Latest news with #AleksSpaseska
News.com.au
7 days ago
- Business
- News.com.au
Kmart trialling new layout as part of plans to double sales to $20bn
Kmart is trialling a new layout of its stores as part of the discount chain's latest plans to double sales by 'luring in Gen Z and Gen Alpha shoppers' and making them 'spend more'. The Australian retail giant's new managing director, Aleks Spaseska, recently outlined her aim to grow the business' current $11.1 billion turnover to over $20 billion by focusing on younger customers and expanding its most popular ranges. Ms Spaseska, who at 41 became the youngest divisional head at the conglomerate when she was appointed in April, said the 'biggest difference' to the layout is in the apparel and beauty sections. She said the overhaul will make shopping easier for Kmart customers. 'If you go into women's apparel today, you'll see we mostly sell all the tops together, the bottoms together, the dresses together. If you think about the way our merchants put the ranges together, it's a brand-new outfit,' she said at a recent Wesfarmers expansion strategy event, SMH reports. 'When you walk the store in the new format, there's much more co-ordination through women's apparel, which allows customers to be much more inspired and helps with outfit building … We've also brought beauty to the front of the store as well.' To make way for more clothing and beauty items on the shop floor, bulkier products such as bikes and furniture will moved to the back of the store, where customers can request and buy an item through a digital 'select and collect' screen. Brisbane's Mount Gravatt store was the first to try out the 'brand new store format' following a major refurbishment last year, but Ms Spaseska said four more stores are set to be overhauled in the coming month. If successful, all 325 Kmart stores across the country will be refigured – with early results in Mount Gravatt reportedly showing a promising start. 'Those results have been stronger sales, particularly in apparel, and really pleasingly, we're seeing customers because of changes to the flow of the store, shop much more,' Ms Spaseska said. understands the planned store refurbishments will aim to incorporate learnings from the trial in Mount Gravatt, and will be based on optimising return on space and improving the shopping experience. Feedback from the recent Eastland store overhaul will also be used as part of the ongoing strategic focus after it trialled moving centralised checkouts in October 2023 following years of complains. The cash registers were relocated from the centre of the Melbourne location to the exits, prompting many consumers to react with joy. 'Absolutely genius! Who would have thought?!' one user lamented. 'This is how it was all the time… never should have changed,' another scoffed. 'OMG. Revolutionary,' someone else mused. Kmart first began moving its cash registers from the entrance into the middle of stores back in 2012. By 2018, almost every store in the country had the layout, with many shoppers labelling the move 'confusing' and 'dumb'. Kmart is also opening a new $200 million distribution centre in Sydney's west that will begin operating in late 2027, the AFR reports. The 100,000 square metre venue will be used for stores and online orders for both Target and Kmart to replenish products faster, improve availability and reduce costs. Wesfarmers, which merged Target and Kmart into a dual-brand retail giant in 2023, now sells more than 1 billion of its own brand Anko items – from linen to fashion and toys – in Australia each year. Ms Spaseska recently started trialling stand-alone Anko stores in the Philippines, where it is hoping to target a growing middle-class and already has two outlets. Three more are set to open by the end of the year, and if successful, the company may roll out stores across the region, Ms Spaseska said.
