Virgin Megastore

Virgin Megastore the entertainment retailer became insolvent after Administrators Ernst & Young declared the company bankrupt. The company went into administration due to falling sales and demand for their products simultaneously.

• Administrators: Ernst & Young
• Year Founded: 1971
• Total Number of Employees: 14,666
• Total Number of Jobs Lost: 2,200
• Number of Stores: 125
• Managing Director/CEO: Simon Wright

Focus DIY

Focus DIY the homeware retailer became insolvent in 2011 after Administrators Ernst & Young declared the company bankrupt. The company went into administration after they had been making losses, and the DIY market as a whole had experienced a drop in sales.

• Administrators: Ernst & Young
• Year Founded: 1987
• Total Number of Employees: 3,000
• Number of Jobs Lost: 3,000
• Number of Retail Shops: 178
• Managing Director/CEO: William Grimsey

…2019: There is no trace of Focus DIY after it was bought out by the Walker Group, which owns Victoria Plumb in 2011.

Habitat

Habitat the homeware retailer became insolvent in 2011 after Administrators Zolfo Cooper declared the company bankrupt. The company went into administration after falling sales due to the credit crunch.

• Administrators: Zolfo Cooper
• Year Founded: 1964
• Total Number of Employees: 1,574
• Total Number of Jobs Lost: 750
• Number of Retail Shops: 30
• Managing Director/CEO: Terence Conran

…2019: Habitat, now owned by the Sainsbury’s Group, has 17 physical stores around the UK and in 2018 opened two new standalone stores – one in Westfield White City and the other in Brighton. Habitat has its own ecommerce website, while some of its products are also available via Argos online and offline stores as Argos is also part of the same group.

TJ Hughes

TJ Hughes the department store became insolvent in 2011 after their Administrators declared the company bankrupt. The company went into administration due to falling sales at the department store chain led to the loss of supplier and credit insurer confidence.

• Year Founded: 1912
• Total Number of Employees: 4,000
• Total Number of Jobs Lost: 2,200
• Number of Retail Shops: 57
• Managing Director/CEO: Anil Juneja

...2019: Six stores were bought out in 2011 by Lewis’s Home Retail Ltd. These stores continued trading under TJ Hughes. Since 2012 there has also been a series of stores which have reopened in previous existing locations as well as new locations, most recently in 2018 in Dundee. TJ Hughes says it may open as many as 55 stores in total.

La Senza

La Senza the ladies underwear retailer became insolvent in 2011 after Administrators KPMG declared the company bankrupt. The company went into administration due to “poor high street trading conditions” and the economic environment.

• Administrators: KPMG
• Year Founded: 1990
• Total Number of Employees: 2,600
• Total Number of Jobs Lost: 1,300
• Number of Retail Shops: 164
• Managing Director/CEO: Leslie H. Wexner

…2019: There are no La Senza stores on the UK high street any more, but as La Senza is an international brand (the USA has physical stores) there is a web presence, which UK customers can use.

Hawkins Bazaar

Hawkins Bazaar the unusual toys, gifts, gadgets and curiosities retailer became insolvent in 2011 after Administrators Zolfo Cooper declared the company bankrupt. The company went into administration due to falling sales and demand for their products simultaneously.

• Administrators: Zolfo Cooper
• Year Founded: 1973
• Total Number of Employees: 380
• Total Number of Jobs Lost: 300
• Number of Retail Shops: 65
• Managing Director/CEO: Lyle Finlay

…2019: Now owned by Tobar group, Hawkin’s Bazaar continues to trade both online and off. It has 42 shops across the UK.

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.

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.