The Australian Retailers Association (ARA) has merged with the National Footwear Retail Association (NFRA) in a bid to create a "unified" voice.
ARA CEO Paul Zahra welcomed the merger as an important step forward for the broader retail industry.
“We warmly welcome NFRA members to the ARA family and look forward to offering them the significant benefits of our national network of resources.
“Whilst the NFRA has a strong history of more than 60 years in representing independent footwear retailers, the ARA has long been a supporter of achieving a single, strong and unified voice to represent the retail community.
“Our new members will have access to the ARA’s suite of member benefits, including support services covering employment law, insurance, leasing, legal and other benefits through the ARA’s network of partners.
"Our new members will be well represented in the post-Covid recovery and have all the support they need not only to survive but to thrive well into the future.
“We thank the Board, President, Peter Parkinson (OAM) of McCloud Shoes, and members of the NFRA for entrusting the ARA with this important transition."