Singapore Retailers Association (SRA) was founded in 1977, originally as the Singapore Retail Merchants Association by 10 leading retailers. It is a non-profit, independent/non-governmental retail trade body in Singapore, funded entirely by the private sector. Led by 18 Council Members from leading companies and SMEs, SRA’s vision is to be the respected and collective voice of the retail industry and advance the interests of the retail industry via insights, education and strategic collaborations.
SRA organise a wide range of year-round programmes ranging from industry events and conferences, market insights sharing sessions, training and masterclasses, local learning journeys and overseas study missions as well as professional guidance and mentorship for retailers brand growth and business development. Our membership of over 570 members reflects the diversity and vibrance of Singapore’s retail industry – Fashion Apparel/& Accessories, Furniture and Furnishings, Electrical & Electronics, Watch & Accessories, Beauty & Wellness, Telecommunications, Specialty and Food Retail, Department Stores and Supermarket/Convenience Stores. Collectively, they employ more than 80,000 workers, own or resell more than 4,500 brands, own more than 14,000 local stores, and account for more than $30 billion in operating receipts annually.
SRA work in close partnership with government bodies such as Enterprise Singapore, Infocomm Media Development Authority, Singapore Tourism Board, Workforce Singapore, SkillsFuture Singapore, National Trades Union Congress (NTUC), industry related ministries like Ministry of Trade and Industry, Ministry of Manpower, Ministry of Communication and Information as well as with foreign embassies and other trade associations and organisations to better represent the interests of its members and to facilitate communication and strengthen understanding between the government, business partners and the retail community. SRA is also a member of the 18-country strong Federation of Asia-Pacific Retailers Association, most noted for the bi-annual APRCE event.
SRA is committed to further its cause and advance the initiatives under the Retail ITM 2025 and the SRA Roadmap 2025 for the Retail Industry working in close partnership with retail stakeholders, government agencies and trade associations to foster innovation, promote globalisation and drive business growth.
Our Milestones
1977: Inception of the Singapore Retail Merchants Association
1983: Became a founding member of the Federation of Asia Pacific Retailers Association (FAPRA)
1985: Assisted in the first national drive for a cashless society – the Electronic Fund Transfer – Point of Sales (EFTPOS) System
1989: Hosted the 4th Asia Pacific Retailers Conference & Exhibition (APRCE) attended by 1,200 delegates from the Asia Pacific region
1990: Launch of the Training Centre for Sales Assistants together with the National Productivity Board
1991: Renamed to Singapore Retailers Association and organised the first Singapore Retail Industry Conference & Exhibition (SRIC.E)
1993: Organised the first retail trade mission to China
1994: Launched the first edition of the Great Singapore Sale (GSS)
2000: Launch of the first annual SRA Retail Awards to celebrate and promote excellence in the retail industry
2002: Established The Retail Academy of Singapore
2003: Organised the first Study Mission Trip to Christchurch, New Zealand
2004: Launch of the annual SRA Shopping Centre Awards
2011: Elected as Council Member of the Federation of Asia Pacific Retailers Association (FAPRA)
2013: Appointed-in-Principle (AIP) Partner for Spring Singapore’s SME Talent Programme (STP)
2017: Embarked on a Local Enterprise and Association Development (LEAD) project
2018: Led our first Study Mission Trip to the National Retail Federation (NRF) Retail Big Show in New York City, USA
2019: Collaborated with 5 other Trade Associations to revamp GSS to “GSS: Experience Singapore” with the support of Enteprise Singapore and the Urban Redevelopment Authority
2019: Highest number of Excellent Service Award (EXSA) Participants in the 25th Year with over 4,500 participants
2020: Amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic, we moved our well-love Great Singapore Sale (GSS) online named eGSS