Home furhishing store's closure shock

A shop manager spoke last night of his dismay at being given just four hours' notice that his home furnishings store was closing for good. Nigel Crowther, manager at Rosebys in Yarmouth, was told at noon yesterday that the shop on the Gapton Hall industrial estate would shut permanently at 4pm, leaving five workers without jobs and shoppers at a loss.

A shop manager spoke last night of his dismay at being given just four hours' notice that his home furnishings store was closing for good.

Nigel Crowther, manager at Rosebys in Yarmouth, was told at noon yesterday that the shop on the Gapton Hall industrial estate would shut permanently at 4pm, leaving five workers without jobs and shoppers at a loss.

The soft furnishings chain went into administration on September 25 and since then nearly 100 stores have been closed and more than 600 staff across the country have lost their jobs.

Mr Crowther said: “I had heard some shops had been told they would shut in two or three days, but I think four hours notice is a bit of a kick in the teeth.

“I can't quite get my head around it. I've had to tell my staff they need to come in tomorrow morning to clear out the fittings, and then they haven't got jobs.

“I understand the company's financial troubles but there has been no consideration about the staff and how we'll all manage through Christmas. We haven't had enough notice to sell off the stock, so customers haven't even got many bargains.”

Rosebys started on a Grimsby market stall in 1922 and at its height had 280 stores nationwide and generated sales of about £100m a year.

Administrators were called in after Rosebys lost £6m in the year to March 31. After a downturn in consumer spending, the firm failed to claw back lost profits and owes trade creditors about £11.7m and inter-company creditors £19m.