Aussie Disposals to close 11 stores, Boronia and Westfield Knox already shut
Fans of popular camping chain Aussie Disposals are shattered at news the business will close 11 of its 36 stores after going into voluntary administration. It’s the latest blow for the struggling Australian retail sector.
Inner East
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Shoppers have expressed their dismay at news much-loved business Aussie Disposals is closing 11 of its 36 stores.
The 58-year-old retail chain placed itself into voluntary administration as part of a restructure which will result in close to one in three stores closing.
The business has a number of outlets in the east including stores in Hawthorn, Malvern and Ferntree Gully.
According to the Aussie Disposals website, stores in Boronia and Westfield Knox have already closed.
On Knox Leader’s Facebook page shoppers expressed their disappointment at the closure news.
Tracie Brown said she was sad to see the stores close.
“They were cheaper than Anaconda and were great when I was inquiring about my daughter’s items I required for her cubs camp last year (at the Boronia store),” she said.
Sandi Evans said she loved the stores.
“So good to get what you need to go bush,” she said.
Pauline Jung said she used to love going to the store in Boronia when it was in its original location.
“The smell of straw, cluttered mess and army helmets,’ she said.
Ms Jung said she went past the Westfield Knox Aussie Disposals store and it was almost empty.
“Shop now can be another hairdresser, coffee shop or massage (store) — hope not,” she said.
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Helen Manning said she was sad to see any business close.
“Personally I prefer to shop in store, to see the goods before I buy. Good that some stores remain,” she said.
While Myrtle Paula Schumacher lamented: “Another Australian icon out the door, how sad is that.”
Aussie Disposals owner and managing director Mark Purvis said he was confident the business would survive but the retail landscape would not be the same when the coronavirus lockdown was lifted.
“With coronavirus everyone is doing everything online and it is going to change their ways of shopping and buying,” he told Business Daily.
The Melbourne-based outdoor and camping goods retailer was founded in 1962 by Mark’s father, Bill Purvis, and operates 36 stores across Victoria, NSW and South Australia.
It expects to shed more than 20 jobs.
Mr Purvis said the business had closed stores in the past couple of years as consumers shifted to online shopping.
Outlets on retail strips were doing far better than those housed in major shopping centres, he said.
A string of retailers has collapsed in the past six months including homewares store Ishka, department store Harris Scarfe, and fashion retailers Jeanswest and Colette by Colette Hayman.