Jobs are set to be axed after a major national fashion retailer based in Sussex went into administration.

QS, which has its headquarters in Fishersgate and its national distribution warehouse in Goring, has suffered from plummeting sales.

Hamsard 2353, which owns QS and Bewise, the clothing chain, was placed into administration on Friday and staff were told yesterday.

As well as the warehouse and headquarters, which both employ a large number of staff, the company also has about 20 shops in Sussex.

Administrators Grant Thornton said jobs would be lost and shops would close although it could not confirm where or when.

Spokesman Trevor Phillips said: "It really is too early to say which jobs will go and where they will come from."

The mood among staff in Goring yesterday was said to be "disbelief" and "concern". A meeting is due to be held on Friday to let staff know more about potential job losses or redundancies.

Some staff were given time off this week. QS is said to have suffered from increased competition from stores such as Asda and Primark and hopes that the usually strong Christmas trading period would bolster sales were dashed by poor trading results.

Administrators Grant Thornton said most clothing retailers were suffering worsening sales.

Malcolm Shierson, of Grant Thornton, said: "The turnaround of the group represents a significant challenge but we're confident of working our way towards a positive solution.

"Inevitably there will be some short-term pain in the form of store closures and redundancies but we are confident of delivering long-term prospects for the group as a going concern."

QS has two stores in Bognor Regis, three in Brighton, one in Burgess Hill, one in Chichester and one in Crawley.

It also has stores in East Grinstead, Eastbourne, Goring, Horsham, Hove, Shoreham and Worthing.

There are also a number of Bewise stores in the county.

QS, previously called Quality Seconds, began life selling cast-offs from Marks & Spencer. It then parted from the clothing giant, began selling its own lines and rebranded as QS.

Chairman Finlday Caldwell admitted the company's products had become "tired" He said: "There was no strong reason why people would buy from us as opposed to anyone else."

Tuesday, February 14, 2006