UK brands that have gone into administration since COVID

Big UK brands that have gone into administration since COVID-19 and the cost of living crisis

Throughout the tumultuous years since 2020, the UK has seen a huge number of businesses enter into administration. In some cases, brands have been able to keep trading under new ownership, or online only. Others have been lost completely. 

Among these are high-street staples including Debenhams and Topshop. But major online brands have suffered too, including big names such as Made.com. It shows that no one can get too comfortable when it comes to maintaining a business, big or small. 

Below, we’ll unravel the reasons behind their struggles, and examine the lessons learned to help guide small business owners through these challenging times.

Poundland

In a somewhat ironic rescue deal, Poundland was sold for just £1 in June 2025. The discount chain, which was once owned by Pepco Group, is set to close 68 stores across the UK following a major restructuring — putting more than 1,000 jobs at risk.

US investment firm Gordon Brothers — the former owners of Laura Ashley — said it would invest up to £80 million in Poundland to help the struggling business. Like many high street retailers, Poundland has faced significant financial pressures in recent years. 

Aside from intense competition from major supermarket chains like Aldi and Lidl, Poundland also reported a low Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization (EBITDA) of between £0-16.8 million in May, citing “highly challenging trading conditions” and “clearance of old stock and product availability issues” as the reason for its struggle.

River Island

In what seems like a never-ending battle of falling sales and harsh trading conditions, River Island announced a restructuring plan in June 2025, which could result in store closures and job losses. The fashion retailer had previously laid off some of its London-based head office staff to help with cost-saving measures.

Like many fashion retailers struggling to keep their heads above water, River Island has faced significant losses in the last year. In October, it was reported that the company reported a pre-tax loss of £32.2 million, while sales steeply declined by 15%.

No formal decisions have been made yet, but if the restructuring plan goes through, River Island will be able to make agreements with creditors (e.g. landlords) to avoid insolvency proceedings.

Hobbycraft

Arts and crafts retailer Hobbycraft announced plans to close at least nine of its stores across the UK as part of restructuring plans. The company also said that the restructuring would result in redundancies across its Bournemouth head office and distribution centre in Burton-on-Trent, but it isn’t known how many jobs will be affected.

Hobbycraft CEO Alex Willson said: “Very sadly, the strength of our offering has not made us immune from the challenges faced by the retail sector in recent years.

“Closing stores is always a last resort, and this has been an extremely difficult decision. Making these changes is sadly a necessary action to enable us to keep our doors open to crafters up and down the country.”

Quiz

Quiz was a Glasgow-based brand that ran 82 standalone stores. It was first put into administration as part of a restructuring in June 2020. However, the fashion retailer called in administrators again five years later, which resulted in a further 23 stores being closed and around 200 jobs lost.

A pre-pack administration deal will result in the remaining assets being taken over by Orion Retail, a subsidiary linked to the business’s founding family.

CEO Sheraz Ramzan stated: “We are deeply sorry to those affected by the store closures, including our retail colleagues. However, this decision will put the business in a more sustainable footing for the future and protect several hundred jobs as a result.”

TGI Fridays

TGI Fridays, once a beloved American diner chain, fell into administration in the UK in September 2024, after a failed acquisition deal with Hostmore disrupted the company’s financial stability. Combined with the ongoing economic downturn, characterised by rising inflation and the cost of living crisis, the chain was suffering from a slide in sales. But it wasn’t all external.

The chain had also struggled to maintain its relevance in a changing market, as customers expressed dissatisfaction with declining food quality and the availability of similar offerings at more affordable restaurants.

Thankfully, 51 TGI Fridays sites have since been rescued in a sale to Breal Capital and Calveton. However, 35 are now closed permanently, resulting in over 1,000 redundancies.

Carpetright

Floor specialist, Carpetright, has secured a buyer as part of a pre-pack administration deal. It first announced plans to file for administration in July 2024, putting hundreds of jobs at risk across the UK.

The business had been unravelling for some time. It had struggled to sell premium rolls of carpet to customers in the cost-of-living crisis. A cyber attack in April of the same year also left the brand unable to trade online or in person for almost a week.

According to The Times, rival business Tapi Carpets confirmed it had acquired the company via a pre-pack administration. As part of the deal, Tapi has purchased the Carpetright brand, as well as 54 of its stores and two warehouses. The move saved 300 jobs, but unfortunately, over 1,500 other roles were made redundant.

Ted Baker

In March 2024, Ted Baker announced it would be forced to call in administrators for its European outlets and online retail.

