UPfront Christmas 2023 by frontlinestores

Read about Donohues On Page 10!

Merry Christmas 2023

BOARD UPDATE After enjoying strong group turnover in recent years, we all know that trading levels are now being challenged as a result of multiple interest rate rises by the Reserve Bank and inflationary pressures everywhere you turn. As we approach the end of 2023, total Frontline group turnover is a little down on the past couple of years but remains ahead of pre-covid levels. Frontline remains strong and very well resourced to serve our members through this time. Hopefully, we’re nearing the end of the current cycle of interest rate increases, which will eventually see consumer confidence return to the retail sector and improved trading.

Given the current state of the market and feedback from our business partners, we’ve decided not to proceed with our usual February/March buying event, but planning is already underway for August 2024 – details to come soon! We wish all members, suppliers, and business partners good trading for the end of year retail season we’re now in, and trust that you can all enjoy some special time to relax with your family and friends over Xmas and New Year. On behalf of the Board, John Haywood Chairman

FRONTLINE MILESTONES We’re thrilled to celebrate the dedication and expertise within our team this year as we proudly acknowledge the work anniversaries for four of our Frontline Staff Members. Their commitment and contributions have been instrumental in shaping our success, and we look forward to many more years of collaboration and shared achievements. Cheers to the milestones reached, and to the bright future ahead with these valued team members!

David Woods, 10 Years

Glen McLeod, 10 Years

Sharon Hall, 15 Years

Vanessa Petherbridge, 30 Years (Left)

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Acknowledgements

Miro Kroon

David Sharp (Right)

Travis McKenzie

Sharon Hall (Left)

STEPS

Caitlin Ryan

Glen McLeod

Real Media Awards Finalist Caitlin Ryan

Caitlin Ryan has recently been named a finalist in the Real Media Awards. The recognition comes in acknowledgment of her work on the Sportfirst Back to School Catalogue with Jenny Aldridge, earning her a place as a finalist in not just one, but two categories (shown below). F2 - GENERAL – SHOES, SWIMWEAR, MIXED APPAREL Sponsored by SAPPI • Anaconda – Puffer Jacket Winter • Peter Sheppard – AW 2023 Collection • Peter Sheppard – SS 2023 Collection • Sportfirst – Back 2 School Catalogue 2023

Rachel Dobson

During August, 7 of our Head Office staff undertook a 10,000 steps per day challenge to raise funds for the National Breast Cancer Foundation. With a target of 2,170,000 steps, they achieved 2,293,970! They also raised an amazing $2,438 which will go towards funding valuable research. WELL DONE!

REC1 - SPORTS AND FITNESS Sponsored by IVE GROUP • ALDI – Made to Move Week 4 2023 • Bicycle Superstore – Spring Sale 2022 • Cadbury – Freddo Look Outside Guide • Sportfirst - Back 2 School Catalogue 2023 The recognition as a finalist in these two categories at the Real Media Awards underscores her commitment and ability to push creative boundaries in the world of marketing. The Sportfirst Back to School Catalogue stands as a testament to her skill in creating memorable and impactful marketing collateral. As the awards ceremony approaches, industry enthusiasts eagerly await to see if they will emerge victorious in these competitive categories, solidifying her status as a trailblazer in the field of media and marketing.

Caitlin Ryan (Right)

Cambridge Million CAMBRIDGE CLOTHING JOINS THE MILLION DOLLAR CLUB It may have taken 13 years and many brand acquisitions (Ambler & Co, Uberstone, City Club and Ganton), but Cambridge Clothing entered the Frontline Million Dollar Club at the end of June 2023. We took the opportunity to present Raymond Ho (Wholesale Leader, Australia) and David Hutt (Company Representative for NSW & QLD) with their award at FAB Event in August. Congratulations!

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FRONTLINE UPFRONT | CHRISTMAS 2023

FAB Event

The event was sponsored by Shop For Shops, Commonwealth Bank and Bee Dee Bags.

Frontline presented a different, updated version of the trade show in August, based upon a successful trial last year.

SURVEYING

August 2023

Utilising all the function space (and then some) at the Amora Hotel Riverwalk in Richmond, we redesigned the event back to a cost-effective, less corporate and friendly-feeling version. With limited space, we showcased Womenswear, Intimates and Services on the Sunday, with Menswear and Services on the Monday. For exhibitors, the intention was to save time (set up and pack down on the same day) and money. For Members, they could still see a great range of merchandise, and either park under the building or stay overnight at the venue – with a discount. We wrapped each day with the Shop For Shops Happy Hour drinks to thank all for their support, and gave out door prizes to a lucky few.

