Birthdays

Birthdays the stationery and greeting cards retailer became insolvent in 2009 and again in 2012 after Administrators Zolfo Cooper declared the company bankrupt. The company went into administration due to falling sales and demand for their products simultaneously. Birthdays became insolvent for two months in 2009 until Clinton Cards bought 180 stores, however in 2012 the company became permanently insolvent in 2012.

• Administrators: Zolfo Cooper
• Year Founded: 1966
• Total Number of Jobs Lost: 750
• Number of Retail Shops: 180
• Managing Director/CEO: Stuart Houlston

Allied Carpets

Allied Carpets the floor coverings retailer became insolvent in 2009 after Administrators Lazard (the investment bank) declared the company bankrupt. The company went into administration after falling sales due to the recession. In addition to this, the housing market was also moving at a slow pace meaning less household items were being bought. It was sold to Floors-2-go in 2012 as part of a pre-pack administration deal.

• Administrators: Lazard (the investment bank)
• Year Founded: 195os
• Total Number of Employees: 1,500
• Number of Jobs Lost: 41
• Number of Retail Shops: 217
• Managing Director/CEO: Ray Nethercott

...2019: Allied Carpets has disappeared from the retail world with no trace of it online or in bricks and mortar.

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

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

Blockbuster

Blockbuster the DVD and gaming retailer became insolvent in 2013 after Administrators Deloitte declared the company bankrupt. The company went into administration after they failed to alter their business model in the face of changing consumer behaviour towards streaming content online. Met with strong competition in the streaming industry (Netflix) the company could not compete. It was unsuccessful in finding a buyer and all stock was cleared and remaining stores in the UK closed.

• Administrators: Deloitte
• Year Founded: 1989
• Total Number of Employees: 4,190
• Number of Retail Shops: 528

…2019: Up until 2018 there had been one remaining Blockbuster store in Oregon, USA. On this side of the pond a Blockbuster pop up video store opened up in London’s Shoreditch in September 2018 to celebrate the digital release of Deadpool 2. It was modeled in the style of the original 1989 outlets.

Jane Norman

Jane Norman the fashion retailer became insolvent in 2014 after Administrators Grant Thornton declared the company bankrupt. The company went into administration due to falling sales and demand for their products simultaneously. The Edinburgh Woollen Mill purchased the brand operating it as an in store concession.

• Administrators: Grant Thornton
• Year Founded: 1952
• Total Number of Employees: 6,000
• Total Number of Jobs Lost: 157
• Number of Retail Shops: 24
• Managing Director/CEO: Saj Shah

…2019: The Edinburgh Woollen Mill announced in May 2018 that the brand would close.