SHOPPING

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Carphone Warehouse is to close all of its 11 Best Buy stores across the UK. The move puts 1,100 jobs at risk at the outlets, which sell electronic goods, but the firm said it hoped to find the "large majority" alternative work. The 11 Best Buy stores are part of Best Buy Europe, a joint venture between US group Best Buy and Carphone Warehouse. The Derby Best Buy store only opened in November of last year. The outlets have failed to make a profit.

Best Buy's 11 UK outlets are in Liverpool, Derby, Bristol, Nottingham, Rotherham, Dudley, Thurrock, Southampton, and three places in London - Croydon, Hayes and Enfield. Carphone Warehouse and Best Buy initially planned to open 200 Best Buy stores across the UK and continental Europe. Best Buy Europe was formed in 2008 when Best Buy paid £1.1bn to buy a 50% stake in Carphone Warehouse's retail division.

Carphone Warehouse said the focus would now be on selling more electronics goods from Best Buy Europe's 805 Carphone Warehouse stores in the UK, and 1,648 Phone House shops in continental Europe. Best Buy Europe said in a statement, "Since 2008, the consumer electronics marketplace has changed substantially as a result of the economic times, the progress of online retailing and the growth of new products such as smartphones, tablets and apps." (Source: BBC News, Nov/11)

Thorntons has announced at least 120 of the shops it owns will be shutting their doors, with the possibility of a further 60 also closing. However, the company said in many locations it will be looking to replace the stores with franchises, which currently account for 227 of its shops. Plans are also in place to expand its offering in supermarkets and other retailers, while it is looking to earn more from online sales.

Shoppers are to also be offered a greater range of chocolate gifts designed for birthdays and anniversaries, as Thorntons looks to reduce its reliance on traditional chocolatey holidays like Easter and Christmas. Chief executive Jonathan Hart said, "Although we see the prospect of weakness in high street footfall and consumer sentiment continuing, I am confident that this strategy is right."

Mr Hart said the strategy was the right one because he sees the current weakness in high street footfall and consumer sentiment continuing. The closure of the stores could put between 750 and 1,125 jobs at risk, but Mr Hart said the company would try to find staff alternative roles wherever possible. The review said its stores needed an overhaul after a recent lack of investment and changes in shopper behaviour, as they visit the high street less regularly in favour of supermarkets and internet shopping.

It is the latest blow to the high street after the failure of chains such as Habitat and Oddbins in recent weeks. Chains such as HMV, Game and JJB Sports, which have long been the mainstay of UK high streets, are also slimming down their store estates. And Mothercare said recently that it would axe 110 shops in order to focus its trading on out-of-town locations. TJ Hughes has also filed an intention to appoint an administrator, adding to the thousands of high street jobs which are now at risk. (Source: Metro, Jun/11)

Allied Carpets has been placed into administration, putting about 1,100 jobs under threat. Administrators for the company said they had immediately sold 51 stores and Allied Carpets' insurance inspection business, protecting around 400 jobs, but the remaining stores are in the hands of administrators BDO Stoy Hayward. Allied Carpets, which had a total of about 1,500 workers and 217 stores across the country, has suffered in recent months as the housing market stagnation stalled spending on its products.

BDO sold the stores and Allied Carpets brand to a new firm set up by Allied chief executive Clive Hutchings. It is hoped that this company, Allied Carpets Retail Limited, will also buy some of the remaining stores but BDO said this was "subject to a satisfactory outcome being reached in ongoing negotiations with the firm's existing landlords". Allied has its headquarters in Kent and a distribution centre in Lancashire. Customer deposits are protected, the administrators said, and outstanding customer orders will continue to be fulfilled from all stores.

Dermot Power, BDO Stoy Hayward business restructuring partner, said, "Allied Carpets is a well-established brand in the marketplace but, like many companies, has suffered because of the economic climate and difficult trading conditions. The stagnation of the housing market has meant that fewer people are buying carpets and flooring. We're pleased to have safeguarded the future of 51 stores and more than 400 jobs."