Even before the pandemic, the brand was rocked by scandal. In 2019, the company’s founder Ray Kelvin stepped down following allegations of inappropriate behaviour. New owners, Authentic Brands, attempted to steady the ship, but the colossal impact of the pandemic set Ted Baker up for a desperate few years. Lockdown hit, workwear changed, and in the post-pandemic world, trends changed, with fewer office workers seeking to buy new collared shirts – a Ted Baker staple.

The brand’s appointed administrators closed 15 shops and cut 245 jobs. It was hoped that the remaining 31 Ted Baker stores in the UK and Ireland would stay open, but in mid-August 2024, the failed fashion retailer confirmed all remaining shops would be shuttered, putting over 500 jobs at risk.

The Body Shop

In February 2024, the new owners of The Body Shop – private equity group Aurelius – confirmed that the high street skincare and cosmetics stalwart was entering into administration. With over 200 stores in the UK, and thousands of employees on its payroll, this was a bitter blow for a once-loved brand that dated back to 1976.

The Body Shop had lost its place as a must-visit home for high quality, non-animal-tested cosmetics and skincare products. By late 2023, sales had spiralled, and younger Gen Z consumers felt little of the brand affinity that had once driven customers to be passionate advocates for the high street brand.

On top of this, there was a corporate mess behind the scenes. Aurelius was contending with a legacy bonus scheme for 20 employees that could cost in the region of £2m-£3m.

Wilko

Even before it was officially announced, rumours began circulating that Wilko – one of the nation’s best-known homeware retailers – was on the verge of collapse. Founded by the Wilkinson family in Leicester 92 years ago, the chain is a high street staple with 400 stores across the UK.

Following this uncertainty, Wilko bosses confirmed they had failed to secure a rescue deal. As a result, Wilko collapsed into administration in August 2023 – becoming the latest casualty of the cost-of-living crisis and putting around 12,500 jobs at risk. 

At the start of September, discount chain B&M initially struck a deal to buy 51 Wilko stores, providing a potential lifeline for the brand’s high street presence. However, by 12th September, the deal had fallen through, and all existing Wilko stores were confirmed to close by early October.

Debenhams

Debenhams was a department store with a challenge. It wasn’t John Lewis. It certainly wasn’t Selfridges. It was just…there. As the pandemic crept up, the brand was already in a challenging environment, struggling to define its own identity and failing to keep up amid competition from ecommerce businesses.

Debenhams announced its administration in December 2021, winding down a staggering 12,000 jobs. The last store was closed in May 2023, ending an era marked by dwindling year-on-year sales.

The brand name now lives online only. Boohoo purchased Debenhams for £55 million in January 2021. On 12 April, Boohoo relaunched the Debenhams website with a new full range of Boohoo products. 

Arcadia Group

Phillip Green’s Arcadia Group was a seemingly undefeatable conglomerate of retail brands. For young fashionistas, its stores – including Topshop and Miss Selfridge – were staple destinations where a whole generation could congregate to grab affordable bling for a holiday, or to dress to impress even on a tight budget. 

But in November 2020, with the pandemic already bruising retail trading, news broke that Philip Green’s vast empire had succumbed to a crushing debt exceeding $1 billion. This was exacerbated by underperformance in sales in the years prior to COVID, with the emergence of online fast-fashion brands hurting Green’s empire like never before. 

Those same rival businesses would snap up the pieces of Green’s empire. In February 2021, ASOS acquired the Topshop, Topman and Miss Selfridge brands for £265 million. Boohoo Group acquired three more of Arcadia Group’s brands (Burton, Dorothy Perkins and Wallis) for £25.2 million. These now continue on as ecommerce stores only.

Victoria’s Secret

With a huge cultural impact spearheaded by its annual fashion shows and household-name supermodels, Victoria’s Secret were the trendsetters – until somehow, suddenly, they weren’t.

The UK arm of the US lingerie retailer went into administration in June 2020, in a move that saw all Victoria’s Secret stores closed in Britain. Between COVID struggles and accusations from employees of bullying, harassment and misogyny, Victoria’s Secret was floundering as a high street presence.

They had some guardian angels of their own, however. L Brands and Next formed a joint venture where they acquired substantially all of the assets of the Victoria’s Secret business in the United Kingdom and Ireland.  This saw the UK business resurrected in 2022, and they now trade from physical stores as well as their website.

Oak Furnitureland

This one was quite surprising because it seemed such a staple of the UK business scene: with hundreds of showrooms and such a large, friendly presence along highways and such that you just expected it to always be there.

