There’s something endlessly entertaining about seeing Australia through the eyes of a visitor, especially when that visitor hails from the land of super-sized everything, the United States.
From our unique wildlife to driving on the ‘wrong’ side of the road, Americans often find themselves charmed and slightly confused by Australian life. But who would have thought a humble trip to Kmart could leave a tourist scratching her head?
Recently, American traveller Carli, who documents her adventures on her travel blog, took a detour into a Brisbane Kmart and was left with more questions than answers.
For many of us, Kmart is a staple—a place to grab a bargain, pick up a last-minute birthday present, or wander the aisles for some retail therapy. But for Carli, the experience was a mix of pleasant surprises and genuine bafflement.
For context, Kmart in the United States (US) is a relic of the past. Once a giant of American retail, most US Kmarts have closed their doors, remembered more for their ‘blue light specials’ and bargain-basement quality than for any sense of style or value.
As Carli put it, ‘Kmart in the US was basically a last option if there wasn’t a better store nearby. The Australian Kmart I stopped by was definitely nicer than any Kmart I ever visited in the US, especially with the displays and store fixtures.’
She quickly noted that the quality and variety of items in our Kmart stores exceeded what she remembered from home.
‘One of the reasons they went out of business here is that they sold cheap (in a bad way) stuff that didn’t last. It’s one thing to have low prices, but if the quality isn’t there, then it’s a waste of money.’
Carli’s first impression was positive. She loved the value of money and was especially interested in the beauty and craft sections.
‘There were some fun finds like playful bath bombs and the cutest koala eye mask ever,’ she said.
But it wasn’t all smooth sailing. The layout of the store left her a bit disoriented.
‘I thought the whole store might be like that,’ she said of the entryway, which was packed with products.
‘For me, there wasn’t really a sense of entry when you have all this stuff in your field of vision.’
The biggest surprise, though, was the placement of the checkouts. Unlike the US, where registers are typically anchored at the front of the store, Australian Kmart checkouts often float in the middle, surrounded by tempting displays.
‘It was floating right in the middle of the store. But like the entry, there was product surrounding the lines, so it wasn’t entirely clear that was the checkout, it just looked like more aisles. It seemed strange to me that they wouldn’t anchor the checkout on either side of the door so it has a clear presence in the store.’
And then there was the mess. Carli was surprised to find parts of the store looking worse for wear, with clothes in piles and some shelves out of stock.
‘From my experience working retail, if the store is out of stock or has piles of clothes, most customers will move on to another store rather than spend the time sifting. That was one of the things that made it really feel like a discount store for me.’
For those curious about how our beloved Kmart compares to the American giants, Carli had some interesting observations.
While the range of products—clothes, homewares, toys, and beauty—was similar to what she’d find in the US, the store was noticeably smaller.
‘The store I visited in Brisbane was a good size, but still a lot smaller than the average US Target or Walmart,’ she said.
‘From walking around, it felt like you could get just about anything you needed, except groceries. In the US, big super stores like these pretty much always have at least a small, if not full, grocery section. It helps save time so you don’t have to go to multiple stores; this way, you can get everything on your list at once.’
As for prices, Carli was pleasantly surprised: ‘The Australian prices seemed very reasonable for the everyday person.’
Every Kmart shopper has a favourite find, and Carli was no exception. Her pick? A $13 disco piñata.
‘The most surprising thing I saw at Kmart was the disco piñatas! I didn’t know piñatas were known, let alone used outside of North America. And I love a disco ball. If I lived there, I for sure would have bought one of those.’
Have you ever had an overseas visitor comment on something in our shops that you’d never even noticed? Or maybe you’ve travelled and been surprised by how different (or similar) things are abroad? And what’s your favourite Kmart find—disco piñata or otherwise?
Share your stories and thoughts in the comments below! We’d love to hear your take on what makes Australian Kmart special—or strange.
Also read: Transform your caravan life with this ingenious $8.50 Kmart find
