
Remember when you could rely on Noni B for a reliable frock, or pop into Millers for comfortable basics? For millions of Australian women, particularly those over 50, these weren't just shops—they were trusted go-to destinations that understood what they wanted and delivered it without fuss.
That trust was shattered when Mosaic Brands, the company behind these beloved retailers, was hit with a staggering $25.05 million penalty by the Federal Court—one of the largest consumer law fines in Australian history.
The reason? Nearly 740,000 orders were delivered later than what would be considered reasonable, with wrongfully accepted payments making up almost 25 percent of total online sales during a six-month period.
The Court also found that 4,213 items were never delivered at all, compounding the losses for customers.
But this isn't just another corporate fine story—it's a wake-up call about your shopping rights that could save you money and frustration in the future.
In this article
The brands you knew and loved
Mosaic Brands owned nine familiar fashion retailers that many Australian seniors shopped with regularly:
• Noni B - the original brand, founded in 1977
• Millers - affordable everyday wear
• Rockmans - classic styles for mature women
• Katies - work and casual wear
• Rivers - family fashion and footwear
• Autograph -plus-size fashion
• W.Lane - sophisticated styles
• Crossroads - bohemian-inspired clothing
• BeMe - body-positive fashion
All stores have now permanently closed following the company's collapse.
When promises became problems
The ACCC's investigation revealed that more than half of the questioned items were dispatched 30 or more days after ordering, while about one-third took 40 or more days.
One customer 'experienced the dual disappointment of never receiving the goods they'd paid for and then having to wait six months for a refund'.
These weren't isolated incidents. Mosaic had already been fined $29,000 for underpaying workers and nearly $900,000 for 'excessive and lengthy delays' in delivery between May 2021 and September 2022. The warning signs were there, but customers kept shopping in good faith.
The company's collapse was swift and brutal. After entering voluntary administration in October 2024, Mosaic moved into liquidation by July 2025, with all remaining brands—including the final holdouts Millers and Noni B—permanently closing.
A creditor report in February 2025 revealed Mosaic owed more than $318 million in total debt:
•2,800 staff were owed $22 million in wages (likely to be paid in full).
• Secured creditors were owed $54 million (expected to be recovered).
• Unsecured creditors were left with $242 million in debts across 613 claimants, with little chance of recovery.
'Delivery times matter and it is unacceptable to mislead consumers about this aspect of a sale'
The human cost behind the numbers
The real tragedy isn't just corporate—it's personal. Small suppliers who relied on consistent payments from major retail clients to keep their own businesses afloat are particularly affected by the situation. Twenty-three Bangladeshi exporters may not be able to pay factory workers, with $20 million owed to these international suppliers.
For customers, the experience was equally frustrating. ProductReview.com.au reveals the reality: customers trying to get refunds from Katies and Rockmans were left empty-handed after discovering 'back in October 2024 Mosaic Brand have gone bust'.
Gift card holders were left 'in limbo, as there is no clear plan for refunds or redemptions' when the company collapsed.
Understanding your shopping rights
The Mosaic Brands case highlights consumer protections many Australians don't fully understand. Here's what the Australian Consumer Law guarantees you:
Delivery timeframes matter: Businesses must not accept payment if 'they know, or should know, that they won't be able to supply the products or services by the promised date, or within a reasonable time'.
Refund rights without time limits: Consumers' right to a refund for a faulty item does not have a set time limit under Australian Consumer Law—despite what some store policies might claim.
Reasonable delivery expectations: The basic consumer rights known as consumer guarantees apply to all purchases, including the guarantee that services are provided within a reasonable time.
Did you know?
What Does This Mean for You?
If you don't receive online orders within a reasonable time, the seller must provide a solution—either sending the item promptly or offering a full refund. You don't have to accept store credit or vouchers if goods aren't delivered as promised. Contact the business first, but if they won't help, you can report them to the ACCC or your state consumer protection agency.
Protecting yourself from future disappointments
The collapse of such well-known brands serves as a reminder that even familiar names can face financial troubles. Here's how to shop more safely:
Check company health: Look for warning signs like repeated sales, store closures, or customer complaints about delayed deliveries.
Payment protection: Consider claiming a chargeback through your bank if you paid on credit card and don't receive goods.
Gift card caution: Gift cards must have at least three years' validity from purchase date, but they become worthless if the company collapses.
