Across Australia retailers are nervously awaiting a fast-approaching second wave of economic stress.
Some of its early designer collaborations were visionary in their product,if poor in their execution. But then it all fell apart.
Deputy Nationals leader David Littleproud has called for a boycott of struggling department store chain Target after parent company Wesfarmers said it would shut regional locations.
Wesfarmers will shut up to 75 Target stores and convert another 92 to Kmarts in a massive restructure of the struggling discount department chain.
Some retailers are bracing for an extended period of weak consumer spending as downbeat customers pull back on purchases non-essential items.
The chief executive of hardware giant Bunnings,Michael Schneider,has called for greater scrutiny of short-term changes to IR legislation.
Retailing conglomerate Wesfarmers will bring forward a review of struggling department store Target,opening the door to a possible sale or restructure.
The conglomerate's update provides clues about which type of businesses might emerge from the outbreak in a stronger position and which might not survive.
The investment bank's analysts unveiled a laundry list of companies the retailing conglomerate could target after its Coles sell-down this week - and the nation's biggest airline is one of them.
The government's $130 billion JobKeeper wage subsidy has the support of some businesses,though others warn it doesn't cover enough ground.
Australia's competition regulator has put DIY chain Bunnings on notice over future acquisitions,saying any new acquisitions would be"closely scrutinised".