Directory

National Retail Association

The National Retail Association (NRA) is an industry organization that provides professional services to the retail and wider service industry throughout Australia. As the pre-eminent voice of the retail industry, we are proud to provide individual business solutions to over 3700 retail businesses across Australia. Our aim is to ensure that businesses within the service sector, whatever their size, have access to specialised knowledge and industry-specific expertise in order to grow and prosper.

If you are a business owner or manager, we can assist you with the latest information and advice, allowing you to operate your business more efficiently and effectively in an increasingly competitive business environment. Our team of experts includes lawyers, industrial relations and human resource practitioners, skilled trainers, major event organizers, labour market specialists, and policy and government relations advisers.

Comeos

Comeos represents the commerce and services in Belgium, covering retail and wholesale, in the food and non-food sector. Nearly all chains both national and international operating in Belgium are members of Comeos.

EuroCommerce

Established in 1993, EuroCommerce represents the retail, wholesale and international trade sectors in Europe. Its membership includes commerce federations in 31 countries, European and national associations representing specific commerce sectors and individual companies.

Its mission is to:

• promote the visibility and defend the interests of commerce in the European Institutions, ensuring that they understand and take into account the concerns and realities of the sector throughout the decision-making process;
• raise awareness among EU decision makers of the importance of commerce in the European economy;
• improve the quality of legislation so as to reduce costs and uncertainties for businesses;
• keep its members informed of EU developments impacting on their daily activities.

EuroCommerce is a key player in the process of implementing the Internal Market for consumers: it champions the cause of free and open markets both within the European Union and beyond, to the benefit of consumers. EuroCommerce stands for sound and fair competition where all actors in commerce have free access to the activities and markets of their choice.

Foreign Trade Association

The Foreign Trade Association (FTA) is the association for European commerce specialized in international trade issues. Its members are national trade associations and companies from all over Europe. For 30 years the FTA has represented their interests, informing and supporting them in their commitment to free trade.

• The FTA is dedicated to the improvement of the political and legal environment for European commerce with respect to the European Union, international institutions like the World Trade Organization (WTO) and national governments worldwide.
• It addresses all international trade issues, in particular WTO, customs and procedures, bilateral free trade agreements, anti-dumping and access to markets outside Europe.
• Trade policy also touches on social and development policy questions. Through the Business Social Compliance Initiative , (BSCI), the FTA is committed to improving social standards in the global supply chain of commerce.

Associação Brasileira de Lojistas de Shopping (ALSHOP)

Com 14 anos de existência, ALSHOP firma-se como principal entidade representativa do varejo de shopping e elo entre lojistas, empreendedores, poder público e demais segmentos da economia, visando o fortalecimento e a capacitação do setor.

Criada em novembro de 1994 e presidida desde então pelo administrador de empresas Nabil Sahyoun, a entidade é membro da Federação Nacional de Varejo norte-americana (NRF) e conta com 17 mil associados no Brasil.

Por meio da Alshop, os associados contam com uma rede de benefícios que inclui assessoria jurídica, acesso a informações dirigidas e treinamentos voltados ao desenvolvimento dos profissionais do setor.

Brazilian Franchise Association (ABF)

The Brazilian Franchise Association (ABF) is a nonprofit organization created in 1987 with the goal to contribute, develop and excel in the technical and institutional development of the franchising system. ABF has established itself as the industry representative body with the Brazilian government, authorities and official bodies.

Furthermore, there are over 800 associate members, including franchisors, franchisees, consultants and service providers.

ABF is committed to helping Brazilian chains expand their operations abroad. The organization maintains relationships with leading international franchise associations and participates in major events abroad, in order to demonstrate the strength of the Brazilian franchise. It is associated with IFA - International Franchise Association, with whom it maintains a bilateral cooperation agreement and the FIAF – Ibero American Franchise Federation, whose Secretary-General for the 2010/11 biennium is ABF Executive Director, Ricardo Camargo, who holds the office for the second consecutive term. It is also a member of WFC - World Franchise Council where, as of March 2009, Ricardo Camargo and the entity's Legal Director, Luiz Henrique do Amaral took on the Executive Secretariat for the 2009/10 biennium.

Confederação Nacional de Dirigentes Lojistas

The Confederação Nacional de Dirigentes Lojistas (CNDL) represents the retail, most important sector of national economy, which employs five million people and handles nearly $300 billion per year, in addition to being present in all districts in the country. The organization is structured in 27 Brazilian states, 1587 Boards of Directors Tenants (CDLs) in cities and more than 780 thousand members in points-of-sale. It is the maintainer of the Credit Protection Service (CPS), a database of cadastral information with consumers and businesses, which holds 300 million annual consultations. Headquartered in Brasilia, the CNDL is chaired by businessman Roque Pellizzaro Junior, graduated in economics and law.