Although the August event was an operational success, the retailer attendance level was unfortunately low. We still need a better attendance from our Membership. To this end, we created a survey several weeks later, in order to better understand buying patterns and needs, and implement changes and strategies for further events. You spoke, and the findings were: • Members still want a trade show, twice a year as a 2 day event. A combination of physical and digital/ online was a clear standout. • The event should be on at the same time as another trade event, to save time and money. Preference is the Reed / AGHA in early August. • The most requested divisions to see (in order) are: Womenswear, Menswear, Intimates, Footwear, then Lifestyle.

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• At the event, the priority is to see/ touch product, look for new product/ suppliers and pick up specials. There was little interest in talks/seminars/guest speakers. • The best day is Sunday, then second best was Saturday. • The top reasons for not attending the event in August: other commitments, staffing, then cost. (COVID/health concerns was very minimal) • An interesting result was that buying via B2B/website/portals was so high – a result of lockdowns, no doubt. This has come at the cost of trade events, which is now lower down the list in priority. • We asked: “Do you attend other events – if so which ones?” – nearly ¼ responded with “None of the above”keeping in mind there are no product specific events for Menswear, Intimates – and most of the other trade shows are for Giftware & Lifestyle. FAB event was the highest result, which was great feedback, but still not enough Members are attending.

FAB Event

• When asked “how do you like to hear about trade events?” – 100% of members said via email – which was a surprise as many Members (approx. 50%) did not open emails regarding FAB Event. A similar survey was sent to a selection of Suppliers, and returned very similar results. LOOKING AHEAD After many weeks of investigating venues, costings, and deliberation, we have decided to pause for the next 6 months. We need to provide Members with an “all-in” event – with many product categories. It needs to be easily accessible with onsite or nearby accommodation. We need to provide exhibitors with onsite parking, and ground level easy access load in/out. Having “trading day only” hire with little to no build is the best way to keep the cost down. Promoting an event is also very much a chicken and egg situation. Exhibitors want to know that there will be a good

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number of retailers attending. Retailers want to know who the exhibitors are before making a decision to attend. On top of this, venues also may have very high fees for cancellation of an event, so while we aim to run events as a service (not a profit-making exercise), there is little room for unforeseen costs. Our preferred timing for February is around the middle, right after Valentine’s Day, which is not tenable in 2024 due to some major concert tours pushing up airfares and accommodation rates.

and Suppliers in February or March 2024. This will afford us many months to market the event and increase attendances. Lastly, we wish to remind all our Members that a HUGE effort goes into the events – by both our Head Office Team and exhibitors. FAB Event is for YOU, and we need your support to continue. We hope to see you in August 2024 at our new location.

Economic forecasts for the first 6 months of 2024 are not positive, and have also shaped the decision. After a long search, we believe we have found the right venue for FAB Event: Hyatt Place Essendon Fields. The complex is only 7 years old, has 300 carparks – all ground level with rates no more than $10 for 24 hours. Accommodation is stunning, modern and quiet. The function space is the right size and has some natural light. At the time of writing, we are in the process of making a booking for August 2024, and aim to launch the event to Members

For more information: Tricia Nicolacopoulos 0425 740 305 TriciaN@frontlinestores.com.au www.frontlinestores.com.au

FRONTLINE UPFRONT | CHRISTMAS 2023

New Supplier Insight

BESTSELLER X FRONTLINE Our latest Preferred Supplier in the Lifestyle division has a rich history and a huge portfolio of brands. If you are looking to add or refresh your offering for your under 30 year old customers, there’s bound to be a brand that will suit your needs. BESTSELLER, a family-owned fashion powerhouse hailing from Denmark, has been making waves in the fashion industry since 1975. With an array of brands in its portfolio - including JACK & JONES, ONLY, Y.A.S, VERO MODA, and NAME IT - their reach spans across all ages, genders, and occasions. Today, our products grace the shelves of retailers in 70 countries, and our wholesale business supplies over 17,000 multi-brand and department stores worldwide. Established in 1990, JACK & JONES is more than just a brand - it’s a brotherhood, a community, united by a shared passion for denim. As one of Europe’s largest denim brands, our ethos is steeped in design, lowimpact innovation, and an unwavering commitment to being the leading denim brand for men. Each piece is

a testament to our denim heritage, incorporating the latest fashion trends, state-of-the-art technology, and innovative fabric solutions. ONLY, born in Denmark in 1995, has since matured into a significant player in the women’s denim scene. With an eclectic range of apparel and accessories, ONLY’s offerings are a staple in over 4,500 stores globally. ONLY champions a playful, flexible approach to fashion, celebrating the versatility and creativity of denim. From everyday basics to statement pieces, ONLY is a must-have in every discerning woman’s wardrobe. Representing contemporary design and exceptional craftsmanship, Y.A.S empowers women to live vibrantly and authentically. Through a palette of feminine and colourful fashion choices, Y.A.S aims to inspire women to feel bold, sophisticated, and true to themselves. The focus is on creating enduring wardrobe staples, using highquality materials that stand the test of time. With a holistic approach, Y.A.S is continually refining designs while remaining open to learning, listening, and evolving. VERO MODA, BESTSELLER’s first fashion label, embodies optimism and