While Oak Furnitureland survived, the height of the pandemic meant that people weren’t all that concerned about furniture shopping, and lockdown. Its business model primarily relied on in-person viewings — something that’s hard to replicate online.

Oak Furnitureland cited the root of their problems as “adverse trading conditions”. Luckily, there was light at the end of this struggle, as the business was saved from the brink of collapse by a hedge fund manager — saving 1,491 jobs in the buy-out process.

Monsoon/Accessorize

Monsoon is a popular fashion retailer that’s all about women’s style and self-expression, with an ethos about embracing your unique side with bohemian-inspired designs, vibrant colours, intricate patterns, and cool ethnic vibes. With sister brand Accessorize, customers were also covered for bags, jewellery, and scarves that came in clutch to complete your look. 

When the Monsoon/Accessorize group entered into administration due to the pressures of COVID, 35 stores were closed with a loss of 545 jobs. But they were soon bought out of administration in June 2020 by founder Peter Simon himself. This saved the retailer’s other 2,300 UK employees and helped the brands retain their high street presence. 

In what might be one of the most interesting comebacks on this list, Monsoon persevered and fought their way out of their struggles. By the end of December 2021, the business was debt-free with net cash of £15 million. Monsoon and Accessorize currently have 154 stores back open in the UK. This is down from 230 at the time it went into administration, but it feels like something of a comeback era all the same.

Oasis

Oasis (or their parent company, “The Oasis And Warehouse Group”) was one of those unassuming, non-problematic shops that you would tend to see at the end of every high street. No biggie, just a cool spot to stop at and pick up a t-shirt or some loose jeans, especially if you were passing a store in your local high street.

Behind the scenes, however, there had been quite a tumultuous history of the company as they experienced a wild ride of highs, lows, and memorable moments – including multiple shifts in CEO, partnerships and ownerships – including one time a UK-based Indian entrepreneur offered to purchase The Oasis And Warehouse Group for £60 million, while being wanted by Interpol.

And the pandemic was the final nail in the coffin. Struggling to compete against the likes of Boohoo and ASOS, Oasis went into administration in April 2020. The Oasis and Warehouse brands were later bought by Boohoo for £5.25 million in June, but only the online assets and intellectual property — not the stores or staff —were saved.

Beales

Beales was a true legacy business. The original Beales chain, which had been around for 139 years, went into administration in January 2020. By March of that year, when the Covid crisis hit, the brand had to close all of its stores.

Sadly, this put 1,300 jobs at risk, and the company reported losses of £3.1m during the worst part of the crisis – and owed a staggering £12.6million in loans.

KPMG was appointed as administrator to handle Beales’ affairs, but the brand ultimately failed to be acquired and find a new owner. The business closed down its last remaining department store in February 2025, and its online site appears to be defunct.

Aldo

The shoe retailer Aldo (owned by The Aldo Group) faced financial difficulties and had to close down five of its stores in 2020. Despite these challenges, however, it remained confident in the strength of its company and its brands. At the time, it released a statement affirming that Aldo “will continue to be a global brand with a strong presence in over 100 countries.” 

The Aldo Group planned to use the situation to restructure its business and expand to other regions. The goal was to ensure the long-term stability of the company and its international operations.

The UK arm of Aldo’s operations was ultimately acquired by an investment firm called the Bushell Investment Group (BIG) back in the same year. This acquisition not only saved 55 jobs but also led to the creation of 50 new roles. It also safeguarded investments, totalling more than £30 million in Aldo UK’s trade and assets.

Oliver Sweeney

By late March 2020, shoe stalwart Oliver Sweeney was facing difficulty with its trading and ultimately had to bring in administrators. Lockdown restrictions forced it to shutter all stores as non-essential. But even after the restrictions eased, the business made the tough decision not to reopen them. Instead, it chose to exit the physical retail space through administration. 

This wasn’t the first time Oliver Sweeney had faced administration. The company first entered administration in 2009, likely due to the financial crisis, but was rescued by Amery Capital. 

Despite the store closures, CEO Tim Cooper said he was optimistic about the future. He expressed his disappointment regarding the closures but conveyed confidence in shifting the focus of the business to the online realm and wholesale operations. The company remains determined to adapt and continue its operations online, under the leadership of Cooper.

Le Pain Quotidien

The UK arm of the Belgian-owned bakery chain Le Pain Quotidien fell into administration in 2020, which left 500 jobs under threat.

