Jeanswest collapse hits Hobart branch

JEANSWEST has become the latest retailer casualty in a horror month of company closures.

In a statement, the fashion retailer confirmed 37 stores were slated to close their doors across the country.

KPMG, the administrators appointed to the clothing company, said the closure would affect 263 employees, including 21 staff from Jeanswest’s head office in Melbourne.

Tasmania’s flagship store at Hobart’s Elizabeth Mall would also close.

KPMG voluntary administrator James Stewart said the company would continue to operate while the administrators “conduct an urgent analysis of the business”.

It would also look to redeploy redundant staff as part of the restructure.

“We are very mindful of the serious impact store closures and staff redundancies have on people’s lives,” he said.

“However, we must also work to maximise the opportunity for this business to be sold or restructured, to give it the best chance to continue.”

The fashion business operates 146 stores across Australia and employs 988 people.

The collapse of Jeanswest comes two days after Curious Planet – a retail chain which previously traded as National Geographic – announced it would shut all of its 63 stores.

Last month, department store Harris Scarfe, which operates 66 stores and employs more than 1800 staff, declared itself insolvent.

Harris Scarfe’s five Tasmanian stores were spared closure, as the company entered receivership with accounting firm Deloitte.

Jeanswest opened store in Perth in 1972. its first