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ambition, inspiring self-confidence with its forward-thinking designs. As one of the most recognizable European high-street fashion brands, VERO MODA transcends generations with its authentic and candid expression of style. Their consumer is not defined by age, but by lifestyle - we transform everyday wear into modern, elevated essentials, continually adapting and innovating. For over 30 years, NAME IT has been crafting contemporary, affordable fashion for kids and tweens. Drawing inspiration from the candid nature of children, we create individual looks based on the latest trends. Our mission is to dress children for every occasion with style, while prioritizing comfort, safety, and high-quality clothing. Our commitment to responsible fashion is at the heart of our brand, ensuring we translate trends into sustainable and stylish pieces for the younger generation.

For more information, Travis McKenzie will direct you to the best contact for each brand: 0420 886 784 travis@frontlinestores.com.au

Are You Getting The Most Out Of Your Membership? Pay weekly (when possible), and pick up extra 0.75% settlement.

Use our Head Office Merchandise team as a help centre – find brands/product for you.

Save on services – the full list is in our Member Services booklet.

Read our Frontline Extra weekly email for news and specials.

Ensure you are receiving your Frontline discount, by checking that your purchases from Preferred Suppliers are coming through the Group.

Network with other Members – eg share info, split packs.

Pay Frontline by the due date to pick up your settlement discount.

Recommend other retailers to join Frontline, if they join, “receive 3 for free” – we will waive 3 months of your monthly account fee.

Use our digital and marketing team to help you with ideas/templates that can assist in driving customers to your business.

Australian Retailers Association membership is included in your Frontline Retail Membership. They act as a help desk for legal advice, education, advocacy and much more.

Frontline’s FAB Event is run for our Members, with on the day specials from our Preferred Suppliers, make sure you attend.

Many divisions run catalogues, which are kept cost-effective and aim to improve traffic to your store. Talk to your Divisional Manager to find out more.

Some divisions have branded opportunities which can give you even better buying power, marketing, e-commerce, social media as part of a concentrated group. Talk to your Divisional Manager to find out more.

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FRONTLINE UPFRONT | CHRISTMAS 2023

Ever wondered what goes into the creation of a product? We asked Thomas Cook about the steps they take over the course of a season

Supplier Insight

JOURNEY OF A SEASONAL PRODUCT STARTS HERE

1 POST SEASON REVIEW This is the first step in our new season roadmap. Before we step into development of the new range, we analyse the previous range, what worked and what our stockists loved.

2 NEW SEASON PLAN From the Post Season Review, we will look towards planning a map of what the new season sku count and categories will be.

4 COLLATE DESIGN INSIGHTS

3 SOURCING TRAVELS Our product development team will take the Post Season Review insights and head out on overseas sourcing trips.

While on their trips, the product team will collate details such as trends and colour palettes.

WORKSHOP

The product team will present their findings to the wider company, including the sales, graphics and production teams. The sales teams will represent their respective areas; while graphics will have an aesthetic input.

6 RANGE DEVELOPMENT

Based off the trend information, the product design teams will develop the range. This period includes the review and revision of the range before and after lab dips, strike offs and tech packs are sent off to the suppliers. Thereafter, the styles are set up in the system.

8 SAMPLING AND REVIEW At this point, colours, weights, strike offs and salesman samples are all in the mix. The product team will review the samples which are sent back before they are approved to be sent out to the sales representatives. As a general rule, we sample every colourway and fabric so our customers can see the details. .

9 HITTING THE ROAD Using the salesmen samples which have been sent to them, the sales team will start selling the range to the local rural stockists. Armed with their selling tools, which include salesmen samples, range books and lookbooks, the sales team hit the road, travelling thousands of kilometres per week to see our customers in store. While they’re on the road, they’re also collating their orders so the team at head office can start consolidating orders.

7 FEASIBLITY AND COSTINGS Alongside sampling and review, the cost of producing the garments are being discussed and negotiated with our suppliers.

10 CULL AND REVIEW Using the collated sales figures, the product team makes the final decisions about any cancellations and the depth of the range.

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PHOTOSHOOT

11 SEASON

Confirmed styles will be sent to the photoshoots. The product and graphics team plan and execute the photoshoots from end to end. From here, the team will use the images for the product guides, social media tiles, image gallery assets for our stockists, website imagery and salesnet.

SupplierSupplier Insight Insight JOURNEY OF A SEASONAL PRODUCT ENDS HERE

20 NEW SEASON LAUNCH

DID YOU KNOW? We work across 4 seasonal calendars at 1 time - the review of the season prior, the current season which is selling in, planning for the next season and sourcing trips for the season after. The rough timeline for any season is 18 months, from the conception of an idea to when the range is delivered to our stockists. This process applies across our 7 brands - approximately 4300 skus per season. This doesn’t include our stocklines program, which follows the same process.