The storekeeper movement has half a century of history and its trajectory over corporate interests in trade. The political and economic agenda of the Confederation coincides with the agenda of sustainable development of the nation, particularly the tax and labor reforms, which would enhance the growth of the economy, creating jobs, opportunities to undertake and higher quality of life for the people.

Strategic issues to make the consume relations more fair are priorities of CNDL - such as the approval of the check law, the regulation of electronic payments (credit cards and debit cards) and the adoption of a positive record (a database that shows the history of the paying consumers). It has the important support of the Joint Parliamentary Front of the Retail Commerce (FPMCV), with 209 federal deputies and 27 senators.

IDV – Brazilian Retail Development Institute

The Brazilian Retail Development Institute was founded in 2004 by the most important retailers in Brazil and represents different retail segments with operation in the whole country. The Institute's purposes are to contribute for the economy growth as well as propose conditions for the national retail growth in order to increase sales, results and employment.

The founders believe that the retail industry needs to strengthen the relationship with the government authorities, suppliers and the society. Therefore we support the initiatives that allow the improvement among the different retail industries. Among all the activities is to discuss the Tax, Labourist and the Union Reforms.

The IDV members represent 25% of the Brazilian retail sales. There are 9,450 stores and 385,000 employees. Total estimated sales are US$ 50 billion. The Institute counts with the technical support of all members and specialized consultants. The events, studies, researches and workshops enhance and update the retail information nationally and internationally.

The IDV members are: Bob´s, C&A, C&C Casa e Construção, Carrefour, Casas Bahia, Drogasil, Decathlon, DPaschoal, Fnac, Grupo Dimed-Panvel, Grupo Pão de Açúcar, Insinuante, Itapuã Calçados, Leo Madeiras, Leroy Merlin, Livraria Cultura, Livraria Saraiva, Lojas Renner, Lojas Riachuelo, Lojas Marisa, Magazine Luiza, O Boticário, Pernambucanas, Ponto Frio, Quero-Quero Casa e Construção, Ráscal, Ri Happy, Telhanorte, Tok&Stok, Wal-Mart e Gouvêa de Souza&MD.

Le Conseil Québécois du Commerce de Détail (CQCD)

For 30 years now, the Conseil québécois du commerce de detail (CQCD) is proud to represent the retail community of Quebec, and pursues its mission of representing, promoting the sector and defending the interest of its members, to insure a sound development of the retail sector in Quebec.

The government, as well as the media, are listening in to the CQCD because it represents 70% of the retail sector in Quebec. The CQCD also hosts several working committees, of which members who participate in have a particular interest related to a same subject. In terms of services to its members, the CQCD offers a complete range of economic advantages, which allow them to make substantial savings by taking advantage of discounts negotiated exclusively for retailers who are members. Also, thanks to our expertise in this sector, we are able to offer training programs, as well as the Annual Retail Convention, giving people working in the industry the possibility of networking with people from the same sector, and accessibility to training and relevant information regarding the major preoccupations of the people from this sector.

Retail Council of Canada

Retail Council of Canada (RCC) has been the Voice of Retail in Canada since 1963.  We speak for an industry that touches the daily lives of Canadians in every corner of the country – by providing jobs, career opportunities, and by investing in the communities we serve.

RCC is a not-for-profit, industry-funded association representing more than 40,000 store fronts of all retail formats across Canada, including department, specialty, discount, and independent stores, and online merchants.

RCC is a strong advocate for retailing in Canada and works with all levels of government and other stakeholders to support employment growth and career opportunities in retail, to promote and sustain retail investments in communities from coast-to-coast, and to enhance consumer choice and industry competitiveness.  RCC also provides its members with a full range of services and programs including education and training, benchmarking and best practices, networking, advocacy, and industry information.

China General Chamber of Commerce

China General Chamber of Commerce is a national social organization under direct administration of State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission with the juridical association status. CGCC is voluntarily united by enterprises (enterprise groups) in lines of commodity circulation, service and tourism, and local commercial chambers (general chambers), national professional associations, related agency groups, and individuals involved in commodity circulation. Now the Chamber has over 500 members.

