Retail News CRM

Tag: bunnings

  • Australian Retailers Sound Caution as Early Fiscal 2027 Sales Slow

    Australian Retailers Sound Caution as Early Fiscal 2027 Sales Slow

    JB Hi-Fi reported a 1.4 per cent drop in Australian sales between July and September, leading a batch of warnings across the country’s listed retail sector ahead of peak holiday trade.

    The contraction follows record sales across fiscal 2026, catching investors off balance as early fiscal 2027 trading updates exposed soft consumer sentiment. Three major retail operators, JB Hi-Fi, Wesfarmers, and Super Retail Group, shed a combined 450 points on the ASX after delivering their pre-annual general meeting trading numbers.

    Household Goods Face Margin Squeeze

    Weakness extended beyond consumer electronics into whitegoods and home renovations. JB Hi-Fi reported that sales at its appliance arm The Good Guys dropped 0.4 per cent during the three-month opening quarter. Its kitchen retailer, E&S, fell sharper, booking a 4.5 per cent sales drop over the same period.

    Shoppers across Australia are delaying standard purchases to wait for steep discount cycles. JB Hi-Fi told shareholders that October turnover showed further deceleration, leaving store networks dependent on heavy promotional volumes to salvage the first half.

    “In October, the group has seen sales slow ahead of the important Black Friday and Christmas trading periods. As always, the group will continue to focus on driving demand and growing market share through creating great value offers for its customers and delivering exceptional customer service.”

    Hardware Pulls Back While Discount Stores Hold

    Diversified conglomerate Wesfarmers pointed to uneven conditions across its divisions. Flagship home improvement business Bunnings recorded dwindling sales momentum after years of outsized pandemic and post-lockdown DIY demand. By contrast, budget department store Kmart and office supplies chain Officeworks sustained stable customer transaction levels.

    Super Retail Group Tracks Sector Slowdown

    Automotive and outdoor leisure operator Super Retail Group matched the downbeat assessments from electronics and home improvement sellers. The group runs Supercheap Auto, Macpac, Rebel, and BCF across Australian shopping centres and retail parks.

    Managing director and chief executive Paul Bradshaw stated that like-for-like sales growth moderated across the group during the opening months of fiscal 2027. Discretionary spending cuts and lingering consumer anxiety hit transaction values across sporting goods, camping gear, and vehicle accessories.

    Trading Focus Shifts to November Volumes

    Australian retailers relied on strong pricing power through fiscal 2026 to offset wage rises, high energy bills, and rent increases. That pricing use has evaporated, leaving merchants exposed to discounting wars to protect foot traffic.

    The immediate test for retail margins lands in late November when Black Friday promotions run across physical store networks and e-commerce platforms. Store groups must now balance inventory clearances against margin erosion as annual general meetings continue through November.

  • Target Lists 25,000 Items on Uber Eats for 60-Minute Delivery

    Target Lists 25,000 Items on Uber Eats for 60-Minute Delivery

    Target has expanded its fast-delivery options by offering more than 25,000 products on Uber Eats ahead of the holiday shopping period.

    As the first fashion retailer in Australia to partner with Uber Eats, Target expects orders to arrive within 60 minutes. The service will initially launch at 20 Target store locations in high-demand areas before expanding nationally.

    Store Shelf Pricing and Rapid Fulfilment

    Shoppers can order apparel, beauty products, homewares, toys, baby gear, and everyday staples directly via the Uber Eats app. Prices match in-store shelf tags, with standard Uber Eats service and delivery fees applied at checkout.

    Local stores will act as urban fulfilment hubs to support the service. Bypassing central warehouses lets the retailer turn existing shelf inventory into immediate digital supply.

    Bernard Wilson, chief commercial officer for Kmart and Target, said shoppers increasingly want flexible fulfilment that fits shifting daily schedules without advance planning.

    Expanding Department Store Reach

    Traditional department store operators face heavy competition from pure-play e-commerce platforms offering same-day parcel drop-offs. Using on-demand couriers cuts transit times from days to minutes. It also saves retailers from investing in dedicated last-mile transport fleets.

    This arrangement puts products directly in front of millions of active app users. Still, platform commission costs and service fees push final basket prices higher for consumers.

    Hardware and Discount Precedents

    Bunnings set an earlier precedent this year after adding more than 30,000 hardware products to the Uber Eats catalogue. Target has also integrated its clothing line into Kmart digital channels to capture cross-brand online traffic.

    Lucas Groeneveld, managing director of Uber Eats for Australia and New Zealand, noted that fast delivery is moving well beyond food into general merchandise. “Bringing Target onto Uber Eats means more of those everyday needs can arrive at their door in under an hour, making on-demand delivery useful for even more moments in their day,” said Groeneveld.

    Next Steps for National Expansion

    Service is now live across the initial 20 retail locations in metropolitan centres. Target plans to expand the delivery service to additional regional and suburban stores across Australia over the coming quarters.

  • Bunnings to have full e-commerce offer by Christmas

    Bunnings to have full e-commerce offer by Christmas

    Bunnings managing director Michael Schnieder has announced he expects the homewares and DIY retailer will have its e-commerce operations online and fully operational nationwide before Christmas 2019.

    The business has trialled a more limited online offering in select locations, but has previously stated it would roll-out a more robust offering by September 2020.

    “We believe that, done right, our click and collect offer will be rolled out across Australia by Christmas – well ahead of schedule,” Schneider said.

    “This follows the successful introduction of click and collect in Tasmania in April. We’ve been really delighted with the progress and customers’ response to the offer.

    “This is a real testament to our team, who have worked hard to make this happen, ensuring we are building an offer that delivers choice and convenience when it comes to how people want to shop with us.”

    Schnieder also indicated that he expects lower interest rates and the Coalition’s incoming tax cuts to spur customers into spending, delivering some relief in a difficult retail environment – one which NAB chief economist Alan Oster said fallen to levels not seen since the GFC.

    Bunnings has the fourth most visited shopping and classifieds website in Australia, but only enabled online ordering of select items in June of 2018.

    The DIY retailer has previously said it will shift some of its focus toward first-time DIY customers to target the “next generation of customers”.

    The trends of high-density living and long-term renting have informed the business’ products moving forward, as opposed to its more traditional large-scale renovation focus.

    Lees ook:

    Lees ook: