what’snew!
8 Business Franchise Australia and New Zealand
rEcognising
AustrAli A’s
di VErsE rEtAil
lEAdErs
The National Retail Association (NR A)
has launched its new-look annual awards
program, with a strong focus on inclusion
and celebrating diversity, recognising
not only retail businesses, but the people
behind them.
The 2017 awards will recognise people and
businesses at all levels of the industry – from
fast food franchisees to fashion chains;
from young retailers under 25 years to store
managers and leaders within the industry.
NR A CEO Dominique Lamb said the
National Retail Awards will reflect the
diversity of the Australian retail industry,
which is one of the most significant
contributors to the of the national economy.
“The NR A has almost doubled the number
of categories this year, to make sure all
entrants are standing against their real-world
competitors, competing on their merits
(regardless of size or channel), and to better
reflect increasing diversity and innovation in
the sector,” she said.
“We’re calling on Australian retailers to put
their hands up, or to nominate their staff or
colleagues.”
Last year the 2016 Retailer of the Year
supreme award was taken out by a franchise
outlet, Michel’s Patisserie Toronto, who also
won Franchisee of the Year.
Nominations are now open for various awards
across many groupings. For more information,
visit the National Retail Awards Website or
phone 1800 RETAIL.Leading Australian medi-aesthetic
company Australian Skin Clinics has
found a new use for its medical scrubs and
supplies – sending them to Africa to help
save the lives of women in need.
With one in 100 women in Madagascar dying
during childbirth due to the lack of adequate
medical standards and equipment, Australian
Skin Clinics is rallying the beauty and medi-
aesthetics industry together to help provide
supplies for this worthy cause.
Working together with the not-for-profit
organisation Australian Doctors for Africa
(ADFA), Australian Skin Clinics Managing
Director, Deb Farnworth-Wood, said she
didn’t hesitate to donate supplies that her
clinics use every day when she learnt that
those same products could save a woman’s life.
“It’s hard to imagine when we have ample
supplies of medical scrubs at our clinics, that
there are women out there that don’t survive
child birth due to the lack of such essential
equipment. At Australian Skin Clinics, we
put enormous emphasis on the importance
of cleanliness and hygiene, so it seemed only
right that we continue that philosophy and
practice beyond the clinics themselves and
help as many women as possible to enjoysafe and appropriate medical treatment,” Ms
Farnworth-Wood said.
Lack of sterile garments in Madagascan
hospitals is one of the key issues that lead to
problems after childbirth.
While basic healthcare is provided for free, the
patients themselves must pay for the required
supplies such as bed sheets, dressings and
food.
“Working within the medical space, we
believe that every woman should be treated
with the highest standard of care,” Ms
Farnworth-Wood said, “and we hope our
contribution will allow these women to feel
self-respect and dignity when giving birth.
“We are calling on anyone in the medi-
aesthetic, beauty or medical space to
share what they can spare – scrubs, sterile
equipment and basic medical supplies will go
a long way in helping to prevent complications
during childbirth.”
Scrub and medical supplier Medeleq
has already pledged its support, but Ms
Farnworth-Wood said they still need many
more companies to come on board. For
information on how to donate, please email
[email protected].cAll out to sHArE WHAt
you cAn spArE