More misery for clothing store staff

Feb 18 2010 by Eryl Crump, North Wales Weekly News

SCORES of shop staff face the axe after it was confirmed 11 Ethel Austin stores in North Wales are set to close, including Llandudno’s.

Closing down sales started at all of the clothing chain stores as officials continue to look for a buyer for the company’s businesses.

If a sale is not completed workers face losing their jobs.

Ethel Austin and its associated company Au Naturel, went into administration last Tuesday.

The 76-year-old group is in administration for the second time in two years following an earlier rescue from collapse in May 2008.

A company spokesman blamed the decision on the current economic climate.

The firm has a dozen stores in North Wales. Branches at Llandudno, Caernarfon, Llangefni, Holyhead and Bangor are already holding closing down sales.

Shops at Abergele, Ruthin, Flint, Buckley, Shotton and Wrexham are also under threat and staging similar sales but the future of the store in Mold has not yet been decided.

Co-administrator Geoff Bouchier of MCR said: “All stores are to enter into a sale campaign while we continue to seek a purchaser for the company’s businesses.”

He said 129 stores had been identified as loss-making across the UK.

“As a consequence those stores will enter a closing down phase. A rescue of these stores by a willing purchaser has not been ruled out,” he said.

Mr Bouchier added: “The joint administrators have also been in regular dialogue with both the trade unions and local authorities to discuss the prospects of the companies and that of the employees.”

More than 400 jobs at the group’s distribution depot and a further 65 roles at its head office in Knowsley are to be lost.

Mr Bouchier confirmed all staff will receive any unpaid wages owing at the date of administration.