FIFTEEN staff will be out of a job on Sunday, with Stockland Wendouree’s Crazy Clark’s closing its doors.
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The closure comes as part of parent company Discount Super Group’s receivership, under Sydney-based KordaMentha.
It is one of 39 stores slated to close around the country, with more than 500 people losing their jobs.
The company does not have enough money to cover worker entitlements, which a spokesman said added up to more than $10 million nationwide, and is relying on retail sales to cover the gap.
DSG, which also owns Sam’s Warehouse in the Ballarat central business district, will release a second list of businesses to close by the end of the week.
A spokesman could not confirm if Sam’s Warehouse would be safe.
KordaMentha executive director Rahul Goyal said the Wendouree store was a day-by-day proposition whether to keep the store open, even until Sunday.
“Sales are up though. People are taking advantage of the bargains,” he said.
“People are helping out ... the staff entitlements rely on sales, and the school holidays have also helped.”
The store has two full-time staff, two part-time and 11 casuals.
Mr Goyal said at the moment it looked as though all the
stores earmarked to close would be shut by the end of August, judging by current stock levels.
He said it would be important when this happened to make sure staff got their entitlements.
The store manager said she had told been not to talk to the media, but a spokesman said that the owners were still looking for buyers for the businesses.
Stockland Wendouree centre manager Stevie Wright said it was a shame the store was closing, but confirmed negotiations with a new tenant had already begun.
Meanwhile, Pram Warehouse in Armstrong Street North, in Ballarat’s CBD, has reassured customers it is not closing, despite listing itself as undergoing liquidation.
A spokeswoman told The Courier the listing was only an easier way for the company to change its trading name, and recent financial troubles were not related to the move.
alex.hamer@fairfaxmedia.com.au