BDO administrators called to Mary Portas lingerie factory

BDO administrators called to Mary Portas lingerie factory

Headon & Quarmby, manufacturers of lingerie for Mary Portas and number of high street retailers calls in BDO administrators who make all staff redundant

BDO ADMINISTRATORS have been called to the lingerie manufacturer behind Mary Portas’ Kinky Knickers range and have made all staff redundant.

Kerry Bailey and Patrick Lannagan from BDO were appointed joint administrators to Manchester-based Headon & Quarmby, a 79-year-old family-run manufacturer of lingerie. The business produces underwear to a number of street retailers and brands, including exclusive manufacturing for Mary Portas’ underwear range.

However the administrators have confirmed that all 33 staff have been made redundant.

The factory was part of a high-profile attempt to focus on the UK manufacturing industry in a Mary Portas TV show, “Mary’s Bottom Line”.

During the show eight apprentices were taken on at the manufacture which doubled its workforce in a bid to keep up with demand. It recently revealed plans to launch a sleepwear and lingerie range Ella&M and planned to open up an academy in which it would train staff to sew.

Bailey said: “A drop in post-Christmas orders from key customers and a decline in sales volumes has significantly affected the business and resulted in a deterioration of its working capital position. However, we are doing everything we can to try to secure a future for the business, and we are hopeful of securing a sale.

“To that end, the administration team would welcome approaches from commercial parties interested in acquiring the business or assets.”

Portas, who doesn’t have any financial involvement in the business, is reported to have said she was “really upset” at the news.

She added: “We are ringing around seeing how we can support them… I think there’s a future for the business and so do they,” The Guardian reports.  

Share

Subscribe to get your daily business insights

Resources & Whitepapers

Why Professional Services Firms Should Ditch Folders and Embrace Metadata
Professional Services

Why Professional Services Firms Should Ditch Folders and Embrace Metadata

3y

Why Professional Services Firms Should Ditch Folde...

In the past decade, the professional services industry has transformed significantly. Digital disruptions, increased competition, and changing market ...

View resource
2 Vital keys to Remaining Competitive for Professional Services Firms

2 Vital keys to Remaining Competitive for Professional Services Firms

3y

2 Vital keys to Remaining Competitive for Professi...

In recent months, professional services firms are facing more pressure than ever to deliver value to clients. Often, clients look at the firms own inf...

View resource
Turn Accounts Payable into a value-engine
Accounting Firms

Turn Accounts Payable into a value-engine

3y

Turn Accounts Payable into a value-engine

In a world of instant results and automated workloads, the potential for AP to drive insights and transform results is enormous. But, if you’re still ...

View resource
Digital Links: A guide to MTD in 2021
Making Tax Digital

Digital Links: A guide to MTD in 2021

3y

Digital Links: A guide to MTD in 2021

The first phase of Making Tax Digital (MTD) saw the requirement for the digital submission of the VAT Return using compliant software. That’s now behi...

View resource