Redundancies as JJB administrators close Kingsgate store

Published 1 Oct 2012 16:45 14 Comments

Share this

STAFF at JJB Sports' Dunfermline outlet are among 2,200 who have been made redundant nationwide after administrators were appointed to the troubled company.

The outlet at the Kingsgate Shopping Centre will close immediately, resulting in the loss of 14 jobs.

Administrators from KPMG completed an agreement to sell part of the business to Sports Direct International today and have acquired 20 stores, the brand and the website but have chosen to close the firm's other remaining 133 stores.

Richard Fleming, UK Head of Restructuring at KPMG, said, "Successive attempts to restructure the business have not been enough to prevent the company falling into administration. Unfortunately, a buyer could only be found for 20 stores."

All staff made redundant have had their arrears of wages and holiday entitlements paid in full.

Administrators have also set up a 24 hour helpline for employees on 0845 3022538.

Have you been affected by the job losses? Call our newsdesk on 728201 or post a comment on our Facebook page or below.

This article appeared in Dunfermline Press 01 Oct 12

Have your say. Post a comment on this article.

Mikeintheknow
37 posts
Oct 1, 18:14
Report comment

What a shame for those 14 people, but alas it was never busy, compared to the Sport Direct in the High street. Yet again we have another huge empty shop in the Kingates. Hopeful someone like "Home Bargain" could get the unit, which we really need.

I also hope Sports Direct gets more football shirts in stock :P

Recommend? Yes 3 No 4
char
131 posts
Oct 1, 20:12
Report comment

We've already got Tiger, Bodycare and Poundland as well as B&M at Halbeath. Not sure we need another bargain store. Better off getting something that will draw people in like Superdry or a proper HMV. Still a number of empty units in the centre (it's in administration too!) so not great. New H&M is a great addition though.

Recommend? Yes 10 No 3
stormxxx
132 posts
Oct 2, 02:53
Report comment

I feel so sorry for those who have just lost their jobs. Best thing is to close the centre an bring back the High Street!! HMV would go down fantastic but not in the Kingsgate i don't think..well maybe but better in the High Street!! Infact the High Street should maybe have it's name changed now....pretty much lookin like Edinburgh's High St. Not very pretty.

Recommend? Yes 5 No 3
Tradesman
94 posts
Oct 2, 07:18
Report comment

The reality of retailing today has been reflected in the business pages for many a month; the businesses that are weathering the storm are the low cost retailers, Primark, Poundland, UK Discount, et al; better a low cost retailer then an empty unit!

The ex JJB staff in the Kingsgate should rightly are receiving condolences related to their job losses; it is the senior management of JJB Sports who should be denounced!

Arrogantly believing their retail model was perfect they refused to change, offering products only at RRP; even when they tried to sell off old stock their sale prices were dearer than competitors standard prices; it is little wonder the store was only ever entered by browsers, not buyers!

JJB Sports like many retailers of this ilk became a window for internet shoppers; people sampled their products in store for sizes / fit then ordered online from cheaper suppliers; this lesson must be learned from other retailers who sell the same branded products that are available online, compete or close!

Recommend? Yes 10 No 0
kaka30
310 posts
Oct 2, 09:42
Report comment

GAP would be a great addition to Dunfermline and I'm sure it would do well just like H&M will do. It's hard economic times & the Internet doesn't help retailers but I think Dunfermline is slowly getting better & if it can ride out these hard times & have imaginative people making bold decisions then the future could be good.

Recommend? Yes 4 No 3
MrsScottsWeeLaddie
48 posts
Oct 2, 10:08
Report comment

Sorry for the people losing their jobs! JJB was always a bit pricey though and the Dunfermline one resembled a Rangers souvenir shop to be honest.

TK Maxx would be a good shop to have in the Kingsgate I think.

Recommend? Yes 11 No 6
DunfermlineEast
137 posts
Oct 2, 10:25
Report comment

Online is the way forward for retail. Any business which does not have a clear product and competitive pricing or offer something unique or a large online presence is doomed. JJB Sport was expensive and will not be mourned.

The days of High Streets and Malls with parking charges are limited.

http://www.retailgazette.co.uk/articles/01201-july-sees-highest-online-sales-growth-of-2012

Recommend? Yes 9 No 1
char
131 posts
Oct 2, 19:01
Report comment

Online is the way forward for *some* retail. I hardly ever buy clothes online as they may not be as they appear in photos or may be the wrong size. I also won't buy really expensive electronics unless it's the internet site of a bricks and mortar store. High Street stores will always have the advantage of having goods there and then.