The aims of China General Chamber of Commerce is to abide by the Constitution and laws & regulations of China, to perform related guidelines & policies of the nation, to respect the social moral standards, to thrive China's socialist market economy by integrating business groups home & abroad, to initiate concerned commercial activities in lines of commodities circulation for promoting international economic connection & cooperation, to be persistent in the service for overall interests of enterprises, to protect the legitimate rights & interests of members, to organize industrial self-discipline, to execute industrial coordination functions, and to play full role as a bridge and bond.

Federation of Finnish Commerce

The Federation of Finnish Commerce (FFC) represents extensively the interests of the entire sector of wholesale and retail trade. The organization's operations cover issues relating to both business and the labour market.

The sphere of FFC contains approximately 7.000 commercial enterprises, having some 280.000 employees and 30 branch associations. The objective of the federation is to improve the operating conditions of commerce.

The federation primarily operates in the fields of:
- competition and company legislation
- consumer affairs
- education/training
- environmental issues
- logistics and e-commerce
- methods of payment
- research and technology
- security issues
- social affairs
- taxation and economic policy
- trade policy

International Association of Department Stores (IADS)

The IADS, the first Association entirely devoted to department stores, brings together department stores from many different countries to share retail management experience and best practices. In the middle of the 1920s, business leaders in Europe were becoming increasingly interested in management ideas coming from the United States.

Principally in order to facilitate the transmission of such ideas across national frontiers, the International Management Institute (IMI) was established in Geneva in 1927. The office of the Association subsequently moved to Copenhagen in 1939, to Geneva in 1951 and back to Paris in 1956 where it is based at present.

EHI Retail Institute

EHI is a research, training and consultancy institute for the retail industry and its partners. The international EHI-Retail-Network covers around 500 Member-Companies. EHI was founded in 1951. Managing Directors are Michael Gerling and Prof. Prof. E.h. (RUS) Dr. Bernd Hallier. EHI is a 50%-shareholder in GS1 Germany. They coordinate the European EAN in Germany. In cooperation with EHI the Messe Düsseldorf organises EuroShop, the world's largest trade fair for capital goods for the retail industry, and EuroCIS, showing the latest products, solutions and trends in IT and security.

Retailers Association of India (rai)

Retailers Association of India (rai) is the unified voice of Indian retailers working to create an environment that will support the growth of the modern retail industry in India. rai is the body that encourages, develops, facilitates, and supports retailers to become modern and adopt best practices that will delight customers. The three main goals of rai are Retail Development, Facilitation, and Propagation.
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Japan Retailers Association

In May 1978, the Japan Retailers Association (JRA) was proposed and established by the Chambers of Commerce and Industry and other retail-related organizations such as the Japan Department Stores Association and Japan Chain Stores Association with the objective of contributing to the improvement of life through steady advancement and development of the retail industry in Japan.

Membership consists of corporations and individuals in the retail industry, retail-related organizations and corporations, and individuals in non-retail industries, including product manufacturers, trading companies, wholesalers, restaurants, service industries, developers, financial institutions, and others which support the view of JRA.

ANTAD – Asociación Nacional de Tiendas de Autoservicio y Departamentales
Supermarkets and Department Stores Association of Mexico

ANTAD gathers Supermarket, Department and Specialized Chain Stores. ANTAD is a service organization that represents the legitimate interests of its Associates and promotes the development of retailers and their suppliers in an open market economy with social responsibility.

ANTAD Objectives
• To promote free, fair and honest competition.
• To train the personnel of its Associates for their development.
• To foster the exchange of information and best practices to improve trade operations.
• To foster an efficient relationship between the components in the distribution chain.
• To promote the social responsibility aspects of its affiliates.
• To promote a culture of respect for the environment, efficient energy use and the fostering of renewable energy.

ANTAD International Networking
ANTAD maintains a constant interaction with international organizations including the following: National Retail Federation (NRF), Food Marketing Institute (FMI), National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS), Produce Marketing Association (PMA), International Housewares Association (IHA), Private Label Manufacturers Association (PLMA), American Frozen Food Institute (AFFI) and the Latin American Supermarket Association (ALAS).

Thuiswinkel.org

The Dutch Home Shopping Association known as Thuiswinkel.org, is the principal organization promoting the interests of almost 1,300 companies selling products and/or services to consumers via internet, representing the distance selling market online of 8,2 billion euro's (2010) in the Netherlands.

'Thuiswinkel Waarborg', the Dutch trustmark for online shopping

Since being introduced by Thuiswinkel.org in 2001, Thuiswinkel Waarborg has become the national trustmark for purchasing products and services via the internet, having the full support of the Dutch Consumers' Association. Over 1,300 certified companies carry Holland's prime trustmark for online shopping.

