Bathroom brand to be resurrected following deal

Betterbathrooms

A bathroom retail brand which collapsed earlier this month will be resurrected following a deal organised by the administrators.

BetterBathrooms, which was based in Leigh, ceased trading earlier this month with the loss of 362 jobs.

But the brand and the assets of the firm have been bought by retailer Buy It Direct.

The new owners plan to resurrect the brand and create 45 jobs in the process. The deal has also raised some funds for the creditors of the collapsed firm.

BetterBathrooms had 13 showrooms and two trade counters across the UK.

The business employed 362 staff at its Leigh headquarters, Didcot warehouse, its customer service centre in Glazebury and in its stores.

Philip Pierce and Gary Blackburn of FRP Advisory were appointed as joint administrators of Betterbathrooms (UK) at the start of the month and the business ceased trading with immediate effect.

Online specialist Buy It Direct has bought the assets and goodwill of the firm with the brand set to resume trading later this month.

As a result 45 jobs will be created over the next year in warehousing, sales, customer service, digital, buying and trading.

Nick Glynne, managing director of Buy it Direct, said: “The BetterBathrooms business will complement our other successful home brands, Appliances Direct and Furniture 123.

“I am particularly pleased to be working with some of the existing talented team.

“We hope to start trading again later this month and are now focused on resurrecting and developing the brand to demonstrate exceptional value to our customers.”

Phil Pierce, joint administrator and partner at FRP Advisory, added: “By securing a sale of the assets of the business, we have been able to maximise returns to creditors.

“Buy it Direct’s proven online retail expertise and infrastructure will ensure that they are well placed to take the business forward and we wish them well for the future.”

Buy It Direct sells products including laptops, kitchen appliances, TVs and furniture through a network of websites including Laptops Direct, Appliances Direct and Furniture 123.

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