Kmart Australia is trialling locked security cabinets for cosmetics at selected flagship stores as retailers respond to rising levels of shoplifting.
The cabinets have been installed at the Broadway store in Sydney and Broadmeadows in Melbourne, allowing beauty products including e.l.f., OXX Beauty and BYS Makeup to remain on display while being secured behind glass.
Customers can press a button to request assistance. An electronic message then tells them, “we’ll open the cabinet for you shortly”, before the selected cabinet lights up and unlocks.
A Kmart Australia spokesperson said the trial was intended to combat retail theft while maintaining presentation standards in its stores.
“We’re currently trialling new beauty cabinets in selected Kmart stores, designed to support product availability and presentation for our customers,” the spokesperson said.
The retailer said customer feedback would be considered throughout the trial, adding that it was “always looking for ways to improve the shopping experience and create stores that our customers and team members truly love, as we continue to deliver on our purpose of making everyday living brighter”.
“Listening to their feedback is an important part of that, and we’ve been encouraged by the positive response so far. We’ll continue to listen and learn as the trial progresses,” the spokesperson said.
Retailers expand security measures
The Australian Retailers Association has reported that shoplifting accounted for 39% of inventory loss in 2026, amid a steady increase in retail theft in Australian stores since 2020.
Big W has introduced a Beauty Shop section as part of recent store upgrades, with dedicated checkouts, entry and exit points, increased surveillance and anti-theft locks for products.
Some Coles and Woolworths stores have also begun using automated locking cabinets for high-value beauty and personal care items, including razors. Chemist Warehouse and Priceline, meanwhile, have adopted lock bags for prescriptions and high-end skincare products while customers browse.
