'A race to the bottom': The 19 David Jones stores set to close

Detailed summary

David Jones stores in five states will be closed by the end of the year in the latest move to save the struggling retailer. Receivers FTI Consulting announced on Wednesday that 19…

David Jones stores in five states will be closed by the end of the year in the latest move to save the struggling retailer.

Receivers FTI Consulting announced on Wednesday that 19 stores, mostly in suburban areas, will continue trading only until the end of December.

Flagship stores in capital city central business districts have largely survived, but the Hay Street Mall store in central Perth will be closed, the receivers said.

"The receivers have made the difficult decision to proceed with an urgent restructure of the business, in line with management's plan for the future of David Jones," FTI said in a statement.

Staff at the 19 stores are being consulted about the changes and no final date for the closures has been set, the receivers added.

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David Jones' only New Zealand-based store, at Newmarket in Auckland, will also be shuttered in the restructure.

The 188-year-old retailer has been plagued with years of losses that left it unable to pay rent and ongoing issues with its day-to-day business.

But a member of the family that set up the department store chain says there's still room for the personal touch and carefully crafted in-store experiences.

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