Jobs go as fashion chain Henley’s axes shops
NORTH West fashion group Henley’s Clothing is closing its 18-store retail business with the loss of 204 jobs nationwide.
The privately-owned Manchester company said Ernst & Young partners Simon Allport and Tom Jack had been appointed administrators of subsidiary Henley’s Retail Ltd after poor trading and high lease costs.
Three North West stores, at the Trafford Centre, Liverpool ONE and the Designer Outlet at Cheshire Oaks will close with a total of 38 redundancies.
The company said the decision would allow the company, owned by entrepreneur Ben Luscombe, to focus on its core business, Henley’s Clothing, which supplies a number of major UK retailers as well as over 200 independent stores in the UK and overseas.
Chief executive David Inglis, said: “When I joined Henley’s Clothing last year, my remit was to carry out a strategic review of the company and as a result we have decided to focus the business on its main wholesale operation.
“In addition to the continuing growth of online sales, the wholesale side of the business is seeing expansion overseas, specifically from Australia, Canada and mainland Europe. We are also investing significantly in a brand relaunch in July.
“Unfortunately, the retail side of the business has been suffering from poor trading conditions due to fragile consumer confidence and from onerous leases agreed at the height of the market.”
