Australian retailer David Jones is redeploying some of its store staff as the business reviews its in-store operations.
Some media reports note this may include up to 100 redundancies.
A David Jones spokesperson confirmed the redeployment strategy with Ragtrader, but didn't comment on the possible redundancies.
“We have undertaken an extensive review of the way we operate in stores with the singular purpose of understanding what changes in-store were needed for an improved experience for both our customers and team members,” the spokesperson said. “The outcome of this review is a new stores operating model that supports the delivery of Vision 2025+ and Service Like No Other.”
The spokesperson said the review included customers as well as frontline and management teams, which revealed there was “duplication of effort” and that its leaders want more time on the floor, leading staff and engaging with customers.
“To enable our managers to spend more time with their team and customers, we are streamlining processes and eliminating tasks that are not focused on people or service. This will allow our leadership roles to focus on commercial, customer and people outcomes.
“This leads to improved career pathways with increased assistant store manager and sales and service manager opportunities across most stores and a simplified store operating model improving team experience.”
Amid the redeployment and expected redundancies, David Jones has initiated over 80 promotions and is currently working through further redeployment opportunities for assistant sales managers.
David Jones operates 42 locations across Australia and New Zealand, and online in Australia.
The department store business was sold to Anchorage Capital Partners by its now former own Woolworths Holdings Limited (South Africa) earlier this year, with the transaction completed in March. It is currently undergoing a transition period.
In a recent update by WHL, David Jones and its then-sister-brand Country Road Group reported positive trading in the first eight weeks of the second half of 2023. David Jones is up 13.6% on the same time last year, while CRG reported a 7.3% lift on last year.
Their first-half results were up $1.2 billion and $623 million respectively.