10 November 2026 · Issue 163
DJ Buyers Have Until Friday
Anyone who wants to buy David Jones has until Friday afternoon to put up their hand, and the administrators are due to send their first report to creditors today. For shoppers, the stores and website are still trading. David Jones has said existing gift cards and store credit remain redeemable under its current trading terms, new gift cards are no longer on sale, and change of mind exchanges on purchases from 7 November are limited to 14 days. If you hold a card, plan to use it soon and check the terms before you travel.
Today’s brief leads on the fast moving sale process and what today’s creditor circular means for customers, adds a quick note on the reported buyer for Cue, then a weekly shop reality check and today’s verified Top 5 deals from a disclosed partial scan. The retailer offers later in this issue are a separate selection from the David Jones story.
A fast sale process with bids due Friday
Forbes Australia’s Daniel Van Boom reported that prospective buyers of David Jones have until Friday afternoon to express interest, with formal advertisements going out this week. McGrathNicol partner Matthew Hutton said there had been “an extraordinary level of inbound interest from a range of highly credible industry players and financial investors”, and that the administrators were engaging with domestic and international parties with department store turnaround experience. The aim, Hutton said, is a more “streamlined and agile operating model”.
The money involved is large. The Australian Financial Review’s Carrie LaFrenz and Simon Evans reported that documents prepared by David Jones and owner Anchorage Capital Partners show about $100 million owed to suppliers in unpaid invoices, on top of $140 million owed to lender Hilco and $80 million owed to Anchorage. A sale does not guarantee every store stays open. The receivers say no footprint decisions have been made yet, and staff will hear first.
Creditors get their first report today
McGrathNicol told ABC News business reporters Emilia Terzon and Katie Silver that it would issue its initial circular to all creditors on Tuesday 10 November, with details for the first meeting of creditors at 11am on Tuesday 17 November. Suppliers, staff and gift card holders all sit in that creditor queue. Monash University insolvency expert Tamara Wilkinson told the ABC that secured lender Hilco stands first in line, followed by employees, then suppliers and gift card holders. When we checked McGrathNicol’s David Jones creditor page at about 6.40am Gold Coast time today, the circular had not yet been posted.
What it means at the register
Finder’s Sarah Megginson reported yesterday that David Jones confirmed existing gift cards and store credits remain redeemable at its stores, subject to current trading terms, while new gift cards are no longer sold. SmartCompany’s David Adams reported that receivers FTI Consulting said any changes to customer arrangements will be communicated and the terms and conditions updated. Purchases made before 7 November keep the earlier 30 day window, plus five days for online orders. Purchases from 7 November get 14 day change of mind exchanges, with some exclusions, and Australian Consumer Law still covers faulty goods.
Our Monday brief covered the restocking push after a record weekend. The shopper rule this week is simple: use existing cards and credit sooner rather than later, keep receipts, and do not hold a balance in the hope that terms stay the same. Terms can change at short notice while a business is in administration.
Also today: Cue reportedly finds a buyer
SmartCompany’s Kate Weber reported that a consortium led by former Myer chairman Bill Wavish has reportedly bought Cue Clothing Co, owner of Cue and Veronika Maine, after its administration and receivership in September and 26 announced store closures in October. Receivers FTI Consulting declined to comment. Cue shoppers should wait for official word on the store network before travelling to a particular store.
Shopping note: the weekly shop squeeze
ABC News’ Margaret Burin, Cristen Tilley and Emma Machan followed seven households after their weekly shop, with families splitting trips between Aldi, Woolworths and local grocers to stretch budgets after last week’s rate rise. Foodbank found the number of Australian households experiencing some form of food insecurity in the past 12 months grew by 100,000. Black Friday falls on Friday 27 November and Cyber Monday on 30 November, per Finder’s Black Friday guide. If the weekly shop is already tight, write a short Black Friday list now, price it today, and only buy what is on it.
Our scan records unsuccessful checks as well as successful ones. A retailer page being retrieved is not enough to establish that every offer, item or delivery condition has been verified.
Primary reporting sources: Forbes Australia, Daniel Van Boom, 9 November 2026; The Australian Financial Review, Carrie LaFrenz and Simon Evans, 8 November 2026; ABC News, Emilia Terzon and Katie Silver, 7 November 2026; Finder, Sarah Megginson, 9 November 2026; SmartCompany, David Adams, 9 November 2026; SmartCompany, Kate Weber, 9 November 2026; ABC News, Margaret Burin, Cristen Tilley and Emma Machan, 9 November 2026; McGrathNicol, Matthew Hutton, as reported; It’s On Sale Monday Daily Brief Issue 162. Shopper advice and synthesis by Neil Fairhead for It’s On Sale. Hero photo: Nick D, Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (David Jones store entrances, Brisbane CBD, Queensland).
Top 5 Deals of the Day
Five stores. Five categories. The strongest discounts we verified on in stock items from our 9 November retailer scan, with every price and size rechecked this morning, 10 November, at about 6.40am Gold Coast time.
We attempted all 179 retailer sale URLs in our 9 November pool and retrieved usable sale content from 144. The remaining pages could not be verified after fallback checks and are excluded. This is a disclosed partial scan, not a complete audit of every Australian retailer. Retrieval does not mean an offer was fully verified: this ranking includes only eligible stores where we confirmed a ticketed sale price against a was price on an item listed as available when checked. Generic sale descriptions, unresolved price evidence and same category duplicates are excluded. Each percentage is the verified example shown, not a discount on every item in store. Offers and stock can change.
Discount
Universal StoreWomen’s FashionSale. The Perfect Stranger Immy Halter Mini Dress in White is $10 from $110 (about 91% off), listed as available in sizes 10, 12 and 14 when checked. A white summer mini dress for the price of a coffee and a muffin, if your size is still there.91%OFF2
Sol SanaFootwearSale. The Wooster Slide in Off White and Silver is $30 from $179 (about 83% off), listed as available in sizes 35 to 40 when checked. A branded summer slide at about a sixth of its listed was price.83%OFF3
BevillesJewellerySale. The 3 Station Necklace with 0.20tw of Diamonds in Sterling Silver is $299 from $1,199 (about 75% off), listed as available when checked. A diamond station necklace worth pricing now if it is on your Christmas list.75%OFF4
Fresh Beauty Co.SkincareSale. The PROx BY OLAY Perfecting Repair Skincare Set (four pieces: 150ml, 100ml, 50ml and 35ml) is $37.50 from $125 (about 70% off), listed as available when checked. A four piece skincare set that could double as a ready made gift.70%OFF5
Original Mattress FactoryBeddingSale. The Luxury Satin Pillowcase Twin Pack is $11 from $32 (about 66% off), listed as available in Sage, Navy and Champagne Pink when checked. Two satin pillowcases for about the price of a sandwich, a cool swap as nights warm up.66%OFF% discounts shown are for the verified example in each card. Individual product savings vary.
One More Category Worth a Look
Factory Buys: for a Christmas decoration outside the Top 5, the Jingle Jollys 47cm Paper Christmas Tree with Star Topper in Red is $28.72 from $79.92 (about 64% off), listed as available when checked. A tabletop tree for a small space or a desk, priced well before the December rush.