Ethel Austin
Encyclopedia
Ethel Austin is a British clothing retailer with a UK
-wide network of more than 60 stores, though before it entered administration in 2010 it had over 300.
Founded in 1934 by Ethel Austin in the front room of her terraced house in Liverpool, the company has had customer service at the very top of its list of priorities. Ethel was so good at helping neighbours with their knitting that within five years of going into business she had opened three shops.
In June 2002, the Austin family sold the business to a management team backed by Lloyds TSB
Development Capital (LDC) for £55 million. Less than two years later, ABN-AMRO Capital bought the business for £122.5 million.
In mid-2007, it was announced that the company had won the contract to supply uniforms for the Liverpool - European City of Culture 2008 event. In November 2007, the company ran new adverts on British television, which used the BodyRockers
song "I Like the Way (You Move)
".
On 15 April 2008, Ethel Austin Ltd went into administration. Administrator Menzies Corporate Restructuring said it hoped to find a buyer for the company. The following day, it was announced that 33 stores would be closed within 3 weeks with 275 job losses. It was also announced that 181 employees had been made redundant at the company head office and distribution centre at Knowsley, Merseyside
. It has since been noted that only 12 of the original 33 stores earmarked for closure are closing with the rest remaining open.
On 19 May 2008, it was reported that Elaine McPherson, former boss of clothing chain MK One
, had bought the company for an undisclosed sum, promising to return it to its 'former glory'.
On 8 February 2010, it was reported that the chain had gone into administration again.
On 10 February 2010 administrators announced that there would be 496 job cuts in the company's head office and distribution depot: it was anticipated that there would also be 196 store closures, resulting in further job losses.
On 19 August 2011 it was revealed that Sue Townsend had purchased the company and it will retain its remaining 62 stores, saving over 400 jobs.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
-wide network of more than 60 stores, though before it entered administration in 2010 it had over 300.
Founded in 1934 by Ethel Austin in the front room of her terraced house in Liverpool, the company has had customer service at the very top of its list of priorities. Ethel was so good at helping neighbours with their knitting that within five years of going into business she had opened three shops.
In June 2002, the Austin family sold the business to a management team backed by Lloyds TSB
Lloyds TSB
Lloyds TSB Bank Plc is a retail bank in the United Kingdom. It was established in 1995 by the merger of Lloyds Bank, established in Birmingham, England in 1765 and traditionally considered one of the Big Four clearing banks, with the TSB Group which traces its origins to 1810...
Development Capital (LDC) for £55 million. Less than two years later, ABN-AMRO Capital bought the business for £122.5 million.
In mid-2007, it was announced that the company had won the contract to supply uniforms for the Liverpool - European City of Culture 2008 event. In November 2007, the company ran new adverts on British television, which used the BodyRockers
BodyRockers
BodyRockers were an electronic music act, consisting of Dylan Burns and Kaz James. They are best known for their 2005 single, "I Like the Way".-Background:...
song "I Like the Way (You Move)
I Like the Way (You Move)
This page is about the Bodyrockers song. For the song by Outkast, see The Way You Move"I Like the Way" is a single by Australian Kaz James and Briton Dylan Burns, collectively known as the dance music group BodyRockers. It was released in April 2005 and later appeared on the group's self-titled...
".
On 15 April 2008, Ethel Austin Ltd went into administration. Administrator Menzies Corporate Restructuring said it hoped to find a buyer for the company. The following day, it was announced that 33 stores would be closed within 3 weeks with 275 job losses. It was also announced that 181 employees had been made redundant at the company head office and distribution centre at Knowsley, Merseyside
Merseyside
Merseyside is a metropolitan county in North West England, with a population of 1,365,900. It encompasses the metropolitan area centred on both banks of the lower reaches of the Mersey Estuary, and comprises five metropolitan boroughs: Knowsley, St Helens, Sefton, Wirral, and the city of Liverpool...
. It has since been noted that only 12 of the original 33 stores earmarked for closure are closing with the rest remaining open.
On 19 May 2008, it was reported that Elaine McPherson, former boss of clothing chain MK One
MK One
- Beginnings as Mark One :The company was founded by in the 1980s by Mark Brafman, Les Lucy and Alan Simons as Mark One, and became a discount womenswear retailer. In February 1996 Mark One was bought from administration by billionaire Philip Green, owner of BHS. Shami Ahmed had also made a failed...
, had bought the company for an undisclosed sum, promising to return it to its 'former glory'.
On 8 February 2010, it was reported that the chain had gone into administration again.
On 10 February 2010 administrators announced that there would be 496 job cuts in the company's head office and distribution depot: it was anticipated that there would also be 196 store closures, resulting in further job losses.
On 19 August 2011 it was revealed that Sue Townsend had purchased the company and it will retain its remaining 62 stores, saving over 400 jobs.