In The Roundhouse boss expresses shock over David Jones administration
Alyce Tran, head of homewares brand In The Roundhouse, said she did not expect the iconic retailer to enter voluntary administration, which threatens thousands of jobs and many store closures.
Homewares brand In The Roundhouse, which has been sold in David Jones stores for a decade, said its chief executive Alyce Tran was surprised by the retailer’s recent move into voluntary administration. The administration, announced last week, puts about 6,000 employees at risk as more than half of David Jones’ locations face closure in a restructuring plan.
Tran told the Daily Mail that she loves David Jones and was "devastated" by the news, adding that she had never anticipated the retailer’s demise. She said the brand had never experienced payment problems with David Jones and that, before the administration, she was regularly assured that rent and supplier invoices were being paid on time.
David Jones, owned by Anchorage Capital Partners, entered administration after reporting a pre-tax loss of AUD 95.45 million for 2025, following a loss of AUD 74.12 million in 2024. The retailer has also faced supplier payment delays, and several luxury and mid-range brands have withdrawn their concessions from its stores.
Analysts note that the collapse could accelerate store closures and a shift toward digital sales, a strategy that may affect the broader Australian commercial-property market. Retail analyst Barry Urquhart warned that further closures are “very real possibilities.”
Customers holding David Jones gift cards have been advised to use them promptly, as unused balances total billions of dollars nationwide.