An institution in Invercargill, the department store’s more than 120 years of history will end when it shuts for good on Saturday.
H&J Smith chief executive John Green said there would naturally be sadness when the store closed for the last time.
The store had been selling off its items and he was pleasantly surprised by how much had sold, Mr Green said.
"Our customers have come in and been really supportive of us as we have moved through our stock reduction programme," he said.
"While it is so difficult for our staff, they have done an amazing job keeping our standards up and helping our customers ... Some departments are totally bare and we would have about 1% of our normal stock levels.
"It has been a phenomenal sale and we have the staff and our wonderful customers to thank for that."
Stock had gone faster than anticipated, confirming the decision to sell the stock down rather than set up a clearance store had been the right one.
Any stock left would be given to charities and any uniforms left over would head to schools.
Despite the good business of recent weeks, he was not having second thoughts about the decision to close the store, Mr Green said. The store was closing as a result of the changing face of retail shopping and supply issues.
It was best to close while the business was still in good heart and not to keep going when ultimately it would have to close, he said. The department store model was in decline worldwide.
He would bring up 30 years at the company shortly and retail had changed greatly in that time, Mr Green said. The big-box retailers and national chains were dominating and it was not easy to get consistent supply for an independent store such as H&J Smith.
With the closure, 220 jobs would go. About 40 people would continue in new roles with businesses which had taken on a line of the store’s business.
Some people had left for other jobs since the closure announcement in May, while others were simply retiring. He was one of those who were retiring, although he might be around for a few more weeks while final work was being done, Mr Green said. About 10 people would continue working into the new year giving the finishing touches for the closure of the business.
There were redundancy packages for staff so people would take those and then consider their future over the Christmas period.
The store building was still for sale.
The demand for the products had always been there, and that had continued with the sale, he said.
"We have had people from Australia, people coming from the North Island, just wanting to have a cheese roll for one last time."
There was a staff celebration last Saturday night where everyone had a good time and there were bound to be a few tears on Saturday after 3pm when the doors shut.
