Myer is trialling the use of body cameras and handheld radios for employees as it tries to keep them safe.

The mid-market department store has also invested in new security guards at stores, executive chairwoman Olivia Wirth told Myer’s annual meeting on Tuesday.

“Team member safety is a fundamental priority for us and we continue work on implementing initiatives to enhance the working environment and protect our team members,” the former Qantas Loyalty boss said.

Myer said “shrinkage” – an industry term for losses because of factors such as shoplifting and employee theft – remained a focus of the chain and more programs were expected to reduce this.

Myer’s shrinkage expense in 2023/24 was 3.3 per cent, the same as the previous financial year.

New point-of-sale software rolled out during 2024 helped lift the company’s customer satisfaction level to 85 per cent, its highest level on record, Wirth said.

The software provides real-time transaction details for customers, processes transactions quicker and provides more data to employees.

“The app gives the team greater access to product and promotion information and analytics and customer feedback,” Wirth said.

“It means everyone on the shop floor now has this data in the palm of their hand.”

She said trading in the first half of 2024/25 continued to be challenging, attributed to inflationary cost pressures. But Black Friday sales had been encouraging.

Myer is focused on preparations for Christmas, which remains an important time for the company despite the growth of Black Friday on the retail calendar.

Wirth said shareholders would be asked in late January to approve Myer’s merger with Premier Investments’ five apparel brands: Just Jeans, Jay Jays, Jacqui E, Portmans and Dotti.

She said the combination would be transformational for Myer, creating a combined network of 783 stores and more than 17,300 employees, resulting in expected cost savings of $30 million a year.

The merger would allow Myer to leverage its loyalty program and e-commerce platform across an enlarged customer base, Wirth said.

Myer has 4.4 million active MYER one members after adding 706,000 more last financial year. Wirth said more than half were younger than 35.

-AAP