Harris Scarfe is an Australian retailer that sells bed linen, kitchenware, homewares, electrical appliances and apparel.

In 2015, ownership of Harris Scarfe was transferred to Steinhoff Asia Pacific, an international retail and manufacturing conglomerate listed on the Frankfurt stock exchange.

Besides conducting its retailing businesses, Harris Scarfe manufactured leather goods, including saddlery and luggage, as part of a wholesaling operation.

[6] In 1971, Baradeen Quest, a subsidiary of Investment & Merchant Finance Corporation (IMFC) made a successful takeover bid for Harris Scarfe, which was listed on the Australian Securities Exchange at the time.

Harris Scarfe also acquired full-line department store sites from other retailers who were rationalising their store networks including David Jones (Cairns, Townsville and Macarthur Square NSW), Myer (Colonnades), John Martin's (Arndale and Elizabeth), Stirlings in Western Australia (Albany, Bunbury and Geraldton), FitzGerald's in Tasmania and Melbourne (Hobart, Moonah, Eastlands, New Norfolk, Launceston, Ulverstone, Devonport, Burnie and Forest Hill) and Centre Fair (Shepparton).

Over a six-month period at the end of 2003, Harris Scarfe made certain representations on a number of items in its catalogues in relation to pricing.

After Robert Atkins' dismissal from Harris Scarfe, Joe Barberis was named managing director of the retailer in February 2009 until September 2014.

[14] Graham Dean, previously Myer group general manager of Electrical, was named CEO of Harris Scarfe.

[16] In 2014, Steinhoff Asia Pacific (later renamed Greenlit Brands) acquired Pepkor and this included Harris Scarfe.

Harris Scarfe's home brand 'Bulls Head' jeans were found to have azo dyes classed as carcinogens in the pocket linings.

[20] In 2017, Harris Scarfe also collaborated with Shaynna Blaze,[21] an interior designer from The Block on bed linens, homewares, accessories and apparel.

[22] British fashion brand Debenhams granted exclusivity to Harris Scarfe for their launch in Australia in February 2017.

Channel Seven Morning Show presenter Kylie Gillies was named Harris Scarfe's fashion ambassador in August 2018.

[27] In December 2019, parent company Greenlit Brands sold both Harris Scarfe and Best & Less to Australian private equity firm Allegro Funds.

[32][33] In response, the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees Association labour union said that they would be filing a complaint with the Fair Work Commission because they were not informed in advance.

[38] Harris Scarfe HR Lauren Barry[39] told media that she was "happy to send redundant workers to Centrelink with a letter provided" by the collapsing company[40] On 3 April 2020, Smart Company reported Harris Scarfe was being investigated by the retail union for possibly breaching the Fair Work Act and treating their staff unfairly.

[41] The Mercury newspaper in Tasmania reported on 7 April 2020, Harris Scarfe's newly renovated Hobart store would be closing.

[44] On 9 April 2020 Channel News added "Several appliance and CE distributors are set to only get between 1.3¢ and 20.5¢ in the dollar under a proposed deed of company arrangement for the failed Harris Scarfe, Allegro the Company who owned the stores for only three weeks will get $70M...The Australian Financial Review reported that the receivers blamed Harris Scarfe’s collapse on loss-making stores, most of which opened between 2014 and 2019, and the retailer’s inability to access funding after the sale to Allegro, which is the first ranking secured creditor and will receive a return of almost $70 million.

"[45] On 24 April 2020, The Herald Sun reported Harris Scarfe became insolvent the moment private equity firm Allegro Funds took control of the struggling department store chain.

[46] Days later Channel News had spoken to unhappy suppliers who were allegedly ripped off and believe the company's collapse was an orchestrated con.

[47] Commercial Real Estate reported on 28 April 2020 that Harris Scarfe's new owner Spotlight refused to pay its monthly rent for all stores.

Without informing the employees, the SDA's national executive opted against filing their claims after being told by the Harris Scarfe administrator the legal challenges would jeopardize a looming sale of the fallen department store chain, which continued to employ 1200 workers.

They were told the general manager of operations (Rebecca Peterson[54]) would advise when hiring in these stores would resume, and it wasn’t long before that began happening."

The Australian Financial Review was told by suppliers that they were asked to increase the amount of stock deliveries in the weeks leading up to Harris Scarfe's collapse.