In April 2017 we reviewed the story of Karen Millen , who had built her fashion brand into a 130-store chain before being declared bankrupt because of an unpaid tax bill . The brand, which was bought from Millen in 2004 by an Icelandic company before being transferred to Aurora Fashions in 2011, has been long regarded as a quality outlet on the British high street. However, with the seemingly-relentless demise of the traditional British high street, it appears there are about to be two more casualties. In 2018 Karen Millen, owned by Aurora – who are ultimately owned by the Icelandic Kaupthing Bank – acquired certain parts of Coast , a competing fashion retailer who were launched in 1996 and grew to have almost 20 stand-alone stores in the UK. As Coast were in administration, Karen Millen were able to acquire certain parts of the Coast’s concession and online portfolio, saving 600 jobs in the process. However, it was confirmed this week that Karen Millen and Coast have been put i...

In this very short post, the focus will be on the difficulties being faced at the moment by the famous ‘Toys-R-Us’ brand, founded almost 70 years ago in the United States. Founded in 1948 by Charles Lazarus , the company would go on to be a huge success, essentially coming to be synonymous with the children’s toys market; the company has since gone on to establish itself in countries all around the world, and today’s post will focus on its U.K. operations, which began in 1985 , and the troubles facing the company as a whole. It was reported earlier today that rather than demonstrate the continuance of this success, the British arm of the Toys R Us Company is facing the prospect of going into administration – the process whereby an administrator takes charge and attempts to rescue the company as a going concern. This negative development will, according to reports, put more than 3,000 British jobs at risk , with the prospect of administration drawing ever closer after an attempt...