Known by some as “the real-life Temu”, Panda Mart opened its first stores in Australia last year, taking on big names like Kmart, Big W and Reject Shop in the process. Now, thanks to the success of its first two shops in Cranbourne and Preston, the discount retailer has set its sights on Brisbane, specifically, on Rocklea.
Despite the crowds that greeted its opening in Australia, both branches of the chain have met with some controversy. Last month, over 1,000 products were seized across both stores by Consumer Affairs Victoria, due to non-compliance with mandatory information and safety standards.
Consumer Affairs had obtained court orders late last year that required the shops to close for three days, leading to a charge of 147 criminal offences for the Cranbourne branch in January, and an additional 130 from Energy Safe Victoria, due to allegedly unsafe electrical products.
As Consumer Affairs Victoria director Nicole Rich explained, “Under the Australian Consumer Law, retailers are responsible for the items on their shelves.
“It is extremely concerning to find new products flouting product safety laws on the shelves of Panda Mart, so soon after our previous action to shut down the stores to remove dangerous goods from sale to the public.”
She then went on to urge customers who may have bought these products to stop using them and keep them out of reach of children.
Panda Mart reopened after the temporary closure, offering a 20% discount on the whole store as a thank you to its customers. At the time, they released a statement saying: “We also want to assure our customers that safety remains our highest priority and we will continue to cooperate fully with Consumer Affairs Victoria.”
Panda Mart Rocklea is already on the hunt for full-time and part-time workers, such as cashiers, floor and warehouse staff, in Brisbane, though the opening date is yet to be announced.