In this episode, I speak with Paul Zahra, the CEO of the Australian Retailers Association. Paul is a leading figure of Australian retail having worked in the industry for 40 years including in senior executive and non-executive roles and as a company advisor. Paul has previously held senior leadership positions at Target, Officeworks and at David Jones where he was the CEO and Managing Director. Paul leads the team at the Australian Retailers Association – Australia’s oldest, largest and most diverse retail body, representing a $400 billion sector that employs one in ten Australians. During our dynamic chat, Paul Shared: His assessment of the health of Australian Retail Strategies we can embrace to embark on the future of retail Noteworthy shifts and trends, such as sustainability, Ai, Innovation and technology Marketplace Intelligence Insights The enormous benefits of becoming an ARA member You can find the ARA at: ARA  Homepage | Australian Retailers Association ARA  Instagram READY TO SCALE UP? Ready to level up to a new phase of growth and expansion? Elizabeth founded fashion consultancy Fashion Equipped in 2012 to expand the reach and potential of the Australian industry. Backed by decades of experience in all aspects of the business, and passionate about entrepreneurship, growth and the power of community, Elizabeth delivers fashion consulting, mentorship and online learning to hundreds of businesses and counting. From buying, product development, sales and sourcing, to strategic planning, marketing and team management, our expert line-up of industry insiders are committed to sharing their knowledge, networks and passion - to empower you to build a thriving fashion business. Elizabeth's next availability for consulting is September 2023. Feel free to reach out to her directly at [email protected].  Consulting is suited to brands that are already trading and ready to work on their strategic growth plans.  READY TO START UP? Ready to bring your vision to life and start your fashion business? ONLINE LEARNING We’ve crafted our decades of experience into an online fashion business syllabus informed by and tailored to the real world. Start Your Fashion Business is an industry-first online learning platform and a dynamic and engaged community. If you are a startup who wants to make the Fashion Business your Business – then head to our website and watch the replay of our last Info Session & QA. Our ‘Start Your Fashion Business' programme is open online, so if you would like to join our community jump straight in! MENTORSHIP   It takes finely tuned business skills to make it in fashion, but mindset also plays a huge role. This is why mentorship is an essential ingredient to success – few can guide you on this path better than those who’ve already walked it and our deeply experienced mentors are here to help you navigate the business while building a strong mindset.  If you want to work 1:1 with a Mentor and kickstart your biz development, you can head to Your Mentor Collective – book a 1 hour of power session with one of our amazing industry Mentors - that's where the magic happens! MINI COURSES If you're up for a Mini-Course, check out our Start and Scale Studio on our Fashion Equipped website and explore Start your Sourcing Strategy, Startup Cost Analysis, and Tech Pack Development. You can find Fashion Equipped over at: Instagram: @fashionequipped @startyourfashionbusiness_au Podcast Insta: @fashionbusinessmindset Facebook: www.facebook.com/fashionequipped Website: www.fashionequipped.com.au Let's do this together, let's make The Fashion Business, YOUR Business! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.