Another sad day due to the credit crunch - with the loss of Motorworld. 100 of its stores were closed down on Friday afternoon at 3pm, and the rest were temporarly closed. 300 jobs have been lost. Both Plymouth stores have closed, but one of them will be re-opening under a new name and new management.
Motorworld stores that have closed (according to reports).
ATHERTON - MANCHESTER
BARNSTAPLE - DEVON
BIDEFORD - DEVON
BLACKWOOD - SOUTH WALES
BRAMHILL - MANCHESTER
BROMSGROVE - WORCESTERSHIRE
CONNERS QUAY - NORTH WALES
EVESHAM - GLOUCESTERSHIRE
KIDDERMINSTER - WORECSTERSHIRE
LLANDUDNO - NORTH WALES
NEWBURY - BERKSHIRE
NEWPORT - SOUTH WALES
PLYMOUTH NORTH - DEVON
WILMSLOW - MANCHESTER
Stores that have been saved after being bought by Powerhouse owners Pacific Retail Group Ltd, and will reopen under a new name.
CARLISLE - NORTHUMBRIA
PLYMOUTH TRANSIT WAY - DEVON
RISCA - SOUTH WALES
The fate of other store is not known at this time. If you know the fate of your local store, please let me know so I can update the list above.
TAKEN FROM THE NEWBURYTODAY NEWSPAPER
Locksmiths were drafted in to change locks at the Northbrook Street store, which sells in-car technology equipment, and three employees have reportedly been made redundant.
They were also reportedly told they would not receive monthly pay packets at the end of this month due to the sudden closure.
The store’s assistant manager, Stuart Hamlin said: “This came out of the blue, no one knew anything about it and it has happened three days before pay day. I basically cannot pay the rent or the bills and I could lose where I live.”
Full-time sales assistant Matthew Bodey, aged 20, said he would struggle financially with the loss of his job, which he had had for four months.
He said without pay he would be unable to afford to stay in his rented property.
He said:“I will be left homeless now and I will have to live out of my car for the next few nights. I can deal with losing my job but it is going to be hard not knowing where to go from here.”
Other latest casualties are Rosebys furnishing shops and believe it or not, MFI have also gone as well. ITV is cutting a third of its regional news service staff.
On the bright side though, We at Devans Drivers have stepped in to help out Motorworld customers in Plymouth, one of their former fitters have now joined our team, and as well as the driving school, we'll be launching a mobile car alarm and accessory fitting business backed by Direct Electronics (former Motorworld suppliers), selling and fitting their Falcoln range of car alarms and security. I am in talks with Autosmart and Wolfrace as well about selling their lines though our new business.
We'll be operating on a 'just in time' principle, so we don't owe anyone money, and goods are paid for as we get them, and our customers paying us on the day of sale. That's the best way to be.
