Stores Targeted
In an announcement last week, Wesfarmers will close or convert 167 of its Target stores across the country in a massive restructure, with Kerang and Deniliquin stores to be closed in early 2021.
Kerang & Deniliquin Target Stores To Close Early 2021
In an announcement last week, Wesfarmers will close or convert 167 of its Target stores across the country in a massive restructure, with Kerang and Deniliquin stores to be closed in early 2021.
The news comes as the struggling department store business comes to grips with an ever–changing competitive market, an unsustainable financial performance, and more recently, the downturn in sales due to the Coronavirus Pandemic.
Target Australia released a media release outlining their rationale:
Why is Target closing stores?
The decision to transform the Target network, and particularly the very difficult decision to close some of our stores is not one that is made lightly, but one that is necessary to improve the commercial viability of the business and to support the thousands of people we employ. In order to do this successfully in the current retail environment (and in a way that truly supports our customers), we know that we need to adapt our business – to make it smaller, more focused, less complex and more digitally enabled so we can better serve our customers both instore and online.
Why are you closing Target stores in regional locations?
The decision to transform the Target network, and particularly the very difficult decision to close some of our stores is not one that is made lightly, but one that is necessary to improve the commercial viability of the business and to support the thousands of people we employ. In order to do this successfully in the current retail environment (and in a way that truly supports our customers), we know that we need to adapt our business – to make it smaller, more focused, less complex and more digitally enabled so we can better serve our customers both instore and online
The broader context
Earlier this year we shared with our readers the economic performance of some of our regions (see image). These larger towns service the regions and in turn, are affected by their economic prosperity or lack thereof. Every megalitre of water traded out of our regions or lost to managerial incompetence is less production, less jobs, less rates and less turnover. Maybe the Sefton report on the social, economic and community effects of the basin plan? You know the Sefton report, the one that new Federal Water Minister Keith Pitt is yet to release.
