Australian shoppers have revealed the wild reason ‘everyone’ is now ditching Kmart for Target.
Target’s clothing lines are hailed as some of the best value for money pieces on the market, with thousands raving about the superior design and quality.
On the other hand, customers have criticized Kmart for only releasing “trendy” items that “wear out after a few washes.”
Both brands are owned by Westfarmers, which also owns Bunnings and Officeworks.
Target has retained its own clothing brands after the merger, such as Lily Loves, Preview and Fila, while the home and beauty items on its shelves now belong to Kmart.
Target’s price range is a step above what Kmart shoppers are used to, but Australians claim it’s worth spending the extra dollars.
‘In my experience, Target materials feel more durable and the designs are more refined. But Kmart does better with ‘trendy’ home decor items, although longevity can sometimes be a disappointment,’ said one person online.
“I’ve always preferred Target maternity clothes to Kmart. The towels are great,” another added.
Australian shoppers have revealed the wild reason ‘everyone’ is ditching Kmart for Target
‘The intended baby and children’s clothing was vastly better in quality than Kmart. Better feel, better wear, color retention and does not stretch out of shape. Their women’s clothing was generally better too,” one shopper wrote.
Target’s recent clothing lines have also gone viral on Australian fashion TikTok, with thousands of women sharing their clothing collections.
“I’m obsessed with the new spring and linen collection at Target,” one person said.
“The work cabinets are simply the best,” another added. “It’s always the first place I go when I need new clothes these days.”
Shoppers revealed what they would most want to lose from the Kmart-Target merger.
“I always bought our sheets at Target. It has always been a staple,” one woman said. ‘I went by yesterday to buy a new set and they were on clearance. Any color. I think they’ll be replaced by Anko soon.”
Another added: ‘Target better lose their own brand of towels and sheets. They are much better than even the most expensive brand Kmart.”
Target’s clothing ranges have been hailed as some of the best value for money pieces on the market, with thousands raving about the superior designs and quality
Target has kept its beloved clothing brands even after the merger — and shoppers are grateful for the decision.
Target has retained its beloved clothing brands even after the merger
“I have found that Target clothing is always better quality than the Kmart brand. I have a few things going on since the switch,” one person shared.
One shopper said the difference goes deeper than just the quality of clothing.
“The thing I hated about our local Kmart store at the time was the mess. Clothes were packed so tightly into the shelves that it was impossible to rummage through them, so items inevitably ended up on the floor or scattered nearby. The shoes were the worst.
“Our local Target was wonderful to shop in by comparison,” she said.
In 2020, 167 Target stores were permanently closed or converted to Kmarts after the chain suffered a $67 million drop in sales.
The merger came about because running the two companies separately made it difficult to improve the use of technology in Target.
Mr Bailey, who has led the turnaround in Kmart’s fortunes in recent years, said merging the two branches into one $10 billion entity will lead to significant cost savings and productivity improvements.
Target staff were offered jobs at Kmart or other Wesfarmers companies including Bunnings and Officeworks.
The closures and conversions reportedly cost the company between $120 million and $170 million.
Another $140 million was used for one-time store conversion and inventory clearance costs.