He said administrators were working to secure the sale of the remaining Allied Carpets stores as a going concern. All staff wages will be paid on the normal payment dates and customers who have any questions about purchases should contact their local store. (Source: Daily Express, Jul/09)

A new free bus service is being launched as part of the Credit Crunch: Derby Bites Back campaign. The "Shopper Hopper" will transport passengers between the Westfield centre and the Cathedral Quarter, with services running every 20 minutes. City council leader Hilary Jones said the decision to introduce it had been made after extensive discussions with shoppers and local businesses. The route will be paid for by City Centre Management Derby. The service, which starts at the end of February, will run from 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday and 10am to 4pm on Saturdays.

It will travel from the Spot in Osmaston Road, to London Road, via Traffic Street, The Morledge, Albert Street, Victoria Street, the Wardwick, Cheapside and The Strand before going back down Victoria Street to London Road. The Derby Bites Back campaign is supported by the Evening Telegraph, the city council, Derby City Partnership, Marketing Derby, Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire Chamber, Westfield, the Cathedral Quarter BID company, the University of Derby and City Centre Management. (Source: Derby Evening Telegraph, Jan/09)

Photo company Olan Mills, which employs 950 staff in 97 stores across the UK, has gone into administration. Richard Philpott and Myles Halley, from accountancy and corporate recovery firm KPMG, were appointed in the High Court as joint administrators of Olan Mills Holdings Ltd and Olan Mills Ltd. The firm has been making significant losses over recent years, and administrators said that despite refinancing and management changes, it was not possible to turn the company around.

KPMG said that the majority of staff would be made redundant, and the company would not be able to honour existing appointments or refund monies paid. Administrator Richard Philpott said, "Management have been working hard to secure a sale of the business over recent weeks, but despite their best efforts a satisfactory deal could not be concluded. All stores have now closed and we are unable to fulfil any outstanding orders or appointments."

Should you need to get in touch with the administrators, then they can be reached at 2 Cornwall Street, Birmingham, B3 2DL. However, the administrators pointed out that "at this stage we do not anticipate that any funds will be available to enable a distribution to unsecured creditors". Customers requiring any further information should call customer services on 08457 585351. (Source: BBC News, Dec/06)

The future of Woolworths appeared to be under threat after details emerged of a possible takeover move. Under a plan reported in the Financial Times, Woolworths would be broken up by its biggest shareholder Baugur, in a move which would reverse the company's strategy of having a store near every British household.

The company is currently battling to revive its fortunes after seeing its market share eroded by competition from supermarket and online retailers. It is carrying out a programme of store refurbishment and IT investment, but this was viewed by Baugur chief executive Jon Asgeir Johannesson as costly, risky and ill-judged.

Baugur currently owns around 10% of Woolworths, with the high street retailer valued at around £500 million based on last night's share price. The company was a takeover target last year after an aborted £837 million approach from the private equity group Apax.

Baugur recently stuck an agreement to buy department store chain House of Fraser for £351 million. Its retail empire also includes the clothing chains Whistles and Karen Millen, along with tea and coffee maker Whittard of Chelsea, royal jeweller Mappin & Webb, Hamleys, and food retailers Iceland and Booker. (Source: Mail on Sunday, Sep/06)

B&Q is to close 22 stores and reduce the size of about 16 others. The company has not specified which stores would be closed, but said the 22 outlets being shut were in markets "already well served by other B&Q stores". About 16 of B&Q's Warehouse stores will be converted to the mini-Warehouse format, and the space released will be marketed to other retailers.

Sainsbury's applied to Derby City Council in 2004 for permission to build a B&Q Warehouse superstore next to its supermarket in Osmaston Park Road. It would include a builders' yard, garden centre and 452 parking spaces. As part of the proposals, Midlands Co-op Dairy, which is also based at the site, would relocate to new premises at the front of the redevelopment. The plan has been given the go-ahead by the Secretary of State. (Source: Derby Evening Telegraph, Apr/06)