Smiths City liquidation sale has 21,000 ‘must go’ items

Saturday, 6 September 2025

Smiths City stores have reopened temporarily for a liquidation sale, while stocks last, with 21,000 items to be sold.

The store was put into voluntary administration earlier this week, with all nine stores across Aotearoa closing alongside its website.

Colin Gower and Diana Matchett of BDO Christchurch as joint administrators of the Smiths City liquidation.

After completing an assessment and stock take of the companies financial position, liquidators reopened eight of nine stores for a liquidation sale.

The furniture, appliances, and consumer electronics stores in Auckland and Christchurch reopened on Friday afternoon, and stores in Greymouth, Oamaru, Alexandra, Gore and Invercargill opened Saturday morning.

“The liquidation sale will run for a limited time only and while stocks last,” said the administrators.

The store in Dunedin will remain closed.

“Customers can expect a wide range of items at significantly reduced prices – over 21,000 pieces must go,” said the administrators.

But there are a few catches. Giftcards won’t be accepted in the liquidation sale, and customers who had paid deposits on existing orders will not be able to collect their items during the sale - unless they’ve been told to do so.

Customers who had been paid deposits were contacted directly by the administrators about their orders, the statement said. Remaining customers would be contacted again in the coming days.

“The Administrators want to acknowledge the exceptional support from Smiths City staff during the stocktake and with preparations for the liquidation sale,” they said. “The Administrators also acknowledge the excellent cooperation by Suppliers during this process.”

The chain was founded in 1918, and has faced mounting financial pressures due to declining sales and a tough economic environment, said BDO in a statement.

“The voluntary administration process aims to achieve the best outcome for all stakeholders,” the administrators said.

The decision to put Smiths City into voluntary administration came as the home appliance and furniture retail sector struggles, said Retail NZ chief executive, Carolyn Young.

“Ultimately retailers are struggling. It doesn’t matter if you are a corner store, on a high street, or a mall, or a large national chain. It’s really difficult to keep afloat,” said Young.

Smiths City announced it was downsizing by 40% less than a month before it was put into voluntary liquidation.

Speaking to The Post at the time, Smiths City owner Colin Neal was blunt in his assessment of the situation.

“Retail is tough,” he said.“It’s the economy … you don't buy a TV to eat.”

At its height, Smiths City had 35 stores across Aotearoa, but by August there were just 11.