‘Everyone always compliments my shoes’: Shoppers flock to Betts as it shuts 20 stores

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 and accessories will be heavily discounted as administrators from Pitcher Partners assess Betts over the next two period.

“Australians grew up with Betts shoes, they know and love the brand, and we believe it has a strong outlook as a more streamlined operation,” said administrator Lindsay Bainbridge.

But declining foot traffic in shopping centres, compounded by rising costs such as fuel and rent, was not sustainable for the business, so administrators will close poor-performing stores to focus on stronger ones and the company’s website.

“Our goal is to make sure we can drive sales and revive interest in a brand that has been part of almost every Australian’s story,” he said.

“Betts has been a staple for 134 years and we want a result that ensures the brand can thrive for many years to come.”

Several big name Australian retail brands of yesteryear have gone under in the past 18 months, including Lincraft, Barbeques Galore, Rivers, Noni B and Millers. The sector has been battered by the rise of online shopping giants such as Amazon and smaller competitors without expensive retail stores.

Betts’ sale will kick off on Friday and will be focused on clearing boots, shoes, bags and accessories from the current season. Incoming summer stock will be landing every week. The best deals will be found in stores that are due to close, said Bainbridge.

Of 20 stores to close, four are in NSW, four are in Victoria, three are in South Australia, seven are in Western Australia, and Queensland and Darwin each have one store. Most of these stores will continue trading for up to two months, with markdowns starting from 50 per cent. Flagship stores in Sydney and Melbourne will remain open, but three stores (Whitford City and Joondaloop, Western Australia, and Greenborough, Victoria) will close this weekend.

Betts underwent a major rebrand in late 2025, engaging entrepreneur and Frank Body founder Jessica Hatzis as chief marketing officer and ditching children’s and men’s shoes to focus on women-only footwear and accessories.

The rebranding attracted the attention of younger female shoppers, some who shared their shopping hauls on TikTok, after Betts unveiled trendier styles such as slingback heels, mules and boots that were more reminiscent of designer labels than its budget-brand legacy.

Founded in 1892 by Fanny Breckler, the shoe retailer began as a bookmaker’s shop in Perth. It has remained as a fifth-generation family business and has been run by chief executive Michael Breckler for the past two years.

“Coined by the TikTok masses as the re-brand of 2026 and a re-brand to be studied, we know we’ve done something special!” Breckler said in a Linkedin post two months ago.

The rebrand was gaining momentum and driving sales online and in store, but cashflow ultimately came under too much pressure, Breckler said.

“We’ve run out of time to completely execute the restructure strategy on our own,” he said in a statement.

“It is always difficult to close stores, but we have been clear over several years that some retail environments are simply not viable, and the shift towards online shopping has driven this decision.”

Wheatley is just relieved to hear the Westfield store won’t be closing. “People use online for convenience these days. What can you do?” she said. “It’s always nice to have a store to come into.”

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