They were ultimately rescued from administration in June of the same year by BrunchCo21 — a branch of the larger Belgium investment firm Cobepa.

However, the company would collapse into administration once again in 2023, mainly because of reduced revenue, high costs and decreased foot traffic. Today, only the St Pancras International bakery is standing.

Laura Ashley

While the pandemic was devastating for its business, Laura Ashley’s issues began pre-COVID, and it had issued profit warnings even before the start of the pandemic. In 2019, it had losses of £9.8m but managed to repay some of the debt using the proceeds of property sales.

The business was administered by PwC before being acquired by Gordon Brothers. It returned to the UK high street in Spring 2021, thanks to a new partnership with Next. The price of the acquisition is unknown.

While Laura Ashley no longer has any standalone stores in the UK, it continues to operate within Next and John Lewis stores.

Peacocks/Jaeger

The Edinburgh Woollen Mill Group (who own high-street stores such as Peacocks and Jaeger) filed a notice to appoint administrators in October 2020, affecting 24,000 employees in total. 

However, it wasn’t too long before Peacocks at least was saved. It was bought out of administration by a senior executive named Steve Simpson, with backing from himself and an investors consortium from Dubai.

Jaeger ended up surviving in online form only, after having their intellectual property rights purchased by M&S, who now sell their products as third-party items on their site.

Made.com

Made.com is a furniture and household retailer that gained significant traction in the market. It focused on offering stylish and affordable furniture through its online platform, catering to a broad customer base.

The company entered administration in November 2022, endangering hundreds of jobs. It had previously faced financial difficulties and had stopped accepting new orders since October of that year. 

Made.com was subsequently sold to Next, with the deal involving the transfer of brand, websites, and intellectual property. But, this did not include stock, staff, or other assets and liabilities.

Cath Kidston

Cath Kidston was well known for its unique and vibrant designs. Sadly, the company went into administration in late March 2023, having faced financial challenges since 2020.

It was put into administration by its private-equity owners, Hilco Capital. Its intellectual property and brand were then acquired by Next through a pre-pack arrangement.

But while its remaining stores were slated for closure, Cath Kidston made a comeback by reopening its Westfield White City store in October 2024.

Planet Organic

Planet Organic is an ethical sustainable supermarket group with a focus on organic and natural products. It operated more than twelve stores across the UK and was known for its commitment to environmental and social responsibility.

In April 2023, Planet Organic went into administration due to financial difficulties. After expressions of interest from various businesses, it was eventually acquired by Bioren, a company partially owned by the founders of Planet Organic. Planet Organic had £12.5 million in debt when it went into administration. 

As a result of the acquisition, four stores closed, leaving the business with ten stores and 265 employees.

Eve Sleep

Eve Sleep is an online mattress retailer operating in the UK, Ireland, and France. It gained significance in the market for offering convenient and affordable mattresses through its ecommerce platform. However, the company faced financial challenges due to increased costs and supply issues.

They fell into administration in October. The management cited a “tsunami” of increased costs and supply issues as the primary reasons for their financial difficulties. The company was acquired by Bensons for Beds shortly after it entered into administration.

Joules

Joules is a fashion chain that experienced financial difficulties and collapsed into administration in November. The retailer, known for its clothing and accessories, faced challenges that led to the suspension of trading in its shares. Despite the administration, Joules aims to continue supplying its products under the administration of Interpath Advisory.

Joules’ administration put over 1,000 jobs at risk, reflecting the severity of its financial struggles. The collapse of the company raises concerns about the future of the brand and the potential impact on its employees and customers.

TheVeganKind (TVK)

TVK is the largest UK vegan supermarket that specialises in offering a wide range of vegan and cruelty-free products. It operates both as a physical supermarket and an online retailer, serving customers across the country.

TVK appointed administrators in October but was immediately bought in a pre-pack deal by its largest shareholder, ensuring the continuation of operations. All 38 employees were transferred to the new ownership, allowing the business to continue trading without interruption.

AMT

AMT is a coffee specialist that operates coffee shops in airports, train stations, and hospitals. It was founded in 1993 and had a significant presence in the market, offering coffee to travellers and customers in convenient locations.

AMT went into administration in November 2022 and was subsequently purchased by SSP Group. However, the company experienced job losses, with 100 employees being let go. While 25 coffee shops were saved and continue to trade, 18 sites were closed down along with the head office.

Sofa Workshop

Sofa Workshop was a High Street retailer with both physical stores and an ecommerce presence, specialising in sofas.

