ANOTHER high street fixture has become a casualty of the credit crunch as Adams childswear closes more than 100 stores.
The 75-year-old children’s clothing chain closed 111 stores and slashed 850 staff this week as it fought to weather the turbulence of the economic downturn that is battering retailers.
Adams is the largest independent childswear retailer in the UK and supplied clothes to a number of other stores. Before the closures it was understood to employ 2,000 people.
Stores in Woolston, the Isle of Wight and Fleet have been axed and the staff made redundant with immediate effect.
That leaves just four outlets in Hampshire, at The Mall Marlands shopping centre in Southampton, the Swan Centre in Eastleigh, Westbury Mall in Fareham, and Chantry Way in Andover.
The company went into administration on New Year’s Eve.
A PricewaterhouseCoopers spokesman said: “I am pleased to say that we have had a number of expressions of interest in the Adams business and brand. As a result, we are hopeful that we will be able to sell some parts of the business.
“However, following our appointment and in light of the current downturn being experienced on the high street, it is with great regret that it has been necessary to effect the closure of 111 stores throughout the UK.”
The remaining 160 stores will remain open while the administrators look for a buyer.
This comes at the end of a fortnight this has seen all 807 Woolworths stores close, and also comes hard on the heels of the collapse of tea and coffee merchant Whittard of Chelsea, music chain Zavvi and menswear retailer The Officers Club.
No one from Adams was available to comment.
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