ARA Fashion Luncheon - Sydney

ARA Luncheon - In Conjunction With fashionstate - Sydney

Date:- 10th March 2008

Venue:- Imax Theatre, Darling Harbour

Event Summary & Photos l Media Release

ARA and Fashionstate hosted the Fashion networking luncheon

On Monday 10 March 2008 the Australian Retailers Association in conjunction with Fashionstate hosted a networking fashion luncheon at Star Room, in Darling Harbour.

Australian Retailers Association, Executive Director Richard Evans facilitated an expert panel which included:

• Annemiek Ballesty, CEO of Fossil Australia and New Zealand
• Karen Mennie, Merchandise Director Orotongroup
• Rikke Dahl- Thorup, General Manager ECCO Shoes Pacific Pty Ltd

ARA takes this opportunity to thank our sponsor Niche Fashion Technology and our partners Fashionstate and Fashion Exposed who contributed to the success of the event.

The guests included; executive retailers, fashion designers, buyers and overseas visitors who were there to unveil the latest news and trends in the fashion retail industry.

The floor was opened up for a lively discussion, where small and large retailers could address some of the challenges they have to face in running their business.

During the luncheon, they discussed key concerns for the fashion retail industry which included:

• Handling seasonality for the Northern Hemisphere brands, as Australia being the smallest market in the global Hemisphere
• This seasons forecast and trends in fashion accessories
• The importance of brand especially as we enter economic uncertainty - the different between creating a want to buy rather than need.
• Recruiting and motivating generation Y in a retail environment, with the challenges of using the traditional channels
• Office culture - entrepreneurial in casual, relaxed environment can get more cut through and results than corporate structures. Also good to encourage generation Y to become part of the future
• Creating "Green", protecting the environment and your bottom line. What retailers face in exercising their responsibility towards the environment, what some businesses are doing to reduce their impacts and how businesses are educating consumers on their use of shopping bags.

ARA Luncheon, Media Release - click here.

For more information on this event, contact our events team on 1300 368 041.

Photo 1: Richard Evans, ARA ED and Panel Speakers

Photo 2: Rikke Dahl-Thorup & Karen Mennie - Panel Speakers

Photo 3: Room shot, at the Luncheon

Photo 4: Room shot, at the Luncheon

Enquiries

For more information on this and other ARA events, please contact our events team on 1300 368 041.