Damon Mcknight
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 founded in 1969, with the opening of its first store in Burwood East, Victoria, Melbourne.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year founded | 1969 |
| Date of first store opening | 30 April 1969 |
| Location of first store | Burwood East, Melbourne, Victoria |
| Joint venture between | G.J Coles & Coy Limited (Coles) and the S.S. Kresge Company, owner of Kmart USA |
| Number of stores in Australia and New Zealand | 325 |
| Headquarters | Mulgrave, Melbourne, Victoria |
| Parent company | Kmart Group division of Wesfarmers |
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What You'll Learn
Kmart Australia was founded in 1969
The Kmart Group, which includes Target Australia, is owned by Wesfarmers. Kmart Australia Limited is a member of this group and operates 325 stores across Australia and New Zealand, with its head office located in Mulgrave, Melbourne.
Kmart has become an iconic part of over 300 communities across Australia and New Zealand, employing around 38,000 team members. The company's goal is to provide families with easy access to everyday items at low prices.
Kmart Australia's business model has evolved since its founding. In 2010, under the leadership of former McDonald's executive Guy Russo, Kmart Australia did away with 'percentage discount' sales and well-known name brands. Instead, it offered drastically reduced prices, a streamlined product offering, store-branded products, and on-trend items. This strategy paid off, with a large increase in profitability reported for that financial year.
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The first store opened in Burwood East, Melbourne
Kmart Australia was founded in 1969, with the opening of its first store in Burwood East, Melbourne, Victoria. The store opened on 30 April 1969 and was the result of a joint venture between G.J Coles & Coy Limited (Coles) and the S.S. Kresge Company, owner of Kmart USA. Kresge owned 51% of the common stock in the company, with Coles owning the remaining 49%.
The Burwood East store was the first of many, with Kmart now operating over 300 stores across Australia and New Zealand. The company's headquarters are located in Mulgrave, Melbourne, and it is a member of the Kmart Group, which also includes Target Australia.
Kmart Australia has become a trusted brand, offering customers a wide range of everyday products at low prices. The company has a strong focus on product development and sources its products in volume to create incredible products at a lower cost, passing the savings on to its customers.
The first Kmart store in Burwood East set the tone for what was to become an essential part of hundreds of communities across Australia and New Zealand, providing easy access to affordable, everyday items for families.
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It was a joint venture between Coles and the S.S. Kresge Company
Kmart Australia was founded in 1969 as a joint venture between G.J Coles & Coy Limited (Coles) and the S.S. Kresge Company, which owned Kmart in the USA. The first Kmart store in Australia opened on 30 April 1969 in Burwood East, Melbourne, Victoria.
The S.S. Kresge Company, which was founded in 1899, owned 51% of the common stock in the company, while Coles owned the remaining 49%. The S.S. Kresge Company, named after its founder, had opened the first Kmart-named store in the US in 1962. By 1994, Kmart had 2,486 stores globally, including 2,323 discount stores and Super Kmart Center locations in the United States.
Coles and the S.S. Kresge Company began developing Kmart stores in Australia in 1968, a year before the first store opened. In 1978, Kresge (known as the "Kmart Corporation" since 1977) exchanged its 51% stake in Kmart Australia for a 20% stake in G.J. Coles & Coy (later Coles Myer). In November 1994, Kresge/Kmart Corporation divested its 21.5% stake in Coles Myer.
Kmart Australia now operates as a department store with over 300 stores across Australia and New Zealand, employing around 50,000 team members. The company's headquarters is located in Mulgrave, Victoria, and it is owned by Wesfarmers. Kmart Australia is part of the Kmart Group, which also includes Target Australia.
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Kmart Australia is owned by the Kmart Group division of Wesfarmers
Kmart Australia was founded in 1969 through a joint venture between G.J. Coles & Coy Limited (Coles) and the S.S. Kresge Company, owner of Kmart USA. Kresge owned 51% of the common stock in the company, with Coles owning the remaining 49%. The first Kmart store in Australia opened on 30 April 1969 in Burwood East, Melbourne. The company now operates 325 stores across Australia and New Zealand, with its head office located in Mulgrave, Melbourne.
Kmart Australia is a member of the Kmart Group, which is a division of Wesfarmers. Wesfarmers purchased the use of the Kmart brand name in Australia and New Zealand in 2017, ending a long-term licensing agreement between Coles and Sears. The Kmart Group comprises Kmart and Target, with 449 stores across Australia and New Zealand, employing around 50,000 team members.
Kmart Australia is a leading product development company and trusted brand, offering customers a wide range of everyday products at low prices. The company has a strong focus on innovation and providing a unique shopping experience for its customers. Kmart Australia has also introduced self-checkouts in all its stores and rearranged its stores to feature thematic groupings rather than traditional department divisions.
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Kmart Australia has over 300 stores across Australia and New Zealand
Kmart Australia has expanded significantly since its founding in 1969, now boasting over 300 stores across Australia and New Zealand. The company's headquarters are in Mulgrave, Melbourne, and it is a member of the Kmart Group, a division of the Australian conglomerate Wesfarmers. The Kmart Group also includes Target Australia.
The first Kmart store in Australia opened in Burwood East, Melbourne, on April 30, 1969. This was the result of a joint venture between G.J. Coles & Coy Limited (Coles) and the S.S. Kresge Company, the owner of Kmart USA. Kresge owned 51% of the common stock in the company, with Coles owning the remaining 49%.
Kmart Australia has a strong presence across the Australian states and territories, with stores in New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory, Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia, Tasmania, and the Northern Territory. The company expanded into New Zealand in 1988, with the first store opening in Henderson, a suburb of Auckland.
Kmart Australia offers a wide range of products across various sectors, including electronics, kitchen, children's products, and homewares. The company has a large direct sourcing business, with offices in Hong Kong, Shanghai, Dongguan, Bangladesh, India, and Indonesia, allowing it to design and make over 80% of the products sold in its stores or online.
Kmart Australia has undergone several changes over the years, including leadership and strategic shifts, logo redesigns, and adjustments to its product offerings. The company has also introduced innovations such as self-checkouts and rearranged its stores to group products thematically rather than by department.
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Frequently asked questions
Kmart Australia was founded in 1969.
Kmart Australia was founded through a joint venture between G.J Coles & Coy Limited (Coles) and the S.S. Kresge Company, owner of Kmart USA.
The first Kmart Australia store was opened in Burwood East, Victoria, a suburb of Melbourne.
Kmart Australia currently operates 324-325 stores across Australia and New Zealand.
The headquarters of Kmart Australia is located at 690 Springvale Road, Mulgrave, Melbourne.
