A customer from Sydney has asked Kmart to explain why it doesn’t have Australia Day-themed merchandise in its stores.
The customer posted a message on Facebook, asking why the retailer didn’t have the products available for purchase.
The customer said they visited a local store in the city to buy various items for their upcoming Australia Day celebrations.
Upon entering Kmart, I was surprised to see that there were no Australia Day-themed products in the store.
Besides a few paper plates and serviettes, there were no other items related to the holiday in the party section.
The customer asked why the store didn’t have the products, adding that it could easily find space for Halloween decorations. In recent years, there has been a call to remove Australia Day from the calendar.
January 26 is regarded as a day of mourning by many Indigenous Australians, as it was the date when the First Fleet arrived in the country.
The First Fleet’s arrival marked the beginning of colonization. Due to the controversy surrounding the holiday, many retailers have decided not to carry Australia Day merchandise.
According to the posts on Facebook, the store sold various items, such as shirts, bikinis, and dresses, from 2014 to 2016.
In response to a query from 7 News, a Kmart Australia representative confirmed that the company doesn’t stock Australia Day-related products.
Employees were also given the option to choose whether or not they wanted to work on January 26, 2016.
A spokesperson for Kmart Australia stated that the company doesn’t carry Australia Day-related merchandise.
Instead, customers can find a variety of products that feature Australian designs, such as shirts, hats, and educational materials.
The company values the uniqueness of each individual’s perspective on January 26, and it aims to foster an inclusive environment.
To foster an inclusive environment, Kmart Australia has decided to provide its employees with the option to choose whether they want to work on January 26. They can also request a replacement day.