Axe to fall on troubled store
STAFF at the Bonmarche clothing store in Brighouse have spoken of their sadness that the King Street shop is to close.
After a month of uncertainty and fears over their jobs, staff have been told the shop has no future and they being made redundant.
Manager Dawn Pickering said: “We were really hoping that this shop would be spared but five of us are losing our jobs. We are sad for our loyal customers in Brighouse and would like to thank them for their support since we opened in 2008.”
She said the closure date had not yet been announced and in the meantime the store was holding a closing down sale.
The West Yorkshire-based Bonmarche chain has been bought out of administration by private equity firm Sun European Partners but it was announced that 160 stores would close nationwide, with the loss of 1,400 jobs, leaving 230 outlets.
Dawn said: “We’ve had this hanging over us for a few weeks and we’re all sad that it’s been made official. It’s not going to be easy finding other jobs at the moment.”
Since 2008 staff at Bonmarche have raised thousands of pounds for Macmillan Cancer Support, its official charity, and other good causes such as Help for Heroes.
“Only this week we had a letter from Macmillan thanking us for our support. It made us all feel emotional,” said Dawn. “Our customers have backed our fundraising all the way and we have enjoyed doing it.”
Meanwhile staff at collapsed retail chain Peacocks, which also has a shop in King Street, are still waiting for an announcement on their future.
Peacocks went into administration last month with debts in the region of £750 million and efforts have been made to find a buyer for the business and its assets. Final bids have now closed
Peacocks opened its Brighouse store in part of the Sunwin House building in 2004.
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