Future of York’s Jane Norman store unclear

THE future of women’s fashion retailer Jane Norman’s York store remains in doubt.

The national chain, which has a branch in Coney Street, York, announced yesterday it had gone into administration with the loss of more than 1,000 jobs.

But the fashion chain’s administrators also announced the sale of 33 of the chain’s 94 stores to The Edinburgh Woollen Mill retailer group – which has stores in St Helen’s Square and Shambles in York – under a pre-packaged administration sale which includes the stock of all the stores.

The administrators have also reached an agreement between themselves and the purchaser for another 28 stores and a number of concessions.

The purchase will save at least 366 Jane Norman jobs out of about 1,600 across the UK, but it is still uncertain what will happen to the York store, which is currently closed. In a statement, the administrators, said: “Regrettably, there is no interest in the remaining 35 stores in the UK and Ireland which will therefore be closed. “A number of posts within the company’s London head office and warehouse facility will be kept on for the moment to assist the company complete the sale and close its other operations.”

Alastair Beveridge, partner at administrators Zolfo Cooper, said: “It has been an exacting time for the company, which has a substantial amount of debt.

“We are pleased to have ensured the survival of such a familiar presence on the high street, while securing the jobs of at least 366 Jane Norman employees.

“Unfortunately, the sale has resulted in job losses, which we appreciate is difficult news for those involved. We would like to thank them for their professionalism and support during what has been an uncertain time.”

The news comes as a wave of financial problems hit big retailers throughout the country.

Habitat – which has a York store – was forced into administration last week, with Hope Retail Group, which owns Argos, buying only three stores and the brand, while department store chain TJ Hughes is preparing to appoint an administrator.

Chocolate retailer Thorntons is to scrap 120 outlets over the next three years as leases expire, leaving it with between 180 to 200 outlets, but it is not yet known if its stores in York and North Yorkshire will be affected.

Retail trade hit but hope stirs

AS A city that is both local and national – and, indeed, international – York faces many challenges in its retail trade.

Some aspects of this are beyond local control, as has been shown this week. Just as the city learned its branch of Habitat would be among the many that were closing, the local high street now has to absorb the loss of a branch of the women’s fashion retailer Jane Norman.

Other victims of the recession in recent memory include the wine shop Oddbins and the book chain Borders. On top of that, the confectioner Thorntons is preparing to close up to 200 company-owned stores, with the fate of those in York still uncertain.

So things look pretty gloomy. Except that they don’t, at least not fully. York remains more robust than many other towns and cities, thanks to the unique feel of its shopping centre. The mix of national and local independent stores works well, and is given extra ‘value’ by the historical setting.

And while empty shops can sap business confidence, there is much about York that remains buoyant. A recent review by a major property consultancy claimed demand for retail premises in the city was now only equalled by central London. Stonegate was the jewel in the crown, with prospective bidders queuing up in the desperate hope of opening a shop there.

So while the news remains mixed, there is much to feel confident about in this city.