ADAMS KIDS TO CLOSE DOWN IN FERMOY
The Avondhu has learned that Adams Kids, the children’s clothes shop in Fermoy, is to close as of 23 March 2010 with the loss of six jobs. The Fermoy shop is one of seven concession shops operated in Shaw’s Department Stores all over Ireland that are due to close by the end of March.Three other shops are staying open for the foreseeable future.
Adams Kids, a UK based company with 107 stores in the UK and 19 concession stores in the UK and Ireland, also known as JS Childrenswear Limited, is currently in an administration process and negotiations are ongoing with potential buyers.
The company had been in administration before, in the recent years. The news comes as a shock to Fermoy, which will experience yet more job losses, the demise of another business and name brand and the choice that Adams Kids offered for children’s clothes wear.
Tom O’Brien, the HR resource manager at Shaws Department Stores HQ, confirmed that the Adams Kids concession shop in Fermoy and six other outlets across the country are going to close at the end of March, while three shops are “staying open for the foreseeable future.”
As the company is now in administration, it is hard to tell what the outcome will be for both the English and Irish stores.
“We have no control over what will happen in the administration process. Sometimes it takes a long time to complete. The employees have already been informed. At this stage some avenues are being explored. Quite probably by later in the week, or early next week, we’ll have definite news,” Mr O’Brien told The Avondhu.
Regarding whose decision to close the shops it was and why exactly, Mr O’Brien stated, “I am not prepared to comment at the moment. These are matters between ourselves and Adams and we don’t want to breach any details.”
Asked about the closing of the shop in Fermoy and the others shops due to close, Mr Luke Derbyshire, associate director with Spreckley Partners Limited, a London based PR company, and the press contact for MCR, the company that is handling the administration process for Adams Kids, told The Avondhu that he couldn’t confirm that the stores were closing.
“We are yet to make any announcements. It is in the early stages. Discussions are still ongoing with potential buyers. Ideally we would get a buyer to buy all the shops, but it could go any way,” Mr. Derbyshire said.
As jobs will be lost, the redundancy package question arises, but at the moment, The Avondhu was not able to source any information regarding the matter, as Mr Derbyshire did not confirm any redundancies, just as he hasn’t confirmed the closing of the shops.
Fermoy Mayor Noel McCarthy expressed his regret and disappointment at the news and stated, “It will be another loss to Fermoy, another brand name gone. The administration process is a long drawn one, but I am hopeful that someone will take over. I am worried for the employees. I hope they will get the redundancy packages that are due to them and if a buyer comes on board. It is another sad day for Fermoy.”
Published:
Friday 19th February 9:57am
