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Department store Myer (ASX: MYR) will soon more than double the amount of reopened stores across Australia with bricks-and-mortar operations set to begin in WA and SA, along with further openings in NSW.
After bringing seven outlets on-stream in QLD and NSW in time for Mother's Day, Myer will trial the opening of the following eight stores this Saturday:
- NSW: Albury, Dubbo, Wagga, Erina, Miranda
- WA: Morley, Garden City
- SA: Tea Tree Plaza
"Given the success and positive response from opening seven trial stores this past weekend, Myer has made the decision to open eight additional stores," a Myer spokesperson said.
"We look forward to welcoming more team members back to work, and more customers back to their favourite department store, where we have taken extra precautions to ensure Myer has a safe and hygienic shopping environment for all."
This now means that a quarter of the company's 60-strong store network is back in business, but the online side of the company that has thrived in this climate will continue with Click and Collect services now available at selected stores nationally.
The reopening comes after scenes of busy crowds at shopping centres ignoring social distancing etiquette last weekend, Myer has emphasised its focus on providing a safe working and shopping environment for its team members and customers.
Cleaning services will be increased across the trial stores, sneeze guards at registers will be progressively rolled out, and protective items such as hand sanitiser stations, face masks and gloves will be made available for team members.
Customers will be monitored to ensure social distancing is kept, while hand sanitiser will also be provided to shoppers
Some services at stores will however remain suspended to reduce close contact, such as beauty appointments, intimate apparel fittings, suit fittings and shoe fittings.
The new openings will come hot on the heels of Premier Investments opening doors for all of its remaining stores tomorrow, including Smiggle, Portmans, Just Jeans, Peter Alexander, Jay Jays, Jacqui E, and Dotti.
As of Myer's last Annual Report, Premier Investments held a 10.77 per cent stake in the company, and its chairman Solomon Lew had a fairly antagonistic relationship with the Myer board in 2017 and 2018 over management issues.
Updated at 9:52am AEST on 14 May 2020.
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