse heavily impacting frontline staff and creating an estimated nine billion dollar bottom line impact for retailers each year.
ARA CEO Paul Zahra said the continued prevalence of retail crime demands a united front from authorities and industry.
"The Retail Crime Symposium is about bringing together Australia's retailers, police and politicians to work together, identify trends and devise strategies to reduce retail crime. Joining forces with the NRA allows us to both pool our resources and expertise to tackle the scourge of retail crime more effectively.
"Retail crime has a profound and lasting mental impact on frontline retail staff and in some instances, customers. Everyone has a right to feel safe whilst at work or shopping."
National Retail Association Acting CEO Lindsay Carroll said the timing of the Symposium is important.
"The physical, financial and mental health toll of retail crime on our retail teams is not going away. After intense customer aggression through the pandemic years and beyond, for some team members the fear and apprehension getting even worse.
"We have been working consistently on this problem with our members, and the time has come to step forward as a united sector to fast-track solutions. Government and police are key to this change, and we are pleased to have the ongoing support from authorities in this important area."
The full-day agenda will include expert speakers and networking opportunities.
Speakers are set to be announced in the coming weeks.
Tickets for the event can be purchased here.
