Rivers, Millers, Katies could close at Forest Hill Chase Shopping Centre
Popular clothing shops at Forest Hill Chase hang in the balance with many facing the chop after a dive in profits. This comes as shoppers reveal closures would leave no reason to go to the centre.
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A number of employees at Forest Hill Chase Shopping Centre are facing an uncertain future after Mosaic Brands announced it would close hundreds of its clothing stores.
The company owns fashion chains including Rivers, Millers, Katies, Noni B, Rockmans, Autograph and W. Lane – all of which have stores at Forest Hill.
The company reported a staggering $45.8m annual loss on Tuesday, due to the impact of the devastating bushfires followed by the coronavirus pandemic which shut down stores for almost 10 weeks.
Mosaic Brands’ chief executive Scott Evans said the Group anticipates potentially 300-500 store closures over the coming 12-24 months.
Locations of potential closures have not yet been decided.
The company has almost 1400 stores around Australia.
On the Whitehorse Leader Facebook page, Andrea O’Neill said she would be sad to see any of the stores close.
“I shop at these stores and it’s my local. There would be nothing left to go there for then either (if the stores closed),” she said.
“And poor employees I know in stores that would lose their jobs. Absolutely devastating.”
While Mia Wallace said: “Job losses would be incredibly hard and sad.”
Mosaic Brands Chairman Richard Facioni said: “The Board and I also recognise the ongoing commitment of our 6,000 Mosaic team members throughout what has been an unprecedented 12 month period and acknowledge the impact potential store closures will have on them in tough economic times.”
It comes after Big W announced it would be closing its store in Box Hill Central, following the departure of Harris Scarfe earlier in the year.
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