We calculate the shipping timelines to ensure that most of our stockists receive the new range at the same time.

PICK AND PACK Orders reach our warehouses, where the team will start picking and packing for sending out to the respective stockists. The seasonal product guides are sent with the shipments.

IMAGE UPLOADS & MARKETING

Images are loaded to image gallery. This includes new season imagery and social media assets to support our customers in their marketing campaigns. Alongside this, the marketing team works with our brand ambassadors and sponsored riders to launch the seasonal range on our social media platforms.

17 SHIPPING Orders are shipped from the respective factories to our warehouses in Australia.

16 PRODUCTION STARTS 15

Any changes in trims and labelling are reviewed, approved and confirmed as the factories commence production.

ORDER CONSOLIDATION

After the confirmed order consolidation from a seasonal indent, final orders are sent across to the factories. The production and logistic teams will also start the conversation on how to best consolidate the range into containers for economies of scale.

Thomas Cook products are also rigorously tested. They go through stringent Quality Control testing by the garment technicians and quality control team to see how they perform under duress and to gauge if any shrinkage is present. This program runs both locally and at source, to ensure that everything adheres to the Thomas Cook standard.

BESTSELLERS TO THE TOP

After receiving the total sales orders, the best sellers for the season are reviewed and discussed for inclusion into our stocklines program.

QUALITY CONTROL

PRE-PRODUCTION SAMPLING Pre-production samples are ordered and received. These samples will form a set for us to keep, this will have all the final changes which have been tracked and communicated along the way.

For more information:

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03 8872 7272

sales@thomascook.com.au

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FRONTLINE UPFRONT | CHRISTMAS 2023

Member Insight

DONOHUES Townsville

The original Donohues store dates back to 1929 and began in Boulia, Southwest Queensland. Started by the Donohue’s family it began as a general store, with an accompanying Dodge truck which serviced the surrounding small towns and all the cattle stations and work camps in the region. The Donohue’s, Cliff & Betty, partnered with Howard & Janet Carpenter in the 80’s and grew the business to include stores in Mount Isa and Townsville. Today, Donohues operates as a single store, housed in the iconic purposebuilt building on Charters Towers Road, Townsville. Over 800m2 of floor space offering all the brands country people rely on and plenty more. The business is still family owned and these days is operated by Anne Musumeci, daughter of Howard and Janet Carpenter. The Townsville business has been going since 1983 and they take great pride in offering the same good old fashioned country service that generations of Donohues customers have come to expect and enjoy. Celebrating their 40th year in Townsville, 37 years as a Frontline Member, the business has had to endure the usual growing pains including numerous

economic and climatic challenges including the 2019 floods which saw flood waters threatening to engulf the business and lapping at the car park! The 40th anniversary was celebrated on Saturday October 7th 2023 with a huge day of fun and giveaways, with plenty of activities for the kids and of course show bags all with the local radio station in attendance. Speaking with Anne it is easy to see and feel her passion for not only Donohues but for the retail sector in general. She has a genuine love for the business and for her staff and considers them all part of the family and the incredible story that is Donohues. Anne grew up working part time in the business as a teenager and then later on when on holidays from university before finally becoming the new custodian of Donohues. She now has a large number of staff to provide customers with the service and the shopping experience she has always envisaged. Frontline has played an important role in the history and growth of Donohues as it has taken pressure off the back-room functions of the business with central billing and consolidation of accounts into one single monthly payment. It has been extremely helpful to Anne as part of her expansive role in not only managing the day-to-day functions of Donohues

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but also in ordering all of the stock and paying the suppliers. Today the business of Donohues is firmly entrenched in the Townsville community and it gives Anne a great sense of pride to see her loyal established customers now introducing their children and grandchildren to the business. Donohues are heavily involved in giving back to the local community through numerous sponsorships of sporting teams, rodeos, camp drafts and many other local community events. They are particularly proud of their involvement in the local Ronald McDonald house charity which provides accommodation and care for the families of children undergoing cancer treatment. As Anne has taken over the business from her parents, she hopes that perhaps one day she will be able to pass the reins over to her children and continue the involvement of the family in not only the Donohues business but in the local Townsville community for which she has a great passion and draws an enormous amount of enjoyment. Congratulations on your 40th Birthday from all at Frontline! Donohues, Townsville www.donohues.com.au

Member Insight

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FRONTLINE UPFRONT | CHRISTMAS 2023

Member Insight

Previous Store Fitting

Original Store Front

During Store Renovations

New Store Layout

SEIZING THE OPPORTUNITY – A NEW CHAPTER BEGINS!

updated stock mix, re-designed store layout and most significantly, creating a new name – Insideout Clothing.

