Fashion retailers keen to learn more about the pros and cons of online retailing have the opportunity to tune into the federal government's Online Retail Forum tomorrow (February 18).
To be held in Sydney and broadcast live online, the forum will be hosted by the federal minister for broadband, communications and the digital economy, Stephen Conroy. The aim of the event is to “encourage and support Australian retailers to explore online business options”.
Speakers will include the co-owner of online fashion business Shoes of Prey, Mike Knapp, as well as identities from eBay, PayPal, Google, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, DHL and Australia Post. Topics to be discussed include the logistics needs of online businesses and the searching and purchasing trends of Australian online consumers.
Conroy said Australian retailers who venture online potentially had access to greater efficiencies, a broader customer base and increased revenues.
"The reliable, ubiquitous, high-speed broadband that the national broadband network will deliver will bring more Australians online and allow Australian retailers to expand their market and enhance their online offerings," Conroy added.
Whilst seats at the free event have already been filled, the department advised interested retailers can view a webcast of the event at http://www.dbcde.gov.au/digital_economy/online_retail_forum from 9.30am (AEDT) on February 18.
The event will also be covered on Twitter (hashtag #orf11).
The staging of the Online Retail Forum follows much discussion over the 2010 Christmas holiday period of the Australian government's $1000 tax-free threshold on international online purchases. Fashion business owners that have voiced concerns about the threshold include Solomon Lew of Premier Investments' Just Group and David Mendels of International Fashion Group.
In addition to the Online Retail Forum, the federal government has also recently initiated an enquiry into the future of Australian retail by the Productivity Commission and a compliance campaign to reduce the number of people rorting the tax-free threshold.