Macarthur Square in Southwest Sydney is reporting a revamp in its retail store portfolio in 2026, with Big W set to undergo a refurbishment, while fashion brands Connor, YD and Rockwear upgrade or relocate to new spaces within the centre.
This comes as eight new stores and services enter the centre, including jewellery brand Melia Nae and skincare business Bath & Body Works.
Meanwhile, around a dozen retailers and services will open new stores at Macarthur Square ahead, including fashion brand Black Pepper, alongside the likes of Miniso, collectibles store Lion’s Den and a few eateries and services.
“Macarthur Square is experiencing a really exciting period of change, with new retailers complementing existing retailers upgrading their stores to bring new energy and a contemporary mix of tenants to the area,” Macarthur Square centre manager Jacqui Bell said.
“We’ve got plenty more to look forward to, with retail brands recognising the opportunity to be a part of a Centre with a rapidly expanding population on its doorstep. It’s a positive time for Macarthur Square, and we’re excited to see these changes come to life over the coming months.”
The upgrade of Big W at Macarthur Square comes after the low-price retailer rolls out a new store concept, with two stores already upgraded. This includes the store in Plumpton, NSW and Queen Victoria in Melbourne. It is unclear if the Macarthur Square store will be upgraded with this format.
That new format features improved navigation and dedicated ‘shop-in-shops’ for key categories such as health and beauty, party and tech, as well as an upgraded toy section adjacent to the party shop and seasonal events space.
The new format also includes a designated bulk-buy corner that offers competitive prices on household essentials, as well as further enhancements such as upgraded fitting rooms, improved checkout areas and clear signage highlighting special offers.
This comes as Big W total sales increased by 0.9 per cent in FY26 to $4.71 billion, with second-half sales declining by 0.3 per cent. There are around 178 Big W stores across Australia.
Meanwhile, Tarocash and YD form part of Retail Apparel Group, with that group owned by overarching company The Foschini Group in South Africa. The group reported a 4.7 per cent sales slip for its Australian market in the 21 weeks to August 22, with like for like sales down 4.1 per cent. TFG reported a mixed brand performance throughout the period in a highly promotional environment.
"The Australian business is making solid progress in managing costs and closing underperforming stores," it reported."
In TFG’s FY26 annual report, which ends March 31, the group reported that its Australian arm – which also includes Tarocash and Johnny Bigg – had focused on "optimising" its store network and enhancing its digital infrastructure through that year.
“Store optimisation and selective refurbishments have improved sales density, while AI-enabled planning and process automation are already delivering cost efficiencies,” the group reported. “The benefits of these initiatives are expected to increase materially over the coming years.
Strategically, TFG Australia – as TFG calls it – is reviewing its store footprint as online sales approach 10 per cent of total revenue and is rationalising its portfolio of marginal brands.
“The business is also reassessing the scale of its New Zealand operations in response to the significant deterioration in that country's economic environment.”