Dick Smith stores will close by April 30

FINALLY, some certainty for Dick Smith workers as the failed electronics chain’s receivers reveal when its remaining 363 stores will close.

A man walks past a Dick Smith store in Sydney on Tuesday, March 22, 2016. (AAP Image/Mick Tsikas) NO ARCHIVING

DICK Smith stores will cease trading within the next month, the failed electronics retailer’s receivers have confirmed.

Ferrier Hodgson this afternoon revealed that each of the failed electronics retailer’s remaining 363 stores in Australia and New Zealand are expected to cease trading by April 30.

Staff at 35 outlets have been notified that their stores will close earlier over the coming weeks (scroll down for details).

‘Move tech accessory’ stores at 16 locations have already closed, as have Dick Smith’s 27 concessions at David Jones department stores.

The announcement will give partial relief to workers left in limbo amid the chain’s meltdown.

Ferrier Hodgson said in a statement that employees would only be given notice of termination once the exact date of their store closure was known, meaning hundreds of staff members still face an uncertain future.

“Where possible, affected staff will be redeployed to nearby Dick Smith stores while others will

receive redundancy notices if redeployment is not possible,” the statement said.

“All Australian employee entitlements will rank as priority unsecured claims ahead of the

secured creditors and are expected to be paid in full.”

Staff got sick of being asked the same question.

Dick Smith stores will close by April 30.

Last week, it emerged that workers had not been told when they would be finishing up with Dick Smith, making it difficult to search for other work.

Images of passive-aggressive signs spotted in a Dick Smith story went viral after staff vented their frustration with message such as: “When are we closing? How long is a piece of string?”

While the receivers had indicated that a fire sale of Dick Smith stock would take about eight weeks, they were unable to give a firm closure date.

Staff said they felt compelled to stick around in order to safeguard their entitlements, and in the hopes of securing a redundancy payout.

New Zealand employees are in a slightly different position to Australian staff.

Those who are made redundant rank ahead of secured creditors, and are expected to be paid in full up to a maximum statutory limit of NZD$22,160 under New Zealand law.

“We would like to thank the Dick Smith employees for their support during the controlled closure process,” receiver James Stewart said.

“This is a difficult and uncertain time for them and we have really appreciated their commitment.”

AUSTRALIAN STORES

Tamworth NSW 9 April 2016

Hurstville NSW 9 April 2016

Lake Haven NSW 9 April 2016

Leichhardt NSW 16 April 2016

Penrith NSW 16 April 2016

Rhodes NSW 16 April 2016

Campbelltown NSW 16 April 2016

Carnes Hill NSW 16 April 2016

Winston Hills NSW 16 April 2016

Rockdale NSW 16 April 2016

Marrickville NSW 16 April 2016

Wollongong NSW 16 April 2016

Toowoomba QLD 16 April 2016

Airlie Beach QLD 16 April 2016

Glenelg SA 16 April 2016

North Park SA 16 April 2016

Golden Grove SA 16 April 2016

Mt Barker SA 16 April 2016

Victor Harbour SA 12 April 2016

Whyalla SA 22 March 2016

Kingston TAS 16 April 2016

Wendouree VIC 16 April 2016

Mildura VIC 16 April 2016

Mornington VIC 18 March 2016

Sale VIC 16 April 2016

Cannington WA 16 April 2016

Riverton WA 16 April 2016

Carousel WA 16 April 2016

NEW ZEALAND STORES

Glenfield 9 April 2016

Thames 9 April 2016

Invercargill 9 April 2016

Orewa 9 April 2016

Masterson 9 April 2016

Alexandra 9 April 2016

Levin 9 April 2016

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