‘There’s nothing left’: Customers’ fury as Target clears shelves for Anko brand

Customers have expressed their disappointment at a major change rolling out in Target stores across Australia, saying they’re “in mourning”.

Customers have expressed their disappointment at a major change rolling out in Target stores across the country, as shelves fill with products from Kmart’s cult Anko brand.

In recent weeks, the popular Aussie retailer has started to replace some of its much-loved range in favour of Kmart’s discount brand, and has been slashing prices on its existing homewares products to make way.

The move, announced by parent company Wesfarmers last July as part of a $10 billion merger, will see Target and Kmart become a singular business.

But many shoppers have been too late to nab a bargain – descending on their local Target only to find most stock already replaced.

“I quite literally ran to Target this morning when I’d seen everyone talking about the clearance sale, but my Target’s already turning into Kmart,” NSW woman Kaitlin Knight said in a video on TikTok, captioned “PETITION TO BRING BACK TARGET”.

Ms Knight panned the camera across the store, revealing shelves full of Anko-branded products.

“There’s literally nothing (from) Target left in the store, it’s all Anko … I don’t understand the point,” she said.

Customers have expressed their disappointment at a major change rolling out in Target stores across the country. Picture: TikTok

‘There’s literally nothing (from) Target left in the store, it’s all Anko … I don’t understand the point.’ Picture: TikTok

Hundreds of others took to the comments to share they were in a similar predicament, leaving them “in mourning”.

“OMG this makes me so angry. I went during Boxing Day sales and got sm (so much) clearance stuff but now it’s all Anko and it’s p*ssing me off,” one commenter wrote.

“I loved Target homewares, they were so much better quality and nice.”

“Same I went to mine and it was all gone,” another commented.

While a third wrote: “My Target’s already all Anko too. The worst part is we have a Kmart in the same shopping centre. So it’s like having 2 Kmarts.”

Customers are mourning the disappearance of some of Target’s range. Picture: David Clark

‘If I wanted to shop at Kmart I would shop at Kmart.’ Picture: NCA NewsWire/Dean Martin

“I’m mad about it. If I wanted to shop at Kmart I would shop at Kmart. Target was always that bit nicer,” someone else wrote.

Earlier this month another shopper took to TikTok to share her shock after visiting her local Target and finding “half the store was empty”.

“All of the homewares are gone, most of the baby products are gone. There’s just gaps all throughout the store,” user Tenielle Hamlin said in a video, adding she was “devastated” by the development.

‘All of the homewares are gone, most of the baby products are gone. There’s just gaps all throughout the store.’ Picture: TikTok

The decision to sell Anko products in Target stores was made to combat Australia’s soaring cost-of-living pressures. Picture: TikTok

Kmart Group said the decision to sell Anko products in Target stores had been made to combat Australia’s soaring cost-of-living pressures.

“I think the search for value is something (consumers) are going to continue to try to do as they try and figure out how they maintain their lifestyle,” managing director Ian Bailey told The West Australian.

“We had great feedback from customers, we had very encouraging sales. So I think we’ve got lots of reasons to be optimistic.”

Kmart rebranded its house brand “&Co” to Anko – an acronym for “a new kind of” – in 2019, and has experienced huge success.

It has proved particularly popular on social media, where users and online groups frequently share “Kmart hacks” and compare Anko products to more expensive rival versions.