Thirty-five years ago, BIG W became a founding tenant of Erina Fair when the major shopping centre first opened its doors.
Staff recently celebrated 35 years of operation from the store’s original location, with special guest Member for Robertson, Gordon Reid, popping in to offer his congratulations.
When it first opened, the store was constructed in the style of original BIG W stores with yellow paint, carpeted floors, cream fixtures and even a restaurant at the back.
Updates over the years have seen BIG W Erina undergo a complete refurbishment in the kitchen department, new white fixtures in apparel, and an online hub implemented in the dock area to offer Home Delivery and Direct to Boot services.
Staff members said the biggest change they had faced was during pandemic lockdowns, which saw the store close for a three-month period and completely altered the way they worked.
“When COVID hit there was a huge surge in online shopping which saw our online orders go from a smooth trickle to exploding amounts,” store manager David Denzel said.
“There was also a period where we were open for essential shopping only and we had to cordon off areas of the store so only certain products could be bought.
“This completely altered how we worked with customers, our technology and one another.
“The team adapted so well to these changes to accommodate our customers, it was really a great achievement.”
Denzel said customers had remained loyal during the pandemic, with more than 67,000 people walking through the doors during the lockdown in July, 2021.
Source:
Media release, Aug 31
Big W Erina
