Daiso closing its Willows store, the only one in Townsville

They don’t come much cheaper than Daiso but unfortunately the cost to operate may have been too high in Townsville. See why they were hit with a $1 million fine for ‘unsafe’ products.

The Daiso Japan store at the Willows shopping centre.

Shoppers are mourning the loss of Townsville’s only Daiso Japan discount store.

News of the pending closure was met with almost 600 comments and more than 100 shares from disappointed fans on social media.

“I love Daiso” was a common sentiment of those who posted on Facebook.

But just why the store is closing is something of a mystery.

When contacted on Messenger, an automated bot on Daiso’s Facebook page responded that “we’ll get back soon” — we’re still waiting — while Willows shopping centre management denied suggestions an increase in rent was to blame.

Daiso national operations manager Jennifer Hibberd with store manager Julie Quealy at the new Willows store opening in 2017. Picture: Evan Morgan

Signs posted in the Willows store says: “Attention customers Daiso Willows will be permanently closed from 13 February 2023. Thank you to our customers for all your support. For all the latest news, follow us online …”

One can only speculate that the “variety wonderland” is doing it tough.

There are suggestions of other Daiso store closures in Brisbane and NSW, while in 2020 Daiso Industries (Australia) was fined $1 million by the Federal Court for selling unsafe products in Victoria, NSW and Queensland.

Daiso was found to have breached consumer laws by supplying, offering to supply or having goods that did not comply with mandatory product safety and information standards.

More than 6500 unsafe products from 15 stores were seized by consumer officials in Victoria, NSW and Queensland.

The stash included projectile toys, toys for children under three which posed potential choking hazards, and sunglasses, luggage straps and cosmetics with incorrect or insufficient labelling.

A sign on the store alerting customers to the closure.

The court also ordered the retailer pay $160,000 in costs, destroy and dispose of any unsafe goods seized or bought, engage in an ongoing compliance plan and issue a public notice acknowledging the court orders.

Kirwan resident Peter Kennedy said he would be sad to see the Daiso store go.

“It’s an interesting place,” Mr Kennedy said.

“If we can’t find stuff, say we’re looking for something like storage, we know we can always come here and find something that will suit the purpose that we are after.”

Daiso started in the 1970s offering products for 100 yen — the equivalent of about A$1 — and now operates more than 5000 stores across the world, including more than 40 in Australia but sadly no longer in Townsville.

Willows management had stated they would respond to questions about the closure but the response was not received before deadline.

Originally published as Daiso closing its Willows store, the only one in Townsville