Daily Mail
27-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Inside Kmart Australia's brand new store layout - as boss announces major changes in the works
Kmart Australia has announced major changes to its store layout as part of a strategy to attract digitally savvy Gen Z and Alpha customers. The retailer is trialling new store formats in select locations, including moving the checkouts - controversially placed in the centre of the store - back to the front. The central checkout layout was first introduced to all stores across the country about a decade ago to 'improve access' and 'reduce clutter at the exit'. Now in a significant move, Kmart's new managing director Aleks Spaseska revealed plans to highlight fashion and beauty at the front of stores in a bid to boost sales and better appeal to younger shoppers. 'The biggest difference you'll notice is in the apparel and beauty offer in the store,' Spaseska said at the Wesfarmers strategy briefing day, according to the SMH. 'If you go into women's apparel today, you'll see we mostly sell all the tops together, the bottoms together, the dresses together. If you think about the way our merchants put the ranges together, it's a brand-new outfit. 'When you walk the store in the new format, there's much more co-ordination through women's apparel, which allows customers to be much more inspired and helps with outfit building... We've also brought beauty to the front of the store as well.' Daily Mail Australia visited the Kmart store in Ashfield, in Sydney's Inner West, where controversial checkouts were recently reinstated near the front entrance. Upon entering, customers are greeted by rows of beauty essentials, including budget-friendly makeup and skincare products. The retail chain plans to move its bulkier items - such as car seats and bikes - from the shop floor to the back of the store to free up space for clothing displays. As part of the change, customers will be directed to purchase bulky or big ticket items through a digital 'select and collect' system. Typically known as the go-to spot for mums and millennials, the retailer is now setting its sights on Gen Z and Alpha consumers as it expands its offering in youth apparel, 'kidult' collectibles, beauty, and home and living. In an effort to appeal to younger customers, Kmart is shifting its marketing strategy toward social media. The younger customers have become key drivers of market trends, with their purchasing power growing rapidly - likely fuelled by social media, influencers and online shopping. The retailer's strategy will include creating more social media content to showcase popular low-cost items, including fashion, beauty, homewares, cleaning and more. In recent years, Kmart has drawn tens of thousands of shoppers to its stores - all thanks to organic social media buzz and five-star reviews. In the 2024 financial year, Kmart Group reported a revenue of more than $11billion dollars, with profits of nearly $960million. Kmart Australia has announced major changes to its store layout as part of a strategy to attract digitally savvy Gen Z and Alpha customers The Mount Gravatt store in southern Brisbane was among the first to undergo refurbishment late last year. The new store layout has led to increased customer traffic, with Spaseska confirming it has been a huge success, citing 'stronger sales' driven by the improved store flow. Four more stores are expected to roll out the new layout, and if successful, the format will be expanded across all Kmart locations. 'I'm incredibly proud of what our team has achieved so far,' Spaseska said. 'Our purpose to make everyday living brighter has never mattered more to customers, and I look forward to this next chapter in our story.'
Daily Telegraph
26-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Telegraph
Temu, Shein busted: Kmart drops major plan
Kmart has unveiled its war-footing plan as it bids to fight back against online giants Temu and Shein and Canadian upstart Dollarama in the battle for wallets of Aussie consumers. Newly installed Kmart Group Managing Director Aleks Spaseska has revealed the retail giant's aim to grow to $20 billion in turnover as it expands in the face of increasing competition from massive overseas outlets. Long-time competitor Big W is struggling but Temu and Shein have joined Amazon and eBay as chief competitors to Kmart's market share. While big money Canadian discount retail store Dollarama's take over of The Reject Shop will present even more commercial challenges. At the heart of Kmart's plan is expanding its popular cut price home brand Anko but also on completely reworking the retail experience for its millions and millions of Aussie customers. MORE: Price of car spot proves Australia has lost it Kmart have begun experimenting with new layouts in their stores, that bring clothing and beauty to the front of the outlets, aiming to maximise sales and turn younger customers into lifelong shoppers. The retail giant wants to expands it offerings in women's, men's and youth clothing ranges and beauty products, toys and electronics. 'The biggest difference you'll notice is in the apparel and beauty offer in the store,' Spaseska told the SMH. 'If you go into women's apparel today, you'll see we mostly sell all the tops together, the bottoms together, the dresses together. 'If you think about the way our merchants put the ranges together, it's a brand-new outfit 'When you walk the store in the new format, there's much more co-ordination through women's apparel, which allows customers to be much more inspired and helps with outfit building. 