Furniture chain to take no more orders and make no further deliveries

Furniture chain Dwell has become the latest retailer to collapse into administration, with an announcement today, June 20 that all its stores have ceased trading - including one in Westfield Shopping Centre.

Westfield's description of the store, on its second floor says: " Dwell specialise in contemporary furniture and accessories, with everything the fashion-conscious homeowner could ever dream of, from the practical to ultra-modern. The collection features clean lines, neutral shades and eye catching finishes as well as space saving solutions providing the ability to furnish any size room.

"The majority of the furniture is designed in-house and is exclusive to dwell, including a wide range of unique accessories, including bed linens, rugs and paintings, all designed to create the perfect living space.

"All products are available to order and can be delivered by their own fleet of vans, normally within a fortnight."

The announcement said staff at its 23 stores and one concession had been asked to stay at home, pending confirmation of the appointment of administrators.

Dwell began trading from a single store in Balham, south London in 2003 and has around 300 employees, mostly based in London and the south east. The company's headquarters and distribution centre are in Milton Keynes.

A spokesman from Dwell said: "The business had been working with its advisers, to secure further working capital for the business and was actively in the process of talking to a number of interested parties.

"However, despite this interest, it did not progress."

The company said this left with no option but to close the business with immediate effect.

Dwell's website has closed along with its stores and says it will no longer take orders, and that no further deliveries will be made.

Customers who have outstanding orders are advised to contact their card issuer in the first instance.

Dwell is the latest in a string of retailers to collapse into administration this year, losing dozens of local jobs. HMV was the first to fall into administration in January, with its Fulham Broadway store closed as a result. However, it has since been bought by Canadian company Hilco which has kept some stores open, including the one in Westfield.

Camera chain Jessops, which was second to fall into administration was also rescued by Dragons' Den star and a number of stores have reopened, but not the two in Hammersmith and Shepherd's Bush, and it was followed by Blockbuster, which closed all stores including one in Fulham's North End Road.

June 20, 2013

ore local jobs are at risk today as fashion chain Republic, which has a store in Westfield in Shepherd's Bush becomes the latest high street chain to collapse into administration.

Republic is the fourth large retail chain to fall into administration in 2013, following Jessops, HMV and Blockbuster. The retailer has reportedly lined up Ernst and Young to handle administration of the chain, which has around 120 stores and 2,500 staff.

Hunter Kelly, one of the administrators appointed by Ernst and Young, said Republic had suffered from a "very sudden and rapid decline in sales in late January.

"The impact on cash flows has resulted in the business being unable to continue to operate outside of an insolvency process. Unfortunately, it has been necessary to make 150 employees at the head office in Leeds redundant," he said.

However, he added that Republic would continue to trade "with a view to selling the business as a going concern".

"The brand Republic is well recognised, particularly in the north. It has a powerful website offering, owns well-known brand names, and has some very attractive and profitable stores," he said.

"We are grateful for the continued support of all employees and customers during this time, and would like to thank everyone at Republic for their commitment and hard work as the business continues to trade."

There is better news for staff at Westfield's branch of HMV which appears to have escaped the axe. It is not listed among 66 stores across the country which are being closed down down by administrators, with 930 employees being made redundant.

February 12, 2013