The pawnbroker chain Albemarle & Bond suddenly shut its 116 stores with the loss of about 400 jobs, even though it did not call in administrators. Septemberįorever 21 had three stores and about 290 employees in the UK when it called in administrators. The German womenswear brand Gerry Weber closed its last six UK stores after creditors in Germany approved an insolvency plan in September.
The Wiltshire-based Lingerie Outlet Store fell into administration but administrators sold the majority of the online retailer to LF Retail and Book Library, saving 26 jobs. Khaadi Fashion, an Asian clothing retailer founded in 2013, was bought out of administration by Weaves UK Trading, saving six of 10 stores and the majority of its 100 staff. With 35 stores and 350 staff, the jewellery chain Links of London went into administration but its sites are still trading to clear stock, while a buyer is sought.
All the stores have closed and the majority of staff have lost their jobs.
The Scottish department store chain Watt Brothers had 11 stores and 306 employees when it fell into administration. Thirteen of those have been shut so far with the rest to close in the new year. The fashion chain is still trading and is set be rescued by Peacocks, which was named by administrators as the preferred bidder in late November but at least 30 Bonmarché stores are to close with the loss of 240 jobs. Regis, the owner of Supercuts hair salons, went into administration, putting 220 salons and 1,200 staff at risk.īonmarché had 318 stores and 2,887 employees when it collapsed. Mothercare announced it is to close all 79 UK stores in “weeks or months”, putting 2,500 retail jobs at risk after collapsing into administration. Six shops are closing with the loss of nearly 130 jobs. Mamas & Papas fell into administration and was immediately bought back by other firms controlled by Bluegem Capital, its private equity owner. Mothercare launched a closing down sale in November as it prepared to shut all of its stores. The camera retailer Jessops called in administrators to its property arm, putting 500 jobs at risk.Ĭlintons, the card retailer, fell into administration but was bought by its existing owners in a pre-agreed deal that protects its 332 stores and 2,500-strong workforce. The online boutique furniture brand Swoon was bought out of administration by its co-founders, Brian Harrison and Debbie Williamson. The online and pop-up bookseller The Book People went into administration a week before Christmas, putting almost 400 jobs at risk. Others, such as Sir Philip Green’s Arcadia Group, which owns chains including Topshop and Dorothy Perkins, closed stores and negotiated rent cuts by using an insolvency procedure known as a company voluntary arrangement (CVA), enabling them to stay in business. Fashion chains offered bigger than ever clothing discounts in the run-up to Christmas this year, slashing prices by as much as 50% to lure shoppers. Retailers were under pressure from weak consumer spending, the shift to online shopping and rising costs resulting from higher business rates and the minimum wage. Some firms were rescued out of administration but resorted to shop closures to survive. Thousands of high street jobs were lost in 2019 as a number of major retailers or restaurant groups collapsed into administration, including Karen Millen, Mothercare’s UK business and Jamie Oliver’s UK restaurant empire. It was another torrid year for Britain’s retail industry.