'We've also brought beauty to the front of the store as well.' MORE: Simple tasks Aussies are freaking out over Kmart's Mount Gravatt store in southern Brisbane was the first to be refurbished in the new format late last year. According to Spaseska, it is already bringing results with customers buying more items than average. Four more stores are set to follow suit next month and if that rollout is successful, every Kmart store will be refurbished in the new style. 'Those results have been stronger sales, particularly in apparel, and really pleasingly, we're seeing customers because of changes to the flow of the store, shop much more,' Spaseska said. Bigger items such as bikes and car seats will be moved off the floor room to the store rooms in stores, where customers can 'click and collect'via online, in order to make more room for clothing and beauty products. Kmart is also opening a $200m new distribution centre in Sydney's west. MORE: Bizarre feature of Hemsworth's $50m Byron Bay home Kmart has continued to do well despite the cost of living crisis, with its competitive prices on items such as $15 rice cookers. Last year Kmart beat its sales target of $10bn. Spaseska is confident Kmart will continue to do well when the economic environment improves and aims to reach $20bn in earnings over the next 10 years. 'What we can see is that Kmart is really a brand for everyone, so we've got very good levels of engagement across all customer demographics and across all levels, and they're spending with us, and we're seeing growth across all of those customer cohorts,' she told The Australian. 'The other thing I would say is, I think once customers come and they discover the product offer, the extent that they have additional disposable income in the future, there's lots of different ways to spend that, and that's what we're seeing.' MORE: Kyrgios' next big move after split from girlfriend
Sydney Morning Herald
22-05-2025
- Business
- Sydney Morning Herald
Inside Kmart's new store layout designed to get Gen Z to spend more
Kmart has begun trialling a new layout that brings clothing and beauty to the front of the store, in an effort to maximise sales and lure Gen Z and Gen Alpha shoppers into becoming lifelong customers. The popular retailer's new managing director, Aleks Spaseska, outlined a vision to further develop its women's, men's and youth apparel ranges and beauty products, ramp up electronics, toys and collectables for 'kidults', and deepen social media engagement, as part of a broader goal to double the business in under 10 years. 'The biggest difference you'll notice is in the apparel and beauty offer in the store,' Spaseska said. 'If you go into women's apparel today, you'll see we mostly sell all the tops together, the bottoms together, the dresses together. If you think about the way our merchants put the ranges together, it's a brand-new outfit,' she said. 'When you walk the store in the new format, there's much more co-ordination through women's apparel, which allows customers to be much more inspired and helps with outfit building … We've also brought beauty to the front of the store as well.' Loading Brisbane's Mount Gravatt store was refurbished last year to be the first to try out this format, which is already yielding results as customers put more items in their baskets. Four more stores are in the pipeline for next month, and if successful, all Kmart stores will eventually be refurbished. 'Those results have been stronger sales, particularly in apparel, and really pleasingly, we're seeing customers because of changes to the flow of the store, shop much more,' Spaseska said. To make more room for clothing, some bigger, bulkier items like car seats and bikes will be removed from the shop floor to the back of the store, where customers can request and buy an item through a digital 'select and collect' screen.
The Age
22-05-2025
- Business
- The Age
Inside Kmart's new store layout designed to get Gen Z to spend more
Kmart has begun trialling a new layout that brings clothing and beauty to the front of the store, in an effort to maximise sales and lure Gen Z and Gen Alpha shoppers into becoming lifelong customers. The popular retailer's new managing director, Aleks Spaseska, outlined a vision to further develop its women's, men's and youth apparel ranges and beauty products, ramp up electronics, toys and collectables for 'kidults', and deepen social media engagement, as part of a broader goal to double the business in under 10 years. 'The biggest difference you'll notice is in the apparel and beauty offer in the store,' Spaseska said. 'If you go into women's apparel today, you'll see we mostly sell all the tops together, the bottoms together, the dresses together. If you think about the way our merchants put the ranges together, it's a brand-new outfit,' she said. 'When you walk the store in the new format, there's much more co-ordination through women's apparel, which allows customers to be much more inspired and helps with outfit building … We've also brought beauty to the front of the store as well.' Loading Brisbane's Mount Gravatt store was refurbished last year to be the first to try out this format, which is already yielding results as customers put more items in their baskets. Four more stores are in the pipeline for next month, and if successful, all Kmart stores will eventually be refurbished. 'Those results have been stronger sales, particularly in apparel, and really pleasingly, we're seeing customers because of changes to the flow of the store, shop much more,' Spaseska said. To make more room for clothing, some bigger, bulkier items like car seats and bikes will be removed from the shop floor to the back of the store, where customers can request and buy an item through a digital 'select and collect' screen.
