Major Fashion Brands Stand Down Almost 7000 Employees

If retail stores were already hurting before Coronavirus hit, well, now most of them have sadly no hope for survival, with many having to stand down staff members to stay alive.

A prominent fashion retailer, Mosaic Brands, has become the latest victim of our unsettled economy, with announcements that they will be shutting stores and standing down staff indefinitely.

Mosiac is the parent company of popular outlets including Noni B, Rivers and Katies and has said the decision was prompted by the government’s increasingly stringent social distancing measures.

Other brands within the Mosaic stable include W.Lane, Millers, Crossroads, Autograph, Beme, and Rockmans.

Shut Doors

The company told investors that it would suspend all store operations from Thursday onwards as sales across Australia’s retail sector continue to steeply decline, as reported in the Sydney Morning Herald.

Mosaic has stood down 6800 staff members as the company’s 1379 outlets will close its doors. The employees will be able access leave entitlements while the company reviews what government support may be available.

“The Group will continue to communicate regularly with the team and will offer other forms of support through this difficult time and period of uncertainty, including access to its Employee Assistance Program,” a statement from the company read.

Big Drops

“The group has recently seen a significant drop in-store traffic and revenue, a direct result of the community’s response to the COVID-19 outbreak and the government’s social distancing recommendations,” Mosaic said in a statement.

“The group is working with its business partners and is reviewing its cost of doing business, with a view to reducing costs to match expected revenue.”

How Long?

There was no specification as to how long the shutdown would go on for. However online operations will continue to operate.

The Mosaic group was badly affected by the summer bushfires as many of their stores are in regional areas.

Not The Only Ones

This follows news this week that Michael Hill jewellers announced it would also indefinitely shut its 300 stores globally due to COVID-19 crisis. They cited the main reason for the closures as it not being possible to keep doors open while complying with social distancing directives.

We expect many retailers will follow similar actions as the government introduces more strict restrictions on our movements.

Are you still heading out to the shops? Tell us in the comments below.

29 Comments

- - meedee said
  - 26 Aug 2023
    3:59 pm
I think this time had many people really looking at their chosen jobs and moving on to ew fields

- - Frankiielot said
  - 13 Oct 2021
    9:18 pm
We only have a Rivers in our area but it’s tucked away in an upstarts area where no one hardly goes.
I’m guessing it’s shut now with all that’s happened…

- - mom268263 said
  - 31 Oct 2020
    12:52 pm
Hoping the openings will provide a turnaround as they have a good customer base, and nice products.

- - mom101628 said
  - 29 May 2020
    11:09 pm
So sad to see all these stores closed when you have to pass them to get to your supermarket store. That’s all I am buying at this time – supermarket essentials.

- - DaffyD said
  - 29 Apr 2020
    3:57 pm
Only for the essentials as keeping that to min as well

- - snazzy007 said
  - 18 Apr 2020
    9:35 am
The world as we know it will change

- - ThisIsMe said
  - 15 Apr 2020
    6:55 pm
So many people being stood down and losing their jobs I myself have lost mine due to this virus and our industry no longer operating and it’s horrible

- - mom322089 said
  - 12 Apr 2020
    7:33 pm
this is such a sad scenario.

- - BellaB said
  - 04 Apr 2020
    7:13 pm
I feel awful for the people affected, but it’s just getting clearer and clearer that we need to tighten things.

- - mom462038 said
  - 03 Apr 2020
    9:00 am
I have to do my groceries today and get our flu shots. I’m a bit apprehensive but plan on washing my hands regularly and not touching my face, as well as social distancing. I’m hoping to find some toilet rolls, it’s been 4 weeks since our last shop, we are getting low!

- - Kasey said
  - 28 Mar 2020
    3:27 pm
I’ve been trying to avoid going out except for the essentials. This week however I had to go out to get things for my MIL and most of the shops were deserted. I understand they must be feeling it, but we’ve been told to stay home and people are scared that they may get this horrible virus.

- - Ellen said
  - 27 Mar 2020
    3:49 am
I usually have already not much time to go to the shops other then for groceries & pharmacy, so not much difference for me now.

- - MisChip said
  - 27 Mar 2020
    12:33 am
I know being stood down is tough. But it is for the best.

- - rovermum said
  - 26 Mar 2020
    11:01 am
No. No longer will I be visiting any retail stores. I think the time has come now for them to close. It’s not fair on the sales people having to stand in an empty shop all day whislt our Shopping Centres are empty (except for supermarketing and pharmacy shopping). We all need to protect each other now. They will re-open. This is not the end.

- - sars_angelchik said
  - 26 Mar 2020
    9:03 am
Wow, they’re big and been around for ages ! I also got a message yesterday saying I Forever New stores are closed due to virus.

- - rachel1970 said
  - 26 Mar 2020
    8:13 am
I’m sure that shortly clothing shops and the like will close as well, as a precaution.

- - mom93821 said
  - 26 Mar 2020
    5:52 am
We do not visit shops for anything other than food and essentials. I do know from someone that works in retail that people are still going to the shops and buying non essentials.
- mom93821 replied
  
  29 Mar 2020 , 6:56 am
  Sadly some shops are still open for non essentials and I do worry about the safety of staff and members of the community. How can physical distancing occur when the non essential shops are still open. I am pleased that some shops have moved to online.
- - tessie said
  - 26 Mar 2020
    12:07 am
It’s a difficult time for everyone but hopefully it will pass soon. Sooner if people follow the safety measures we’ve been told to take

- - BellaB said
  - 25 Mar 2020
    11:30 pm
I am not going near anything but supermarkets and pharmacies.

- - mom290396 said
  - 25 Mar 2020
    11:05 pm
We won’t recognise the world when this is over, but hopefully we will emerge from it with more compassion and understanding, especially towards those who have been living in poverty or war zones. As we are now walking in their footsteps. Hopefully when things do start returning to normal, businesses will hire back those they had to let go!