Preston fashion store Outfit closes with the loss of 25 jobs
Outfit on the Deepdale Shopping Park officially closed last week.
It had been forced to close temporarily along with other non-essential shops under the new coronavirus lockdown rules.
Now staff have been told it will not reopen.
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Hide AdOutfit is part of Sir Philip Green’s Arcadia empire which collapsed into administration last year.
It stocks many other Arcadia brands like Burton, Dorothy Perkins, Evans, Miss Selfridge, and Topman in its 70-plus stores across the UK.
A spokesman for administrators Deloitte confirmed to the Post that the Deepdale Outfit branch closed on January 14.
A women believed to be the Outfit manager in Preston posted on social media: “I write this with a very heavy heart.
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Hide Ad“When I closed the door on the 31st December 2020 for the national lockdown, I never thought they would never open up again to the public.
“It’s been an amazing six years with the Outfit family, working with some fantastic people who are now friends for life.
“I wish all my team good luck on their next chapter.”
Customers were gutted that the store had closed.
One said on social media: “Will be very sorry to see you go.
“I hope you all manage to find something else quickly, ladies.”
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Hide AdAnother said: “What a shame. There is going to be nothing left.”
Business – and the hospitality and retail sectors in particular – has been hit hard by the coronavirus restrictions, with the stop-start economy leading to many closures and redundancies.
With no end in sight for the current lockdown, many firms are struggling financially even with Government help.
Department store chain Debenhams has also been a casualty, with further stores now being earmarked for closure.
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