Three Australian fashion labels are scaling back their presence in David Jones department stores as they focus on improving their own retail performance.
Country Road and sister brands Witchery and Mimco will cut almost 100 of their 283 brand-operated shopfronts across the department store chain.
The brands are part of Country Road Group, which itself is owned by Woolworths Holdings, which sold David Jones to Anchorage Capital Partners in 2022.
It comes after luxury labels Gucci, Christian Dior and Chanel recently began scaling back or entirely removing their presence at David Jones.
The latest cuts are due to take place in February 2027 as part of Country Road Group’s plans to reduce floor space by six per cent.
The company said David Jones remains a valued retail partner.
‘We intend to make some adjustments to our trading space within selected David Jones stores as we continue to invest in the locations, channels and formats that best serve our customers,’ a Country Road Group spokesperson told the Australian Financial Review.
‘David Jones remains a valued retail partner and Country Road Group will continue to have a presence in David Jones stores across Australia, with the mix of brands and amount of trading space varying by location.’
Three more fashion brands will scale back their presence in David Jones
‘A number of the changes relate to locations where our brands already have a strong presence across our broader retail network.’
David Jones said it is continually evolving its brand portfolio to stay relevant to customers.
‘As part of a review of the portfolio, trading terms and business model, we are working collaboratively with brand partners about an adjustment in their exposures across our store network,’ a spokesperson said.
‘David Jones continues to create new opportunities for our partners as well as expanding new brands and growing our exclusive and private label offer.’
Despite a one per cent sales increase, Country Road Group recorded a $21.7million net loss for 2025-26, its third consecutive annual loss.
The result follows a difficult period for Country Road, which has closed a number of stores while facing pressure on sales.
Its Australian division returned to full-year profitability for the first time since 2023, posting earnings before interest and tax of $2.3million, an improvement of 113 per cent on the previous 12 months.
Meanwhile, David Jones reported a pre-tax loss of $95.5million, according to reports filed with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission.
Country Road (model pictured) and sister brands Witchery and Mimco will cut almost 100 of their 283 brand-operated concession pads across David Jones
The retailer also closed its Castle Hill and Tuggerah stores in January.
The cost of living crisis and rising labour costs are also expected to hamper David Jones.
‘I think we’ll probably see fewer stores, smaller stores,’ Macquarie University retail historian Dr Matthew Bailey told the Today show earlier this year.
‘It’s a slow decline.’
Founded in 1838, David Jones is the oldest continuously operating department store in the world still trading under its original name.
Stephen Bennett founded Country Road in 1974 with a vision to create quality clothing designed for the Australian way of life.
By the 1990s, the brand was known for its classic shirts and accessories and it became one of the first major Australian fashion retailers to make a push into the US.
The business later underwent significant changes after South Africa’s Woolworths Holdings took a controlling stake in the late 1990s, with manufacturing increasingly moving offshore.
