Updated ,first published
Betts, one of Australia’s oldest shoe retailers, has called in administrators and will shut more than half its stores as it undertakes a massive sale to clear remaining stock before eventually moving to an online-only operation.
The 134-year-old family-owned retailer will close 20 of its remaining 35 stores over the next two months, despite a rebrand late last year that ultimately failed to revive its fortunes.
During the lunchtime rush on Thursday, dozens of people perused shoes in the chain’s Sydney Westfield store, including Lydia Wheatley, who thinks she’s bought more than 30 pairs of shoes from Betts over the past decade.
“Everyone always compliments my shoes, and I always say they’re from Betts,” she said. “Some of the higher-end brands, I won’t name any names, but [sell] more expensive shoes that are less comfortable and less long-wearing than the Betts shoes.”
More than 120,000 pairs of shoes…