Know the red flags: Unusual website URLs, typos, grammatical errors, and huge discounts that seem too good to be true can indicate problem retailers.
Your consumer rights toolkit
- Businesses cannot accept payment if they can't deliver within a reasonable time
- You're entitled to refunds, not just store credit, for faulty or undelivered goods
- There's no time limit on refund rights for faulty products
- Credit card chargebacks can help recover money from failed retailers
- Report persistent problems to the ACCC or state consumer agencies
The bigger retail reality
Mosaic's core customer group was women aged 50+, a demographic that wasn't growing, while younger shoppers weren't interested in the brands. The rise of online 'fast fashion' retailers like Temu and Shein intensified competition, making it harder for traditional retailers to survive.
Administrators determined the company was often competing against itself for the same customers within shopping centres, struggling with high costs and a lack of product differentiation.
This pattern isn't unique to Mosaic. The ACCC recorded at least 2,760 reports of fake online stores in 2023, with online shopping scams costing Australians over $6.2 million.
What happens next?
With administrators confirming there isn't enough money from asset sales to cover debts owed to secured creditors, suppliers and landlords who provided services before October 28, 2024, are unlikely to recover anything.
The $25 million penalty, while symbolic of accountability, comes too late for the thousands of customers and suppliers left out of pocket. As the ACCC noted, the penalties should serve as a warning to other retailers that 'excessive delivery delays after accepting payment can lead to penalties of this magnitude'.
What This Means For You
For Australian shoppers, particularly seniors who valued these familiar brands, the message is clear: knowing your rights isn't just helpful—it's essential protection in an increasingly complex retail landscape.
Have you been affected by online shopping delays or store closures? What strategies do you use to protect yourself when shopping online? Share your experiences and tips in the comments below—your insights could help fellow readers avoid similar frustrations.
Original Article
https://www.news.com.au/national/br...2a0a37df2e660db0c7c126735bb242?from=rss-basic
Mosaic Brands fined $25 million for breaching consumer law
Cited text: The almost 740,000 goods that the Court found Mosaic Brands wrongfully accepted payment for made up almost one-quarter of the total online items order...
Excerpt: Nearly 740,000 orders were delivered later than what would be considered reasonable, with wrongfully accepted payments making up almost 25 percent of total online sales during a six-month period
https://www.businessnewsaustralia.c...nds-fined-25m-for-breaching-consumer-law.html
Mosaic Brands Ordered to Pay $25 Million for Failing to Deliver Online Orders—Australian Business Journal
Cited text: ... Wrongfully accepted payments made up almost 25 percent of total online sales during this period.
Excerpt: Nearly 740,000 orders were delivered later than what would be considered reasonable, with wrongfully accepted payments making up almost 25 percent of total online sales during a six-month period
https://theabj.com.au/2025/08/29/mo...million-for-failing-to-deliver-online-orders/
Mosaic Brands fined $25 million for breaching consumer law
Cited text: “Our investigation revealed that more than half of the items in question were dispatched from Mosaic Brands’ warehouses 30 or more days after the orde...
Excerpt: The ACCC's investigation revealed that more than half of the questioned items were dispatched 30 or more days after ordering, while about one-third took 40 or more days.
https://www.businessnewsaustralia.c...nds-fined-25m-for-breaching-consumer-law.html
Mosaic Brands—Wikipedia
Cited text: In May 2023, Mosaic was fined $29,000 after it pleaded guilty to 324 offences of underpaying long service to workers.
Excerpt: Mosaic had already been fined $29,000 for underpaying workers and nearly $900,000 for 'excessive and lengthy delays' in delivery between May 2021 and September 2022
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mosaic_Brands
'Fast fashion' company collapse leaves $20 million owing to Bangladeshi exporters | SBS Bangla
Cited text: The ACCC issued infringement notices for "excessive and lengthy delays" in delivery of products to customers purchased from its websites to ...
Excerpt: Mosaic had already been fined $29,000 for underpaying workers and nearly $900,000 for 'excessive and lengthy delays' in delivery between May 2021 and September 2022
https://www.sbs.com.au/language/ban...lion-owing-to-bangladeshi-exporters/wf9mc9wkd
Fresh twist in collapse of iconic Aussie retailer Mosaic Brands after 'large number' of shoppers ripped off
Cited text: Mosaic Brands entered voluntary administration in October 2024 and entered liquidation in July 2025.
