{"id":1296,"date":"2026-06-20T08:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-06-19T22:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/shopattheponds.com.au\/news\/?p=1296"},"modified":"2026-06-19T19:35:03","modified_gmt":"2026-06-19T09:35:03","slug":"kmart-to-close-several-of-its-regional-queensland-stores-by-year%ca%bcs-end-with-dozens-of-staff-affected","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/shopattheponds.com.au\/news\/kmart-to-close-several-of-its-regional-queensland-stores-by-year%ca%bcs-end-with-dozens-of-staff-affected\/","title":{"rendered":"Kmart to close several of its regional Queensland stores by year\u02bcs end with dozens of staff affected"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Kmart will <strong>wind<\/strong> down several outlets in regional <strong>Queensland<\/strong> before the calendar year closes, a move that underscores the <strong>pressures<\/strong> reshaping Australia\u2019s retail <strong>landscape<\/strong>. The decision affects <strong>dozens<\/strong> of team members, while communities brace for <strong>change<\/strong> as anchor tenancy patterns <strong>shift<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<h2>The decision and the timeline<\/h2>\n<p><\/p>\n<p>The company says the stores will <strong>trade<\/strong> through the coming months, with closures staged toward the <strong>year\u2019s<\/strong> end to minimize disruption during <strong>peak<\/strong> shopping <strong>periods<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p>A Kmart spokesperson said the retailer had \u201c<strong>reviewed<\/strong> its network to ensure <strong>sustainable<\/strong> operations,\u201d adding that \u201cwe do not take store <strong>closures<\/strong> lightly, and our priority is our <strong>people<\/strong> and customers.\u201d Exact locations are expected to be confirmed on a <strong>rolling<\/strong> basis as lease and centre <strong>discussions<\/strong> conclude.<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<h2>Impact on staff and local communities<\/h2>\n<p><\/p>\n<p>Kmart has advised that affected roles number in the <strong>dozens<\/strong>, with some opportunities for <strong>redeployment<\/strong> to nearby Kmart or Target <strong>stores<\/strong> where feasible. \u201cEvery team member will be <strong>supported<\/strong> through this transition,\u201d the spokesperson <strong>said<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p>Union representatives have called for <strong>clarity<\/strong> on entitlements and timelines, urging the retailer to \u201cmove with <strong>speed<\/strong> and fairness.\u201d A regional councillor noted that \u201cwhen a major <strong>chain<\/strong> leaves, the ripple <strong>effects<\/strong> can be <strong>real<\/strong>,\u201d from lost foot traffic to reduced <strong>casual<\/strong> shifts across a centre.<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p>Kmart has outlined a package of <strong>supports<\/strong> designed to help employees bridge the <strong>gap<\/strong> to their next opportunity, including <strong>financial<\/strong> and career <strong>assistance<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<ul><\/p>\n<li>Redeployment options to nearby Kmart\/Target stores, with priority <strong>consideration<\/strong> and paid relocation where <strong>eligible<\/strong><\/li>\n<p><\/p>\n<li>Access to Employee Assistance Program for confidential <strong>wellbeing<\/strong> and financial <strong>counselling<\/strong><\/li>\n<p><\/p>\n<li>Redundancy and leave entitlements in line with legal and enterprise <strong>agreements<\/strong><\/li>\n<p><\/p>\n<li>On\u2011site transition workshops, r\u00e9sum\u00e9 coaching, and interview <strong>training<\/strong><\/li>\n<p>\n<\/ul>\n<p><\/p>\n<h2>Why the retailer is recalibrating<\/h2>\n<p><\/p>\n<p>Analysts point to a trifecta of <strong>pressures<\/strong>: softer consumer <strong>spending<\/strong>, rising operating <strong>costs<\/strong>, and the accelerating shift to <strong>online<\/strong>. In regional catchments, inconsistent <strong>footfall<\/strong> and higher logistics overheads can <strong>squeeze<\/strong> margins that once felt <strong>reliable<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p>Kmart has previously leaned on network <strong>optimisation<\/strong>, using smaller formats, remodels, and marketplace <strong>investments<\/strong> to sharpen price and <strong>availability<\/strong>. Where stores no longer meet <strong>trade<\/strong> expectations, closing or consolidating locations becomes a <strong>defensive<\/strong>\u2014and sometimes <strong>necessary<\/strong>\u2014step.