Harris Scarfe has
gone into receivership with the 66 store chain up for sale.
A tough retail year
has claimed a number of key retailers including Dimmey’s, Napoleon Perdis,
Shoes of Prey, Bardots, and the Co-op Bookshop.
Harris Scarfe has been described as lost in
the middle with competitors K-Mart and Big W strong at the lower end of the
spectrum and Myer and David Jones struggling at the upper end.
Retail Strategy Consultant,
Bill Rooney, said this week -
"No matter how
good you are as a retailer, in 2019 the 40 years and older market is in serious
decline and only a major change of strategy and direction will arrest the
decline."