Viyella calls in the administrators

UK: Viyella calls in the administrators

By just-style.com | 7 January 2009

Buyers are being sought for UK women's wear chain Viyella, which was forced to call in the administrators today (7 January).

The company's directors said they were left with no alternative after carrying out an assessment of the current economic situation and the retailer's prospects for the future.

Andrew Turpin and Martin Coyne of Poppleton & Appleby, in Birmingham, have been appointed as joint administrators to manage the business and seek a purchaser, said a statement by parent group William Hollins & Company Ltd.

"We believe there will be a strong interest in the Viyella brand and hope the joint administrators will be able to conclude an early sale which protects the brand name and many of the jobs within the business," it went onto say.

"We should like to express our thanks to all the Viyella team for the hard work they have put into the business.

"Unfortunately the current economic downturn has undone all the efforts of the last five years."

Viyella, which has 40 stores plus concessions, was founded in 1784.

Sectors: Apparel, Retail