THE Original Factory Shop will cease trading at its Abergele store next month after the homeware chain called in administrators.
Based on Marine Road, the store’s final day of trade will be Saturday, April 4.
Interpath have been appointed as the administrators of the business, which was bought by investment firm Modella Capital less than a year ago.
Modella Capital said in January that “last-ditch” measures fell through to save both The Original Factory Shop and Claire’s, which it also owns and instead the “tough decision” was made to start insolvency proceedings.
A statement from the Abergele branch read: “We’ve been asked a million times: ‘When are we closing?’
“We unfortunately have a date, so it’s real now. April 4 is our last trading date.
“We have no further stock coming in, so what you see is genuine offers. If you think online is cheaper, that’s why retail is failing, and above and beyond, be kind to my team. They have worked the hardest with the most difficult situations.
“We don’t know what our unit will be become and, kindly, we don’t care. We are losing our jobs and that is what is priority. Anything else is insensitive. Please be more self-aware.”
Aside from Abergele, The Original Factory Shop also has North Wales stores in Bangor, Porthmadog, Barmouth, and Pwllheli.
Modella said: “This has been a very tough decision.
“We have worked intensively in an effort to save the business, but it is now clear The Original Factory Shop doesn’t have a realistic possibility of trading profitably again.
“The legacy effects of trading prior to our ownership left them highly vulnerable.
“A combination of very weak consumer confidence, highly adverse government fiscal policies and continued cost-inflation is causing many established and much-loved businesses to suffer badly.”
Rick Harrison, joint administrator at Interpath, said: “The Original Factory Shop has long been a cornerstone of local high streets up and down the country.
“Unfortunately, however, trading challenges have impacted the business.”
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