Last big sell-off before Smith City stores close

Friday, 12 September 2025

Smith City stores in five centres will be close again after the weekend.

Smiths City stores in Christchurch, Auckland, Oamaru, Alexandra and Invercargill will remain open until 5pm on Sunday as the company’s administrators finish selling off the last stock.

Stores in Gore and Greymouth have already sold out and shut their doors, and the others will be selling items at a 70% discount until they close after the weekend, said administrators BDO. Store fixtures, fittings and plants will also be for sale.

A closed Smiths City store in Christchurch last week, before administrators BDO reopened the doors for a liquidation sale. The stores will close again on Sunday evening.

Owner Colin Neal put the indebted Christchurch-based homewares company into voluntary administration last week. BDO initially closed all the stores nationwide, before reopening them temporarily to liquidate the remaining stock.

BDO has also been attempting to sell the business in whole or in part.

BDO confirmed on Friday that Smiths City staff will be paid out 100% of their annual leave, and some other retailers have been in touch to offer jobs. Staff numbers will significantly reduce from Tuesday, with remaining staff kept on to deliver orders from the liquidation sale, it said.

Smiths City had already closed its less profitable stores around the country before the company was put into administration amid declining sales.