BIG W

We're thrilled to share that our Big Whopping Toy Sale token fundraiser has surpassed its target, raising over $250,000 for hospitals and research institutes across the country! BIG W is pleased to also donate $100,000 to the appeal. Funds raised will support our partners at Sydney Children's Hospitals Foundation (SCHF), Murdoch Children's Research Institute (MCRI), Children's Cancer Institute, Perth Children's Hospital Foundation and Women's & Children's Hospital Foundation. Charlotte Reindler from Melbourne designed one of the tokens this year and was supported by Murdoch Children's Research Institute (MCRI) after she was born with multiple defects in different parts of her heart, and in the first few years of her life underwent many admissions to the hospital. Thanks to progress in medical care, she has undergone a minimally invasive heart procedure and avoided open heart surgery. Charlotte’s artwork celebrates her love of nature, filled with bright colours. Thank you to our team for driving this fundraiser and our customers who have given with heart to make a difference for families.

Meet Woolworths Group’s Aimee Wills a merchandising leader at Brisbane’s BIG W, Mount Gravatt, and proud Kukatj Tribe member. Aimee, who started her career with Woolworths Group 17 years ago, celebrated NAIDOC Week with her State Manager, Courtney Palmer, North 1 Area Manager Rina Gibbons and fellow BIG W team members at the Logan City event held at the Kingston Butter Factory Cultural Precinct in Queensland on July 9. For Aimee, NAIDOC Week is an opportunity to come together and celebrate the culture, spirituality and rich history of First Nations peoples. “NAIDOC is a way of showing all the beautiful and creative sides of our culture and steering away from the stereotypes,” says Aimee. “Being able to ground and surround ourselves in the art, culture and people is an amazing experience to connect and share it with mob and allies from all over.” Coming from a First Nations family, Aimee says she’s proud of how far Woolworths Group have come in making a meaningful contribution for future generations and driving our employment roadmap forward. “Woolworths Group has particularly made a movement within the workplace when it comes to our BIG W and Woolworths Group First Nations Gathering meetings,” she says. “I love the continuous support from the higher leadership team, who take the time to attend our meetings, have a yarn with us about our ideas and give us the opportunity to be creative within the Group.” Read more about Aimee’s story here https://lnkd.in/gra-sKsC

NAIDOC Week is a time to celebrate and recognise the history, culture, and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. As part of Woolworths Group, BIG W is committed to making a positive impact on First Nations Communities. This week, our team members across our stores and Support Offices will be engaging in activities to support local communities and recognise the significance of NAIDOC Week. Our local leaders were extremely privlieged to be guests of Koori Mail recently at the inspiring NAIDOC National Awards 2024. Pictured: Naomi Moran, CEO Koori Mail with BIG W leaders Dean Richardson, Brandon Bailey and Kris Mooney.

We're pleased our Bluey toddler helmet has been recognised as one of the safest in the market, according to a new star rating system being introduced by Jo Haylen, NSW Minister for Transport. The families shopping with us love them too!

BIG W is privileged to have partnered with budding young artists around the country, inviting the nation to give with heart and support families in need by purchasing a $2 Heart Fundraising Token. The national fundraising campaign will run across our 178 stores during our Big Whopping Toy Sale until 12 July, with 100% of donations contributing to vital life saving and life changing programs at Children’s Hospitals and Research Institutes around the country. This year’s Heart Tokens are particularly special as they have been designed by children who have been supported by BIG W’s hospital and research partners. For every $2 Heart Token purchased, we will also be matching donations up to $100,000. We invite our customers to give with heart while shopping with us this Toy Sale and help us make a real difference for Australian families.

