Kmart Apology

March 4, 2010
by Rodney Olsen
1 Comment

On Monday I wrote a post titled Kmart Sucks. It was about the application Kmart had made to trade early on ANZAC Day.

In my original post I said, “I think that Kmart has seriously misjudged the mood of the Australian population on this one and I truly hope that not only will their application fail but that Kmart will issue an apology for their insensitivity.”

Thankfully Kmart’s Managing Director, Guy Russo, has listened to the public and withdrawn its application for longer trading. He has also apologised for getting it wrong.

Having listened to the strength of feeling from our customers and the broader community I will withdraw Kmart’s application for early trading on Anzac Day.

To best serve our customers my intent is for Kmart to be open when it most suits them.

This was the reason for our application for additional trading hours.

I got this one wrong and on behalf of Kmart, I apologise to the RSL, retired and current members of the Australian Defence Force and the wider community for any offence that this application has caused. – Kmart Managing Director Guy Russo


I don’t understand how they got it so wrong in the first place but it’s wonderful to see them putting their hand up and admitting the mistake. Well done.



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Kmart Sucks

March 1, 2010
by Rodney Olsen
10 Comments

In the brilliant 1988 movie Rain Man, the character of Raymond Babbit says, “Kmart sucks”. Raymond might have a bit more support for his statement now that Kmart in Australia has applied to open their doors early on ANZAC Day.

For those outside Australia and New Zealand, ANZAC Day is a day of remembrance in Australia and New Zealand observed on the 25th of April every year to honour members of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) who fought at Gallipoli in Turkey during World War I. Over the years it has broadened its purpose, becoming a day that commemorates all those who died and served in military operations for their countries.

News.com.au is now reporting that Kmart has applied to the New South Wales government for permission to trade before the traditional opening time on ANZAC Day of 1:00 p.m. (Thankfully shops in Perth don’t open at all on ANZAC Day.)

Their submission contends that staying closed for a morning to remember those who fought and died for our countries may inconvenience their shoppers.

Kmart submits that there is a desire within the community to see our stores open before 1pm on ANZAC Day.

Customers who are used to being able to shop at any time would potentially be severely inconvenienced by our closure. In short, they would not be able to obtain necessity items when they want.

Seriously? Your customers would potentially be severely inconvenienced by your closure for one morning? Do you think that the men and women who travelled overseas to protect our country, many of whom never returned, weren’t just a little more inconvenienced than not being able to shop for a few hours one morning a year? They were prepared to risk their lives and you’re not even prepared to give up a few hours profit? Do you think that your customers are really so stupid that they can’t plan a day ahead to buy ‘necessity items’?

War is never a good thing but surely those who gave their lives for our freedom didn’t do it only to give us freedom of shopping hours.

The application claims that shopping is “an important leisure activity” and that it “provides for the opportunity for families to come together . . . and gives them reason to spend special time with one another.”

Has shopping become that much of a god to us? Are our lives so empty that we consider a visit to the shopping centre as ‘family time’?

I think that Kmart has seriously misjudged the mood of the Australian population on this one and I truly hope that not only will their application fail but that Kmart will issue an apology for their insensitivity.



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