Townsville’s Domain Central boasts biggest BCF outlet in Australia

North Queensland’s love for the outdoors has been highlighted by the opening of the biggest BCF outlet in Australia. See inside.

Outdoor retailer BCF is opening its largest store in Australia at Domain Central.

The opening, to be marked by celebrations this weekend, is an expansion to an existing store in the Garbutt centre and comes on the back of Townsville’s enviable lifestyle and the love of the outdoors by its people.

“This is the best performing store in Australia. The growth in the business was outweighing the size of the current store,” BCF customer service manager Damien Hyde said.

“The people here love the outdoors. It’s a testament to the lifestyle really.”

BCF has expanded into warehouse space previously occupied by a furniture store next door.

Its existing warehouse space has been retained and a thoroughfare has been cut between the two shops by removing part of the wall.

Mr Hyde said it meant they now had 5932sq m of floorspace.

BCF staff Ashley Gablonski and Nathan Medland are excited to be part of the store expansion in Domain Central.

“It’s the biggest BCF in Australia and the biggest fishing store in the Southern Hemisphere.

It’s not just the biggest in physical size but in employees as well. Once the expansion is complete, there will be 70 local employees, up to 30 more than previously,” Mr Hyde said.

BCF has traded at the centre since 2005 and is one of almost 150 BCF stores in Australia.

The Townsville store has also become a key part of the group’s online trading with the store arranging online sales to customers around Australia.

Mr Hyde said the reason for the expansion was growth in the market at Townsville, the size of its catchment and the performance of the store.

BCF also operates stores at Deeragun, Ayr and Innisfail.

As part of the expansion they have been able to introduce displays of products fitted to a 4WD vehicle, boat, caravan and camping trailer and boosted line items by more than 13,000, including more fishing and spearfishing gear.

The store will mark its grand opening on November 12 and 13 with giveaways, competitions and activities including a petting zoo and wildlife experience.

The flagship store is also BCF’s most sustainable with solar panels fitted to the roof to powering the store with renewable energy, while staff have been given team shirts manufactured from recycled plastic drink bottles.

According to ASX-listed owner Super Retail Group, BCF increased sales 4 per cent to $830m in 2021-22 and has maintained sales growth above pre-Covid-19 levels.

Originally published as Townsville’s Domain Central boasts biggest BCF outlet in Australia