The problem is, I've never actually gone to Kmart after midnight. Sure, there were times I could have gone there. But not once during those sleepless nights did I actually consider driving the 10 minutes to Kmart.

There were even times where, at the end of a night out, I'd joked about going there. But, even after a few too many, I knew that the chance of buying something I didn't need increased exponentially with how many drinks I'd had. My wallet - and not to mention, the limited space that I have in my apartment - does not need that.

But, with all of this in mind, when I heard that Kmart Belconnen was going to stop its 24-hour trading, I was still disheartened. And also a little curious as to what happens in the department store after midnight.

So at 1am on Sunday I went and walked the aisles of Kmart - while I still had the chance to people watch and (inevitably) buy something that I didn't know I needed.

Kmart wasn't packed. There was only a handful of people there. It was so quiet that it was the first time I noticed the music playing over the loudspeakers. But those who were there, were quite obviously there because it was the last time they would have the chance to do so. In fact, about 30 seconds after walking into the store a customer asked me, "Do you know this is the last time Kmart is open 24 hours? Can you believe it?"

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Of course, I can believe it. The store was nearly empty.

A minute later, I saw three people walking out of the store, hands filled with the goodies they had just purchased and high on the fact they were shopping after midnight.

And not too long after that, two guys walked in saying, "Looks like we're not the only ones here for the last night of 24-hour trading."

And that's it. That was the extent of the "crowds" in Kmart at 1am on Sunday.

Not only that, when I asked the lady manning the self-checkout if this was the normal amount of customers for this time of night and she said it was busier. Busier!

"We get our regulars that come in but this is more people. People are getting in while they can," she said.

I don't know what I was expecting to be honest.

Judging by the number of people on social media expressing their disappointment, I would have thought there would have been more people bidding farewell to 24-hour trading. Or at least a few shift workers doing their usual shop - that's the argument for keeping it open 24 hours, after all.

But keeping a store open all day, every day is only viable if people buy things all day, every day. And ultimately, that's what it comes down to. If you don't use a service, it's not going to stick around.

So for now, your shopping for inexpensive and trending decor - with a side of something you didn't know you needed - will have to be done within the hours of 8am and 11pm. (Which is still a fair chunk out of the day).

And for the record, this particular Kmart visit did, in fact, see me buy something that I didn't know I needed - a bubble machine. My wallet or small apartment do not need it, but such is the way a Kmart visit plays out.

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