David Jones

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David Jones, Australia's only upmarket department store, has fallen into the hands of South African retail giant Woolworths, in a deal worth $2.15 billion. 
Woolworths, which already has a majority shareholding in Country Road, has out muscled Myer, which had proposed a merger deal between the two departments. Myer withdrew its offer this morning.  
In an announcement to the ASX, the board of David Jones said it unanimously recommended the offer to its shareholder, which will see Woolworths acquire all of DJ's shares via scheme of arrangement. 
The proposed scheme offer is for $4 cash per share - reflecting a 25.4% premium to its closing price on 8 April. 
Woolworths chief Ian Moir said the combination of the two would create a "leading southern hemisphere retailer with meaningful scale, able to leverage common fashion seasonality with enhanced sourcing capability". 
"Woolworths will bring extra capability, financial strength and significant scale to accelerate these strategies and offer a greatly enhanced value proposition, delivering on-trend product within the most exciting and innovative shopping experience in the market".  
David Jones chairman Gordon Cairns described the proposal as "compelling", which represented a "significant premium to not only our intrinsic value but also to broker valuations and to recent share prices". 
"It represents a substantial earnings multiple". 
In reaching its conclusion, he also said the board considered a number of alternatives. 
Among them were "standalone value creation opportunities, realising the value of the freehold properties owned by David Jones or pursuing a merger with Myer. 
As at noon, the upmarket retailer's share price was up 23% or 73c to $3.923. 
Shareholders will have an opportunity to vote on the scheme proposal in late June.   
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David Jones taken over by Woolworths SA

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GUEST OBSERVER
Australian department store retailers David Jones and Myer have both recently moved to rationalise the number of clothing brands they offer in their stores.
This strategy brings two common retail sayings to mind. First “to win in retail, you can’t be everything to everyone”, and second, “if you’re not growing, you’re going backwards”.
<h2>In retail, you can’t be everything to everyone</h2>
“It is high time we retailers realised that we cannot be all things to all people. When we try to do that, we end up with no particular appeal for anybody.”– Martineau, Pierre “The personality of the retail store” (1958).
These sentiments have never been more pertinent than in today’s retail environment where competition is fierce to secure market share and squeeze what little growth is left out of mature fashion apparel markets.
Maturity is forcing retailers to take one of two routes to compete for share of customers’ wallets: competing on price, or competing on superior benefits that are highly attractive to specific customers. While price is still an important part of the retail mix for upmarket department stores such as DJs, for the most part these retailers have left this price war to the discount end of the market – Kmart and Big W. Taking the second route to compete – provision of unique benefit to customers – requires retailers to make choices after defining their target customer.
Taking a walk through either a DJs or Myer store just five years ago would have given one the sense that these were “upmarket” retailers with a premium image and expensive brands to boot. Defining exactly who they were targeting, however, would have proved more difficult. With store floors cluttered with an eclectic range of brands and own label clothing, it would seem that they were targeting anyone who could shop in their stores and were prepared to pay the prices.
The entrance of savvy global retailers into the Australian apparel market, such as H&amp;M and Woolworths SA, combined with shifting expectations of customers has changed the clothing retailing game. Searching for growth in a crowded market is forcing retailers like DJs and Myer to carve up the market into different consumer segments, and target a few specific segments with their offers. As Daniel Bracken, Myer’s chief merchandising and marketing officer, says<a href="https://m.theage.com.au/business/retail/myer-clears-out-private-labels-as-part-of-brand-cull-20150729-gimzin">:</a>
“We have a very clear focus on who the most valuable customer is to our business and that’s what is driving us to put these new brands in our business.”
Identifying and targeting attractive customer segments in the market requires a deep understanding of who they are, where and why they shop; and strategic shifts in the retail offer.
The recent reductions in the ranges offered at Myer and DJs – around 100 and 180 brands from their respective brand portfolios, shows they are in the midst of significant transformation. This means shifting from a store for everyone (my store, Myer) to a focus on specific customer segments. Undoubtedly these retail transformations are focused on growth.
<h2>In retail, if you’re not growing, you’re going backwards</h2>
A key metric that clothing retailers live and die by is gross margin return on investment – GMROI. That is, how many gross margin dollars are earned on every dollar of inventory investment.
There are two ways to grow GMROI in retail: (1) increase sales to the customer; and (2) decrease internal/inventory costs. In reducing their ranges and moving to increase the floor space dedicated to targeted branded and own label ranges, retailers DJs and Myer are seeking to improve ROI from both directions.
If implemented well, these range reductions will also benefit shoppers. For instance, fewer brands on the shop floor reduces clutter and increases the visibility of the brands that are ranged, making it easier to shop. Fewer brands on the shop floor should also lead to reduced out-of-stocks – which is a top source of dissatisfaction for customers and a key reason to take their wallet to another retailer, permanently.
So what does this mean for small, local apparel brands? Undoubtedly the range rationalisations in DJs and Myer will impact wholesalers and small local labels that relied on these retailers stock and sell their offers. Increasingly, however, we are seeing branded manufacturers bypassing the big-box retailers and forging their own retail channels direct to their target customer through online stores, funky pop-ups and concept stores – such as the Bendigo-based family owned boutique furniture manufacturer Jimmy Possum. Unlike the grocery scenario in Australia, customers have power in this market and are prepared to shop in alternative channels for their clothing.
<h2>The vanilla-fication of clothing retail?</h2>
Is the brand rationalisation being played out on the store floors of Myer and DJs just the start of the “vanilla-fication” of clothing retail in the Australian market? Are we seeing a homogenisation and shift towards “blandsville” in the name of corporate profit growth and margin? Not likely.
What is more likely is that we are going to see smarter, tighter, and more targeted ranges of own label and supplier brands that reinforce the image of the retailer and resonate with their ideal customer.
Rather than banking the profit gains from these tighter ranges, expect to see DJs and Myer reinvesting these gains into tailoring the store environment to the target customer and delivering genuine, seamless omni-channel experiences across all retail channels – online, mobile, in store – to build a competitive edge.
The range reductions on the shop floor in DJs and Myer may herald a shakeup in the local market to a more exciting and innovative space, with local brands moving out from the shadows of the big-box department stores and establishing their own innovative routes to the customer – such as digital and pop-up, using their size and agility to carve out their own space.
Michal Carrington is lecturer in marketing at University of Melbourne and author for The Conversation. She can be contacted <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/michal-carrington-181837" target="_blank">here.</a>
 
