JUST IN: AN ICONIC AUSSIE RETAILER IS CLOSING MOST OF ITS STORES… – After more than 130 years in business, beloved Australian footwear brand Betts has entered voluntary administration and will shut the majority of its remaining retail stores.

Iconic Australian Shoe Retailer Betts to Close 20 Stores After Entering Voluntary Administration

One of Australia’s oldest and most recognizable footwear brands is undergoing a dramatic transformation after entering voluntary administration, with Betts announcing it will close 20 of its remaining 35 retail stores across the country.

The fifth-generation family-owned company, which has been part of Australian retail for more than 130 years, says it will shift its focus toward online sales as changing consumer habits and declining foot traffic continue to reshape the retail industry.

Founded in Perth in 1892, Betts grew from a single shoe store into one of Australia’s most recognizable footwear chains. At its peak, the company operated around 220 stores nationwide, including flagship locations in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and Perth. For generations of Australians, the brand became synonymous with affordable school shoes and everyday footwear.

However, like many traditional retailers, Betts has struggled in recent years as shoppers increasingly moved online while rising operating costs and weaker consumer spending placed additional pressure on physical stores.

The business officially entered voluntary administration last week, with restructuring specialists from Pitcher Partners appointed to oversee its future.

Administrator Lindsay Bainbridge said the decision to significantly reduce the company’s retail footprint was necessary to ensure the long-term survival of the iconic brand.

“Australians grew up with Betts shoes. They know and love the brand, and we believe it has a strong future as a more streamlined business,” Bainbridge said.

He explained that declining customer traffic across shopping centres had made many physical locations financially unsustainable.

Rather than disappearing completely, Betts plans to continue operating through a smaller number of stores while investing more heavily in its online business.

As part of the restructuring, stores scheduled for closure will begin heavily discounting approximately 120,000 pairs of shoes and accessories. Clearance sales are expected to continue for between four and eight weeks before affected locations permanently shut their doors.

Customers are being encouraged to check inventory online, although the company says the largest discounts will be available at stores marked for closure.

The closures will affect stores across multiple states.

Western Australia will be hit the hardest, losing seven outlets, while South Australia will see three stores close. Four stores will shut in New South Wales, another four in Victoria, one in Queensland, and one in the Northern Territory.

Some locations, including stores in Whitfords, Joondalup, and Greensborough, are expected to cease trading almost immediately.

Betts is not alone in facing financial hardship.

The company has become the latest major Australian retailer to enter administration amid ongoing economic challenges.

Earlier this month, Barbeques Galore announced plans to close dozens of stores after a rescue attempt failed, affecting hundreds of jobs nationwide.

Fabric and craft retailer Lincraft also revealed it would close all of its physical stores across Australia and New Zealand after more than 80 years in business.

Fashion chain Glue Store has likewise shut down after failing to secure a buyer, with its final remaining outlets now closing.

Retail analysts say rising inflation, higher operating costs, increasing rent, and changing shopping habits have created one of the toughest retail environments Australia has seen in years.

While the closure of 20 stores marks the end of an era for many communities, Betts hopes its transition to a leaner business model will preserve one of Australia’s oldest footwear brands for future generations.

For thousands of loyal customers, the familiar Betts storefront may soon disappear from shopping centres, but the company believes its next chapter will increasingly be found online rather than on the high street.