Retailer closure threat deals high street blow

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A UK retailer has announced it has gone into administration, and could prove a blow for Ayrshire high streets. 

The Original Factory Shop broke the news during the week with 137 stores, including ones in the region, now being at risk of closure.

January 28 saw Joint Administrators Richard Harrison and James Clark appointed to see over trade across the nation’s branches.

Customers are advised that orders placed before January 28 will be “delivered as usual” with the online store closing with “immediate effect”.

A spokesperson from The Factory Shop Ltd said: “We have worked intensively in an effort to save the business, but it is now clear that The Original Factory Shop doesn’t have a realistic possibility of trading profitability again.”

“In these circumstances administration is the only option. The legacy effects of trading prior to our ownership left them highly vulnerable.”

Factors such as “very weak” consumer confidence, government fiscal policies and rising inflation were pointed out by the company in slowing down trade.

Ayr, Stewarton, and Troon are a few of the Ayrshire towns which could lose the outlet on their high streets.

TOFS was founded in 1969 by the Black family and later taken over privately-owned Modella Capital in their trade of branded products.