Home » Retailer Joules Near Collapse Puts 1,600 Jobs At Risk

Retailer Joules Near Collapse Puts 1,600 Jobs At Risk

by Sonal Shukla

The UK-based retailer Joules is near to collapse putting 1,600 jobs at risk. The company has debts of £30 million pounds, which are due to be repaid by April 2018. The company was founded in 1989 and designs clothes for women with an outdoorsy, country lifestyle.

The History of the Joules Company

Joules was founded in Market Harborough, Leicestershire, in 1989 by Tom Joule. The company sells clothing and homeware through its own website and stores, as well as through third-party retailers.

The company expanded rapidly in the early 2010s, opening new stores and increasing its online presence. However, Joules began to struggle in recent years, reporting declining sales and profits. In 2019, the company announced plans to close a number of stores and cut jobs in an effort to reduce costs.

Despite these difficulties, Joules remains a popular brand with a loyal customer base. The company’s unique style has helped it to weather the storm of the retail sector’s challenges in recent years.

What is Joules?

Joules is a UK-based retailer that specializes in clothing and homeware. The company was founded in 1989 by Tom Joule, who still serves as its CEO. It has over 150 stores across the UK and Ireland, as well as an online store.

The company has been struggling in recent years, and it was recently revealed that it is on the brink of collapse. This has put around 1,600 jobs at risk.

Joules has been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic, with sales plummeting by 70% in its most recent quarter. The company had already been struggling before the pandemic hit, and it had been seeking a buyer for some time.

It is unclear what will happen to Joules if it does collapse. The company’s stores could be closed down and its employees could be made redundant. However, there is a possibility that a buyer could be found for the business and it could continue to trade.

What is happening to the company now?

The company is in the process of being sold and is currently in talks with multiple investment firms. The sale is expected to be completed by the end of the month.

Joules, a retailer known for its fashionable clothing and homeware, is on the brink of collapse. The company has appointed administrators to oversee its affairs, putting at risk the jobs of more than 1,100 employees.

The company has been struggling in recent years, with sales falling and losses mounting. It had been seeking a buyer for some time but was unable to find one willing to pay the asking price.

The company’s troubles have been exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic, which has led to a sharp decline in demand for Joules products. With no buyer forthcoming and the pandemic taking its toll, the company has been forced to enter administration.

This is a tragic turn of events for Joules and its employees. The company has been a fixture on the British high street for more than 25 years, and its collapse will be keenly felt by those who have worked there and shopped there over the years.

How can it be saved?

The high street retailer Joules is on the brink of collapse, putting at risk the jobs of its 2,500 employees. The company has filed a notice of intention to appoint administrators after talks with its lenders failed to secure a deal to refinance its debt.

Joules has been struggling in recent years, as competition from online retailers has intensified. It has also been hit by the fall in footfall on the high street and the rise in costs associated with running a brick-and-mortar business.

The company’s financial problems came to a head last month when it was revealed that it had breached its banking covenants. This led to its lenders demanding that it raise £15 million within weeks or face administration.

Joules’ management team put forward a rescue plan which would have seen existing shareholders injecting £5 million into the business and raising a further £20 million through a rights issue. However, this plan was rejected by the company’s lenders, who are now understood to be preparing for administration.

If Joules does enter administration, it is expected to close around half of its stores and make substantial job losses. This would be a devastating blow to the high street, which is already struggling in the face of online competition and rising costs.

Conclusion

The news of Joules’ impending collapse is yet another blow to the retail sector, which has been struggling in recent years. The loss of 1,600 jobs is a significant number, and it will be felt by many families across the country. We can only hope that the company is able to find a buyer and that the jobs can be saved. In the meantime, our thoughts are with those who are facing an uncertain future.

HomepageClick Hear

Related Posts

Leave a Comment