MILDURA Harris Scarfe Home will close in four weeks – just two years after its official opening.
The homewares chain store, at Mildura Homemaker Centre in Fifteenth Street, is one of the company’s 21 outlets placed in receivership on December 11.
This followed the voluntary appointment of administrators the same day.
Eleven full-time, part-time and casual positions in Mildura are affected by the closure.
Receiver and Deloitte Restructuring Services partner Vaughan Strawbridge said all efforts were being made to redeploy affected staff around the rest of the store network.
“All staff that leave the business will receive all wages and entitlements in full on the closure of individual stores,” he said.
“We have continued to trade the business since our appointment and this has been well supported by loyal employees and customers, so this has been a difficult decision, but one necessary to position the Harris Scarfe business for a successful sale and continued operation.
“Our review of the store network included a range of factors, including past and likely future profitability.
“Going forward, we certainly remain focused on running the broader store network and selling the business as the best outcome for remaining employees and suppliers.”
Receivers announced to employees 44 stores across the country would remain in the portfolio to be offered for sale – five more than originally anticipated.
As a result, 21 stores in Western Australia, Queensland, NSW, Victoria, South Australia and the ACT will close over the next month.
About 88 full-time, 128 part-time and 224 casual positions are involved but about 1380 jobs remain at the 44 stores that will continue to trade.
At the Mildura opening in September 2017, Harris Scarfe chief executive Graham Dean said it signalled the brand’s expansion plan across Australia.
