Michael Hill to close all Emma & Roe stores

Michael Hill International is closing its remaining six Emma & Roe stores and its online store, to focus on its core jewellery business.

The listed company announced the news after considering a ‘‘comprehensive strategic review’’ into the trans-Tasman charm jewellery brand.

In March, Michael Hill made a call to close 24 of its Emma & Roe stores, affecting 168 staff members, and to ‘‘reposition’’ the remaining six stores in the demi-fine jewellery sector.

Yesterday, Michael Hill International chief executive Phil Taylor announced the company would close the rest. He would not say how many employees would be affected by the move.

To date, five stores closed in April, and the others are expected to close by June 30.

New Zealand’s only Emma & Roe store is in Auckland’s Manukau, which will close affecting up to seven staff members.

Taylor defended the closures, saying they would ‘‘best position’’ the company to deliver ‘‘stronger customer proposition and financial results’’. Branching into the demifine jewellery category remained a ‘‘compelling’’ opportunity for the company to pursue ‘‘at the right time’’, he said.

Money set aside to reposition the Emma & Roe brand would instead be invested into the Michael Hill brand, Taylor said.

The cost of closing the remaining six Emma & Roe stores, as well as its online store, is expected to cost about $3.1 million, including terminating leases and paying workers, Taylor said.

The announcement follows news that Michael Hill is pulling out of the United States, after months of declining sales.

Emma & Roe is named after founder Sir Michael Hill’s daughter and Michael Hill chairwoman Emma Hill and his wife Lady Christine Hill, whose maiden name is Roe.

Brisbane-based Michael Hill International also runs Michael Hill stores in Australia, New Zealand and Canada.