BREAKING: Big W Confirm 30 Stores WILL Be Closed

Big W have released a statement confirming the closure of at least 30 stores across Australia over the next three years.

We recently shared the news of Big W’s financial struggles and the rumoured closure of stores across Australia.

A Woolworths Group Spokesperson has confirmed the news that 30 stores will be closed in a statement released today:

“Following an extensive review of the business, we have made the difficult decision to close approximately 30 BIG W stores over the next three years. We will also close two distribution centres at the end of their leases.

They added, “These are not decisions we have taken lightly and we regret the impact this will have on affected team members.

“We have made these decisions to create a stronger and more sustainable store and distribution centre network that better reflects the rapidly changing retail environment.

“We understand the announcement, without confirmation of specific stores, will create some uncertainty for our teams and the communities in which we operate, particularly in regional areas.

Not Only Regional

The spokesperson made it really clear that they “want to emphasise this review has never been focused solely on our regional stores but our entire network.”

“Details of store closure locations will not be released due to ongoing discussions with landlords. In the interim all BIG W stores will continue to trade as normal.

The majority of our store network is set to remain open and we’re committed to doing the right thing for our team in impacted stores.

We will inform our team members, customers and community stakeholders well in advance of changes to any specific store.”

Big W Should Eventually Return To Profitability

The Australian shared that a report from Macquarie Wealth Management claims in their latest report that half of the Big W store network is located in challenging centres.

“Given the format of Big W stores, we believe it would be difficult to reduce space as Myer is doing and that outright store closure is more likely.”

The report argues that Big W should eventually return to profitability, therefore not justifying a complete closure of the chain, but that a more logical and cost effective strategy would be to “cut the tail” and drastically reduce the 183 stores operating across Australia.

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27 Comments

- - meedee said
  - 15 Mar 2023
    11:08 am
Our store is super popular so i would be shocked if it ever closed.

- - mom268263 said
  - 31 Oct 2020
    11:21 pm
A sign of the retail times unfortunately.

- - Riss Nixon said
  - 30 May 2019
    4:04 pm
I love big w
This is really sad

- - rovermum said
  - 03 Apr 2019
    8:59 am
I love our Big W and absolutely hope it stays open. We waited so long for it. People can’t complain and be outraged… they need to show support with their feet and shop in-store rather than online.

- - littlehandsofmine said
  - 02 Apr 2019
    5:22 pm
This isn’t a surprise

- - ella12 said
  - 02 Apr 2019
    4:19 pm
I feel for those who will be without a job.

- - mom19782016 said
  - 02 Apr 2019
    3:43 pm
Noooooooo! Where are we going to get our last minute everything from now?

- - tessie said
  - 02 Apr 2019
    2:55 pm
What turns me off a lot of stores is the self serve checkouts. I feel like I have to hurry and end up making mistakes and feel stupid. A lot of people also are now shopping online which doesn’t help a lot of stores either

- - mom67623 said
  - 02 Apr 2019
    10:33 am
It is a shame that Big W are closing stores, due probably to more younger people shop on line. As mature mum like to see and feel items also find things I want to buy. So I am dissapointed this is happening

- - sars_angelchik said
  - 02 Apr 2019
    8:56 am
This sucks. Quality is so much better than Kmart.

- - AmbieBambi said
  - 02 Apr 2019
    8:48 am
Good! Don’t think any stores around me are closing.
I quite like big w!

- - ~Loui~ said
  - 01 Apr 2019
    11:44 pm
I like that Big W stock branded products not just cheap versions of things, I hope that many of their staff will be able to be given jobs within the company or have the jobs go through natural attrition rather than forced redundancies.

- - mom101628 said
  - 01 Apr 2019
    10:49 pm
Have watched the decline in the store and I was hesitant about shopping there as I HATE with a passion the self service checkouts. They should have learned with Masters that people don’t like them. To many, shopping is an outing and they want to talk to someone as they purchase their goods. Target has just introduced rows of self-service checkouts and that will be their demise too. The few people left in the store will probably be absorbed elsewhere as they certainly didn’t have many check-out chicks left.

- - DaffyD said
  - 01 Apr 2019
    10:21 pm
It’s so sad. I feel sorry for those that will lose their jobs but also for those who have to make these hard decisions. Hope my local doesn t close I won’t be able to shop there so easily

- - country chick said
  - 01 Apr 2019
    9:39 pm
I hope it’s not my local! I feel sorry for the workers.

- - musicmum said
  - 01 Apr 2019
    9:11 pm
I am guessing they are closing the ones where the high rents do not justify the income from sales. Why they might be still negotiating as in the statement saying they are still discussing with landlords. There is always Big W online for those who cannot shop anymore in store, I have to do that with Kmart as we do not have a store close by.

- - carolj56.wyatt@gmail.com said
  - 01 Apr 2019
    9:08 pm
Hope it’s not Hallett Cove????

- - ralu said
  - 01 Apr 2019
    9:06 pm
Not good news for people working there .

- - mkett57 said
  - 01 Apr 2019
    8:41 pm
Very sad for staff and consumers alike.

- - mom91814 said
  - 01 Apr 2019
    8:24 pm
That is very sad NEws expertly for the staffs members with family to looks after or morgen to pay.