Bunnings takes on Kmart with designer furniture for just $19 – realestate.com.au

Australia’s retail giants are locked in a new battle for the country’s living rooms as hardware giant Bunnings makes an aggressive push into affordable homewares, directly challenging major department stores such as Kmart and Ikea.

With stylish pieces starting from just $19, Bunnings is no longer just for DIY projects; it is now a serious competitor in the budget decor market, using its extensive physical network to challenge Kmart’s long-held dominance.

Their latest strategic move, the introduction of the Astin Sinclair walnut look range, has become an overnight sensation on social media platforms.

The collection, which features items as accessible as a $19 end table, is proving to be a huge success, immediately drawing comparisons to high-end designer pieces that command prices hundreds of dollars higher.

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“We know our customers are always looking for stylish pieces at affordable prices, and the Astin Sinclair range delivers just that,” a spokesperson said. Yahoo lifestyle.

“It’s a great example of Aussies wanting to choose pieces that add function, style and value to their home.”

The standout item, a $49 Walnut Harris console table, has particularly captivated shoppers. The “sleek and modern design” with “gently curved legs and a warm wood-look finish” has resonated deeply, especially considering its compact width of 30 centimeters, making it an ideal solution for hallways, living rooms or even behind a sofa.

It also looks strikingly similar to Caliber’s walnut console table, which costs more than $600.

Brisbane resident Maddison recently debuted her new console table on TikTok, prompting a flood of questions from eager buyers.

Brisbane resident Maddison has also fallen in love with the Astin Sinclair Harris Console Table, which retails for just $49. Source: @Maddisonsmillie/TikTok

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“I’m obsessed with this,” one commenter wrote, while another exclaimed, “$49!!!! Absolutely not, I need this.”

There’s also an Astin Sinclair Walnut Harris side table for $19 and a Walnut Harris coffee table for just $39 in the new range at Bunnings.

Kmart has also recently launched a new range of furniture.

Kmart has also released a new range, including The Aleks Occasional Chair ($85), Claire Marble-Look Bedside Table ($65) and Goldie Comfused Lounge Chair ($155). Photo: Kmart

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The Aleks Occasional Chair retails for $85 and comes in a rich chocolate velvet color, while a set of two walnut side tables costs $59.

The Claire marble-look nightstand also has a walnut-look ribbed finish and retails for $65, while the Claire three-drawer dresser has a price tag of $179.

Wesfarmers’ double game: internal rivalry and real estate strategy

An added layer of intrigue to this retail battle is the fact that both Bunnings and Kmart operate under the same corporate umbrella: Wesfarmers.

This means that internal competition for consumer spending is just as fierce as competition on the external market.

However, Wesfarmers’ strategy extends beyond product lines.

Earlier this year, Wesfarmers announced plans to capitalize on rising demand for convenience stores.

This strategy has resulted in a significant number of Bunnings Warehouse properties changing hands. A few months ago, HMC Capital’s HomeCo Daily Needs REIT sold Bunnings Warehouse Seven Hills for a significant $64.71 million to private real estate finance and investment group Mosman Capital.

This transaction, the largest of its kind for specialist outlets in three years and the first sale of Bunnings in Sydney in four years, achieved a bright return of 4.72 per cent, underscoring the intense investor interest in these assets.

Bunnings has opened a new mega store in Frenchs Forest, Sydney. Photo: John Appleyard

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The sale to a group of wealthy investors led by Mosman Capital highlights a fascinating dynamic: by divesting these prime retail properties, Wesfarmers is effectively strengthening other property groups and investors.

These entities could in turn become major players in the retail property market, potentially developing locations that are home to direct competitors to Wesfarmers’ own retail brands, or strengthening property portfolios that compete for prime retail tenants.

Since December last year, 13 Bunnings Warehouse transactions have been recorded nationally, totaling $510 million, more than double the ten-year annual average of $250 million.

This strategic monetization of real estate assets creates a complex web of competition, even within Wesfarmers’ wider family of interests.

Bunnings’ physical blitz: expanding its footprint

Despite the property divestments, Bunnings continues its aggressive expansion of its operating retail footprint.

This commitment to physical stores is an important weapon in the arsenal against online retailers and a direct challenge to Kmart’s established presence.

The hardware giant launched in December unveiled its largest store in Australia – a colossal five-storey, $48 million warehouse in Frenchs Forest, in Sydney’s north.

This architectural marvel, so big that ‘the staff needs a map’, features three levels of retail, a new kitchen design center and even a ‘store in-store’ concept from Beaumont Tiles, in addition to parking for more than 400 cars.

“It’s 101 aisles, it’s taken me a while to learn where everything is,” noted store manager Paul Burgess, highlighting the sheer size and the creation of 120 new local jobs, ranging from 15-year-olds starting their first job to an 82-year-old working in the hardware department.

This flagship store joins Bunnings’ existing network of 310 warehouses and smaller stores across Australia, which collectively generated a staggering $18.97 billion in sales by 2024.

Complex Manager Paul Burgess in the new Bunnings at Frenchs Forest. Photo: John Appleyard

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Bunnings has further cemented its physical dominance, recently opening new stores in Portland, Victoria and Mount Barker, South Australia, reopening the flood-damaged Oxley warehouse in Brisbane and gaining approval for another new warehouse in Perth’s Maddington.

Bunnings’ strategic physical expansion, coupled with its growing range of homewares, underlines a clear message: the hardware giant is no longer content with just the shed and the garden.

The battle for the living room, once mainly the undisputed domain of Kmart and Ikea, is now well and truly underway, with Bunnings proving that it is much more than just a hardware store.