Sephora shuts all Australian stores ‘until further notice’ amid coronavirus pandemic

Cosmetics giant Sephora becomes latest victim of coronavirus retail fallout as it announces closure of ALL Australian stores

  • Sephora will temporarily shut all its stores in Australia beginning on Thursday 
  • Company announced closure will be indefinite – but will still operate online   
  • Retailer had cancelled in-store makeup services to minimise spread of virus
  • Coronavirus symptoms: what are they and should you see a doctor?

Beauty retailer Sephora has become the latest company to shut its doors over the coronavirus pandemic. 

The cosmetics giant announced on Wednesday it will temporary close all stores in Australia beginning April 2, until further notice – but will still operate online. 

‘The health, safety and well-being of our staff members, our clients and the greater Australian public are of the utmost importance to us, and so today, we have chosen to take our social distancing and ‘no-touch’ policies even further with the temporary closure of our retail stores,’ the company said in a statement. 

Sephora will close all of its stores in Australia as it battles the coronavirus pandemic 

‘To you, our Sephora Beauty Community, we want to thank you for your incredible support during this uncertain time. 

‘We look forward to hanging out with you online – and back in stores – soon.’ 

The company last month had taken steps to minimise the spread of COVID-19 at its stores by suspending its on-site makeup services and beauty lessons. 

It is the latest victim of the coronavirus retail fallout, which is leaving tens of thousands of Australians unemployed as stores shut their doors.  

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

Peter Alexander is among the stores that is having to close down due to the coronavirus

Peter Alexander is among the stores that is having to close down due to the coronavirus

Last week, General Pants, Smiggle, and Peter Alexander announced it would temporarily close its stores as the country battles the economic effects of the pandemic.

CORONAVIRUS CASES IN AUSTRALIA: 4,862

New South Wales: 2,182

Victoria: 968

Queensland: 781

Western Australia: 392 

South Australia: 367  

Australian Capital Territory: 84

Tasmania: 69

Northern Territory: 19

TOTAL CASES:  4,862

RECOVERED: 416

DEAD: 21

The brands are owned by tycoon Solomon Lew’s Premier Investments which announced a shutdown of Australian stores last Thursday.

Around 9,000 of the company’s staff around the world will be stood down without pay until at least April 22.

The company said it does not intend to pay rent on any of its stores. Around 70 per cent of its leases in Australia and New Zealand run out this year or are already expired.

The group’s bosses will be working from home without pay.

RAG Group, which owns Tarocash, YD and Connor, closed 500 stores and stood down 3,000 workers last Friday.

Meanwhile, Accent Group – which owns Athlete’s Foot, Platypus and Hype – has announced it is closing 522 stores and standing down around 5,000 staff.

The company will close all stores from 5pm on Friday for four weeks.

 

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk