Backlash over non-essential designer brands, lingerie stores still open

Hundreds of Sydney stores selling designer handbags and lingerie remain open as the state enters its third week of lockdown.

Although Greater Sydney is entering its third week of lockdown and Victoria is only in its first day, it’s a lot clearer what constitutes an essential service in the more southern state.

NSW authorities insist that Sydney is in a “hard lockdown”, yet non-essential stores remain open, raising eyebrows.

Designer fashion brands including Gucci and Louis Vuitton and even lingerie stores like Honey Birdette have opened their doors amid stay-at-home orders and fears Sydney’s five-week lockdown could be extended.

Meanwhile, Victoria have shut all retail outlets as they attempt to stamp out the virus in just five days.

NSW Health has not published a list of what is deemed an “essential” shop.

It has only stipulated what cannot open – food and drink premises can only open for takeaway, while entertainment facilities like theatres, amusement centres, indoor recreation facilities, places of worship and beauty services must close.

A number of stores that are still open has sparked outrage online.

RELATED: Retail boss pleads with competitors to close amid lockdown

Non-essential stores are open across Greater Sydney as residents enter their third week of lockdown. Picture: @Livs1982/Tiktok

People have called for more clarity from the NSW government on what constitutes as “essential”. Picture: @Livs1982/Tiktok

RELATED: Sydney loses $1b a week during lockdown

Bunnings, Officeworks, Kmart, Ikea, Big W, Cotton On, Typo, Factorie, Dr Martens, EB Games, Honey Birdette, General Pants Co, Gucci, H&M, Hype DC, JB Hi-Fi, JD, Louis Vuitton, Panerai, Platypus, Skechers, Supre, Vans, David Jones, Toymate, Supercheap Auto, the Reject Shop and Bally are among the stores that news.com.au has confirmed are still open.

Some have reduced trading hours while others have shut down some of their stores, but not all.

Supercheap Auto said it was keeping all its stores open so that it was “ready to roll” once restrictions lifted.

“Everyone can make a claim they’re essential or not; we believe our claim is compelling,” Super Retail chief executive Anthony Heraghty told The Australian Financial Review on Thursday.

“I never did a medical degree, so I’m more than happy to run with the call of the umpire (i.e. NSW Health) and execute that call diligently.”

RELATED: Cafe’s mask sign sparks controversy

Pictured is the Gucci store in Sydney's CBD this week. Picture: Tim Hunter.

How essential is it to get a designer handbag? Picture: Tim Hunter.

Shopping centres also remain open, albeit with social distancing and mask wearing rules in place.

Last Friday, the NSW government added a new rule that said “browsing in shops is prohibited”.

However, it’s hard to visit these shops without browsing in some capacity.

During the daily coronavirus press conference on Friday, NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian dodged questions about whether retail should be forcibly closed.

“As I said, we need to make sure that any decisions we take will have the desired effect of reducing those numbers,” she told reporters.

“That is why we have to focus on the data. What the science is telling us and what the health experts are telling us is creating those extra cases of transmission. And those extra numbers of people who are infectious in the community, that is what we need to focus on.”

On Friday, NSW recorded another 97 daily cases, bringing the total number of cases in this cluster to 1026.

People on social media were annoyed by the loose rules.

In a now-viral clip which has been viewed 350,000 times, TikTok user Livs1982 shared a video of herself walking through Westpoint Shopping Centre in Blacktown where everything was still very much open.

“There’s a lot of shops open and to be honest I wasn’t expecting it,” she said.

“We’re supposed to be in lockdown.”

On Twitter, people also expressed their anger.

I’m not lockdownologist but it *does* seem weird to insist on keeping non-essential retail stores open while telling people to stay home and not do any non-essential shopping.

— Fiona Katauskas (@FionaKatauskas) July 15, 2021

These images show a retailers and customers in the Old Town Centre at Bankstown on Monday morning conducting business despite the lockdown. Picture: Matrix Media.

Hype is one of the retailers who has decided to stay open. Picture: Matrix Media

“We need to actually force non-essential stores to close. Stores like David Jones, Myer and any other designer stores. Unnecessary risk,” said one person on Twitter.

“Every day the Premier is asked about closing non-essential stores/businesses. Every day she does not answer the question, instead deliberately choosing to obfuscate and waffle about NSW residents “doing the right thing”. It is excruciating to watch. Answer the question!!!” tweeted another.

Modelling by the University of Sydney released on Thursday shows that if 80 per cent of Sydney residents follow social distancing measures, it would take a month for cases to get down to below 10.

According to the report, the best case scenario would take Sydney into lockdown until mid-August, which is an extra two weeks of what is already mandated.

However, if compliance was just 10 per cent less, at 70 per cent, Sydney’s lockdown would go for another two months before it could be brought back to a semblance of control.

Some Sydney stores took the decision to close into their own hands. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Christian Gilles

During last year’s nationwide lockdown in April, shopping centres and retail stores had to close down.

In Victoria’s current lockdown, supermarkets, restaurants, cafes, bottle shops, banks, courts, pharmacies, petrol stations, mechanics, childcare and schools have been named as essential services.

All retailers are closed.

An empty cafe in Circular Quay, Sydney as the city enters its third week in lockdown. Restaurants are serving takeaway only. Picture: NCA NewsWire / James Gourley

Some retail bosses have taken matters into their own hands and have closed stores anyway, regardless of government advice.

Women’s fashion brand Cue decided to shut down “immediately” after lockdown was announced on June 26.

Cue CEO Justin Levis previously told news.com.au “it’s irresponsible to stay open” and “it’d be morally wrong”.

“When I heard the initial lockdown was coming into effect, I thought I had to close my stores. I’m not an essential service,” he explained.

He said even if he had stayed open, his stores would be bleeding money, with sales down by 75 per cent – which is why he’s baffled that some retailers are so determined to keep operating.

With or without retail stores open, it’s estimated that the NSW economy will lose $1 billion for every week that it is in lockdown.

Continue the conversation | [e-mail] | @AlexTurnerCohen