Peacocks

Peacocks the clothing retailer became insolvent in 2012 after Administrators KPMG declared the company bankrupt. The company went into administration after the discount fashion chain, bought in a management buyout from the founding Peacock family in the mid 1990s, was struggling to refinance its £240m debts. It was bought by the Edinburgh Woollen Mill Group in 2012.

• Administrators: KPMG
• Year Founded: 1884
• Total Number of Employees: 9,600
• Total Number of Jobs Lost: 1,650
• Number of Retail Shops: 660
• Managing Director/CEO: Phillip Day

…2019: To date Peacocks has 400 locations in various parts of the company and has plans to open new stores in Mumbles, Wales, Tewkesbury, the Isle of Wight, and Norwich.

Pumpkin Patch

Pumpkin Patch the children’s clothing retailer became insolvent in 2012 after Administrators Deloitte declared the company bankrupt. The international company went into administration after a downturn in customers saw the company struggle in the UK.
Administrators: Deloitte

• Year Founded: 1990
• Total Number of Employees: 3,000
• Number of Jobs Lost: 60
• Number of Retail Shops: 36 (UK) – 200 (worldwide)
• Managing Director/CEO: Maurice Prendergast

…2019: Pumpkin Patch was acquired by Catch Group in 2017 and has launched as an online store in Australia and New Zealand. It no longer operates in the UK.

Ellie Louise

Ellie Louise the women’s clothing retailer became insolvent in 2012 after Administrators Zolfo Cooper and Liric Ltd declared the company bankrupt. The company went into administration after cash flow problems caused by both “challenging” trading conditions, and buying the Trade Secret brand in 2010.

• Administrators: Zolfo Cooper & Liric Ltd.
• Year Founded: 1987
• Total Number of Employees: 243
• Total Number of Jobs Lost: 239
• Number of Retail Shops: 104

Aquascutum

FRP ADVISORY ADMINISTRATORS arranged the sale of collapsed fashion retailer Aquascutum. Geoff Rowley and Phil Armstrong, were appointed joint-administrators to the luxury fashion brand which is worn by politicians, celebrities and royalty including Kate Middleton.

• Administrators: FRP Advisory
• Year Founded: 1851
• Total Number of Employees: 135
• Number of Retail Shops: 19
• Managing Director/CEO: Kim Winser

Clinton Cards

Clinton Cards the celebration cards and accessories retailer became insolvent in 2012 after Administrators Zolfo Cooper declared the company bankrupt. The company went into administration due to the increase of online card stores and supermarkets beginning to sell them for a cheaper value. Was then bought out by American firm ‘American Greetings.’

• Administrators: Zolfo Cooper
• Year Founded: 1968
• Total Number of Employees: 8,300
• Number of Jobs Lost: 3,800
• Number of Retail Shops: 759
• Managing Director/CEO: Don Lewin

…2019: Today Clintons operates 400 stores in the UK and has a transactional website.

JJB Sports

JJB Sports the sports retailer became insolvent in 2012 after Administrators KPMG declared the company bankrupt. The company went into administration after sales had been in decline for five years as the over-indebted firm was unable to compete with the pricing of its far more successful rival Sports Direct.

• Administrators: KPMG
• Year Founded: 1990
• Total Number of Employees: 4,000
• Total Number of Jobs Lost: 2,200
• Number of Retail Shops: 180
• Managing Director/CEO: Beverley Williams

…2019: The JJB brand no longes exists as it was bought by Mike Ashley’s Sports Direct which currently has 670 stores worldwide.

Comet

Comet the electronics retailer became insolvent in 2012 after Administrators Partners in Deloitte LLP – Neville Barry Kahn, Nicholas Guy Edwards and Christopher James Farrington were appointed as Joint administrators declared the company bankrupt. The company went into administration as the credit crunch made it harder to sell products, increased competition from companies such as Tesco made life harder when Tesco announced it would be trialling non-food goods such as electrics.

• Administrators: Partners from Deloitte LLP
• Year Founded: 1933
• Total Number of Employees: 6,895
• Total Number of Jobs Lost: 6,500
• Number of Retail Shops: 240
• Managing Director/CEO: George Hollingberry