Iconic Australian bootmaker R.M. Williams closes its stores due to the coronavirus outbreak

Australian bootmakers R.M. Williams has shut all of its stores due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The renowned brand said the coronavirus crisis had ‘stopped us mid-stride’ and forced it to temporarily close its doors.

It is the latest in a string of major retailers to close amid the ongoing pandemic, which has claimed 14 lives in Australia and infected more than 3,600 people.

Australia’s most beloved shoe brand, R.M. Williams has been a stalwart of the high street for 88 years. 

‘The COVID-19 crisis has stopped us mid-stride so to say, on a global level, affecting humanity at every level,’ the company said in a statement.

R.M. Williams was founded in Adelaide in 1932 by the famed bushman of the same name 

Hugh Jackman (pictured with wife Deborra-Lee Furness) owns five per cent of the iconic Australian company and became its brand ambassador in March last year

Hugh Jackman (pictured with wife Deborra-Lee Furness) owns five per cent of the iconic Australian company and became its brand ambassador in March last year

‘After great deliberation, knowing this will impact each of us and our RM Williams family in different ways, we are closing our Australian Stores effective the 28th March.’ 

It follows similar action taken at dozens of beloved Australian stores, with Myer, Cotton On and Country Road also shutting their doors on Sunday.

All 650 of Cotton On’s stores will be shut from 5pm on Sunday, with 10,000 staff left without work at department store Myer. 

The coronavirus retail fallout is leaving tens of thousands of Australians unemployed as stores shut their doors. 

‘As a heritage Australian brand, we recognise that we have an important role to play in slowing the spread of COVID-19,” Country Road managing director Elle Roseby said in a statement.

‘This is a decision that has not been made lightly, and one we feel is necessary to protect the health and wellbeing of our team, customers and wider community.’

R.M. Williams was founded in Adelaide in 1932 by the famed bushman of the same name.

The company’s iconic boots are a popular item both locally and overseas, and the brand has stores in New York, London, New Zealand and in Scandinavia.

All Myer stores across Australia will be closed for at least a month due to the coronavirus pandemic

All Myer stores across Australia will be closed for at least a month due to the coronavirus pandemic

Dozens of people are seen queuing - very close together - outside a Centrelink in Melbourne on March 24, with many people having lost their jobs

Dozens of people are seen queuing – very close together – outside a Centrelink in Melbourne on March 24, with many people having lost their jobs

Hugh Jackman owns five per cent of the iconic Australian company and became its brand ambassador in March last year.

Jackman, 50, became involved with the company as an ambassador after starring in the movie Australia alongside Nicole Kidman in 2007. 

He bought his stake in the firm in 2015, setting him up for a lucrative return when the business was sold to L Capital, the investment arm of Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessy. 

On Friday, Myer announced it would close all of its department stores in Australia and stand down 10,000 staff members for at least a month as it battles through the coronavirus pandemic.

General Pants is closing all stores until at least April 22 due to the coronavirus fallout

General Pants is closing all stores until at least April 22 due to the coronavirus fallout

Bosses said the department giant – which has been an Australian institution for 120 years – would close its doors on Sunday, but would still run online. 

Around 10,000 members of staff will be sent home without pay, Myer bosses confirmed.

In a statement, they said the decision was made to protect the health of staff, customers and the ‘broader community’.  

The closure will be for an initial period of four weeks, leading up to April 27, but may go on longer.  

CORONAVIRUS CASES IN AUSTRALIA: 3,637

New South Wales: 1,617

Victoria: 685

Queensland: 625

South Australia: 287

Western Australia: 278

Australian Capital Territory: 71

Tasmania: 59

Northern Territory: 15

TOTAL CASES:  3,637

DEAD: 14

The embattled department store has suffered plunging profits for almost a decade, long before coronavirus hit. 

Its latest financial results posted on March 5 reflect this, showing total sales down 3.8 per cent to $1.6 billion. 

‘As team members will not be working they will not be paid during this period of imposed closure,’ the statement read.

‘Full time and part time members have greater flexibility to access their annual leave and long service entitlements in addition to government assistance measures.’

It said it was ‘fully supportive’ of the government’s social distancing measures, including people staying at home as much as possible.

Global health experts said that people staying home and keeping isolated is the best way to curb the spread of the virus, which has infected more than 3,000 Australians.

It comes soon after Australia’s biggest hairdressing chain, Just Cuts, announced it would also close its doors.

Australia's coronavirus cases continue to rise, but some residents are still defying advice aimed at reducing the spread of the virus

Australia’s coronavirus cases continue to rise, but some residents are still defying advice aimed at reducing the spread of the virus

History of R.M. Williams  

R.M. Williams was founded in Adelaide in 1932 by the famed bushman of the same name.

Reginald Murray ‘R.M.’ Williams was an Australian bushman and entrepreneur who rose from a swagman to become a millionaire.

He was born in 1908 at Belalie North near Jamestown in the mid-north of South Australia into a pioneering settler family who worked and trained horses. 

The company’s iconic boots are a popular item both locally and overseas, and the brand has stores in New York, London, New Zealand and Scandinavia.

Hugh Jackman owns five per cent of the iconic Australian company and became its brand ambassador in March last year.

Jackman, 50, became involved with the company as an ambassador after starring in the movie Australia alongside Nicole Kidman in 2007.  

L Catterton Asia – the private equity owners of R.M. Williams – bought a 49.9 per cent stake in the company from former News Corp boss Ken Cowley six years ago, before it took control of the company together with superannuation fund IFM Investors in 2014.

L Catterton Asia is backed by LVMH Moet Hennessy, a French luxury goods business that owns Louis Vuitton, Christian Dior, Givenchy and Moet Henessy champagne.

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