Harris Scarfe to close 21 stores across five states, including six in Queensland

Administrators for national retailer Harris Scarfe say six of Queensland’s eight stores will close over the next four weeks after the retailer was placed in receivership just before Christmas.

TWENTY-one Harris Scarfe stores across five states will close over the next four weeks after the retailer was placed in receivership in December, with six of its eight Queensland stores facing the chop.

Stores in Cairns, Hervey Bay, Mackay, Morayfield, Rockhampton and Townsville are among the 21 across Australia slated to close.

The administrators say 44 stores will continue to trade with the group offered for sale.

Deloitte Restructuring Services partner Vaughan Strawbridge says the move to close stores was a difficult decision but necessary to position the Harris Scarfe business for a successful sale.

The retailer employs more than 1800 people across network of 66 stores, generating annual sales of $380 million.

QUT retail expert Dr Gary Mortimer last month said Harris Scarfe had been squeezed out by “cheap and cheerful” retail operators such as Big W, Target and Kmart which sold private label brands sourced from China and other low-cost manufacturing countries.

Harris Scarfe was placed into receivership in December. Picture: AAP Image/Kelly Barnes

Harris Scarfe’s only Queensland outlets to remain open will be Chermside and Carindale.

In 2016, the retailer renewed a push into the increasingly tough Queensland market and was upbeat about the future of the traditional department store.

The store, which placed itself in the middle of the market between Target and Myer, operated with separate departments for fashion, homewares, manchester