More international expansions

Hot on the heels of TK Maxx’s Aussie entrance announced last week, UK sports giant JD Sports confirmed the news of its first store that will open in Melbourne during April.

The 540sqm store will offer a range of leading global brands including Nike, Adidas, Lacoste, Reebok, Ellesse, The North Face and Puma, servicing men, women and children through a wide range of footwear and apparel.

JD said it will bring a cross category product offering, from performance to lifestyle, presented in a highly immersive, multi-channel, retail environment, “which has never been seen before on the Australian high street”.

French cosmetics chain, Sephora, meanwhile announced the location of its eighth Aussie store and first Brisbane location at Westfield Chermside in April.

“Launching our first ever Brisbane store is a very exciting time for Sephora Australia,” said Libby Amelia, country manager for Sephora Australia.

“After such great success with our Pacific Fair store launch on the Gold Coast, it was clear that we needed to bring a Sephora store offering to the sunshine state capital,” she said.

Meanwhile big box retailer, Costco, has continued humming along with its accretive expansion strategy, with plans announced for a new warehouse site at Pacific Epping – the fourth Victorian site chosen by the membership-only retailer.

Elsewhere, jewellery retailer, Michael Hill has appointed its long-serving chief financial officer.Phil Taylor, as its CEO effective immediately.

“The board has been committed to finding a world class CEO to lead the group into the future and we’re thrilled that Phil has emerged as our preferred candidate following an extensive international search process,” said Emma Hill, chair of Michael Hill.

Local ambitions

This week also saw department store giant, David Jones, unveil its ‘new look’ store in south western Sydney’s Macarthur Square Shopping Centre.

The store opens as part of the centre’s multi-million dollar refurbishment and features DJs internationally awarded contemporary design ‘with a refreshed approach to visual merchandising and premium fixtures and finishes’.

Meanwhile, DJ’s headquarters move from Sydney to Melbourne has sparked debate about what the change means for the company. Read more in some opposing opinions on the matter.

Local tidings

Supermarket giant Coles has announced it will start paying small suppliers within a shorter time frame just weeks before an ombudsman’s report into big corporations pay terms.

Instead of an average of 30 days, small suppliers will be paid within 14 days from July, Coles announced on Friday.

Coles managing director John Durkan said over 1,000 suppliers that provide up to $1 million worth of merchandise a year to Coles will have the time they wait for payment shortened.

In fashion, James Packer’s private investment company, Consolidated Press Holdings, has sold its stake in fashion retailer, Noni B.

CPH made the announcement yesterday, asserting the divestment comes following the successful integration of the Pretty Girl and Noni B businesses and a strategic refocus.

The stake has been acquired by a number of institutions, including companies who bought shares in the capital raising associated with the Pretty Girl acquisition.