Looking back 24 years ago as a fashion design student, Janine had no idea that her part time job at South Gippsland Clothing Co. would take her on an exciting retail journey in the tight knit South Gippsland community of Foster.

Then ten years later in 2016, Janine once again seized the opportunity to buy the shoe shop across the road called Dragon Your Feet - and aptly renamed it Insideout Footwear.

While facing many challenges over recent years, she remained focused on the positives, looking for ways to evolve her business embrace change. This included building confidence in The original store affectionately using social media as an important known as Vikki’s, had been a Frontline communication tool. She was blown member since 1987, but in 2006, away with public interest in recent owner Vikki decided it was time to say posts of her renovations, resulting farewell to her beloved store. in more than 1000 followers on Facebook and Instagram! Seeing the opportunity, Janine made a life defining decision to buy the This year, Janine and the team business and began the first chapter agreed it was time to revamp the in an inspiring story. store and undertake some structural renovations. (The building sat above She recalls the raw excitement of the site of an old mine and needed starting the journey on that first major restumping!) weekend, making much needed changes including new window Then, out of the blue, the much larger displays, increased natural light, premises next door came up for sale!

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Janine once again took a leap of faith and purchased the property, enabling her to merge the two stores under the one roof, renaming it - Insideout Clothing and Footwear. This was a perfect way to create a ‘one stop’ shopping experience and streamline her running costs - The beginning of the next exciting new chapter. The site became a hive of activity as family, friends and members of the community all got involved. Converting the old building, which was once a motor garage and then a gift shop was a massive exercise. Care was taken to celebrate its 100year history by featuring the floor bolts that once held machinery in place and restoring unique diamond windows set in the old brick feature walls. The project included: • New polished concrete floors • Walls removed and new ones erected.

Member Insight

New Store Changing Rooms

New Store Layout

Janine With Her Family

• Massive hand built wooden countertop (thanks to Janine’s talented husband Sean). • Restoring 100-year-old brick walls to their original glory • New modern dressing rooms with plush velvet curtains designed by Janine including magnetic edging which magically attaches to the door frames. • Modern streamlined shoe racking designed to effectively display the full range along one wall. • Merchandise islands designed to display ranges in colour palettes and enabling product to be easily rotated weekly to give a fresh new look. A great decision was to leave the windows uncovered as they renovated so the locals could watch each stage and share in the journey. Since celebrating the launch on 9th October 2023, ‘’The feedback has been awesome’’, said Janine. “The look on people’s faces as they come through the door is worth it. We keep

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hearing, it’s like shopping in a store in Melbourne. As a team we are so excited to be working all together under one roof and we know that it will make it easier for our customers to shop too’’. Now when you enter there is a sense of space and light. As you glance around you can see the full length of the shop and can easily see the range of clothing and footwear now conveniently located under the one roof. As you make your way through the shop the full range of products on display flows from Ladies, Mens and Childrens clothing and Footwear, to Workwear and Work Boots, Swimwear, Underwear, and a full range of School Uniforms.

offer more flexibility to adapt with these changes. It’s clear that they are an enthusiastic team who are not afraid to adopt new ideas to create a shopping experience which keeps customers coming back. The ‘tongue in cheek’ sign “Come in – we’re awesome!” displayed in the window of their previous shop has been replaced in their new store with “We’re still awesome – just more shiny!” I think it says it all.

Janine explained that over time she has seen significant changes in the way women shop. The lines are more blurred as mature women now have more contemporary fashion tastes and look for younger curated ranges and personalised service. The new store has enabled her to support of this growing trend and

Insideout Clothing and Footwear www.insideoutclothing.com.au

FRONTLINE UPFRONT | CHRISTMAS 2023

Member Insight

Setting Up The Store

During Renovations

Grand Opening Ribbon Cutting

CREATING A CO-OP TO SAVE A TOWN

The Cootamundra District Co-Op Ltd Frontline’s rich history is made up of country department stores and Co-Ops. These stores were the goto places for rural customers – and sold everything you could need. It eliminated the need to travel further afield. While our current membership still has quite of a few of these types of stores, one of our newer additions fits right into this category. They only recently formed a Co-Op and then opened the store in August. We were impressed with their vision, determination and end result! It shows what a community can do by coming together, when faced with a situation which could have been detrimental to their township. Cootamundra is situated in southern New South Wales, about 2 hours northwest of Canberra. It has a population of around 7000, and is famous for being the birthplace of Sir Donald Bradman.

