MELBOURNE: TNT Ragtrader Department Store of The Year Award winner Myer will ramp up its visual merchandising assault in time for Christmas.
The company - which beat out competitors David Jones, Kmart and Target for the award yesterday evening (October 21) - has announced that all but one of its 65 national stores will boast a fresh new look by December 25.
The overhaul is part of 'Project Batman', a visual merchandising initiative which has already seen 37 stores refreshed to date.
Myer chief executive Bernie Brookes said a full refurbishment was also planned for its Canberra, Garden City and Eastland stores next year.
This follows similar projects at its Sydney, Castle Hill, Doncaster and Geelong stores over the 2009 financial year, with construction at Blacktown and Northland also set to wind down later this month.
"Our store refurbishment and visual merchandising refresh program is an important part of our strategy to attract and inspire customers in store," Brookes said.
"As part of this continuing investment in our stores and our strong focus on in-store execution, the business is in good shape as we approach the important Christmas trading period."
Brookes said the company had already generated strong sales in the lead up to Christmas trade. Total sales value for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2009 was up by 3.1 per cent on the previous corresponding period, while value for the first 12 weeks of fiscal 2010 grew in excess of this rate compared to last year.
Myer is on track to achieve a predicted total sales value growth of 3 per cent for fiscal 2010.