The full list of Target stores that will close and those that will rebrand into Kmart
Fans were left in shock on Friday, when Wesfarmers announced it will be closing or converting Target stores into Kmart across the nation.
The massive restructure sees 160 Target stores across the country will either close or be rebranded into Kmart stores.
And now, the full list of Target stores which are set to close or be rebranded has been released, according to the ABC, and it appears it’s the regional towns which have been hit the hardest.
NSW
Stores to close:
Armidale
Campbelltown
Casino Retail Centre
Cooma
Cootamundra
Corowa
Deniliquin
Forbes
Goonellabah
Leeton
Merimbula
Morisset
Murgon
Murwillumbah
Narrabri
Nowra
Salamander Bay
Scone
Wagga Wagga
Winmalee
Stores to rebrand as Kmart:
Bega
Bowral
Gunnedah
Katoomba
Moree
Mudgee
Ocean Shores Village Centre
Picton
Tumut
Ulladulla
Windsor Town S/C
Yamba
Yass
Victoria
Stores to close:
Bacchus Marsh
Bairnsdale
Benalla
Colac
Kerang
Langwarrin
Maryborough
Myrtleford
Traralgon
Warragul
Stores to rebrand as Kmart:
Ararat
Castlemaine
Cobram
Echuca
Hamilton
Kyabram
Lakes Entrance
Leongatha
Mansfield
Portland
Seymour
Woodend
Yarrawonga
Queensland
Stores to close:
Atherton
Beaudesert
Biloela
Clifton Beach
Emerald
Kippa-Ring
Longreach
Moranbah
Stores to rebrand as Kmart:
Ayr
Beerwah
Bowen
Charters Towers
Chinchilla
Dalby
Gatton
Goondiwindi
Gympie
Ingham
Mareeba
Noosa Junction
Port Douglas
Roma
Sarina
Stanthorpe
Warwick
Yeppoon
South Australia
Stores to close:
Clare
Millicent
Naracoorte
Pasadena
Port Lincoln
Store to rebrand as Kmart:
Berri
Murray Bridge
Port Augusta
Victor Harbor
Western Australia
Stores to close:
Busselton
Karratha
Kununurra
Manjimup
Margaret River
Meadow River
Meadow Springs
Merredin
Narrogin
Stores to rebrand as Kmart:
Esperance
Geraldton
Northam
Pinjarra
Tasmania
Stores to close:
Devonport
ACT
Stores to close:
Weston Creek
NT
Stores to rebrand as Kmart:
Katherine
According to parent company Wesfarmers, a review in April of Target found that the closures or conversions needed to take place in order to reduce its "unsustainable cost base”.
Fans took to Twitter on Friday with mixed feelings about the closures. While many were upset that they will potentially have to farewell their local Target, others are ecstatic at the idea of shopping at Kmart instead.
"Why. Why would they do this. Target have better quality products, with more range. I love Kmart but this is wrong," one fan wrote.
Why. Why would they do this. Target have better quality products, with more range. I love Kmart but this is wrong. https://t.co/m8sCWMnPcj
— e l l i e ♔ (@ellsyeahhh) May 21, 2020
Another called it a "tragedy", "What a tragedy. I’ve been shopping at target since mum took us there was a kid, I’m 50 next year."
"I don’t like Kmart.. Target have a better range of tech, toys, gaming, better bed spreads, Kmart is just cheap and tacky," said one user.
Kmart / Big W are both shite, what a tragedy. I’ve been shopping at target since mum took us there was a kid, I’m 50 next year..
— Pablito L'amore 🐲 (@paulsbootique) May 22, 2020
Some, however, had been expecting the change with one person writing, "Writing was on the wall for Target for a while."
"Let's face it, 'Target mums' are not a cultural phenomenon but 'Kmart mums' are. Target's thrown a lot of s**t at the wall (Baby Target; Urban by Target; Target Country) and tbh Kmart's stylish homewares have cannibalised Target's 'upmarket' tone," another added.
"It's funny how we all 'love' Kmart now .. Yet go back go 2008 and prior... Nobody wanted to shop there and it was Target we all shopped at. Wesfarmers single handedly destroyed one, while the other boomed, after the 2007 take-over of Coles-Myer Group. Sad for all employees,” someone else said.
A Target spokesperson told Yahoo Lifestyle: “During this difficult time, we are committed to supporting our team. Across the Kmart Group we have made a significant effort to avoid store closures and retain our people and for impacted store team members we have the benefit of time to help find alternative employment opportunities.
“All team members in Target stores scheduled for conversion to Kmart will be offered the opportunity to join the growing Kmart team, for other affected Target team members, we will work with them to identify and offer other redeployment opportunities in Kmart, Catch, Bunnings and Officeworks as these businesses continue to grow.
“We believe that Target has a future as a leading retailer in Australia and we know it is loved by so many, but a number of actions are required to ensure it is fit for purpose in a competitive, challenging and dynamic market, including a smaller number of stores and a stronger online business.”
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