{"id":772251,"date":"2026-07-01T14:37:13","date_gmt":"2026-07-01T14:37:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/772251\/"},"modified":"2026-07-01T14:37:13","modified_gmt":"2026-07-01T14:37:13","slug":"shoe-retailer-betts-to-close-20-underperforming-stores-as-it-expands-online-platform","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/772251\/","title":{"rendered":"Shoe retailer Betts to close 20 underperforming stores as it expands online platform"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"css-1n6q21n-StyledParagraph e4e0a020\">A 134-year-old Australian retailer that was once the go-to for school shoes will close half its stores as it shifts more of its focus online.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-1n6q21n-StyledParagraph e4e0a020\">Only 15 of Betts\u2019 35 Australian stores will survive the cull that was triggered after a voluntary administrator was brought in to accelerate a business restructure.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-1n6q21n-StyledParagraph e4e0a020\">Lindsay Bainbridge, from Pitcher Partners <a class=\"css-1lg16vp-StyledTextLink ezegcyi0\" data-link-type=\"article-inline\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/7news.com.au\/news\/melbourne\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Melbourne<\/a>, said a recent slump in consumer sentiment, higher fuel prices and rising business costs meant they had no option but to close underperforming stores.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-178igh4-StyledParagraph e1s06mna1\">Know the news with the 7NEWS app: <a class=\"css-h2mhmv-StyledContextualLink e1s06mna0\" href=\"https:\/\/7news.com.au\/app?utm_source=7NEWS&amp;utm_medium=contextual-link-app&amp;utm_campaign=7news-app\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Download today Arrow<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"css-1n6q21n-StyledParagraph e4e0a020\">\u201cAustralians grew up with Betts shoes, they know and love the brand, and we believe it has a strong outlook as a more streamlined operation,\u201d Bainbridge said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-1n6q21n-StyledParagraph e4e0a020\">\u201cBut the retail conditions and falling foot traffic in a lot of centres just are not sustainable for the business.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-1n6q21n-StyledParagraph e4e0a020\">\u201cWe will close some stores, focus on strengthening others, and continue the company\u2019s plans to expand retail online.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Where Betts will close its stores<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-1n6q21n-StyledParagraph e4e0a020\">&#8211; Western Australia: Betts Hay Street (Hay Street Mall), Betts Gateway (Cockburn Gateway), Betts Mandurah (Mandurah Forum), Betts Brand Direct WA (Watertown Brand Outlet West Perth), Betts Brand Direct DFO Perth (Perth Airport), Betts Whitfords (Whitford City store), one of two Betts Joondalup stores;<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-1n6q21n-StyledParagraph e4e0a020\">&#8211; South Australia: Betts Modbury (Westfield Tea Tree Plaza), Betts West Lakes (Westfield West Lakes), Betts Marion (Westfield Marion);<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-1n6q21n-StyledParagraph e4e0a020\">&#8211; Northern Territory: Betts Casuarina (Casuarina Square);<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-1n6q21n-StyledParagraph e4e0a020\">&#8211; New South Wales: Betts Macquarie (Macquarie Centre North Ryde), Betts Liverpool (Westfield Liverpool), Betts Rouse Hill (Rouse Hill Town Centre), Betts Kotara (Westfield Kotara);<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-1n6q21n-StyledParagraph e4e0a020\">&#8211; Victoria: Betts Greensborough (Greensborough Plaza), Betts Ringwood (Eastland Shopping Centre), Betts Doncaster (Westfield Doncaster), Betts Fountain Gate (Westfield Fountain Gate);<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-1n6q21n-StyledParagraph e4e0a020\"> &#8211; Queensland: Betts Indooroopilly (Indooroopilly Shopping Centre).<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-1n6q21n-StyledParagraph e4e0a020\">Betts was launched by the Breckler brothers in Fremantle in 1892 and at its peak had operated 220 stores.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-1n6q21n-StyledParagraph e4e0a020\">Those numbers have dwindled in recent years, with declining foot traffic and a shift to online shopping blamed for the contraction.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-1n6q21n-StyledParagraph e4e0a020\"><a class=\"css-1lg16vp-StyledTextLink ezegcyi0\" data-link-type=\"article-inline\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/7news.com.au\/news\/wa\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">WA<\/a> is set to lose seven of its remaining 11 stores, with its outlet at Whitford City and one of two in Joondalup closing this weekend.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-1n6q21n-StyledParagraph e4e0a020\">But <a class=\"css-1lg16vp-StyledTextLink ezegcyi0\" data-link-type=\"article-inline\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/7news.com.au\/news\/perth\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Perth<\/a>-based Betts stores in Booragoon, Carousel and Karrinyup will survive, as will flagship stores in central <a class=\"css-1lg16vp-StyledTextLink ezegcyi0\" data-link-type=\"article-inline\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/7news.com.au\/news\/sydney?page=1\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Sydney<\/a> and <a class=\"css-1lg16vp-StyledTextLink ezegcyi0\" data-link-type=\"article-inline\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/7news.com.au\/news\/melbourne\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Melbourne<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-1n6q21n-StyledParagraph e4e0a020\">Bainbridge said the company had made efforts to \u201csupport\u201d team members based at closing stores, with some staff to be relocated.