<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<h2>What this means for shoppers<\/h2>\n<p><\/p>\n<p>Customers should expect <strong>clearance<\/strong> activity as stock is wound <strong>down<\/strong>, with regular store policies applying until the last <strong>day<\/strong> of trade. Gift cards remain <strong>valid<\/strong> chain\u2011wide, and returns can be handled online or at the nearest <strong>operating<\/strong> store after <strong>closure<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p>Click\u2011and\u2011collect orders may be <strong>rerouted<\/strong> to alternative locations, while home <strong>delivery<\/strong> continues unaffected. Centre managers are working to <strong>fill<\/strong> upcoming vacancies, aiming to preserve <strong>choice<\/strong> and convenience for <strong>locals<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<h2>The regional ripple effect<\/h2>\n<p><\/p>\n<p>When a department\u2011style anchor <strong>exits<\/strong>, smaller retailers can see a <strong>dip<\/strong> in incidental spending, especially for fashion, food, and impulse <strong>categories<\/strong>. \u201cWhen an anchor leaves, the whole centre <strong>feels<\/strong> it,\u201d said a nearby caf\u00e9 owner, who worries about weekday <strong>lunchtime<\/strong> trade.<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p>Regional towns often rely on a handful of <strong>anchors<\/strong> to sustain regular <strong>visitation<\/strong> and keep tenancy costs <strong>steady<\/strong>. Re\u2011leasing a large box can take <strong>time<\/strong>, though landlords increasingly court health, education, or entertainment <strong>operators<\/strong> to rebalance the <strong>mix<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<h2>How Kmart frames the path forward<\/h2>\n<p><\/p>\n<p>The retailer emphasizes that its everyday\u2011low\u2011price <strong>model<\/strong> remains intact, with investment in <strong>supply<\/strong> chain improvements and digital <strong>capabilities<\/strong>. \u201cWe\u2019re focused on serving customers where and how they <strong>shop<\/strong>,\u201d the spokesperson added, flagging ongoing <strong>upgrades<\/strong> to product <strong>ranges<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p>For impacted teams, the near\u2011term focus is <strong>certainty<\/strong>: mapped redeployment options, written <strong>timelines<\/strong>, and well\u2011signposted access to <strong>support<\/strong>. \u201cWorkers deserve <strong>clarity<\/strong> and fair <strong>choices<\/strong>,\u201d a union organiser said, urging rapid one\u2011on\u2011one <strong>consultations<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<h2>Signals for the broader sector<\/h2>\n<p><\/p>\n<p>The retrenchment in regional formats echoes a wider <strong>pattern<\/strong> across Australian <strong>retail<\/strong>, where mid\u2011box chains prune <strong>underperformers<\/strong> as consumer habits <strong>fragment<\/strong>. Hybrid <strong>models<\/strong>\u2014smaller stores paired with click\u2011and\u2011collect and rapid <strong>fulfilment<\/strong>\u2014continue to gain <strong>traction<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p>For shoppers, the message is <strong>mixed<\/strong>: fewer physical aisles in some <strong>postcodes<\/strong>, but faster digital <strong>experiences<\/strong> and broader online <strong>assortments<\/strong>. For workers, the priority is <strong>transition<\/strong>, backed by strong <strong>entitlements<\/strong> and real opportunities to <strong>stay<\/strong> in retail.<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p>As the year heads toward its <strong>final<\/strong> quarter, communities will watch how centres <strong>adapt<\/strong>, how quickly new tenants <strong>arrive<\/strong>, and whether promised staff <strong>supports<\/strong> deliver on their stated <strong>aims<\/strong>. The coming months will test how well <strong>retailers<\/strong>, landlords, and councils can <strong>coordinate<\/strong> a smooth handover to whatever comes <strong>next<\/strong>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1397,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"class_list":["post-1296","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","generate-columns","tablet-grid-50","mobile-grid-100","grid-parent","grid-50"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.7 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Kmart to close several of its regional Queensland stores by year\u02bcs end with dozens of staff affected - The Ponds | Shopping Centre<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/shopattheponds.com.au\/news\/kmart-to-close-several-of-its-regional-queensland-stores-by-year\u02bcs-end-with-dozens-of-staff-affected\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Kmart to close several of its regional Queensland stores by year\u02bcs end with dozens of staff affected - 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