New Zealand Retailers Association

With over 6,000 members, the New Zealand Retailers Association is the leading retail trade association with a membership that represents over 65% of retail industry turnover. Members represent a wide variety of retailers, from Kaitaia to Stewart Island, from small independent operators to large national and international chain stores.

The NZRA assists members by providing retail advice, member benefit savings, industry information, education and we are the main retail industry lobby group to Government. The Association operates nationwide with a head office in Wellington, and regional offices in Auckland and Christchurch.

Federation of Norwegian Commercial and Service Enterprises

HSH (the Federation of Norwegian Commercial and Service Enterprises) is Norway's leading organisation for businesses and employers in the private services sector – where value is created by people. The organisation offers services to employers on a range of employment, commercial and social issues.

HSH represents the interests of companies from a number of industries within the trade, services, education and health sectors, offering services that make it easier to be an employer and to run a business. HSH has about 12,700 member companies with a total of 173,500 employees.

Svensk Handel

The Swedish Trade Federation (Svensk Handel) is the main organization in Sweden for retailers, wholesalers and importers. The Swedish Trade Federation has more than 13.000 member companies with 21.000 workplaces. These member companies handle the major part of Swedish domestic trade and commerce.

The Swedish Trade Federation:

• Provides professional services and guidance to our member companies
• Provides services within several specific fields, including corporate social responsibility, educational issues, environmental issues, logistics, payment issues, security, etc.
• Meets regularly with authorities and politicians on a national and/or regional level on specific issues to underline the needs of the trade sector and emphasize the importance of the entire trade sector.
• Is active within EuroCommerce and its committees with the aim to put forward to the European Commission the opinion, needs and demands of the trade sector (positioning the trade sector).
• Is an employer organizations and as such we negotiates national agreements with trade unions on wages, salaries and working conditions.
• Provides financial support to members in labor conflicts.
• Represents the interests of the employers vis-à-vis the State in questions concerning social matters and conditions on the labour market.
• Assists members in courts of law.
• Acts within the field of company law and conducts its work like a law firm, charging member companies favorable prices for its services.

For any questions, please contact Thomas Eulau, Director Stockholm Region.

Turkish Council of Shopping Centers and Retailers (TCSCR)

Established in 1994, Trade Council of Shopping Centers & Retailers serves to point out and improve the role of shopping centers, retail chains and related sectors in the economy and society. The Council's goals include increasing the contribution of the sector to the country's economy, upgrading the service quality to international standards, and representing the sector internationally and increasing the potential of investment in Turkey by cooperating with other international associations. TCSCR's mission is to institutionalize the traditional identity of retail and to evaluate its contemporary levels.

Main fields of activity of the TCSCR are to stop unfair competition in the sector and to assist in strengthening corporate organized retail... It aims to decrease unregistered retail activities rapidly through its operations. TCSCR also works to create the qualified work force the sector needs intensively. TCSCR's other major field of activity includes works that would enable the amendments made related to retail within the framework of EU compliance laws to cover all aspects of retail encompassing both traditional and organized retailing.

TCSCR is the sole representative of international retail organizations in Turkey. International Council of Shopping Centers is the largest institution in the sector on an international level. National Retailers Federation (NRF) is the most comprehensive commercial retail organization in the world. EuroCommerce represents Europe in retail, wholesale and international trade. Federation of Asia - Pacific Retailers Association (FAPRA) brings together the largest organizations in Asia under its roof.

National Retail Federation

As the world's largest retail trade association and the voice of retail worldwide, the National Retail Federation's global membership includes retailers of all sizes, formats and channels of distribution as well as chain restaurants and industry partners from the U.S. and more than 45 countries abroad. In the U.S., NRF represents the breadth and diversity of an industry with more than 1.6 million American companies that employ nearly 25 million workers and generated 2009 sales of $2.3 trillion.

Under NRF's retail umbrella, sit 4 association groups including: the Association for Retail Technology Standards, the National Council of Chain Restaurants, the Retail Advertising and Marketing Association and Shop.org.

In addition to the divisions, NRF has a research and education arms as well as a monthly magazine. The NRF Foundation (NRFF) is a non-profit 501(c)3 foundation that conducts industry research, develops education and workforce development programs, and promotes retailing as a career destination. STORES magazine is the monthly magazine of the National Retail Federation, covering issues of importance to today's senior retail professional.