 
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Welcome to blandsville? Myer and David Jones embrace grocery-style streamlining

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Scentre Group, jointly with Cbus Property, has purchased the David Jones Market Street building in Sydney’s CBD for $360 million.
David Jones owner, South Africa’s Woolworths Holdings had the property offered through real-estate agents Simon Fenn of Savills, inconjunction with CBRE, with the Lowy-family backed Scentre always keen to expand its retail prescence.
Property tycoon Frank Lowy, ahead of resigning from Scentre in May, is understood to have played a major role.
David Jones will use the sale proceeds to help back the redevelopment of its adjacent flagship Elizabeth Street store.
The Scentre group’s share of the purchase price is $182.5 million with Cbus Property paying the balance of $177.5 million.
David Jones will continue to occupy the site until late 2019 under a lease agreement providing a 4.5% per annum rental return on the acquisition price.
During the leaseback period, the co-owners will obtain the necessary approvals to redevelop the site when David Jones vacates the building. 
On completion, the redeveloped 77 Market Street site will comprise approximately 10,000 square metres  of luxury retail space integrated with Westfield Sydney.
In addition Cbus Property will convert the balance of the existing building to provide quality office space and develop a luxury residential tower above, overlooking Hyde Park.
Scentre Group will own, develop, design and build the retail elements of the site.
Scentre Group CEO Peter Allen said the transaction was a rare opportunity to significantly expand our flagship Westfield Sydney centre. 
The 77 Market Street site will provide the opportunity for further luxury retail and high-quality food, which combined with our existing Westfield Sydney and David Jones’ planned $200 million investment into the adjacent Elizabeth Street store, will reinforce the precinct as Sydney’s pre-eminent luxury retail destination.” 
Adrian Pozzo, Cbus Property CEO said 77 Market Street provided another excellent opportunity for Cbus Property to demonstrate its core capabilities in residential and commercial development in what will be a vibrant mixed use building in an exciting location with unrivalled amenity.
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CBUS and Scentre team up to secure David Jones Sydney store

