Target Australia is set to shut more stores permanently in a major shake-up, with further outlets expected to convert into Kmarts.
Parent company Wesfarmers announced the majority of the conversions will take place throughout 2021 after the retail chain suffered a $67million slump in sales.
Over the next 12 months, 52 Target stores will close its doors for good, while 64 others are preparing to convert into Kmarts or ‘K Hubs’, which are smaller format country stores.
Last year, 16 Target outlets transitioned into either a Kmart or the brand new K Hub store, while eight others permanently closed.
Last year, a number of regional Target stores were converted into ‘K-Hub’ – a smaller format shop selling homewares, clothing, and kids range (picture of a K-Hub store in regional Victoria)
Target Australia is set to shut more stores permanently in a major shake-up in 2021 (file image)
What are K Hub stores?
The ‘one stop shop’ K Hub stores are re-branded Target Country stores that stock the most popular homewares, clothing and children lines from Kmart.
The collections are designed for a ‘smaller neighbourhood store, with bigger convenience in mind’ and is described as ‘the best of Kmart, just in a smaller package’.
‘The decision to transform the Target network, and the 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,’ the chain said on its website.
‘In order to do this successfully in the current retail environment, 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 in-store and online.’
A number of regional Target stores have since been re-branded as ‘K-Hub’ shops.
‘Our K hub stores may look a little different to what you’d expect from a normal Kmart store,’ Kmart said in August last year.
‘They have our most popular Kmart products across kids, home and clothing, but they’ve been brought to life in a new way – a collection inspired for a smaller neighbourhood store, with bigger convenience in mind.’
The major shake up comes after the retailer announced the official opening of its brand new concept stores in Cobram, Echuca and Seymour in regional Victoria in August last year
Customers will have the option to shop Kmart and Target’s full product range online, then visit the store to collect their items.
‘Our online business will still be available 24 hours a day. We’ll be increasing our digital capabilities, so that we can continue to meet growing demand in this space,’ it said.
Last year, the company said the restructure would reduce Target’s ‘unsustainable’ cost base and allow it focus on the more-profitable Kmart.
The closures and conversions are likely to cost the company between $120million and $170million over the next year.
A further $140million will be used for one-off store conversion and stock clearance costs.
Target stores to convert into Kmarts
NEW SOUTH WALES
Bega, early-mid 2021
Bondi Junction, early 2021
Bowral, early 2021
Broken Hill, early-mid 2021
Gunnedah, early 2021
Katoomba, early 2021
Liverpool, mid 2021
Miranda, early 2021
Moree, early 2021
Mudgee, early 2021
Picton, early 2021
Rhodes, early 2021
Rouse Hill, early 2021
Tumut, early 2021
Ulladulla, early 2021
Warringah Mall, mid 2021
Windsor Town S/C, early 2021
Yass, early 2021
VICTORIA
Ararat, early-mid 2021
Caroline Springs, late 2021
Craigieburn, early 2021
Doncaster, early 2021
Epping, early-mid 2021
Hamilton, early 2021
Lakes Entrance, early 2021
Leongatha, early 2021
Mansfield, early 2021
Portland, early 2021
Seymour, early 2021
Swan Hill, 2021
Watergardens, early-mid 2021
Yarrawonga, early 2021
NORTHERN TERRITORY
Katherine, early 2021
QUEENSLAND
Ayr, early-mid 2021
Beerwah, early-mid 2021
Bowen, early 2021
Charters Towers, early 2021
Chinchilla, early 2021
Dalby, early 2021
Forest Lake, early 2021
Gatton, early 2021
Goondiwindi, early 2021
Gympie, early 2021
Ingham, early 2021
Mareeba, early 2021
Noosa Junction, early 2021
Ocean Shores Village Ctr, early 2021
Port Douglas, early 2021
Roma, early 2021
Sarina, early 2021
Stanthorpe, early 2021
Warwick, early 2021
Yamba, early 2021
Yeppoon, early 2021
SOUTH AUSTRALIA
Berri, early 2021
Murray Bridge, early 2021
Port Augusta, early 2021
Victor Harbour, early 2021
WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Esperance, early 2021
Geraldton, early-mid 2021
Northam, early 2021
Perth CBD, mid 2021
Pinjarra, early 2021
Whitford City, mid 2021
Full list: Target stores set to shut
NEW SOUTH WALES
Armidale, early-mid 2021
Casino Retail Centre, early-mid 2021
Cooma, early-mid 2021
Cootamundra, early-mid 2021
Corowa, early-mid 2021
Deniliquin, early-mid 2021
Forbes, early-mid 2021
Goonellabah, early 2021
Leeton, early 2021
Merimbula, early-mid 2021
Morisset, early-mid 2021
Murwillumbah, early 2021
Narrabri, early-mid 2021
Nowra, early-mid 2021
Salamander Bay, early-mid 2021
Scone, early-mid 2021
Wagga Wagga, early-mid 2021
Winmalee, early-mid 2021
VICTORIA
Bacchus Marsh, early-mid 2021
Bairnsdale, early-mid 2021
Benalla, mid 2021
Colac, early-mid 2021
Kerang, early-mid 2021
Langwarrin, early-mid 2021
Maryborough, early-mid 2021
Myrtleford, early-mid 2021
Traralgon, early-mid 2021
Warragul, early-mid 2021
ACT
Weston Creek, early-mid 2021
QUEENSLAND
Atherton, early 2021
Beaudesert, early-mid 2021
Biloela, early 2021
Cairns, mid 2021
Casino Retail Centre, early-mid 2021
Castletown, early 2021
Clifton Beach, early-mid 2021
Emerald, early-mid 2021
Goonellabah, early 2021
Hervey Bay, early 2021
Kippa Ring, early 2021
Longreach, early-mid 2021
Moranbah, early-mid 2021
Murgon, early-mid 2021
WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Busselton, early 2021
Karratha, early-mid 2021
Kununurra, early-mid 2021
Manjimup, early-mid 2021
Margaret River, early-mid 2021
Merredin, early-mid 2021
Narrogin, early-mid 2021
SOUTH AUSTRALIA
Clare, early-mid 2021
Millicent, early 2021
Naracoorte, early-mid 2021
Port Lincoln, early 2021
TASMANIA
Devonport, early-mid 2021
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