NO GO FOR SPICE SHOW
Fan has £420k debts after sell-off f lops Becks bails out Victoria
A SPICE Girls fan has debts of £420,000 after an exhibition of the group’s old gear flopped – and his creditors really wannabe paid.
Alan Smith-allison, 37, ran up a number of bills as he organised the memorabilia show, which he called Spice Up.
At first he was confident after 20,000 fans saw its three-week London run in August.
But when the 7,000 costumes and props were moved to Manchester, only 10,000 of the £10 tickets were sold.
Mr Smith-allison, who blew £200,000 on collectables, is now desperately trying to sell them on ebay to raise some quick cash.
The superfan is offering Geri’s stage costumes for £ 1,950 and Posh Spice’s stilettos for £225.
He said: “It’s a massive shame it didn’t work out and I’m absolutely gutted that we owe money to these people.
“I have lost everything too. It’s devastating.”
Liquidators Begbies Traynor were called in last month.
Among the 60 creditors left out of pocket is Slingshot Sponsorship, whose former chief executive is Apprentice star Jackie Fast, 34.
Another is printer Onward Display, owed £ 7,000 for working round the clock on the exhibition at the Business Design Centre in Islington, North London.
Onward Display owner Ian Stanton said: “We are just one of many, many people who did work for this man and never got paid. It is sad that he’s taken us all for a ride – and for almost half a million. It’s unbelievable. We just all wannabe paid.
“One of my team joked he was No Dosh Spice. Tons of other firms have been hit as well. I hope they recover all the money.”
Mr Smith-allison was also helped by Spice Girls fan and ITV This Morning presenter Rylan Clark-neal.
Rylan, 30, donated towards a £40,000 refurb of the iconic Spice World bus, whose owners agreed for it to be part of the exhibition.
He said: “As a massive fan of the Spice Girls I wanted to help out. I know the guys had a great few months of the exhibition touring the country and it’s sad to know it won’t continue. To even get a glimpse of some of the amazing exhibits was amazing. I am happy I played a small part in it.”
Mr Smith-allison said of his collection: “I spent at least £200,000. I know that is a lot but it’s been an investment, an alternative to a savings account.”
He was inspired by the Spices’ “girl power” message when they burst on to the music scene in 1996 with the single Wannabe.
The band, without Posh Spice Victoria Beckham, start a 13-date tour of Ireland and the UK on May 24.
Mr Smith-allison said: “Being a teenager isn’t always the best time in your life. But then along came these girls who said, ‘It’s all right to be yourself.’ They made me feel comfortable in my own skin.
“I didn’t want my collection in boxes. I wanted fans to see it. It’s part of the history of British pop music.”
“People are so excited to see the costumes. They love seeing the merchandise and talking about what they had.
He added: “Everyone comes out smiling, laughing and dancing.” DAVID Beckham has handed his wife Victoria’s struggling fashion firm £22.8million.
Becks’s DB Ventures and another of the couple’s firms have helped keep Victoria Beckham Ltd afloat.
It has backed Posh’s business with cash, a loan and a loan guarantee. Last year’s accounts show her firm lost £10million despite a rise in sales.
In April, Victoria, 44, laid off a third of her staff in a bid to turn a profit from the company, founded in 2008.
Victoria had opted out of joining Emma Bunton, Mel B, Mel C and Geri Horner on this year’s reunion tour.
But this weekend she hinted she may join the group on stage at some point.