Major Aussie fashion brand enters voluntary administration

The retail industry has seen many brands enter administration or close shop.

This reflected the vulnerable state of the industry post-pandemic.

In a recent development, the parent company of homegrown clothing brands joined one of the many companies with an uncertain future.


Mosaic Brands—a fashion retailer behind brands like Millers, Rivers, and Katies—has entered voluntary administration.

The announcement affected nearly 3,000 jobs and more than 700 retail stores nationwide.

The Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) announced the brand's decision.


compressed-mosaic.jpeg
Mosaic Brands previously housed nine brands under their name. Image Credit: Mosaic Brands


The administration came after a previous announcement last month that Mosaic would shut down five of its brands—Rockmans, Autograph, Crossroads, W.Lane and BeMe.

Closing down these brands was initially a move to focus on its remaining core brands.

However, despite restructuring efforts, the company did not get the necessary support from a few key stakeholders and has faced challenges with a major government commission.


Despite entering administration, Mosaic Brands assured customers that it would continue to trade throughout Christmas and the holiday period.

Shoppers may still shop at any Mosaic Brands stores.

However, the long-term future of these brands remains uncertain.

FTI Consulting stepped in as the administrator, and KPMG will be handling the retailer's operations.

Both teams should stabilise the company and preserve the value of its brands, famous among Australians in regional areas where options may be limited.


Earlier this year, the brand faced allegations from the Australian Consumer and Competition Commission (ACCC) for breaching the Australian Consumer Law.

The brand has allegedly misled consumers about delivery times and consumer guarantee rights.

Mosaic Brands' share price also plummeted from $2.30 in January 2020 to 3.6 cents before trading was suspended in August.

This dramatic drop reflected the broader challenges the brand has been facing, including changing consumer habits, the rise of online shopping, and the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.


Mosaic Brands may close a few stores, reducing local shopping options and jobs in respective communities.

It could also result in clearance sales, offering an opportunity for bargain hunters.

Overall, Mosaic Brands' situation is a reminder about supporting local brands and stores.

The retail landscape is ever-changing, and with it, shopping habits also adapt.
Key Takeaways

  • Mosaic Brands, the company behind Australia's popular fashion brands, has entered voluntary administration.
  • The company will undergo restructuring, with FTI Consulting and KPMG overseeing the process.
  • The decision for voluntary administration came after failure to secure support from several parties and recent allegations from the ACCC.
  • Despite administration, Mosaic Brands will continue to trade throughout the Christmas season.
Have you shopped at Millers, Rivers, Katies, or any Mosaic Brands stores recently? What does this mean for your shopping habits? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.
 
Sponsored
MOSAIC are vile! Very early in the COVID Pandemic, MOSAIC deliberately promoted bottles of HAND SANITISER to all customers of their MILLERS stores. Hand Sanitiser was nearly impossible to purchase anywhere as panic-buying wiped out stocks with the unexpected rush of sales.
MOSAIC’s heavily promoted small HandSanitiser bottles cost $59.99 a package including postage.
On 19 March 2019, I ordered 3 lots of 12 small bottles of Hand Sanitiser - 36 btls in total. Delivery in Two WEEKS was promised by MOSAIC as they swiftly charged my plastic card.
BUT, numerous phone calls and emails over the next SIX (6) months achieved nothing, MOSAIC could not supply anyone. MOSAIC had LIED to everyone. MOSAIC REFUSED to REFUND ANY MONEY or to CANCEL any orders still not sent out.

Staff in MILLERS shops were inundated with customers demanding their pre-paid products, but staff knew nothing.

It was not until mid OCTOBER 2019 that MOSAIC finally shipped my $179.99 order of Hand Sanitiser, but by then normal supplies were readily available everywhere - we had been forced to purchase elsewhere.
This time, MOSAC REFUSED to accept any returns due to extraordinarily lengthy, unacceptable delivery.
MOSAIC REFUSED to answer phone calls, emails or letters of complaint and query.
In 2023, the ACCC heavily FINED the ratbag MOSAIC company for promoting and selling its Hand Sanitiser which contained far less Alcohol content than its LABEL stated which was lawfully required to make the Hand Sanitiser have any effect of protecting humans against Covid-19 bacteria as needed.