When it was announced mid-2020 that their local Target Country store would close in April 2021, a group of forward-thinking residents came together to discuss what could be done. They perceived a very real threat to not only employment, but also loss of retail sales in town from consumers travelling the 90 km to Wagga Wagga. Many shops were closing due to the pandemic. They needed to save their township. During a public meeting in August 2020 attended by 80 people, the idea of a community owned retail space was explored. A speaker from the Business Council of Co-operatives and Mutuals spoke about the nature of Co-operatives and how to go about setting one up. Within a week of the meeting a Steering Committee was formed; seven to nine people met weekly and volunteered their time to explore what might be possible in response to a widely acknowledged risk to the economic prosperity of the town. The Steering Committee then worked collaboratively to explore how a retail

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store could be set up that would support Cootamundra to: 1. Create local jobs 2. Provide traineeships for local young people 3. Become a shopping destination 4. Financially support local community groups and projects 5. Drive economic viability and prosperity through a community-wide mutual relationship – we support you and you support us 6. Unite through community engagement and strengthening community connections 7. Be proud of their community-lead response to the closure of a central retail store. The Steering Committee was committed to Cootamundra having a thriving town centre that provides local jobs and puts money back into the local community. It identified that this could be achieved through setting up a community owned and operated Co-operative

Member Insight

Current Board Members

New Store Layout

retail business. The Coota District Co-Op Ltd became a legal entity in May 2021. The Formation Meeting was held on 31 May. At that meeting the first memberships were received, and from those members the Formation Board was elected. The Board worked tirelessly to raise the required start-up capital alongside many volunteers who worked in the office for potential members to come in and join. In 2022, the required funds ($750,000) had been raised and the Co-Op entered into a lease agreement to rent 181 Parker St, Cootamundra – the old site of the community newspaper. Frontline was approached around this time to assist with relevant wholesalers, cost savings and retail advice. With extensive work to be done to the new site, it was decided to run a month-long pop-up shop in November/December 2022. This way, the Co-Op could start giving back to the community and foster some Christmas spirit.

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New Store Layout

During the first half of 2023, extensive site cleaning, store planning and refurbishment took place, followed by the buying of product and shop fixtures. A team of volunteers then helped to unpack stock in readiness for the grand opening. A pre-open day, attended by 200 locals also created excitement and the potential for ownership. Alongside this was the challenge of finding a store manager, assistant store manager, and staff. It was important to hire some high school students in order to give them valuable work and interpersonal skills. The department store finally opened on the 3rd August 2023, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, performed by one of the Co-Op’s first Members, 87 year old Margaret Large. Focusing on the categories and value which were at Target Country, the store features Womenswear, Intimates, Menswear, Childrenswear, Footwear and Manchester. The atmosphere is light and spacious, allowing customers to easily browse.

Customers are now coming from further afield: Temora, Gundagai, Junee – and even Wagga Wagga. To date, the Co-Op has 1,070 Members, with 880 being Foundation Members (initial investors). Chair Leigh Bowden says “the Co-Op is more than a store – it is a place where Members can have a say”. Simply, “they are part of the business”. On the left hand side of the store entrance, the Vision and Purpose Statements, Statement of Values and Co-operative Principles reflect this clearly. With Christmas approaching, the Co-Op is also hosting a late night shopping event in the main street, featuring market stalls, entertainment, kids activities and much more – a way of bringing the community together and keeping business in town. Congratulations on all the hard work, which is now seeing its rewards! For more information: (02) 6942 2040 info@cootacoop.com.au www.cootacoop.com.au

FRONTLINE UPFRONT | CHRISTMAS 2023

Services Insight What’s Hote

FrontLine members receive 3 months 1receipt subscription for free.

SWITCH TO PAPERLESS SHOPPING WITH 1RECEIPT Currently society is searching for new ways to help retailers to reach, interact with, and utilise data from customers. The push to use “personalisation” has gained momentum over the past decade with retailers coming up with more innovative means to create a seamless experience for their customers. Accordingly, after 4 years of hard work, Quad Core Pty. Ltd. a Melbourne based tech startup developed an impactful, hassle-free, and cybersecured platform which works seamlessly with retailer POS. It is 1receipt® Contactless Receipt. 1receipt is an eco-friendly product that aims to reduce paper wastage, retailer expenses and help customers store their receipts digitally without using even a single paper sheet. Globally, shoppers spend trillions of dollars on merchandise and

services that often require proof of purchase. Each individual consumer can account for hundreds of rolls of receipt paper each year which amounts to acres of forest being logged. Most of these paper receipts are casually tossed aside and rarely kept for any purpose while only Australia generates over 3,300,000 kg of paper waste every year. Not to mention that retailers spend millions of dollars on purchasing and maintaining printing machines and related hardware and materials. It’s free for retailers to register for 1receipt and receive a demonstration organised by a 1receipt team member. A Pyramid™ digital receipt scanner is then sent out and the retailer can begin offering a digital receipt to shoppers immediately. The peripheral equipment operates without any change in retailers’ day to day operation and let their shoppers receive their true digital receipt by scanning an app from their mobile phone (without revealing any personal data like mobile number or email address to the retailer). 2019