High Streets need to diversify though. They need to go back to the tradition of being meeting places. This is why it's great that Dunfermline has coffee shops, bars, restaurants and Theatres in addition to shops. However, it needs to encourage more small businesses offering goods and services not available online or in other towns.

Dunfermline also needs to update the public realm and encourage town centre living. The coop site would be ideal for some flatted or townhouse properties perhaps with a couple of larger sized retail units to create a draw to that end. The original plan for a cinema there would've been a real draw.

Recommend? Yes 1 No 1
supersonic
220 posts
Oct 2, 21:12
Report comment

I think the kingsgate would be greatly improved with an Alistair's Cavern.

Recommend? Yes 3 No 0
Charlatan
6 posts
Oct 3, 13:33
Report comment

Condolences to those who have lost their jobs.

I do feel though that JJB contributed massively to their own downfall. I have no interest in walking into a shop that resembles an Old Firm club shop.

No diversity, rubbish trainers for sale, tracksuits only neds wear.....

The market for football strips is huge, but they chose only to stock the 8 or 10 biggest name teams, feeding the modern, Sky Sports' fuelled fashion of glory hunting.

Recommend? Yes 5 No 0
itsallwentpetetong2012
145 posts
Oct 4, 01:16
Report comment

I been contacting shops to see if they would like to open up in Dunfermline, please see below there email responses, I have also been talking to several shop keepers as well regarding lack of trade and many advise this is due to parking and bad signage and no shuttle bus.

This could be shorted easily if we set up a shops of Dunfermline website with links to Visit Dunfermline etc, the parking would be sorted by building a multi-storey carpark in Wilmuir Drive so serving visitors to Alhambra and the new museum this multi storey carpark would be funded by the council selling of some of the other carparks, there would be a shuttle bus running from the multi storey serving all areas of the town centre.

There is also a dire need for decent signage for our shops, like the Maygate area,Bonar Street,James Street,Eastport,Chalmers Street and Bridge Street this could be sorted by installing LCD screens like the pics above which could point people in the right direction it would also be easy to update if a shop left a specific area, we should also hafe our shops in certain areas etc as well.

1.BANK Fashion

Thank you very much for your enquiry.

We would love to open a store in Dunfermline. It is something we are looking at and we hope to open a store there soon.

In the mean time I hope you can find what you’re looking for on our website www.bankfashion.co.uk

Kind Regards

PA to the Managing Director

Bank Fashion

2.Poundworld

Thanks for your email and interest in our company.

We have discussed potential property in Dumfermline previously but the deal fell through.

We are currently assessing potential opportunities in the area which we hope will result in us opening a new store there in the near future.

Once finalised we will of course release details in the local press.

Thanks again

Regards

Poundworld Retail Ltd

3.Pure Gym

Hi

Thanks for your email.

We don’t have any plans for Dunfermline at the moment, but if you know anywhere suitable, please get in touch – www.puregym.com/property

Is there anything else I can help you with?

Kind Regards,

Social Media Manager

Pure Gym Ltd

The above shops would like to open in Dunfermline as soon as possible on the High Street or in the Kingsgate Centre or any other shops where we have empty units, the below emails are from shops etc that would come to Dunfermline if given the correct floorspace etc.

1. Ann Summers

Thank you for taking the time to email us with your comments, this will be passed to the relevant department.

Kind Regards

Customer Service Advisor

2.Footasylum

Hi

Thank you for your email. We are continuously opening new stores and will bear the below in mind.

Thank You and Kind Regards

Customer Service Administrator

Footasylum Limited

3.Dunhelm Mills

Thanks for your email.

I’ve liaised with my colleagues and currently we do not have any future plans to open a store in Dunfermline. I have forwarded your request to our Head Office as a suggestion for consideration and thanks for getting in touch with us.

Kind Regards,

Customer Service Advisor

Dunelm Direct

4.Jack Wills

Thank you for your email and feedback. At this stage there are no plans to open a store in Dunfermline however we would always recommend keeping an eye on our Twitter & Facebook pages as any information around new stores will be there. In the meantime, please feel free to view our fabulous collection at www.jackwills.com. I do hope this helps and thank you once again for taking the time to write to us.

Best wishes,

Jack Wills

5.USC

Thank you very much for your feedback.

I have forwarded this to my manager.

Kind Regards

6.Lush

Thanks for your recent email. I'm so pleased to hear that you're a fan of Lush products! We love to create fresh, handmade cosmetics that are gentle on the skin while being kind to animals and the environment.

Unfortunately there are no plans at the moment to open a new store in Dunfermline, however Lush is an ever growing company so watch this space! In the meantime we will forward your email to our property department so they may view your request.

