Season 2: Trailer

Friday 21 January 2022

Season 2 Trailer: Small Business is Big Business

We are thrilled to announce that Season 2 of the ARA’s Retail Therapy podcast is launching next week. This season, we’re looking at small business.

Small business is big business. 95% of our members are small to medium businesses – the backbone of the Australian economy – and we are proud to represent the interests of these businesses.

ARA CEO Paul Zahra speaks with the people behind the small businesses that are the life blood of so many of our communities, and with industry leaders who are shaping the small business landscape. First episode will go live on 28 January 2022.

ABOUT THE ARA:

The Australian Retailers Association (ARA) is the oldest, largest and most diverse national retail body, representing a $360bn sector which employs 1.3 million Australians and is the largest private sector employer in the country.

As Australia’s peak retail body, representing more than 100,000 retail shop fronts and online stores, the ARA informs, advocates, educates, protects and unifies our independent, national and international retail community.

Learn more: retail.org.au

Season Two

Episode 1: Steve Plarre

We’re kicking off Season two of the Retail Therapy podcast with this fantastic chat with Steve Plarre, CEO of Ferguson Plarre Bakehouses, an award-winning family business with a proud history dating back over 110 years. Ferguson Plarre is an iconic business, famous for its cakes, pasties and pies and a great case study for small business success.

Listen now

28 January 2022

Episode 2: Amanda Rose

Did you know that about 38% of small businesses in Australia are owned by women?

In this episode of Retail Therapy ARA CEO Paul Zahra speaks with Amanda Rose, a powerful advocate for women in business. Amanda is the Founding Director of Western Sydney Women and Founder & CEO of Small Business Women Australia.

Listen now

11 February 2022

Episode 3: Bruce Billson

Paul Zahra sits down with The Hon Bruce Billson, Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman as he candidly talks about his career, how he’s championing the sector, the issues that motivate him to keep fuelling the engine room of the economy and some important mental health resources to support small and family businesses, an area extremely important to Bruce and his team.

Listen now

25 February 2022