The company collapsed recently, resulting in the loss of 77 jobs. Supply chain and transport costs contributed to trading losses, outweighing significant revenues. Existing orders will be fulfilled, and the customer order book was sold to Timothy Oulton United Kingdom Ltd.

T.M. Lewin

T.M. Lewin, established in 1898, was a well-known shirtmaker operating over 150 shops worldwide. It transitioned to an online-only model in 2020.

The company fell into administration for the second time due to challenges caused by the decline in formal shirt purchases during the pandemic. It was bought by US-owned Torque Brands, and continues to trade.

Trinity Group

Trinity Group, a company that owned the historic Savile Row tailor Gieves & Hawkes, fell into administration at the beginning of 2023. The brands under Trinity Group have now become subsidiaries, and efforts are underway to sell these assets to repay Trinity’s creditors.

Trinity Group’s administration came after unsuccessful attempts to find a buyer for Gieves & Hawkes. The company’s financial difficulties led to the decision to enter administration, intending to secure the best possible outcome for its creditors. The sale of the subsidiary brands is expected to generate funds to repay the outstanding debts.

Bon Accord

Bon Accord shopping centre, located in Aberdeen, Scotland, had been a well-established retail destination. It provided a range of shops and services to the local community.

The owners of Bon Accord, Aberdeen Retail 1 Ltd and Aberdeen Retail 2 Ltd, faced cash flow problems and appointed administrators from Azets in September. While the owner went into administration, the shopping centre continued to operate as usual. The administrators aimed to find a buyer for the property. Bon Accord had undergone ownership changes throughout its history.

Internet Fusion Group

Internet Fusion Group is a global ecommerce retailer specialising in action sports products. It owns several brands, including Surfdome, Country Attire, and Rideaway, catering to the surfing, skiing, skating, and equestrian activities market.

They went into administration in 2022 and were subsequently acquired by BrandAlley. BrandAlley purchased the intellectual property, brands, logistics, and customer services division of Internet Fusion Group. 

However, it did not buy the existing stock and chose not to sell from Internet Fusion Group’s domains. As a result, 100 Internet Fusion Group staff members were made redundant.

David’s Bridal

David’s Bridal is the UK arm of a US-based bridalwear chain. It specialises in offering bridal gowns and related accessories. The company operated both physical stores and an ecommerce platform.

Following the collapse of its US owner, David’s Bridal went into administration. The US owner planned to make 9,000 redundancies in North America. In the UK, David’s Bridal continued to trade, but the company’s profitability has declined since 2018. The UK branch had 150 employees.

Book Depository

Book Depository was an online retailer that specialised in selling a wide range of second-hand English-language books. It had gained popularity among book lovers worldwide and was known for its extensive collection.

Amazon acquired the company back in 2011. However, the decision was made to discontinue its operations in April 2023, and Book Depository was closed down as part of Amazon’s downsizing efforts..

ProBikeKit (PBK)

ProBikeKit (PBK) was a specialist retailer that offered a wide range of cycling accessories, clothing, and components. It served customers globally, both directly (B2C) and through business-to-business (B2B) channels.

PBK’s closure was part of the rationalisation efforts by its parent company, THG. Following reported losses in 2022, THG made the decision to close PBK and other cycling retailers under its portfolio.

Farmison & Co

Farmison & Co was an online retailer and wholesaler specialising in premium meat products. Based in Ripon, it offered high-quality meats to customers through its ecommerce platform.

In April 2023, Farmison & Co went into administration after failing to secure additional funding to continue operations. Unfortunately, the majority of its 75 employees were made redundant. However, there are plans for a consortium led by Andy Clarke to acquire and restart the business.

Shuropody

Shuropody is a shoe and podiatry retailer that operates 39 stores. The company specialises in providing footwear and foot care solutions to customers. Shuropody plays a significant role in the market by offering a combination of retail and podiatry services, ensuring customers have access to comfortable and supportive shoes while addressing any foot-related issues.

Shuropody went into administration in December. However, the company was quickly bought by part of Baaj Capital on a pre-pack basis, saving hundreds of jobs. The stores continued to operate without any announced redundancies, providing stability to the employees and customers. With the acquisition, Shuropody aims to recover and continue serving its customers with quality footwear and podiatry services.

Stanton Bikes

Stanton Bikes is a mountain bike manufacturer and retailer based in Derbyshire. In November, the company went into administration and appointed joint administrators, Dean Nelson and Nick Lee of PKF Smith Cooper. Despite the administration, Stanton Bikes continues to trade as it searches for a buyer. The company’s focus on high-quality mountain bikes gained recognition in the market.

