Petition calls for Kmart in Manjimup

A Kmart store could be on the cards for Manjimup after nearly 900 people signed a petition in favour of the idea in less than a week. This comes after the closure of the town’s Target Country earlier this year with some residents now concerned with the lack of cheap retail options nearby. The latest petition to bring a “K hub”, a smaller format Kmart store, to the town was started by local Faye Campbell who said she was overwhelmed with the “fantastic start” the initiative had. “We obviously lost Target in April and everyone had their thoughts that we’d get something in replacement, but it hasn’t eventuated so far,” she said. “I got talking to a few ladies the other day and we were all in agreement that the town needed something in the place of Target, which offers more affordable clothing, housewares, manchester, etc for the town and other surrounding towns.” As it stands, the closest Kmart locations for those in Manjimup are Busselton and Bunbury. Mrs Campbell, who is also a new mother, said she struggled with the lack of clothing options for her child in town. “With a now seven-month-old, there isn’t any children’s clothing in Manjimup anymore, so online shopping is the only viable option without having to travel to Bunbury or Busselton,” she said. “It takes an hour and a half to drive to either Bunbury or Busselton, so for a quick ‘nip-in’ for a baby grow suit or cheap pair of shoes, which we’re also now lacking with Gommes gone, just isn’t doable. “I know a lot of people have commented in agreement.” However, the idea to bring Kmart to the town is not a new one, with the Manjimup Chamber of Commerce putting out a survey this time last year to gauge interest in the idea before the closing of the Target store. The feedback was mostly positive but there was concern from business owners a Kmart would adversely affect their business. Mrs Campbell’s petition has already received a response from Kmart which said the suggestion had been relayed to its property team for consideration.