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(03) 9028 8298 | hello@1receipt.io Currently, 1receipt is integrated into 21 leading POSs in Australia, with more POSs coming soon. While paper receipts cost retailers between 11 to 18 cents on average, 1receipt takes only 5 to 9 cents per digital receipt. As part of our partnership with Frontline Stores, we’re waiving the 1receipt transaction fee for 3 months. This offer is available for any Members who join 1receipt by 31 June 2024. Shoppers can also download the 1receipt app for free from Google Play or the Apple App Store. Besides the above unique advantages, retailers will also benefit from accessing an exclusive “AIpowered” dashboard that empowers them to personalise shoppers’ instore experience via sending targeted push promotions as well as accessing other impactful insights to help grow their businesses. For any queries, please contact us: 03 9028 8298 retailer@1receipt.io www.1receipt.io

Services Insight

YOUR MEMBERSHIP WITH THE AUSTRALIAN RETAILERS ASSOCIATION: Access exclusive benefits now! Did you know that as part of your Frontline membership inclusions, you are automatically signed up as a member of the Australian Retailers Association?

that employs more than 1.4 million Australians and is the largest private sector employer in the country. As Australia’s peak retail body, representing more than 120,000 retail shopfronts and online stores, the ARA informs, advocates, educates, protects and unifies the independent, national and international retail community – including businesses just like yours!

know you have a network of support while you are on your retail journey. Independent retail is a challenging endeavour and having support and information around you to help you make informed decisions, as well as removing the stress from an everchanging, fluctuating environment, has never been more important. It is a fantastic resource having the ARA on board and we hope that as a Frontline Member you can maximise this resource.

The Australian Retailers Association (ARA) is the oldest, largest and most diverse national retail body. ARA represents a $420 billion sector

Frontline’s partnership with the ARA provides its Members with many tools and benefits to assist in maximising your retail business success, your piece of mind and the confidence to

ER Telephone Advice: The ARA’s Employment Relations Telephone Advisory Service is open Monday to Friday, 8am – 6pm. The dedicated team of legal experts are on call to assist with any of your employment relations questions… and it’s all part of your ARA membership.

Legal Advice: The ARA’s dedicated team of legal experts are here for you! When you gain access to ARA’s legal advisers, you’ll receive critical – yet uncomplicated – advice, when and where you need it, including WHS, leasing, consumer law, franchising, M&A and general law matters.

Tenancy Advice: The ARA support retail businesses to find the best pathway to negotiating retail leases and other tenancy issues. As a Member, you have access to free initial advice from retail tenancy experts as well as a range of online resources.

ARA is dedicated to delivering enhanced services to its Members. You will also have access to the bespoke ARA Member Benefits Program, which offers exclusive deals on a diverse array of products and services essential for your daily business operations.

membership gives you valuable access to advice and services. For independent retailers, the commitment of the Frontline Team is to ensure that you are not navigating the retail journey alone, and aligning with ARA as a retail partner is a key aspect of this.

member portal. If you don’t know your log in, or have misplaced it, contact Travis at Frontline Head Office and he will help get you set up.

Considering the dynamic nature of the retail landscape, holding a Frontline membership which includes an ARA

For more information and to access these exclusive benefits, visit retail.org.au and log in to the

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For any queries, please contact us: ARA Membership Team 1300 368 041 www.retail.org.au

FRONTLINE UPFRONT | CHRISTMAS 2023

Staff Profile

SHARON RODRIGUES Menswear, Womenswear, Kids Co-ord. How did you come to work at Frontline? Following my role at Magnolia Lounge, my skills and future aspirations aligned with a role that had opened in the Menswear division with Miro. What is your current role at Frontline and what are your core responsibilities? My current role is as a Coordinator in the Menswear, Womenswear & Kids divisions, which means I am responsible for assisting the Business Managers (Miro & Sam) with their general needs, such as producing Supplier and Frontline information for communication (both internal & external use), special projects, running reports & lists (among many ad-hoc assignments) and producing the weekly Member newsletters. How has your role evolved at Frontline from when you started until now? My core duties are moderately unchanged (i.e., assisting the Business Managers), however, a big portion of my role has now become about communication. Are there any projects or initiatives you’ve been involved in that you’re proud of? I have been involved with the surveys that were sent to Members this year (from inception, construction, distribution & analysis). Composing the questions and understanding how to put them together in a methodical manner, then of course, analyzing the findings and putting the findings into practice or reality (essentially

