The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
BHS reopens doors – online
Comeback for retail giant
The n ew BHS.com launched today with solely UK suppliers and 84 employees.
The business, a staple of British shopping, went into administration in April and the company was wound down when a buyer could not be found.
Now BHS International, formed by the Al Mana Group, has relaunched the brand online, allowing shoppers to buy products from 23 UK-based suppliers.
From today, BHS.com will sell a range of lighting, bedroom and bathroom products. The company said all launch suppliers were based in the UK, and 84 employees were based primarily in London.
It has also partnered with Ascensos, a British call centre firm with a team based in Glasgow.
Kitchen, dining and clothing ranges were set to go on sale next month.
BHS said the launch products made up around three-quarters of the most popular online items sold by the retailer before it went into administration.
BHS International managing director David Anderson said: “A huge amount of work has gone into rebuilding and BHS back into the UK as an online retailer. With a loyal British customer base of well over one million people and the fact we have contracts with so many leading suppliers who are providing products that were among the most popular with our shoppers, we are in the best possible position for launch.”
The collapse of BHS affected 11,000 jobs, 22,000 pensions, and sparked a parliamentary inquiry.
Retail billionaire Sir Philip Green has borne the brunt of the public fallout, having been branded “the unacceptable face of capitalism” by MPs.
Sir Philip owned BHS for 15 years before selling it to serial bankrupt Dominic Chappell for £1 in 2015.
BHS International has stressed the online retailer has no links with Sir Philip or Mr Chappell.
“A huge amount of work has gone into the launch”