Is The Reject Shop Next? The Eerie Similarity of Go-Lo 2.0 and the $259 Million Move
The decline of Go-Lo has set a precedent for the end of Australia's discount retail era. In 2009, Australian Discount Retail, the parent company of Crazy Clark's, Go-Lo, and Sam's Warehouse, went into receivership with debts of $201 million, putting 2,700 jobs at risk. This marked the beginning of the end for the beloved Go-Lo brand, which had gained popularity with its tagline, 'the low price people'.
The company was later purchased by Jan Cameron and renamed Retail Adventures. However, by 2012, Retail Adventures faced financial troubles and went into administration. The Go-Lo brand was abandoned, and profitable stores were rebranded as Crazy Clark's. In 2014, Retail Adventures entered voluntary administration and closed all remaining stores the following month.
Now, a similar fate awaits another beloved Australian discount brand. The Reject Shop, a 44-year-old Aussie icon, is set to disappear from suburban shopping strips within the next two years. The $259 million takeover by Canadian giant Dollarama signals the end of this well-loved brand.
Dollarama, based in Montreal, has confirmed that it will remove the iconic red-and-yellow 'Reject' branding from all 402 stores across the country. By the end of 2027, every store is expected to be rebranded as Dollarama. The transition will be a gradual process as Dollarama introduces its global merchandise and pricing.
While Dollarama hasn't confirmed if prices will remain low, CEO Neil Rossy hinted at price reductions to compete with Kmart, Big W, and Target. The Reject Shop was delisted from the ASX on July 23, 2025, marking the final chapter of its Australian-owned public company status.
As the specter of Go-Lo's demise looms over Australia's discount retail landscape, fans of The Reject Shop can only hope that history doesn't repeat itself. The question remains: will Dollarama's Australian venture meet the same fate as Go-Lo, or will it thrive as a new era in discount retail?
