Jewellery chain Thomas Jewellers has announced it will close all stores, including its store in Bendigo.
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In a statement, the Thomas Group said the closures were “a move designed to refocus their attention to areas of strength and growth within their business”.
The company said the stores would close in coming months.
“This news marks the end of an era and the beginning of another, as the Thomas Group will be leveraging the current growth in the capital cities to consolidate and expand its commercial and residential portfolio,” the company said.
The regional store properties will be sold, but the company’s store in the Royal Arcade in Melbourne will be leased.
The Thomas Jewellers Facebook page has a message advising customers of a closing down sale, and the website is not working, instead displaying a maintenance message.
But rather than a closing down sale, the Bendigo store displayed posters advertising a “reno sale” on Monday.
Just this month, the company launched its new Warrnambool store.
It is also currently holding a “finest wedding in the country” competition, to give one couple from seven regional areas the opportunity to win a wedding worth $50,000.
The competition has attracted hundreds of entries and about 125 from Bendigo.
On Facebook, the company said it would continue the competition and honour all prize commitments to the winners.
The company was established in Ballarat in 1896 before expanding to several other locations, including Bendigo, Albury, Wagga Wagga, Geelong, Shepparton and Melbourne.
More to come.