Excerpt: After entering voluntary administration in October 2024, Mosaic moved into liquidation by July 2025, with all remaining brands—including the final holdouts Millers and Noni B—permanently closing
https://au.finance.yahoo.com/news/f...-number-of-shoppers-ripped-off-072558105.html
Mosaic Brands—Wikipedia
Cited text: It then announced that Mosaic Brands would be placed into effective total liquidation with the permanent closure of remaining brands Millers and Noni ...
Excerpt: After entering voluntary administration in October 2024, Mosaic moved into liquidation by July 2025, with all remaining brands—including the final holdouts Millers and Noni B—permanently closing
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mosaic_Brands
Mosaic Brands collapse leaves small businesses and customers in the cold
Cited text: The situation is particularly dire for small suppliers, many of whom rely on consistent payments from major retail clients to keep their own businesse...
Excerpt: Small suppliers who relied on consistent payments from major retail clients to keep their own businesses afloat are particularly affected by the situation
https://www.kochiesbusinessbuilders...s-small-businesses-and-customers-in-the-cold/
'Fast fashion' company collapse leaves $20 million owing to Bangladeshi exporters | SBS Bangla
Cited text: Twenty-three Bangladeshi exporters may not be able to pay factory workers after Mosaic Brands went into voluntary administration.
Excerpt: Twenty-three Bangladeshi exporters may not be able to pay factory workers, with $20 million owed to these international suppliers
https://www.sbs.com.au/language/ban...lion-owing-to-bangladeshi-exporters/wf9mc9wkd
'Fast fashion' company collapse leaves $20 million owing to Bangladeshi exporters | SBS Bangla
Cited text: According to Bangladesh Garments Manufacturer and Exporters Association (BGMEA) sources, 23 Bangladeshi exporters are affected as the company enters v...
Excerpt: Twenty-three Bangladeshi exporters may not be able to pay factory workers, with $20 million owed to these international suppliers
https://www.sbs.com.au/language/ban...lion-owing-to-bangladeshi-exporters/wf9mc9wkd
Mosaic Brands reviews | ProductReview.com.au
Cited text: Goodluck getting a refund, I am trying to get 2 refunds back (Katies & Rockmans via Mosaic Brands = no refunds and I am unable to return items back fo...
Excerpt: customers trying to get refunds from Katies and Rockmans were left empty-handed after discovering 'back in October 2024 Mosaic Brand have gone bust'
https://www.productreview.com.au/listings/mosaic-brands-ltd
Mosaic Brands collapse leaves small businesses and customers in the cold
Cited text: Whether Mosaic brand customers will also be left out of pocket remains to be seen with no clear plan in place for The latter leaves customers who purc...
Excerpt: Gift card holders were left 'in limbo, as there is no clear plan for refunds or redemptions'
https://www.kochiesbusinessbuilders...s-small-businesses-and-customers-in-the-cold/
Not receiving products or services that are paid for | ACCC
Cited text: Under the Australian Consumer Law, businesses must not accept payment for products or services if: they don’t intend to supply the product or service ...
Excerpt: Businesses must not accept payment if 'they know, or should know, that they won't be able to supply the products or services by the promised date, or within a reasonable time'
https://www.accc.gov.au/consumers/b...eiving-products-or-services-that-are-paid-for
Collapsed Mosaic Brands fined $25 million for online shopping failures—Inside Retail Australia
Cited text: · The practice, which took place between 2021 and 2022, was also deemed a breach of the consumer law, as consumers’ right to a refund for a faulty ite...
Excerpt: Consumers' right to a refund for a faulty item does not have a set time limit under Australian Consumer Law
https://insideretail.com.au/busines...5-million-for-online-shopping-failures-202508
Consumer rights and guarantees | ACCC
Cited text: Consumers have the right to expect certain things when they buy a product or service.
Excerpt: The basic consumer rights known as consumer guarantees apply to all purchases, including the guarantee that services are provided within a reasonable time
https://www.accc.gov.au/consumers/buying-products-and-services/consumer-rights-and-guarantees
Travel delays and cancellations | ACCC
Cited text: The basic consumer rights known as consumer guarantees apply to travel, including the guarantee that services are provided within a reasonable time.
Excerpt: The basic consumer rights known as consumer guarantees apply to all purchases, including the guarantee that services are provided within a reasonable time
https://www.accc.gov.au/consumers/specific-products-and-activities/travel-delays-and-cancellations
Delayed deliveries and parcels—what are your rights? | CHOICE
Cited text: CHOICE tip: If you've hit a wall with getting a resolution from the retailer and you don't have faith you'll receive the item, consider claiming a cha...
