The Market Online - At The Bell

Join our daily newsletter At The Bell to receive exclusive market insights

  • Retail giant Myer (MYR) will reopen 35 of its stores across Australia for May 27
  • Sneeze guards will be installed at cash registers, with plenty of hand sanitiser offered throughout each store
  • Myer’s decision comes a day after Australia recorded a 17.9 per cent drop in the retail industry
  • Shares in Myer are flat at market open, trading for 27 cents each

Several Myer (MYR) stores across Australia will reopen next week after spending time out during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Most notably, all 12 Victorian stores will reopen for business on Wednesday, May 27. While Myer has kept a number of stores operational in other Australian states, Victoria has not.

More popular outlets outside of Victoria will see an earlier open for Friday, May 22, including; Carousel, Joondalup, Canberra City, Blacktown, Eastgardens, Charlestown, Maroochydore, Mackay, and Marion.

The number of stores reopening totals 35.

However, the reopened stores will see some changes to the shopping experience. Plenty of hand sanitiser will be offered throughout each location.

Changerooms will remain operational, however, beauty and makeup services will stay on timeout. Sneeze guards will also be used at all cash registers.

Shoppers looking for a new pair of shoes at Myer will also have to wait, as shoe fittings are suspended for the time being.

Back in late March, COVID-19 cases in Australia were experiencing a spike, prompting the retail giant to put their stores on break. This decision saw nearly 10,000 staff stood down.

Myer’s decision to reopen stores comes just a day after the country recorded its worst-ever monthly drop in retail trade — a downgrade of 17.9 per cent.

Like many other retail stores, Myer staff will be monitoring social distancing rules on location, and capping the number of shoppers at each time. For example, cosmetic chain Mecca is testing the temperature of shoppers before they enter.

Myer also commented on Thursday that extra measures will be taken to frequently clean surfaces.

Shares in Myer are flat at market open, trading for 27 cents each

MYR by the numbers
More From The Market Online

Viva Leisure leaps into Northern Territory with iFitness 24/7 acquisition

Viva Leisure Limited is expanding into the Northern Territory through the acquisition of iFitness 24/7, a…
The Market Online Video

Calmer Co e-sales smash past A$10k/d mark; $320K in sales for March

ASX-listed wellness consumer discretionary player Calmer Co (ASX:CCO) has revealed its e-commerce sales hit more than…
The Market Online Video

Calmer Co’s kava products hit shelves at 500+ Coles stores

Kava health food drink producer Calmer Co has finally seen its products hit the shelves at…

Kathmandu (ASX:KMD) tips millions in losses as Australia locks down

Kathmandu (ASX:KMD) has closed doors on 66 stores in Western Australia and New South Wales, as…