MOSAIC has been illegally trading for years. MOSAIC has not once refunded any of the money it stole from its MILLERS customers who were intentionally targetted and bombarded with promotions of Hand Sanitiser which so many thousands upon thousands of worried, scared Australians believed and bought.
I still have the 36 small bottles of completely USELESS MOSAIC HAND SANITISER. As a Disability Pensioner, I certainly could not afford to throw money away on the RUBBISH sold by
MOSAIC.
MOSAIC SUCKER PUNCHED AND STOLE FROM VULNERABLE AUSTRALIANS IN THEIR TIME OF NEED.
MOSAIC will never ever get one cent of my money again no matter what poorly made, cheap rubbishy clothing they import from China and India.
Stay away from MOSAIC for your own sake.
 
Millers is a shop that I've used a lot. I have always found that their stock is good quality and not too expensive. My friends also use this shop quite a lot. It will be missed in my town that's for sure.
 
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Well ladies it looks like once these stores close and we need something new you are not going to be able to find a store that actually caters for our age group, guess we will just walk around in the nude. If that's not enough to keep the shops open I don't know what will.
 
Unfortunately all these supposed thousands of people no longer shop at these stores, otherwise they would not be going into administration.
The reason businesses go bust is lack of customers.
To start there are miles too many of these stores, all selling very much the same products.
I used to shop at Rockmans but over the last few years I haven't.
I don't know if they hired a new buyer, but the quality and style went right down the gurgler IMO.
When you go to places like the Mandurah Forum,.where there are way too many clothing stores,.just about all of them are empty.
I have a friend who works at Portman's who told me she works many shifts where she is lucky if she makes a sale.
Hi, "Mylittletibbies",

Just out of curiosity, If you live at or near Mandurah, do they still catch the Blue Manner crabs there ?
They are the same as our Blue Swimmers.

I was on transfer duties in Perth, in 1978 from Sydney. A few of my my buddies took a day off work to go crabbing, with me in tow. We caught a stack, had a great feed that arvo., & took a swag to work the next day for the rest of staff to have a feed for morning tea. What a totally enjoyable mess we all had, with the "Boss" joining in on the feed.

I took the wife over there in the early 2000's on 2 occasions where her eldest son was stationed with the navy at Rockingham. He was actually living at Mandurah for some time.

Even went to "Mando" dog races Fri., & Sat., nights as he virtually lived just around the corner of the dog track.

Also caught up with a lot of the guys who were still working. My wife was amongst about 15 blokes at the pub from work who I knew, when we went back into Perth.

"Novezar".
 
I believe Myer has put in an offer to buy up some of these stores. I used to buy from millers till it left or major shopping plaza because of the rental. I adore Noni B and always go there first for my new clothing as the clothes are stylish, good quality and provide variety. I have been buying mainly online due to my health problems and my shopping plaza is quite a distance away. I have found that Target clothing is no longer what it used to be. The colours are dull and quality are now just Kmart and Big W cheap looking. I have also bought a sewing machine to adapt and upcycle much of my wardrobe.
 
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Well ladies it looks like once these stores close and we need something new you are not going to be able to find a store that actually caters for our age group, guess we will just walk around in the nude. If that's not enough to keep the shops open I don't know what will.
Hi, "Aussie all the way".
Wow! wouldn't there be many a sight to see of all varieties with what you suggest.
"Novezar".
 
I have been a Millers and Autograph shopper for many years.
Autograph used to be the place I went to for special occasion clothing. Not the case for the last year or so as their quality dropped drastically. Shame, because they had decent designs for many years.
Millers was the go for every day clothing with some quality attached at decent prices. Another shame.
Now, I have to find an alternative that one does not have to take out a personal loan to frequent, and, buy stuff that lasts more than a couple of months.
What is the world coming to.???
 