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David Jones is pressing ahead with its first stand-alone gourmet food store under its new owner, South African retailer Woolworths Holdings.
It has plans to open in the up-market Capitol Grand retail arcade development on the Chapel Street and Torook Road, South Yarra corner.
Its scheduled opening is in 2019.
The Capitol Grand store will be about 500 square metres. Larry Kestelman, with financial backing from the US investment bank Goldman Sachs, is currently constructing the $700 million Capitol Grand luxury high-rise tower. Over 75 per cent of the 500 apartments across the two towers have been sold with about 80 per cent of purchasers owner-occupiers. One-bedroom apartments in the LK Property Group development start at $700,000.
David Jones will also open a food hall in its suburban Malvern store in Melbourne in March.
It plans to spend at least $100 million over three years building a retail food business, restoring its reputation for gourmet food, differentiating the department store from rival Myer and also protecting sales from new competitors such as Amazon.
The strategy includes building a new food hall in the flagship Elizabeth Street store to replace its Market Street store in Sydney.
Most of the products, including 90% of the store's fresh food offering, will carry the new David Jones Food brand, which was launched last year.
David Jones chief executive David Thomas hopes the new proposition will resonate strongly with the local customer.
The Insider Retail website reported David Jones said that the new store format store was designed with an emphasis on fresh premium produce including pre-packed meat and seafood, and a comprehensive convenience selection comprised of pre-prepared vegetables, salads and fruit as well as innovative, restaurant-quality ready meals.
Most of the fresh produce and ready-made meals will be supplied by In2Food, a South African-based company which is the largest food supplier to Woolworths Holdings.
Last week Woolworths cut the value of David Jones by $712 million - around 34% - citing poor execution of its previously announced turnaround plans along with emerging structural changes in retailing.
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David Jones plans Capitol Grand, South Yarra food store

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A joint venture between Cbus Property and Scentre Group could see David Jones former men's clothing department become Sydney's next luxury destination. Plans have been lodged for an exciting $300 million transformation of the existing department store into a 49-storey multi-use tower which will also house Sydney's Flagship Westfield department store, and link to its neighbouring Westfield store via a pre-existing bridge and tunnel. 

<blockquote>
“At the heart of these plans is the unequalled opportunity to transform an iconic site from Sydney’s past into a contemporary precinct offering experiences and ambience that reflect the lifestyle and aspirations of our global city.”

- Greg Miles, Scentre Group Chief Operating Officer
</blockquote>

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/screen_shot_2019-04-26_at_3.31.21_pm.png" rel="gallery-all" title="77 Market Street, design by FJMT. Credit: David Jones"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="326" src="/s3/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/screen_shot_2019-04-26_at_3.31.21_pm.png?itok=J5e12rh9" title="77 Market Street, design by FJMT. Credit: David Jones" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>77 Market Street, design by FJMT. Credit: FJMT</figcaption></figure>A design competition was held with award-winning architects selected to submit their vision for the new development including FJMT, Bates Smart, John Wardle Architects, Make Architects, Woods Bagot with AL_A, and Sydney Architecture Studio with OMA.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/screen_shot_2019-04-26_at_3.31.11_pm.png" rel="gallery-all" title="Selected design by FJMT. Credit David Jones"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="323" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/screen_shot_2019-04-26_at_3.31.11_pm.png?itok=9El6O3pH" title="Selected design by FJMT. Credit David Jones" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Selected design by FJMT. Credit: FJMT</figcaption></figure>The selected design by FJMT has seamlessly interwoven the historical context of the existing building with a brand new 22-level modern tower set to sit atop the iconic building. Lower levels will house the new Westfield outlet and premium office space, while the new tower will feature 100 highly coveted boutique apartments. The apartments are positioned to boast spectacular views spanning the CBD, Sydney Harbour and Hyde Park. Strong market interest for collection of luxury apartments is to be expected due to the buildings unparalleled location, views and design. 

<blockquote>
"The addition of the residential tower to the existing building has been designed to have a striking presence on the Sydney CBD skyline.”

- Adrian Pozzo, Cbus Property Chief Executive
</blockquote>

After noticing a significant increase in demand for luxury goods by Westfield customers, the additional space will allow Westfield to increase its luxury collection to approximately 10,000 square metres over three levels.

<blockquote>
“Combined with the existing Westfield Sydney and David Jones’ $200 million investment into its Elizabeth Street store, the development of the David Jones Men’s store site will cement the precinct as Sydney’s pre-eminent luxury retail destination.”
</blockquote>

- Greg Miles, Scentre Group Chief Operating Officer

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/77-market-pic-1024x433.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="The original historic building. Credit: David Jones"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="245" src="/s3/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/77-market-pic-1024x433.jpg?itok=glodixII" title="The original historic building. Credit: David Jones" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>The original historic building. Credit: David Jones
</figcaption></figure>
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David Jones

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