The company faced financial difficulties leading to its administration, triggered by a petition from a creditor to the high court. The impact of the administration includes uncertainty for the company’s future and potential job losses if a suitable buyer is not found.

Elite Sports Group

Elite Sports Group is a company that provides merchandise, retail services, and manages sports shops for various football clubs. The company went into administration in November, affecting its partnership with Danish company Hummel. Elite Sports Group served clubs such as Southampton, Millwall, Coventry, Newport County, Northampton Town, and Oldham, among others.

Elite Sports Group’s administration had an impact on the clubs it serviced. Coventry and Northampton Town temporarily closed their fan shops, while Southampton ended its agreement with Elite. The administration process may have caused disruptions and uncertainties for the affected football clubs and their fans.

Click It Local

Click It Local, an East Suffolk online shopping scheme, entered administration at the end of March due to capital depletion. The company operated as a virtual high street, enabling shoppers to purchase from local independent or high street stores through a single payment platform with same or next-day delivery. 

Click It Local had active stores in Suffolk, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Brighton, London, and East Sussex.

Click It Local’s administration was a consequence of ongoing financial challenges and the depletion of available capital. Despite continuous efforts to secure support and capital over the past six months, the company was unable to sustain its operations. This led to the unfortunate decision to enter administration, affecting the services provided to local independent retailers and the convenience offered to customers.

Jupiter Group

Jupiter Group was a fruit supplier based in Newport, UK. The company played a significant role in the fruit supply chain, providing fresh produce to various markets.

They went into administration in early September due to supply chain issues and rising costs. As a result, the majority of the company’s 85 employees were made redundant. The remaining employees stayed on to assist with the administration process, while the administrators sought interested parties to purchase Jupiter’s assets.

Tree of Life

Tree of Life was a health and lifestyle wholesaler operating in Newcastle-under-Lyme and Nottingham, UK. The company supplied various products to retailers in the health and wellness industry.

Tree of Life went into administration in August, resulting in 143 staff members being made redundant. Interpath Advisory was appointed as the administrator to oversee the process. However, 63 employees were retained to assist the administrators. The company faced financial challenges, leading to its bankruptcy.

Carzam

Carzam was an online car retailer headquartered in Peterborough, UK. It aimed to disrupt the automotive industry by offering an online platform for purchasing new and quality-conditioned used cars.

Carzam collapsed into administration just two years after its establishment in 2020. The company faced difficulties acquiring sufficient stock due to supply troubles and intense competition in the market for new models and quality-condition second-hand cars.

Studio Retail Group

Studio Retail Group was an online retailer based in Lancashire, offering clothing, homeware, electricals, and gifts. It had a significant customer base of 2.5 million.

The company went into administration in mid-February 2022. Frasers Group, owned by Mike Ashley, bought Studio Retail Group for £1 and promised to invest £100 million in the business, saving around 1,500 jobs.

Connect Distribution Services

Connect Distribution Services operated as an online distributor of spare parts, accessories, and consumables, primarily catering to DIY appliances.

In 2023, Connect Distribution Services went into administration, and its assets were subsequently acquired by Screwfix. The employees of Connect Distribution Services transitioned to the new owners.

Steptronic Footwear

Steptronic, a luxury footwear brand known for its presence in over 3,000 high street stores worldwide, went into administration in March 2023. The Rushden-based business, in addition to its physical retail presence, also operated its own direct-to-consumer website. Business advisory firm Kroll was appointed as the administrator, following supply chain challenges.

Steptronic’s administration had repercussions for its retail operations and supply chain. The company faced difficulties in managing its supply chain, which likely impacted its ability to meet customer demand and fulfil orders. The appointment of an administrator aimed to oversee the restructuring process and explore options for the company’s future.

Big Home Shop and Physioroom

Burnley-based retailers, Big Home Shop and Physioroom, experienced collapse in January. Big Home Shop specialised in selling garden furniture, outdoor equipment, and other furniture items through platforms like Amazon. 

The company cited shipment delays from China and the inability to secure additional finance from lenders and creditors as factors affecting sales and costs. Physioroom, an online retailer of home exercise and injury protection equipment, relied on Big Home Shop for several services.

The bankruptcy of Big Home Shop had a direct impact on Physioroom due to their interdependence. The challenges faced by Big Home Shop, such as shipment delays and financial constraints, ultimately led to the closure of both businesses. The inability to secure necessary funds and maintain smooth operations resulted in their downfall.