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Hi, "Mylittletibbies",

Just out of curiosity, If you live at or near Mandurah, do they still catch the Blue Manner crabs there ?
They are the same as our Blue Swimmers.

I was on transfer duties in Perth, in 1978 from Sydney. A few of my my buddies took a day off work to go crabbing, with me in tow. We caught a stack, had a great feed that arvo., & took a swag to work the next day for the rest of staff to have a feed for morning tea. What a totally enjoyable mess we all had, with the "Boss" joining in on the feed.

I took the wife over there in the early 2000's on 2 occasions where her eldest son was stationed with the navy at Rockingham. He was actually living at Mandurah for some time.

Even went to "Mando" dog races Fri., & Sat., nights as he virtually lived just around the corner of the dog track.

Also caught up with a lot of the guys who were still working. My wife was amongst about 15 blokes at the pub from work who I knew, when we went back into Perth.

"Novezar".
Hi Novezar,
I left Mandurah about three years ago,but yes they still go crabbing in Mandurah.
Every year they have the Mandurah Crab Fest, next year it is run 15-16 March. It is supported by Channel 7 and they usually have some of their celebrities there. They get a pretty big turnout plenty of crabs for sale.
 
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Yes I was a regular customer with W Lane and purchased several items when they had a massive sale. O understand that Myers has taken some of these brands over so expect I can still access clothing from them. Shows how competitive the clothing industry is especially with such cheap labour being accessed via Asia/China
 
Unfortunately all these supposed thousands of people no longer shop at these stores, otherwise they would not be going into administration.
The reason businesses go bust is lack of customers.
To start there are miles too many of these stores, all selling very much the same products.
I used to shop at Rockmans but over the last few years I haven't.
I don't know if they hired a new buyer, but the quality and style went right down the gurgler IMO.
When you go to places like the Mandurah Forum,.where there are way too many clothing stores,.just about all of them are empty.
I have a friend who works at Portman's who told me she works many shifts where she is lucky if she makes a sale.
 
I also believe that the shopping centres are charging massive rents. You only have to see the empty shops for lease both pin the Forum and also at Halls Head to realise this must be true
 
I have been a Millers and Rivers shopper for years for everyday clothing and footwear. Over the last couple of years the designs and quality of Millers clothing has fallen dramatically but their prices have risen significantly therefore they are no longer worth my $$$$'s. Just seems like greed to me, offer good quality items at a fair price and your doors would be bursting open as they did in the past.
 
Used TO love shopping at Rockmans, Katies, W Lane, Noni B but the quality over the last couple of years had drastically declined to the point that it was near impossible to find any quality items. All stores became similar in their lines. Such a shame for purchasers and a tragedy for employees
 
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Sorry Bruce, but I think you will find that none of the Mosaic brands are being bought by Myer. The brands that Myer are purchasing are not owned by Mosaic.
Sorry Bruce, but I think you will find that none of the Mosaic brands are being bought by Myer. The brands that Myer are purchasing are not owned by Mosaic.
Thank you.
That has already been pointed out.
 
"Novezar",
Hi "Relby".
I certainly have to agree with you here.
One thing for sure is, Millers certainly serve for, I don't know how many upteen thousands of women who rely on them for their requirements.

When you look at many other ladies outfitters, they don't fullfill everyones needs.
I think that for many, Millers is a necessity to keep solvent & trading at all costs.
Millers isn't as expensive as a lot of other ladies' clothing stores are. How people can afford to shop at places like David Jones I don't know.
 
I wasn't aware that that Myer has closed in SA. When did they close? Maybe they spent too much on their building in Adelaide CBD
Towing: I said south not the CBD. Noarlunga Centre. I don't know about CBD or anywhere else in SA, as I don't go into the city. They went about 3 or 4 years ago, in the south, if not before that- don't recall.
 

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