Lincraft

Last updated
Lincraft Australia Pty. Ltd.
Industry Retail
Founded1938;88 years ago (1938)
FounderJohn Maguire and Brian Swersky
Headquarters Melbourne, Victoria
Number of locations
31 stores (2026)
Area served
 Australia, New Zealand
Key people
Brian Swersky and John Maguire Joint Managing Directors
ProductsFabrics, Crafts, Homewares
OwnerJohn Maguire and Brian Swersky
Number of employees
800
Website http://www.lincraft.com.au/

Lincraft is a retail chain in Australia that specialises in the sale of homewares, including crafts, material, and patterns. As of February 2026, it has 27 locations in Australia [1] and 4 locations in New Zealand. [2]

Lincraft (formerly Suzanne Silks) was nurtured by three generations of the Ross family before current owners John Maguire and Brian Swersky established Lincraft Australia in 2005. Lincraft was founded in 1938 by Leo Ross as a stall shop in Melbourne. [3] In 2005, Lincraft fell into receivership, with ANZ Bank appointing KordaMentha, due to a slump in Christmas sales. [3] [4]

In 2010, the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC) reported that Lincraft had sold imported bathrobes which failed to meet safety and labelling standards, but that they accepted Lincraft's efforts to prevent similar occurrences in the future. [5]

In 2016, the company cut down and adjusted its range as it adjusted to changing tastes and a hostile market. It did not disclose any financial information which may have resulted in its decision. [6] It also closed down some stores at the same time. [7] [8] [9]

Around 2022-2025, it began to close down several more regional stores. [10] [11] [12] This drew some confusion and ire from consumers as the inflamatory "Stock Liquidation Sale" used on the surviving stores gave the impression that Lincraft was again going out of business as with similar businesses at the time, and may have breached New Zealand consumer law by misrepresenting the manner it is clearing the stock. [13] However Lincraft has closed 17 stores since 2022 in Australia and New Zealand, leaving only 31 stores remaining as of February 2026

References

  1. ↑ https://lincraft.com.au/pages/store-finder
  2. ↑ https://lincraft.co.nz/pages/store-finder
  3. 1 2 "Fabric chain on the market". The Age. Melbourne. 2 February 2005.
  4. ↑ Wood, Leonie (2 February 2005). "Lincraft's future on the edge". The Age. Melbourne.
  5. ↑ "Children's nightwear in safety breach". Sydney Morning Herald. 2 June 2008.
  6. ↑ "Lincraft undergoes revamp as Australian retailers get crafty with store spaces". SmartCompany. 23 September 2016. Retrieved 17 January 2026.
  7. ↑ "Why a major chain will close its store in Mackay". Daily Telegraph . Retrieved 17 January 2026.
  8. ↑ "7 staff sacked as store closes". Townsville Bulletin . Retrieved 17 January 2026.
  9. ↑ "Lincraft's Port Macquarie store to close". Port Macquarie News. Retrieved 17 January 2026.
  10. ↑ "Another major tenant leaves Market Square". Geelong Advertiser . Retrieved 17 January 2026.
  11. ↑ "City multinational to shut, as another big retailer prepares to open". The Standard. Retrieved 17 January 2026.
  12. ↑ "Revealed: Plans to transform CBD Bailey store after multimillion sale". The Chronicle. Retrieved 17 January 2026.
  13. ↑ "Confused customers call out store's 'liquidation sale'". Consumer NZ. 21 February 2024. Retrieved 17 January 2026.
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