Thank you again for taking the time and trouble to contact us and we hope you will continue to enjoy using Lush products!

Kind regards,

7.Millies Cookies

I hope you are well.

I will pass you suggestion to development team.

Kind Regards

Millie’s Cookies

8.Mama & Papa's

Good Morning,

Thank you for your recent email in reply to which I would inform you that there are no plans to open a store in Dunfermline at this moment.

regards

Mamas & Papas, Home Shopping

9.Build A Bear

Dear Guest,

Thank you for your email. I will pass this on to the correct department for you.

Hugs

Bear Services Representative

Build-A-Bear Workshop®

SueL@buildabear.co.uk

www.buildabear.co.uk

10.Smythes Toys

Thank you for your email.

We appreciate the suggestion and I will ensure it is passed on to the relevant department.

Many thanks.

Kind Regards,

Customer Service Dept.

Smyths Toys Superstores

11.Zara

We would like to thank you for your interest in our company.

We would like to inform you that at the moment we do not have short-terms plans to open one of our chain stores in Dunfermline.

We will note your request to study its viability for future expansion plans.

Yours faithfully.

Edificio Inditex • Av. Diputación s/n • 15142 - Arteixo (A Coruña) España

12.Deichmann Shoes

Hi

Sorry but we have no firm plans as yet but we are always looking for suitable retail opportunities.

Kind Regards,

Customer Services

DEICHMANN

Fashion ~ Quality ~ Value ~ For Everyone

www.deichmann.com

Deichmann-Shoes UK Limited is registered in England; company number 2893066; registered office: 18 Main Street, Lubenham, Market Harborough, Leicestershire LE16 9TF

13.Superdry

Many thanks for your email,

At present there are no plans to have a store in Dunfermline but I would not rule out this happening in the future.

Kind Regards,

customer services

Customer Services

T:

E:customer.services@supergroup.co.uk

14. Republic

Hi and thanks for your recent email re the above.

Unfortunately Dunfermline doesn't feature on our list of target towns at this time but we're constantly re-evaluating our position and this may change at some point in the future.

Thanks for taking an interest in Republic.

Kind regards

Head of Property.

15.TK Maxx

Thank you for your email and your interest in our company.

We do not have any plans at the moment for a store opening in your district. However I have passed your suggestion on to our property department for their information.

Once again thank you for your email and for your interest in our company.

Kind regards

Alison

TJX Europe Customer Services

16.Wilkinson

Thank you for your email.

Thank you for your email about the possibility of a Wilkinson store opening in your local area of Dunfermline.

Wilkinson currently has well over 300 stores and we are regularly opening new stores. After some investigation, I can confirm that unfortunately we do not currently have any plans to open a store in your local area. I am sorry for any disappointment this may cause you.

However, I have forwarded your comments onto our Properties department and I would like to reassure you that the expansion of our store network will continue. You may also be interested in using our Wilkinson Plus service, which enables you to place an order with Wilkinson online atwww.wilkinsonplus.com, over the telephone on 08456 080807, or in any of our stores. Items can be delivered to your home or a Wilkinson store.

Thank you again for contacting us

Regards

Rachel

Customer service

All these shops are all different and would make Dunfermline such a good place to shop.We have plenty of empty units on our High Street and Kingsgate Shopping Centre.

Sorry to here that JJB closed it down to bad management after David Whelan sold it..

Recommend? Yes 3 No 0
darkknight
26 posts
Oct 4, 13:03
Report comment

bring back woolies

Recommend? Yes 2 No 1
DunfermlineEast
137 posts
Oct 4, 13:39
Report comment

As Monsoon departed Dunfermline I doubt the likes of Jack Wills could survive with the demographic who shop in Dunfermline - not the demographic who live in Dunfermline is different to the one who shops here. That is the problem. No one decent wants to pay and shop in Dunfermline as it is not worth it. Shops in turn close and the cycle continues. We have to start thinking of High Street not being the retail centre. Let retail open at Fife Leisure Park and surrounding areas as well as at the units at B&Q. The High Street should be for small retailers or turn them into flats - bespoke, niche is the only way to save it. Kingsgate is plain awful, a dead shopping centre, too dark, units too small, rents too high, parking charges (why pay to enter a dead shopping centre with a small Markies and Debenhams and a poundshop full of schemies.)

Recommend? Yes 10 No 0

Return to the main index, get more from this section or browse our News archives.

Dunfermline Press Poll

Do you think Dunfermline Delivers does a good job for Dunfermline?

Follow @dunfermlinep