Excerpt: Consider claiming a chargeback through your bank if you paid on credit card and don't receive goods
https://www.choice.com.au/shopping/...ticles/parcel-delivery-delays-and-your-rights
Gift Cards
Cited text: Gift cards sold to consumers after 1 November 2019 are required to have an expiry date of at least three years from the date of sale.
Excerpt: Gift cards must have at least three years' validity from purchase date
https://www.lawhandbook.sa.gov.au/ch10s04s07s10.php
Delayed deliveries and parcels—what are your rights? | CHOICE
Cited text: In total, online shopping scams cost Australians over $6.2 million, between 1 January and 30 September 2023.Red flags to look out for include websites...
Excerpt: Unusual website URLs, typos, grammatical errors, and huge discounts that seem too good to be true
https://www.choice.com.au/shopping/...ticles/parcel-delivery-delays-and-your-rights
Financial teardown: The costly gamble that sank Mosaic Brands
Cited text: The core customer group (women aged 50+) wasn’t growing and younger shoppers weren’t interested.
Excerpt: Mosaic's core customer group was women aged 50+, a demographic that wasn't growing, while younger shoppers weren't interested in the brands
https://www.smartcompany.com.au/retail/financial-teardown-costly-gamble-sank-mosaic-brands/
Mosaic Brands—Wikipedia
Cited text: The company's core market was women over the age of 50.
Excerpt: Mosaic's core customer group was women aged 50+, a demographic that wasn't growing, while younger shoppers weren't interested in the brands
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mosaic_Brands
'Fast fashion' company collapse leaves $20 million owing to Bangladeshi exporters | SBS Bangla
Cited text: Mosaic's rapid expansion had limited its resources, and it relied on a traditional retail model, but that model failed in an e-commerce-driven market....
Excerpt: The rise of online 'fast fashion' retailers like Temu and Shein intensified competition
https://www.sbs.com.au/language/ban...lion-owing-to-bangladeshi-exporters/wf9mc9wkd
'Fast fashion' company collapse leaves $20 million owing to Bangladeshi exporters | SBS Bangla
Cited text: Experts say Mosaic Brands struggled in retail due to rising competition from online 'fast fashion' outlets including Temu and Shein.
Excerpt: The rise of online 'fast fashion' retailers like Temu and Shein intensified competition
https://www.sbs.com.au/language/ban...lion-owing-to-bangladeshi-exporters/wf9mc9wkd
Mosaic Brands fined $25 million for breaching consumer law
Cited text: Administrators would later determine the company was often competing against itself for the same customers within shopping centres, struggling with a ...
Excerpt: Administrators determined the company was often competing against itself for the same customers within shopping centres, struggling with high costs and a lack of product differentiation
https://www.businessnewsaustralia.c...nds-fined-25m-for-breaching-consumer-law.html
Delayed deliveries and parcels—what are your rights? | CHOICE
Cited text: According to the ACCC, there were at least 2760 reports of fake online stores in 2023, resulting in losses of more than half a million dollars.
Excerpt: The ACCC recorded at least 2,760 reports of fake online stores in 2023, with online shopping scams costing Australians over $6.2 million
https://www.choice.com.au/shopping/...ticles/parcel-delivery-delays-and-your-rights
Mosaic Brands collapse leaves small businesses and customers in the cold
Cited text: FTI Consulting, the administrators of Mosaic Brands, confirmed that there isn’t enough money from the sale of assets to cover debts owed to secured cr...
Excerpt: With administrators confirming there isn't enough money from asset sales to cover debts owed to secured creditors, suppliers and landlords who provided services before October 28, 2024, are unlikely to recover anything
https://www.kochiesbusinessbuilders...s-small-businesses-and-customers-in-the-cold/
Fresh twist in collapse of iconic Aussie retailer Mosaic Brands after 'large number' of shoppers ripped off
Cited text: “All online retailers should be aware that excessive delivery delays after accepting payment can lead to penalties of this magnitude,” Lowe said.
Excerpt: As the ACCC noted, the penalties should serve as a warning to other retailers that 'excessive delivery delays after accepting payment can lead to penalties of this magnitude'
https://au.finance.yahoo.com/news/f...-number-of-shoppers-ripped-off-072558105.html