Four copycat launches, one big headache
Style-ish
The episode explores the current instability in the Australian retail sector, specifically focusing on insolvency rumors surrounding David J
Key takeaways
- Lender Hilco has reportedly hired an insolvency firm to prepare for a potential collapse of David Jones.
- David Jones CEO Erica Birch has officially denied allegations regarding delayed supplier payments.
Main topics
- David Jones retail crisis
- Kylie Minogue at AFL Grand Final
Notable quotes
We are living and breathing a cost of living crisis right now.
Conclusion
The episode provides a comprehensive look at how retail instability, c
Transcript preview
Speaker 1 (0:05) This episode of Stylish is brought to you by Merit. Right now, you can get Merit's signature makeup bag with your first order at MeritBeauty.com. Speaker 1 (0:18) This is Stylish, the podcast for all things fashion, lifestyle, brand and beauty. It is just a dynamic duo today because we have a diva down. We have got two Speaker 2 (0:27) pocket rockets sitting here coming to you, tuning in live on a Wednesday. It's not live, but you know what I mean. Speaker 1 (0:33) And if you can't tell by our voices, you are joined by Madison Sullivan Thorpe and Anika Joshi-Smith. Hello. Hi, Speaker 2 (0:40) darling girl. How are you? Happy Speaker 1 (0:42) Tuesday. Speaker 2 (0:42) Missed your face. I know. It's been a minute. Speaker 1 (0:44) Do you want to share what you text me this morning? Oh my goodness, you guys, Speaker 2 (0:48) you guys, you guys, you guys. I had the proudest mommy moment. Mommy. Sweet, baby gorgeous, Poppy. If you don't know who that is, weird, living under a rock. She said her first word. She's six months old. She's a baby prodigy. And she said mama. And now she says mama on repeat at 3am, 4am, 5am. It's just our morning wake up call. Speaker 1 (1:10) It is so cute, but also very telling whose credit card she's going to want to take into course. Speaker 2 (1:15) Yeah. Honestly, she already has like a higher membership status on Farfetch than I do. So, you know, we're on track. Speaker 1 (1:21) Get it, queen. Now, Annika, we have been sidebar chatting about this in our text messages for quite a few days now. And we were like, we've got to bring it to the pod. David Jones. David Speaker 2 (1:34) Jones. I think. Okay. Retail as a whole right now has been struggling and I think it's fair to say it's been causing quite a bit of concern especially in the Australian fashion landscape and the Australian retail landscape but last week the AFR reported that Hilco which is David Jones's main lender have hired an insolvency firm to prepare for a potential collapse. Now this has hit hard Mainly because David Jones had been under a bit of backlash recently due to prolonged payments with suppliers. And there's been a lot of discourse happening online, across socials. really kind of talking to this downfall. Speaker 1 (2:15) Yeah, because I signed up for an AFR subscription at the start of the year. And I feel like every sort of week, every second week, I'm getting these pop-ups about David Jones. And one of them was that they had asked their brands if they could delay payment terms, correct? Correct. Correct. Okay. And Speaker 2 (2:30) so I think what is really important to note is, yes, this is happening in the retail climate right now, but... No name sources have come out and put their names to these claims. So these are very much allegations right now. And the CEO of David Jones, Erica Birch, told she's actually come back and said these claims are untrue. So I think that's also now broadening the conversation around what does this actually mean for retail as a whole? Because I think the scary reality is. We are living and breathing a cost of living crisis right now. We are seeing it firsthand. And it does make me question what does this mean for our wider retail stores, especially if a 188-year-old department store, a heritage institution, could potentially fall or collapse? Speaker 1 (3:14) I guess to sort of move away from fashion and just speak about multi-retailer in a whole, it does. work. Like there are businesses that are thriving in this environment. And I would look to Mecca as a success story in this because you look at that Burke Street flagship and their George Street flagship, they are like department stores in and of themselves. Each floor is a different category. They are offering, you know, a curated offering. It's not every product from every brand, although it does seem to be getting bigger and bigger. But I think, you know, in contrast to other retailers, we are seeing some multi-branded. work on a larger scale. Definitely. I'm intrigued to see what happens with DJs and how this plays out. As you said, obviously very allegation based at the moment. We will watch this one very closely. My AFR subscription will be working very hard. But into a slightly more fun news story. There were some sexy little gold boots working their way on the stage at the MCG this weekend. We're going to get into chatting all things Kylie Minogue concert and gigs at large, but that will be right after a word from today's sponsor. Speaker 1 (4:18) Mornings don't have to take forever, especially your makeup routine. That's why minimalist makeup brand Merit Beauty designed a range of skincare and makeup to help you look put together in just minutes. Their curated line of easy-to-use products all work together with no caking or peeling. They're even blendable with your fingers, which means you don't need to be a makeup artist to look your best. You just look effortlessly beautiful. Take their best-selling product, The Minimalist, which works double duty as both a concealer and foundation. Just swipe it on in the areas you need a little coverage, pat it in, and you're good to go. Or their Flush Balm, which can be used on your cheeks and lips for a healthy, natural glow that's never too heavy. Then there's the Great Skin Serum, which is ideal for no-makeup days when you want your skin to look instantly plumped, glowy, and dewy with minimal effort. Merit's range is vegan, clean, cruelty-free and made with skincare ingredients that leave your skin feeling nourished even after a full day of wear. Plus, you can get Merit's signature makeup bag with your first order at MeritBeauty.com. That's M-E-R-I-T Beauty.com. Thank you so much to Merit for making this episode of Stylish possible. Now for our stylish listeners, you may know it as the Kylie Minogue concert. Your partners, brothers or fathers may know it as the AFL grand final. But what a concert our pop princess, or as I like to call her, pop star Polly Pocket, had Speaker 2 (5:47) on the weekend. Honestly, unreal. Like, I just need a full disclaimer right here, right now. Like, don't come for me, all of Australia when I say this. I have lived here for, I think, 14 years and... That was the first AFL match I've ever seen in my life. Speaker 1 (6:02) Oh, I have no hate on that. Okay, thank God, because Speaker 2 (6:05) people always like to me, who do you go for? And I sit there and I'm like, go the Tykes. Like, I don't know. Go Speaker 3 (6:10) the Tykes. Speaker 2 (6:11) I Speaker 3 (6:11) live Speaker 2 (6:11) in Speaker 3 (6:12) Richmond. Speaker 2 (6:12) Like, shit, I don't know. But actually, Chris Fagan, that's my guy. I know him personally, and he is a stand-up man. And I cried. I cried when he won three peat, baby. Speaker 1 (6:23) Honestly, you're talking the talk. And more importantly, we had our girl Kylie walking the walk. Did she ever? Honestly, I was so excited. I was at a friend's house. I was actually with Ray watching the granny. Her and I were, like, arm in arm, bopping along. We saw Kylie come out and like every female at our friend's barbecue like squealed the highest pitch sound. She wore multiple outfits. First of all, I want to start by saying there are a few pop stars that I would allow the honour of coming up on stage in their own merch. Kylie Minogue deserves every piece of her own merch. I'm like, get it, queen. I want to see your face on you. No, legit. I'm like. How Speaker 2 (7:02) do we get our hands on that though? I want to wear that. I feel like it's such a vibe right now to actually, you know, go to a gig or a festival or just out and about with your girlfriends with a cute top and jeans. And I want that Kylie tee. Speaker 1 (7:13) I actually, you've just inspired me that maybe I will buy a vintage Kylie, like look out Depop, I'm coming, vintage as well. Yes. I mean, she's a pop princess in