By Aimee Chanthadavong
It has been estimated that businesses affected by the floods will face an average revenue loss of $20,000 or 3 per cent of their annual turnover, according to the Chamber of Commerce & Industry Queensland (CCIQ).
The Reject Shop has come to a trading halt to address the situation on its flood-affected stores; Woolworths Limited has been forced to close more than 100 of its stores even though property damage is minimal; and hundreds of other small retailers have either been partially or entirely damaged.
Despite this, leading supermarkets and retail organisations are working together to resupply existing stores, Scott Driscoll, United Retail Federation national president, told Retailbiz.
“I’ve been with our members since December in trying to coordinate this and we’ve had considerable success. Only today have we had to take stock from the main IGA distribution centre and had to load them on trucks and drop them via helicopter,” he said.
“It’s absolutely catastrophic here and I’ve spoken to some people who not only lost their homes and business but some of their family members are missing. These are things they don’t even contemplate would happen to them. Fortunately, many have also managed to find these missing family members.”
Margy Osmon, Australian National Retailers Association (ANRA) CEO, said in statement that it’s become an adjoining effort.
"Coles and Woolworths supermarkets are focused on getting supplies into stores via any possible means to keep Queenslanders stocked up on essential items like water, baby food, torches, batteries and toilet paper."
According to Woolworths, stock stores across the state are running low due to road closures, logistical issues and staff shortages.
“We are working in conjunction with other major retailers and the Queensland government on contingency measures to maintain supply of essential provisions to communities across the State by any means possible,” the retailer said in a statement.