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Kmart Australia is a thriving chain of department stores owned by the Kmart Group division of Wesfarmers. The company operates over 300 stores across Australia and New Zealand, with approximately 40,000 employees. Kmart Australia was initially related to Kmart USA, with Kresge (Kmart USA) owning 51% and Coles owning 49%. However, in 1994, Kmart USA sold its shares to Coles, and Kmart Australia eventually became unrelated to its American counterpart. Today, Kmart Australia has established a strong presence in the country, offering low prices, stylish designs, and a popular in-house brand, Anko.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Ownership | Kmart Australia is owned by Wesfarmers, which also owns Target Australia. |
| Number of stores | Kmart operates over 300 stores across Australia and New Zealand. |
| Employees | Kmart employs around 40,000 people. |
| Revenue | Kmart Australia reported a revenue of A$11.107 billion in the 2023-24 fiscal year. |
| Brand | Kmart Australia's house brand is Anko, which was introduced in 2019 and represents 85% of products in stores. |
| Popularity | Kmart Australia is considered popular and thriving, with affordable prices and a strong online presence. |
| History | Kmart Australia was previously related to Kmart USA but is no longer connected. It first opened in Australia in 1969. |
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What You'll Learn
Kmart Australia's revenue and success
Kmart Australia is an Australian chain of retail department stores owned by the Kmart Group division of Wesfarmers. The company operates 325 stores across Australia and New Zealand, with its head office located in Mulgrave, Melbourne. Kmart Australia was created out of a joint venture between G.J Coles & Coy Limited (Coles) and the S.S. Kresge Company, owner of Kmart USA.
Kmart Australia has been described as thriving, with affordable prices and stylish designs that have sparked an online subculture of amateur home renovators and decorators. The popularity of Kmart in Australia can be seen in the fact that on its opening day in 1969, it was estimated that 40,000 people passed through the checkouts, taking in over $97,000 (equivalent to A$1.31 million in 2025) in profit.
In the fiscal year 2023-24, Kmart Australia reported A$11.107 billion in revenue, up from A$10.635 billion the year prior. This revenue growth has been attributed to strong sales growth and the execution of effective pricing strategies and operational plans. Kmart's low-price positioning has been a significant factor in its success, with consumers responding positively to cost-of-living pressures.
Kmart's house brand, Anko, has also contributed to its success. Introduced in 2019 to celebrate Kmart's 50th anniversary, Anko represents the company's changed philosophy since 2008. Anko products make up 85% of the items in Kmart stores and have the largest market share in various categories, including home, toys, menswear, womenswear, and childrenswear.
Kmart Australia has also expanded its online presence, with kmart.com.au generating online revenue of US$435.6 million in 2024. The website offers a wide range of products, including fashion, furniture, homeware, and hobby and leisure items.
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Kmart's popularity with renovators and decorators
Kmart Australia has become a popular shopping destination for renovators and decorators. The retailer's low prices, stylish designs, and fast turnover of own-brand products have sparked an online community of amateur home renovators and decorators, predominantly suburban women, who share their Kmart purchases and DIY projects on social media. These projects, known as "Kmart hacks", have attracted traditional media coverage, further popularising Kmart as a go-to place for affordable, luxury-styled homeware.
Kmart's home and living range includes décor, appliances, storage, outdoor furniture, rugs, lighting, and DIY supplies. Their on-trend home décor items range from cushions and vases to wall hangings, rugs, candles, and home fragrances. Kmart also offers nursery furniture and décor, as well as outdoor living products such as furniture, cushions, and gardening equipment.
Kmart Australia's house brand, Anko, has been key to the company's success. Anko, introduced in 2019, represents an evolution of Kmart's previous "Kids&Co", "Home&Co", and "Clothing&Co" branding for individual departments. Anko has the largest market share in several categories, including homeware, and its products are now sold internationally in countries like Thailand, Indonesia, and Canada.
Kmart's affordability and stylish offerings have been noted by customers, with some specifically highlighting the value offered by their kitchen equipment. The popularity of Kmart's products has also been reflected in their revenue. For the fiscal year 2023-24, Kmart Australia reported A$11.107 billion in revenue, an increase from the previous year.
In addition to its impact on renovators and decorators, Kmart Australia has a significant presence in the country, with 325 stores across Australia and New Zealand. The first Kmart store in Australia opened in Burwood East, Melbourne, in 1969, and the retailer has since become a well-known and thriving part of Australian culture.
