Brett Stevenson recently developed 17 benchmark indicators for one of Australia’s largest retail buying groups. Here he highlights five.

MELBOURNE: Womenswear retailer Sussan will adopt an international e-commerce model in 2012, following its retreat from the New Zealand market.

As the hunger for fresh fibres and fabrics verges on insatiable, the nation’s designers are doing their best to stay one step ahead to keep consumers content, Pippa Chambers discovers.

In these current, dubious economic times, issues connected with business failure are an unfortunate reality. Even if you are travelling fine, chances are some of your customers, suppliers and business partners probably aren’t. Michael Forrest advises on how to protect yourself.

A ‘fierce’ new women’s fashion label will launch in David Jones stores, boutiques and online at the end of the month.

One of the most remarkable clothing retailers in Australia must surely be Rivers.

NATIONAL: A management shake-up, more stores, revamps and image transformations are on the cards for the company that emerged from the former debt-ridden Colorado Group.

From exploring surrealism to adapting the white box store concept, a variety of trends were presented to Sydney audiences at a presentation by fashion forecasting agency WGSN.

With retail theft on the rise, Andrew Cavanagh makes the controversial argument that retailers should recruit based on character not skill.

Newfangled web features and more than 10 new cutting-edge designers will be added to MyCatwalk.com next month as part of its Australian web relaunch.

Each month, Ragtrader profiles one finalist from the 2011 National Retailers Association (NRA) Young Retailer of the Year awards. Here, 22-year-old Target business manager Katherine Powell tells her story.

TOP SELLERS: There was much anticipation about the launch of Australia’s first Topshop store last month.

The co-founder of fashion footwear brand Nine West, Vince Camuto, is gearing up to unleash his self-titled shoe and accessories label in Australia this year.

Every month, Ragtrader pairs RMIT fashion and design students with an established designer for a professional one-on-one. In this edition, RMIT graduate Sarah Curtin asks Citizen Deconstructed director Robert Rigutto for his advice.

Womenswear designer Karen Walker has capitalised on her partnership with department store Myer, recording a 49 per cent increase in premium sales for the season, as both prepare for a joint export drive.

Fashion footwear brand Midas will execute a national store revamp and launch new stores in a bid to revitalise the brand under new ownership.