Get to know Christine Faulkner, our Head of Commercial for Play (Toys and Leisure). After many years at BIG W and in particular the toys and leisure team, Christine loves the fast paced team environment, the value of affordable quality, and exciting products that her team gets to discover in their Toy Sale planning. “Toy Sale is one of the biggest events of the year and we start planning 10 months out, reviewing data and insights from the previous year, taking feedback from our customers and then planning with our partners on what will be important for the following year’s toy sale.” When it comes to BIG W’s Big Whopping Toy Sale in 2024 Christine highlights Somersault as a range to check out; “The must haves on every kid’s wishlist this year can be found in our Somersault range. The team have been on a journey to develop BIG W’s own toy brand and customers are loving the range’s value and quality with over 50 new products landing in store for the toy sale and many more to come!” #BIGWAustralia #OurPeople

Today, we are proud to celebrate 45 years of serving the vibrant community of Dubbo since our local BIG W store grand opening in 1979. From our beginnings as a standalone store beside Woolworths to becoming an integral part of the Orana Mall complex in 1993, BIG W Dubbo has grown alongside the evolving needs of its customers. Over the years, we've expanded our offerings, introduced new services and adapted to changes in the retail landscape. Central to this journey is Sandra Dimmock, our devoted Store Manager, who has been with us since 1993. Alongside long-standing team members Karen Fenning and Carol Munday, Sandra has cultivated the welcoming and friendly environment that BIG W Dubbo is renowned for. Here's to 45 years of memories, milestones and moments that matter. Congratulations Dubbo team! #BIGWAustralia #community #ourpeople

Today BIG W’s Big Whopping Toy Sale returned in store and online! To celebrate the launch, our teams donned their best toy related outfits and brand new Team Tees created in collaboration with our partner Mattel Australia & New Zealand. The sale runs until 10 July, featuring not only over 500 toys on offer, but also exciting window displays in over 40 stores across Australia, a new TVC featuring some of our very own team members, a donation drive for our Children’s Hospital network across the country and unmissable Everyday Rewards offers exclusive to BIG W. Keep your eyes out for more exciting Big Whopping Toy Sale content to come! #BIGWAustralia #Toysale

At BIG W we couldn’t do what we do without our valued partners. We are proud of the relationships we’ve built and the work we do together to make a real difference for families. Last week, we were excited to bring our team and suppliers together to spend dedicated time connecting. Throughout the week suppliers and team attended a variety of sessions that focussed on key topics we know are important to our suppliers. It also provided a great opportunity to spend time with suppliers in our stores. Thank you to everyone who was able to join us. We look forward to continuing to foster collaborative relationships with you and delivering better outcomes for our customers

Meet Joshua, Store Manager at BIG W Rouse Hill. Joshua’s journey with Woolworths Group began in 2007 at the young age of 15, starting part-time in the Produce team while completing his studies. This early exposure to retail operations laid the foundation for his flourishing career. In 2016, Joshua participated in the prestigious 'Fast-track' management training program, gaining valuable experience across both Woolworths Supermarkets and BIG W. Upon completing the program, Joshua chose to focus on a career with BIG W, drawn by the diverse range of products and the opportunity for creativity as a Store Manager. His passion for retail and merchandise has driven his successful career at BIG W. By age 26, Joshua was appointed Store Manager at Katoomba, and has since managed stores in Penrith and now Rouse Hill. A significant lesson Joshua has learned is the importance of an engaged store team and the momentum it creates. “Running an effective store is complex and requires a lot of skill and communication. You cannot do it alone; the entire store team needs to be supportive. Achieving momentum in the store is a great feeling and hard to stop once it starts,” he says. For those looking to follow a similar path, Joshua offers valuable advice: "Work hard and continuously learn. Retail is fast-paced, requiring quick action and reaction. Adaptability is key as customer trends constantly change. Embrace change and move forward." Looking ahead, Joshua is focused on expanding his leadership skills and operational experience, with aspirations to move into an Area Manager or Store Support role. “The sky really is the limit within Woolworths Group. In the short to medium term, I aim to broaden my experience and further develop my leadership skills,” says Joshua. #BIGWAustralia #ourpeople