Footwear seller Accent Group, one of the first national chains to close all its stores last month, is one of the first to reopen as signs of life return to the $312 billion retail sector.

Accent, which owns the Platypus, Hype and The Athletes Foot chains, said on Monday it would progressively reopen all 522 stores to the public by May 11 with new coronavirus safety protocols in place. That's when retailers such as Myer and Premier Investments plan to reopen.