The Reject Shop selling Aus Day products amid growing backlash

While many retail giants aren’t celebrating the controversial public holiday, one iconic Australian store has made a huge move.

While many retail giants are cutting ties with Australia Day for good, one iconic store has decided to continue selling the controversial merchandise.

The Reject Shop currently has an extensive Australia Day-themed range on shelves, but the decision to offer the public holiday goods has sparked fierce divide.

Woolworths announced it would not be selling any Australia Day-themed items in its supermarkets or Big W stores on Wednesday, launching a huge public conversation.

The supermarket giant said it sells national flags all year round, but revealed its annual celebration products had been pulled due to a “gradual decline” in demand.

This was down to a “broader discussion” about the January 26 date and “what it means” to different parts of the community, Woolworths stated.

Aldi quickly followed suit, stating its “Australia Day Special Buys catalogue” – which had previously stocked a wide range of themed goods – would not go ahead this year.

However, The Reject Shop has decided against following suit, telling news.com.au the products are “popular” with some customers.

“A range of Australian-themed merchandise is stocked nationally at The Reject Shop over the summer period, which is popular with our customers in celebration of major sporting events such as cricket and tennis and, for some customers, Australia Day,” a spokesperson said.

Many retailers have decided to pull the plug on selling Australia Day themed merchandise this year. Picture: Supplied

But The Reject Shop is selling an extensive range, sparking divide among Aussies. Picture: Supplied

While many have praised Woolworths and Aldi supermarkets for ditching the products, others were furious, labelling the decision “woke” and “un-Australian”.

But amid the chaos, shoppers spotted The Reject Shop stocked to the brim with “supplies”, with one Australia Day defender sharing a video of products on offer on TikTok.

“Woolworths may have turned their back on Australia and cancelled Australia Day, but The Reject Shop has not,” the clip, shared by a prominent far right content creator.

“They have all of your supplies for Australia Day 2024, temporary tattoos, flags, hats, sunglasses, tupperware.

“So stock up.”

The woman’s video however was met with a mixed response, with some praising the budget retailer, as others condemned it.

Those who blasted the store pointed out for many, January 26 is known as “Invasion Day”, a term coined by Indigenous groups who believe the arrival of colonisation on Australian shores also accompanied the deaths and oppression of thousands of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

“The name of the shop explains it all. INVASION DAY,” one TikTok user commented.

“No one is saying we can’t celebrate Australia, it’s just about acknowledging the pain of our Indigenous Australians, and changing the date to one not associated with trauma,” another argued.

A video praising the store, and claiming Woolworths ‘turned its back on Australia’, has been met with mixed reactions. Picture: Supplied

Many however appeared overjoyed at discovering The Reject Shop still stocks the merchandise, praising the store.

“Well done Reject shop I will be buying my Australia Day products,” one commented.

“On my way to Reject Shop, yea,” another remarked.

As one claimed: “This just proves Aussies will shop elsewhere, bad move Woolies.”

News.com.au has contacted The Reject Shop for comment.

Coles selling Australia Day ‘supplies’

The Reject Shop isn’t the only retailer that has announced it would continue to sell the controversial items, with Coles confirming to news.com.au on Thursday customers who wish to participate in the public holiday can buy themed items in its stores nationwide.

“We are stocking a small range of Australian-themed summer entertaining merchandise throughout January which is popular with our customers for sporting events such as the cricket and tennis, as well as for the Australia Day weekend,” the spokesperson said.

The supermarket giant said it had made the decision to stop selling the controversial items due to a ‘decline in demand’. Picture: Supplied

Coles is still offering a ‘small’ selection. Picture: Supplied

‘People should boycott’

Conversation around the topic has become so heated, opposition leader Peter Dutton slammed Woolies’ decision and urged the public to boycott the chain.

“I think it’s up to customers whether they want to buy the product or not … I think people should boycott Woolworths,” he said.

“I think until we get some common sense out of a company like Woolworths, I don’t think they should be supported by the public.”

Anthony Albanese, when asked about the controversy, said his main focus was “making sure that supermarkets do the right thing by their customers at the checkout” amid the current cost of living crisis.

Mr Albanese has previously said he does not plan to change the date of Australia Day to move it away from January 26.