Threat of almost 6,000 jobs going at two high street giants
NEARLY 3,000 jobs are being axed at Dixons Carphone after the retailer announced plans to shut all 531 of its standalone Carphone Warehouse mobile phone stores in the UK.
The retailer has 22 Carphone Warehouse stores in Northern Ireland which are affected.
The group said the shops — which make up around 8% of the entire group’s selling space — will shut on April 3 as its plans to sell mobile phones solely in its 305 combined Currys PC World stores and online across the UK. It expects to make 2,900 redundancies, but said almost 1,800 affected staff are set to take new roles elsewhere in the business.
The group’s 70 Carphone Warehouse stores in Ireland will remain open and its international operations are unaffected.
Dixons Carphone said the move is “essential” to help turn around its UK mobile arm, which is set to make a £90m loss this year. Shares jumped 15% higher after the announcement as investors welcomed action to stem the mobile business losses.
Fashion chain Laura Ashley has filed for administration, putting up to 2,700 jobs at risk, after rescue talks were halted by the coronavirus outbreak.
The troubled retailer had been in talks with stakeholders over refinancing, but it said its “revised cash flow forecasts and increased uncertainty” mean it will not be able to secure these funds in sufficient time.
Largest shareholder Mui Asia said it was unable to support the retailer with “financial support in the required timeframe”. Laura Ashley said it hired advisors from PwC to oversee the administration on Tuesday. The retailer operates 150 stores in the UK and employs around 2,700 staff.