all with the aim of finding out what Members want and then trying to deliver those needs.) Being involved at each FAB Event since I started in 2016; there are many many hours of work that go into the 1- or 2-day show; from extending the invitation/ proposal to the Supplier to cultivating the show specials to answering questions from Members and Suppliers on the day. Each weekly Member EDM newsletter – whereby I collate the week’s specials from the Suppliers and transfer them in a meaningful manner into our systems. Finding and sharing content other than Supplier specials that Members may find useful or interesting is a challenge, and these discoveries also keep me abreast of what is current in retail too. Seeing the click rates after each newsletter gives me great satisfaction. The social media tiles library that I have developed (which is available on the Member portal, Frontline Central) and shared in weekly Member EDM newsletters are FREE for Members to use and share on their social media platforms. I love seeing Members utilise them, but more than this, I hope they give Members some inspiration to produce some on their own. What are some of the challenges you have faced and how have you overcome them? Frontline is a unique company with a unique offering, and initially challenging for me was understanding what and how we help Members … plus some exclusive internal processes & systems (as many other organisations do) getting familiar with them.

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What has been your most significant achievement to date? Since taking on the EDM responsibilities, I have seen the open rates each week increase. Are there any specific skills or qualities that have been crucial to your success in your role? Adaptability is crucial in any role – however, most importantly communicating & dealing with a very broad and diverse group of people is important. Different stakeholders require different methods of communication, so understanding how to deal with each one is important to get desired outcomes. Knowing your audience is crucial – the type of message, who the message is for, and how to get the message across. For example, some Suppliers respond to email better than phone, or text better than email. What’s something you offer to support Members that they may not know of or should be using more? Supplier Directories (these list the Supplier in the relevant division, and summarise their product ranges, terms & contacts)… and probably assistance with individual/ store-specific social media imagery that I can help to construct based on their individual needs. What part of your role brings you the most joy? Being able to help independent retailers. For any queries, please contact: Sharon Rodrigues 03 9888 5766 srodrigues@frontlinestores.com.au www.frontlinestores.com.au

On The Road

ON THE ROAD 2023 David Sharp

2023 has been a busy year for Business Development & Membership. Road trips have been completed from Southern Tasmania to Perth, Darwin, Cairns and pretty much everywhere in between. Every capital city has been visited and every major town in each state of Australia has been scoured to find the next new member for Frontline. A total of 12 recruitment trips have been completed over the year which has resulted in 32 new members to the Frontline “family”. We have concentrated also on maintaining the membership of stores that have been sold to new owners so keeping them as part of the Frontline group. There have been a number of stores changing hands in recent times as some of our more “mature” members reach a time in their lives when retirement beckons or new challenges are on the horizon. A number

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of stores have chosen to close their doors when a new owner can’t be found or no family members wish to take on the business. New members often take a considerable amount of time, and multiple contacts, to make a decision regarding Frontline membership with one store taking 7 years to join from the first point of contact!!!! We often have stores, mainly member referrals, who join in quick time which once again underlines the importance and power of having our current members & suppliers recommend our business to other retailers. It’s always extremely rewarding to have a prospect join after working hard through the recruitment process and then to have them praise our business and its many benefits and then take advantage of some of the extra member services we have available to give them even greater savings.

It is important for Frontline to grow and attract new members to its ranks. We must be able to evolve, develop more relevant initiatives and provide our members with the tools they require to move their business forward in what is a challenging environment. We need to work together as a team to respond to a shopping culture that is constantly changing and evolving. Frontline is here for you, the Members, but we need your feedback to keep our business model relevant and vibrant to cope with these ongoing challenges. For any queries, please contact: David Sharp 0429 897 776 david.sharp@frontlinestores.com.au www.frontlinestores.com.au

FRONTLINE UPFRONT | CHRISTMAS 2023

ARE YOU: SELLING YOUR BUSINESS? Your Frontline membership is a valuable asset when selling your retail business. Being associated with such a well-respected national retail group that capitalises on the buying power of over 600 independent retailers should be promoted when transferring the ownership of your business. Make sure you keep us informed so that you can seamlessly transfer your membership to the approved new owner. If you are selling your business, please make sure you:

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Inform Frontline of the new owners – their contact details. What date will the transfer of membership take place – to ensure that you are not liable for new transactions on your existing account. Request a new Frontline Membership application form from David Sharp. Contact David Sharp - Frontline’s Business Development & Membership Manager on 0429 897 776 – he will then work with Tony D’Alessandro - our Credit Controller to assist with the transition of the business to the approved new Member ensuring you are not liable for any transactions in the future.

ARE YOU: BUYING A NEW BUSINESS? EXPANDING YOUR EXISTING BUSINESS? Are you thinking about opening another business or maybe a new branch of your existing business? Let Frontline assist you to ensure that you capitalise on the discounts and benefits from your first day of operation. If you are expanding your business or purchasing a new one, please make sure you:

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Inform Frontline of the new business contact details. Inform us of the date the new addition to Membership will commence – making sure you take advantage of all Frontline Discounts from Day 1. Contact David Sharp - Frontline’s Business Development & Membership Manager on 0429 897 776 – to assist with the application process and new membership implementation.