Network Membership Terms
This page summarises the binding Network Membership Terms that every Expert signs before joining Retail Experts Network Pte. Ltd. (UEN 202626961D) ("REN"). The full Terms are provided during onboarding, are re-signed annually together with a refresher compliance tutorial, and are governed by Singapore law. Where this summary and the executed Terms differ, the executed Terms govern.
1. Independent contractor, invitation-only
Experts are non-agent independent contractors — not employees of REN or of any Client — joining in their individual capacity rather than on behalf of an employer. Membership is by invitation, is non-exclusive, carries no minimum commitment and no guarantee of engagement volume. You have no authority to bind REN. You are responsible for your own income tax and, where applicable, self-employed CPF/MediSave contributions under Singapore law, and for indicating GST-registered status where it applies.
On joining and annually thereafter, Experts confirm that they have no convictions for offences involving dishonesty, no regulatory findings relating to fraud or securities violations, and are not named on any applicable sanctions list — with an ongoing duty to notify REN if that changes.
2. Your existing obligations come first
Experts must confirm that they are not restricted from participating by any employment contract, non-compete, confidentiality agreement, code of conduct or employer policy, and that they have obtained any consent required — including from a current employer. The responsibility for checking sits with the Expert. Experts must decline or discontinue any engagement that presents a conflict of interest or that would breach an obligation owed to a third party.
3. Confidentiality — what you must never disclose
- Material non-public information of any listed company — several Singapore retail groups and landlords are SGX-listed, so this is not theoretical;
- Trade secrets and proprietary information of current or former employers, including non-public supplier cost prices and rebate structures, lease rates and landlord incentive terms under NDA, franchise economics, unannounced store openings or closures, private-label margin structures, and loyalty-programme data;
- Non-public information about pending government action, such as unannounced redevelopment plans or tender outcomes;
- Any information received under a duty of confidence — and where you are unsure whether something is confidential, the rule is to treat it as confidential;
- Client identities, briefs and project information, which are confidential by default.
4. Conflicts of interest
Without written consent, Experts must not consult about their current employer or for its direct competitors. Former auditors must not consult about entities audited in the last three years. Employees of a finance department within the past 12 months must not discuss that company's accounting or financial position. Experts connected to a company in an IPO or takeover process must decline related engagements until the process concludes. Material financial interests relevant to your objectivity must be disclosed, or the engagement declined.
5. Prohibited conduct
No investment advice, including rating, valuing or recommending any security. No legal advice, and no attorney-client relationship is formed. No self-promotion or selling to Clients without REN's consent. No compensation from Clients outside REN. No recording of consultations by the Expert; where a Client records or chaperones a call, it is disclosed to you in advance. Current government officials in a position to influence relevant policy, tenders or regulation are ineligible for membership, and Experts must notify REN if they become one.
6. Anti-bribery and corruption
Experts must comply with the Prevention of Corruption Act 1960 (Singapore), which covers private-sector bribery and therefore reaches supplier kickbacks, slotting fees and buyer gratification directly, and must acknowledge exposure to the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and the UK Bribery Act when serving multinational Clients. Nothing of value may be offered or accepted to improperly influence any person, public or private.
7. Engagements run through REN
All engagements are arranged and administered through REN. Direct exchange of contact details with Clients requires REN's written consent, and consultations occurring off-platform are not eligible for payment. For 12 months from the most recent engagement or introduction, Experts may not solicit or accept consulting, advisory, directorship or employment arrangements with an introduced Client outside the network, except with REN's consent or on payment of the agreed buy-out fee. The same duty applies to Experts introduced to other Experts through the network, and a mirror obligation binds Clients under the Client Engagement Terms.
8. Compliance safe harbour
If an Expert discontinues an engagement because continuing would risk breaching these Terms, and promptly notifies seahwx@retailexperts.asia, the Expert may claim payment for the full time set aside. We would rather pay you to stop than have you continue in doubt.
9. Work product and payments
Deliverables created for a Client under an engagement are assigned to the Client on full payment; Experts retain pre-existing general methods and know-how and license their use within deliverables. Experts warrant that submitted content does not infringe third-party rights.
Consultations are compensated for client-facing time at the Expert's agreed rate, pro-rated per minute, with payment requests submitted within 30 days of the engagement. Projects are paid to the milestones in the Statement of Work. Submitting a payment request constitutes an attestation that no confidential information was disclosed and no third-party obligation was breached. REN may withhold payment during a bona fide dispute and may recover payments made for engagements involving violations.
10. Verification and personal data
REN may verify identity, credentials and career history, check public records and conduct reference checks with the Expert's consent, and Experts agree to cooperate. Personal data is handled in accordance with our Privacy Policy under the PDPA. Experts who receive personal data from REN or a Client must handle it in accordance with the PDPA and REN's instructions.
11. Reliance by clients
These Terms are made for the benefit of Clients, who may enforce them directly under the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 2001 (Singapore). Clients may require engagement-specific confirmations, which become binding supplements to these Terms for that engagement.
12. Term, termination and disputes
An Expert may withdraw at any time, subject to completing live engagements; REN may terminate membership at its discretion. Confidentiality, non-circumvention, content and IP, client reliance and dispute provisions survive termination. REN's liability to Experts is excluded except for fraud or wilful misconduct, and REN gives no undertaking as to engagement volume or Client conduct.
Singapore law governs. Disputes go to arbitration administered by the Singapore International Arbitration Centre, seat Singapore, one arbitrator, in English, on an individual basis. Breaches of confidentiality or non-circumvention may be restrained by injunction.
Questions before applying?
Write to seahwx@retailexperts.asia. We are glad to walk any prospective member — or their employer's legal team — through the framework before they commit to anything. Ready to proceed? Apply for membership.