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-1n6q21n-StyledParagraph e4e0a020\">About 70 in-store roles will be affected in WA.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/52604e3dbcfc2661e87981f00f381d0730fd7e18.jpg\" alt=\"Betts has announced it is closing 20 shoe stores across the country.\" class=\"css-16r7l45-StyledImage en5ut4d0\" loading=\"lazy\"\/>Betts has announced it is closing 20 shoe stores across the country. Credit: Betts \/Facebook<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-1n6q21n-StyledParagraph e4e0a020\">The administrator said more than 120,000 pairs of shoes, bags and accessories will go on sale as stores are closed.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-1n6q21n-StyledParagraph e4e0a020\">\u201cCustomers can check stock online, but the best deals will be in the stores flagged for closure, where we will be running out stock,\u201d Bainbridge said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-1n6q21n-StyledParagraph e4e0a020\">The news follows a brutal June in which activewear brand <a class=\"css-1lg16vp-StyledTextLink ezegcyi0\" data-link-type=\"article-inline\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/7news.com.au\/news\/tully-lou-says-everything-has-to-go-as-it-shuts-down-after-14-years-c-22451200\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Tully Lou<\/a> announced it was hitting pause, and fashion retailer <a class=\"css-1lg16vp-StyledTextLink ezegcyi0\" data-link-type=\"article-inline\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/7news.com.au\/news\/glue-announces-permanent-closure-of-remaining-stores-and-online-platform-after-close-to-three-decades-c-22445472\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Glue<\/a> announced it was closing its remaining stores and its website for good after almost 30 years.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-1n6q21n-StyledParagraph e4e0a020\">In the same month, beloved craft and fabric business <a class=\"css-1lg16vp-StyledTextLink ezegcyi0\" data-link-type=\"article-inline\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/7news.com.au\/news\/lincraft-to-close-all-physical-stores-in-australia-and-new-zealand-as-part-of-digital-shift-c-22438972\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Lincraft<\/a> said it is moving its operation completely online, and news broke that <a class=\"css-1lg16vp-StyledTextLink ezegcyi0\" data-link-type=\"article-inline\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/7news.com.au\/news\/barbeques-galore-collapses-with-62-stores-to-shut-500-jobs-axed-after-rescue-deal-fails-c-22406639\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Barbeques Galore<\/a> will close dozens of stores across Australia.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-1n6q21n-StyledParagraph e4e0a020\">\u201cI often refer to it as the killing season,\u201d Queensland University of Technology retail marketing and consumer behaviour expert Gary Mortimer told 7NEWS.com.au of June, when business boards run the magnifying glass over the books.<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"css-6fiqrm-StyledLinkWrapper e1y7kr221\" href=\"https:\/\/7news.com.au\/news\/glue-announces-permanent-closure-of-remaining-stores-and-online-platform-after-close-to-three-decades-c-22445472\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><\/p>\n<p>Once-popular fashion retailer shuts for good after nearly 30 years<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-xp0jgm-StyledTimeToRead e1y7kr223\">1 min read<\/p>\n<p><\/a><a class=\"css-6fiqrm-StyledLinkWrapper e1y7kr221\" href=\"https:\/\/7news.com.au\/news\/tully-lou-says-everything-has-to-go-as-it-shuts-down-after-14-years-c-22451200\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><\/p>\n<p>Aussie brand to shut after 14 years as \u2018killing season\u2019 bites<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-xp0jgm-StyledTimeToRead e1y7kr223\">3 min read<\/p>\n<p><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"A 134-year-old Australian retailer that was once the go-to for school shoes will close half its stores as&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":772252,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[64,63,99,44,5847,8986,8690,5216,22122,7481,45],"class_list":["post-772251","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-business","tag-au","tag-australia","tag-business","tag-news","tag-nsw-news","tag-nt-news","tag-queensland-news","tag-retail","tag-sa-news","tag-vic-news","tag-wa-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/772251","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=772251"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/772251\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/772252"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=772251"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=772251"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=772251"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}