Arbon & Watts, also known as mailorderexpress.com, is the latest
multi-channel retailer to fall into administration. The company,
a well-known toy retailer, has had to call in the administrators
after it incurred significant costs in relocation to a larger
warehouse in 2005, and has faced a tough trading environment on
the high street. Although the internet business has grown
rapidly, the losses in-store have impacted the successful home
shopping business. Stuart Maddison, partner and joint
administrator, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP said, “Arbon &
Watts is a well established and historically profitable business,
but has suffered from the difficult conditions affecting all
retailers. The effect of the recent difficulties has been to
absorb working capital and management time, which has constrained
the potential growth. The internet site and mail order business
has grown significantly since it was established and has
tremendous opportunities for growth with the existing warehouse
and infrastructure able to support this. We are continuing to
trade the business and expect to achieve a rescue or going
concern sale within a short period of time.”
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