Jobs at risk across Sussex as Jessops collapses (From The Argus)
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Jobs at risk across Sussex as Jessops collapses
2:30pm Thursday 10th January 2013 in News By Peter Truman
Jessops in Queens Road, Brighton, is one of the stores under threat
Dozens of jobs are at risk after camera shop chain Jessops went into administration yesterday (January 9).
PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) has been appointed to the group, which is Britain’s only specialist nationwide camera retailer, with nearly 200 stores, including in Brighton, Eastbourne, Horsham, Crawley, Worthing, Hastings and Chichester.
It marks the first high-profile retail collapse of 2013 and comes soon after consumer electrical chain Comet hit the wall.
Jessops, which has its headquarters in Leicester, has suffered in recent years from online competition and the boom in camera phones, which has hit demand for digital cameras.
Trading continues
Administrator Rob Hunt said PwC was holding discussions with stakeholders to see if the business could be preserved.
He said: “Trading in the stores is hoped to continue today but is critically dependent on these ongoing discussions. However, in the current economic climate it is inevitable that there will be store closures.”
PwC said the company’s core market had seen a “significant decline” in 2012 and its position had “deteriorated” in the run-up to Christmas.
Forecasts for 2013 indicated the decline would continue.
Financial support
PwC said extra funding was made available to the company, but Jessops did not generate the profits it had planned over Christmas.
Mr Hunt said discussions to raise additional financial support for the company had been held between the directors, lenders and suppliers over the last few days.
But the directors had appointed administrators in light of “irreconcilable differences”.
PwC said Jessops was not in a position to honour customer vouchers at present, and it would also not accept returned goods.
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Comments(3)
Thetruth666
says...
7:20pm Thu 10 Jan 13
neilchi
says...
7:59pm Thu 10 Jan 13
Thetruth666 wrote:I echo the comments above and have found Jessops to be unhelpful at best. Of course there will be good staff but they are not a quality company.
I bought an SLR from the Worthing branch.I have never owned an SLR before and had an issue with the setting.The member of staff that assisted me went out of his way to make me feel like an idiot and had a good old laugh.I never went back.After that i just bought my lenses mail order.I wonder if he is still laughing after all this?
However in Burgess Hill Park Camera's provide excellent friendly service and will talk to you 'at your level' advanced if you know stuff and simple and plain if it's all new to you.
What's interesting is that, as a whole, the companies that have gone best recently are the ones that have poor customer service. I am sure Jessops will be one of many more causalities we will see this year.
Valerie Paynter says...
5:06pm Thu 10 Jan 13
I was able to talk to an assistant who really knew about cameras, who was happy to put a fast charge on any dead batteries to let me try out a camera and did not rush me. I knew what I needed and felt confident in the purchase I was making that was costing what is for me a huge amount of money.
It is perfect for my needs and inabilities and not a flash, expensive number either. Just an aim and shoot with a bright viewfinder, zooms and closeups and a crisp picture. Love it.
Losing Jessops would mean losing the one knowledgeable, specialist place left that is about taking pictures and stocking a wide variety of camera choices and related equipment.
I so hope the Brighton branch will be spared.