Winning Appliances has temporarily closed its Sydney and Perth showrooms with its Brisbane showrooms to close from tomorrow, in response to the latest Covid-19 restrictions.

Winning Group chief operating officer, Ryan Fritsch said the decision was made with the health and safety of the team and customers front of mind.

“We remain open and available to assist customers in a contactless environment; 24/7 via our website and over the phone. Customers can also browse and shop through our virtual showroom, which is a great source of information about products and appliance technologies,” he said in a statement to Appliance Retailer.

“We want to ensure our customers experience minimal disruption as possible, given how important appliances are to everyday life. We are working towards reopening our showrooms by appointment only, in those states where public health orders permit, and without jeopardising the health and safety of our team members and customers. 

“For Appliances Online, it is business as usual, where we are continuing to provide customer support 24/7. Essential deliveries through our logistics company, Winning Services, will continue using our COVID-19 measures for minimal contact and contactless delivery.

“Following state government recommendations, all Winning Group team members who reside in the greater Sydney area, Perth and Peel regions and southeast Queensland will work from home until the restrictions are lifted.”

Perth-based Hart & Co executive chairman, Rick Hart acknowledged that health and safety is the most important consideration for the state, but with two days left of the financial year, the timing of the Perth lockdown isn’t ideal for retailers.

“From our perspective it’s a hiccup that will affect many businesses, but it’s something we have to live with and get through,” he told Appliance Retailer.

“Several of our appointments have been cancelled for customers trying to finalise requirements before year end to benefit from promotions, but we will serve these customers as best we can over the phone. We also had fully booked appliance cooking demonstrations this week, which have now been rescheduled. Our staff who are able to work from home have that choice.”

BSR Group CEO and executive director, Graeme Cunningham said the lockdowns in greater Sydney, Perth and South East Queensland will disrupt in-store sales, but as with other lockdowns, business will shift to online with increased enquiries and sales over the phone.

“Our stores remain open with click & collect and contactless delivery options available to customers. I think we are now all better prepared for these snap changes and consumers are continuing to purchase, albeit not to the same level as early on in the pandemic,” he told Appliance Retailer.

Queensland-based Videopro CEO, Cameron Douglas said it was interesting to see a spike in online sales over the weekend, suggesting that consumers were prepared for a snap lockdown in Queensland.

“Our stores remain open for trade and we will continue to deliver customer orders from our warehouse, with the necessary Covid-19 protocols in place. This isn’t the first lockdown that we have faced so we feel more prepared to adapt our business accordingly, including shifting our head office staff to work from home arrangements,” he told Appliance Retailer.

Myer has temporarily closed stores in greater Sydney including Bondi, Sydney City, Bankstown, Blacktown, Castle Hill, Chatswood, Eastgardens, Liverpool, Macquarie, Miranda, Parramatta, Penrith, Roselands, Warringah, Erina and Shellharbour. Stores in Albury, Dubbo, Wagga and Charlestown remain open with mandatory mask and physical distancing requirements.

Today, Myer announced that stores in Western Australia have also closed, in line with government restrictions.

Customers can continue to shop online with contact free delivery and click & collect available.