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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.

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  • I think this time had many people really looking at their chosen jobs and moving on to ew fields

    Reply

  • 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…

    Reply

  • Hoping the openings will provide a turnaround as they have a good customer base, and nice products.

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  • 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.

    Reply

  • Only for the essentials as keeping that to min as well

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  • The world as we know it will change

    Reply

  • 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

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  • this is such a sad scenario.

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  • I feel awful for the people affected, but it’s just getting clearer and clearer that we need to tighten things.

    Reply

  • 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!

    Reply

  • 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.

    Reply

  • I usually have already not much time to go to the shops other then for groceries & pharmacy, so not much difference for me now.

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  • I know being stood down is tough. But it is for the best.

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  • 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.

    Reply

  • 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.

    Reply

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