Since the revelation that Big W could close a third of their stores, customers have been asking whether their local store will be affected. Now New Idea Food has reported the stores most likely to go.
Macquarie Wealth Management first announced the possibility of closing 60 stores Australia wide on March 15 after reviewing Big W’s business in the wake of the company losing $110 million last financial year and $8 million in the first half of 2019.
‘Partial closure of the most unprofitable and shorter lease stores is more likely,’ Macquarie said in the note, revealed in The Australian.
‘Given significant closure costs for the portfolio, a more likely scenario is Woolworths to close up to one-third of its stores (60 stores), in our view.’
And while Macquarie didn’t specifically name which Big W stores would be affected by the possible closures, it did say that regional areas could be hit hardest.
‘It is unlikely these locations will enable Big W to regain the momentum required for profitability,’ Macquarie said.
‘In a challenging retail environment, we see a reduction in store count as the most likely outcome from the review. Given the format of Big W stores, we believe it would be difficult to reduce space as Myer is doing and that outright store closure is more likely.’
At present, there are around 30 stores located in rural and regional areas around Australia – leading local papers to question whether the Big Ws situated in their specific areas will be affected.
Said regional NSW paper the Daily Liberal: ‘Dubbo could soon be without Big W if a review finds the poor performing retail chain would be better off shutting up shop in the city.’
Added NSW’s Central Western Daily paper: ‘Could it be lights out for Big W in Orange?’
In NSW, the regional and rural stores include Inverell, Armidale, Tamworth, Cessnock, Mudgee and Katoomba. In Queensland, Dalby, Yeppon, Emerald and Warwick could be under review – as could Wangaratta, Bendigo and Echuca in Victoria.
To see the full list of regional stores that could be closing down, see below.
At present, Big W bosses say a final decision on store closures has not been made.
Says a spokesperson: ‘At our half-year results in February we announced a national review of our Big W store and distribution centre network.
‘The review is ongoing and no decisions about our network have been made. We will update our team members and the market once the review has been completed.’
THE 30 REGIONAL STORES AT RISK
QUEENSLAND
Dalby, QLD
Gladstone, QLD
North Rockhampton, QLD
Yeppoon, QLD
Emerald, QLD
Warwick, QLD
NSW
Inverell, NSW
Armidale, NSW
Tamworth, NSW
Muswellbrook, NSW
Cessnock, NSW
Singleton NSW
Mudgee, NSW
Erina, NSW
Dubbo, NSW
Richmond, NSW
Katoomba, NSW
Bonnyrigg, NSW
Liverpool, NSW
Bathurst, NSW
Orange, NSW
Parkes, NSW
Tweed Head, NSW
SOUTH AUSTRALIA
Renmark, SA
Port Augusta, SA
WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Bunbury, WA
VICTORIA
Bendigo, Vic
Echuca, Vic
Wangaratta, Vic
Shepparton, Vic
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