Kmart to move checkouts back to store entrances in major retail revamp

Published: 05:02, 11 June 2026 | Updated: 05:06, 11 June 2026 Two dozen more Kmarts will be refurbished with a new format that moves the cash registers back to the store entrances, and the group is also trialling a new concept store for home goods. Kmart Group managing director Aleksandra Spaseska told analysts on Wednesday that 16 of the roughly 300 Kmarts in Australia had already been converted to the 'Plan C+' format, which features entry and exit gates and relocated cash registers. 'It is delivering improved space allocation, better visual merchandising, and an enhanced beauty experience,' Ms Spaseska said. The format is also driving higher sales through increased cross-shop between departments, with shoppers buying more items per basket, she said. As a result Kmart Group is increasing its investment in the transformation program and expects to have 40 stores trading in the new format by the end of 2026/27. Kmart relocated its cash registers to the middle of its stores from 2012 to 2015, in a move that was widely panned by customers. The Wesfarmers-operated retailer will also open a new 'K Home' concept store in the eastern Melbourne suburb of Box Hill next week, which is being trialled as standalone home and furniture destination. 'It is designed to test whether we can unlock a bigger home opportunity through a through a more immersive format that showcases the breadth of the Anko range in a way our full line stores cannot,' Ms Spaseska said. Cash registers at the centre of Kmart stores are set to become a thing of the past Cash registers will be moved back to the front of Kmart stores  How do you think moving checkouts to the entrance will change your shopping experience at Kmart? What's your view?The store features curated displays, room-based inspiration and a more immersive home environment, as well as showcasing products that are online-only because of space constraints in traditional Kmart stores, she said. 'We will use the trial to learn quickly, refine the model, and assess the longer term opportunity,' Ms Spaseska said. Kmart's 10-hectare automated customer fulfilment centre in the western Sydney suburb of Moorebank remains on time and on budget, and when it opens in 2027/28 will make the group's supply chain more resilient, efficient and scalable, she said. The retailer's online marketplace, which opened in May 2025, now features 130,000 products from 90 sellers. Ms Spaseska said that in the past few months, customers had become more discerning and value-conscious. and had been buying fewer items. 'We can see from all of our customer data, households are very much focused on cost of living,' she said. 'It is the number one issue on their mind, and thinking about how they make household budgets work and how they find more value is really critical.'  Kmart's new home concept store could take on Ikea The store features curated displays, room-based inspiration, as well as showcasing products that are online-only because of space constraints in traditional Kmart stores, she said No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual We will automatically post your comment and a link to the news story to your Facebook timeline at the same time it is posted on MailOnline. To do this we will link your MailOnline account with your Facebook account. We’ll ask you to confirm this for your first post to Facebook. You can choose on each post whether you would like it to be posted to Facebook. Your details from Facebook will be used to provide you with tailored content, marketing and ads in line with our Privacy Policy.