Sass and Bide to Close Stores Nationwide: What This Means for the Brand

The Future of Sass and Bide

Australian fashion label Sass and Bide is making significant changes by shutting down 10 stores across the country, leading to job losses. Starting October 6, the brand will maintain only a couple of locations in Queensland and one each in Victoria and Western Australia.

Store Closures and Job Impacts

• Bondi, Miranda, Chadstone - New South Wales
• Doncaster, Emporium - Victoria
• Rundle St - South Australia
• Karrinyup - Western Australia
• Canberra - Australian Capital Territory
• Newmarket - New Zealand

Sass and Bide's managing director, Paula Mackenzie, stated, "We will be offering all available support to them and will offer redeployment, where possible for our store team members." This pivotal move aims to **reposition the business for growth and sustainability**.

Adapting to Market Trends

The brand is shifting its focus to online sales and in-store concessions, showing a clear direction towards evolving customer needs. Mackenzie noted, “We have been reviewing the store footprint for Sass and Bide to ensure it aligns with our popular in-store concessions and growing online business.”

Sass and Bide, founded in 1999 by best friends Sarah-Jane Clarke and Heidi Middleton, was acquired by Myer in 2011, with the closures following a 2.9 percent sales drop reported by Myer. This change reflects the challenging retail environment that many brands, including underperformers like Sass and Bide, are navigating in the current market landscape.