The bulky goods retailing industry has secured its place as a distinct retail format in Australia. The industry currently receives over 22.6 per cent of all retail spend in Australia and this figure will rise.

Over the next five years the bulky goods retail industry will continue to enjoy strong popularity with consumers spending billions of dollars each year on bulky goods items. These customers will increasingly demand competitive prices, products and services from a range of retailers accessible at the one location.

As bulky goods retailing matures, so too will the design of retail facilities to meet consumer demand. There will be a continued trend towards clustering of retailers in homemaker centres and out-of-centre developments. And an evolution in homemaker centre design is a likely outcome.

Commensurate with the industry’s growth, employment will be strong across all industries involved in bulky goods retailing. The economy will also benefit as retailers, developers and financial institutions invest further in the industry.

Of course there will be an ongoing need for the BGRA to work closely with individual state governments and local councils to develop mutually agreeable planning policies relating to bulky goods development and location issues. It’s likely that there will be a growing call for uniformity between states, and ultimately a national approach.

And there will be an increasing need for the BGRA to work with stakeholders in developing strategies that accommodate environmental considerations in keeping with urban growth and development.

Therefore the BGRA is committed to increasing its activities across public, private and government sectors to improve planning and development of retail facilities for the benefit of members, consumers and the communities in which it operates.