Housewares Business-to-business magazine for housewares retailers and their suppliers
The Au Naturale homewares chain is reportedly attracting plenty of interest from would-be buyers after falling into administration for a second time.
The Glasgow-based retailer was badly hit by the poor weather conditions in January, which affected cash flow, and also failed to secure vital funding.
Au Naturale’s sister company, value clothing retailer Ethel Austin, is also in the hands of administrators MCR.
Closing down sales are now being held at 129 loss-making outlets of the two retailers, which operate out of 300 branches in total and employ over 3,000 people. Meanwhile the administrators are trying to find a buyer for the businesses, and say they have already attracted “substantial” interest.
However, the distribution centre, which was operating on a much-reduced basis prior to the administration, is to cease remaining operations and 404 workers there have been made redundant. The administrators have also made a further 65 positions redundant at head office.
Both Au Naturale and Ethel Austin are owned by Elaine McPherson, who bought the businesses after they first went into administration in 2008.
