Loss of JJB would be 'bitter blow' for Kingsgate
Published 28 Sep 2012 11:30
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The JJB store was one of a number of big chains that came to the Kingsgate in 2008.
STAFF at JJB Sports in Dunfermline face an uncertain future after the company announced it is set to enter administration.
The debt-laden firm was once Britain's biggest sports retailer but has been reporting losses since 2009 and now thousands of jobs among its 4000-strong workforce are at risk.
Closures of up to half of JJB Sports' 180 stores are expected but workers in Dunfermline have been left in the dark as no information about which stores will be affected has been released by the company.
A spokesman for JJB Sports told the Press, "Administrators have not yet been appointed and it is up to them to decide which stores will close so until that happens there won't be any specific information for each individual store."
Dunfermline's JJB outlet opened at the Kingsgate Shopping Centre after the £50million extension was added in August 2008.
JJB Sports was one of a number of big-name chains to come to the Kingsgate and the centre's manager Neil Mackie has admitted it would be a "bitter blow" if the shop was forced to close.
He said, "It would be massively detrimental to the Kingsgate if the JJB store closed. The situation is very unfortunate but indicative of a number of companies in the market at the moment.
"The key issue just now is that they don't know which individual stores are going to shut and my hope would be that because the Kingsgate is trading successfully then the Dunfermline outlet would be one of the safe ones."
The company has been hit hard by the reduction in consumer spending triggered by the global financial crisis and could be the latest major firm to disappear entirely from the British High Street.
"People who work in the sector are not surprised any more to see major retailers dipping into this sort of situation," said Mr Mackie, "but I'd like to be optimistic about the Dunfermline shop's future because it is bound to be one of the better performing stores."
The store manager at JJB Sports' Dunfermline outlet declined to comment.
This article appeared in Dunfermline Press 27 Sep 12
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redrobin
285 posts
Sep 28, 15:07
Report commentHope the dunfermline shop will be spared, however this firm has been in financial bother for years and it should not really come as a surprise to anyone.
It's becoming a game of chess in Kingsgate shops two moves forward with new retailers and two moves back with closures.
And it is not gonna get any better soon.
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Yes 5
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GrantStevenson
21 posts
Sep 28, 16:27
Report commentRegretfully the staff are paying the ultimate price because the management of JJB have refused to change their business model and move with the times, especially during the current recession.
JJB are very pricey and uncompetitive, compared with other sports retailers such as Sports Direct. Same brands and products on sale.
JJB will go the same way as HMV, Woolworths, Game, etc etc etc, but the directors will walk away with no losses to their benefit packages. Shocking.
Recommend? Yes 20
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Catlady57
38 posts
Sep 28, 19:11
Report commentAs above, JJB has been 'teetering on the edge' for several years and while I feel sorry for staff who may lose their jobs.
The death knell in Dunfermline has been the opening of Sports Direct. JJB has been living in the past with premium, uncompetitive prices and watch out JD Sports as their brands such as McKenzie have become the trademark of 'chavs'.
Recommend? Yes 9
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davidcolin
6 posts
Sep 28, 21:16
Report commentJJB has been unsucessful for a number of years and is finding it very hard to fight the trading market at the moment (as previously said). Looking at JJB over a number of years, they push a number of things far to far at points and charge prices that can be really difficult to maintain with such little flow of customers coming through the doors. As a previous member of management of the competitor retailer JD Sports, i have seen JJB do very well and beat alot of our prices at JD however they let them slip after so long and dont maintain the standard of "popular" brands out there such as addidas and Nike. The issue with JJB is, they are a sports retailer, more performance based. JD Sports are more a Sports Fashion retailer, not only selling sports performance gear however also produce products of fashion, most of all their popular seller always being "King Of Trainers" - This was the issue i found between JJB, they seemed more performance based and due to limited facilities for sports, people most likely are price comparing online and finding stuff elsewhere. JJB in Dunfermline would have done fantastic when Carneige Leisure Centre opened, Sports Direct done very well on their opening and seem to maintain that standard and JD have done well in all 3 sectors of Fashion, Sports Retailing and Performance. - Their biggest most likely would have been the London Olympics 2012.
Whatever happens with JJB, i would be sad to see them go and as for the people loosing their jobs within, i feel just as bad for them and would never like to be in that scenario myself :(
I wish them all the best and fingers crossed JJB in Dunfermline pull through, improving day by day. - Alot of money would be lost and im pretty sure "The Kingsgate" will be bricking it themselves since the company who originally owned "The Kingsgate" went bust... So i imagine they will be praying they dont go with the size & rental they are getting.
Wishing all at JJB luck. :)
Recommend? Yes 9
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ItsErnie
202 posts
Sep 30, 12:13
Report commentYou say (Davidcolin)that JJB are a 'Sports Retailer' but realistically why would people buy expensive sports goods such as golfing or tennis gear from staff who clearly know absolutely nothing about the goods that they sell? If you are going to be successful in selling high-priced specialist goods, you need to have well-trained staff who (if possible) are expert in the goods you want to sell.
Selling T-shirts and trainers and calling it a 'Sports' market is fashionable (if a bit misleading) and JJB have failed by not understanding the difference. They are a large shop in the Centre but would not be, I would say, a large loss.
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DrewCarnegie
65 posts
Sep 30, 14:58
Report commentWith no JJB, where will the Chavs get outfitted
Recommend? Yes 4
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ItsErnie
202 posts
Oct 1, 20:39
Report commentOh well- it's all a bit academic now as it is to be closed.
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