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Kmart's relationship with Kmart USA
Kmart Australia was created out of a joint venture between G.J. Coles & Coy Limited (Coles) and the S.S. Kresge Company (Kresge), owner of Kmart USA. Kresge owned 51% of the common stock in the company, while Coles owned the remaining 49%. Together, they began to develop Kmart stores in Australia in 1968, with the first store opening on 30 April 1969 in Burwood East, Melbourne.
Kresge later sold its ownership in Kmart Australia to Coles Myer in 1994, ending its direct relationship with Kmart USA. Since the dissolution of Coles Myer in 2007, the Australian and New Zealand Kmart stores have been owned by Wesfarmers, which purchased the rights to the Kmart brand name in Australia and New Zealand in 2017.
It is worth noting that some sources suggest that Kmart Australia and Kmart USA were never related, despite the shared brand name. However, the majority of evidence indicates that Kmart Australia was, at least initially, a joint venture between Coles and the owner of Kmart USA, with Kmart USA holding a majority stake.
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Kmart's house brand, Anko
Kmart Australia, with 325 stores across Australia and New Zealand, is an Australian chain of retail department stores owned by the Kmart Group division of Wesfarmers. The company was created out of a joint venture between G.J Coles & Coy Limited (Coles) and the S.S. Kresge Company, owner of Kmart USA.
Kmart Australia's house brand is Anko, introduced in 2019 to celebrate the company's 50th anniversary. Anko, meaning "A New Kind Of", represents the company's changed philosophy since 2008. Anko products are sold in Kmart stores, as well as in Target Australia since 2024. Anko has the largest market share in home and toys, menswear, womenswear, and childrenswear categories in Australia.
Anko's popularity is evident, with 85% of products in Kmart stores being Anko brand. The brand has expanded internationally, with arrangements to sell products in Thailand, Indonesia, Canada, and India. In November 2024, Kmart opened an Anko store in the Philippines, its first in Asia.
Anko offers a range of products, including air fryers, vacuum cleaners, kitchen equipment, and clothing. While some Anko products have received positive reviews for delivering premium performance at low prices, others have been criticized for not being worth the cost. For example, CHOICE kitchen expert Fiona Mair noted that the Kmart Anko 9L twin air fryer was fairly large and heavy and not very easy to use.
Kmart's low prices, stylish designs, and fast turnover have sparked an online community of amateur home renovators and decorators, known as "Kmart hacks". Traditional media coverage and social media influence have further popularized Kmart as a go-to destination for luxury-styled products at affordable prices.
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Kmart's micro-stores, K Hub
K Hub is a brand of micro-stores by Kmart Australia. It was unveiled in 2021, following Wesfarmers' announcement that it would turn 10 to 40 underperforming Target stores into Kmart stores. K Hub stores are located in smaller, rural locations and offer a curated collection of Kmart's most popular products across kids, home, and clothing. The K Hub stores also function as collection points for online orders from Kmart and Target, allowing customers to shop the full range of products from both brands online and collect their orders from K Hub stores at no additional cost.
The first three K Hub stores were opened in Cobram, Echuca, and Seymour in Victoria, Australia, replacing former Target Country stores. Kmart described the openings as a "light touch makeover for now", with plans to evolve the look and feel of the stores over time. The K Hub format is designed to suit the smaller-format stores, offering a more limited range of products than traditional Kmart stores.
K Hub stores provide a range of products, including kitchen appliances, bedroom and dining furniture, personal care appliances, and stationery supplies. Customers can also return Kmart products purchased online or from another Kmart store at K Hub locations. However, Target items collected at K Hub stores cannot be returned to the same stores.
The introduction of K Hub stores is part of Kmart's strategy to improve accessibility and convenience for customers, particularly in rural areas. By converting underperforming Target stores into K Hubs, Kmart aims to provide a more efficient and cost-effective shopping experience for its customers.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Kmart is very popular in Australia. The Wesfarmers-owned chain operates over 300 stores across Australia and New Zealand and employs about 40,000 people.
Kmart Australia was initially related to Kmart USA, which was the majority stakeholder. However, in 1994, Kmart USA sold its shares in Kmart Australia to Coles. Kmart Australia was then bought by Wesfarmers, which transformed the business into what it is today.
For the fiscal year 2023-24, Kmart Australia reported a revenue of A$11.107 billion, up from A$10.635 billion the previous year.
Kmart Australia sells a wide range of products, including kitchen equipment, homeware, toys, menswear, womenswear, and childrenswear.
