Myer’s Launceston boss was pleased with the department store’s Christmas period, despite a sluggish start to December.
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A trading update on December 14, revealed that Myer’s national sales were down 5 per cent for the first two weeks of December 2017 in comparison to 2016.
Sales in November were down by 2.8 per cent compared to the previous year.
Myer chief executive Richard Umbers also announced job cuts last week, with the company’s Melbourne headquarters now 40 per cent smaller than in September 2015.
We’ve heard from a number of retailers that sales were up in 2017 compared to 2016 – that’s pleasing for the retail environment in Launceston.
- Cityprom executive officer Steve Henty
Launceston store manager Michael McInerny said the store also had a slow start to the holiday season, before a late turnaround.
“I was fairly pleased with December – it was a slow start, but I think the town had a slow start,” he said.
“[Christmas sales] have been pretty consistent [over the last few years].
“The last two years tourist numbers have grown as well, and I think that’s helped us.”
Cityprom executive officer Steve Henty said Launceston’s retail businesses across the board were buoyed by strong December periods.
“Myer has been an anchor tenant and a strong part of Launceston’s retail environment for many years, and we hope that they stay here for many years,” he said.
“Their results demonstrate a positive trend in sales over Christmas, which we’ve heard from a number of [Launceston] retailers.
“We’ve heard from a number of retailers that sales were up in 2017 compared to 2016 – that’s pleasing for the retail environment in Launceston.”
Mr Henty said retailers would further benefit next Christmas from the City of Launceston’s planned Brisbane Street mall upgrade.
The upgrade will be finished no later than November 1, according to the council.
“Improving these retail spaces and improving the general atmosphere of our city will keep bringing investment, bring vibrancy and bring people into shops,” he said.
“We hope it’s a quick development – from a retail point of view, the less time there are construction fences and works going on the better.
“The council has committed that the mall will be open and all traders will be open through the period.”
Myer reduced the Launceston store’s retail space by an entire floor in August to “improve productivity”, according to a Myer spokesman.
The retail giant will have soon closed a total of 74,670 metres-square of store space nationally since September 2015.
Mr McInerny said the changes had not negatively effected the Launceston store’s sales or product line.
“Our product mix hasn’t changed in the store, if anything, it’s one floor higher and the customer doesn’t have to go as far,” he said.
Stefan Boscia
Stefan came to The Examiner after working as a copywriter at a digital media firm in Melbourne and interning at The Conversation. He is enthusiastic about reporting on business, local government and environmental issues. When he is not chained to his work desk, Stefan enjoys getting brunch, reading Saul Bellow novels and watching Carlton games.
Stefan came to The Examiner after working as a copywriter at a digital media firm in Melbourne and interning at The Conversation. He is enthusiastic about reporting on business, local government and environmental issues. When he is not chained to his work desk, Stefan enjoys getting brunch, reading Saul Bellow novels and watching Carlton games.
