Fashion store West One closure leaves Southampton staff without jobs

2:53pm Friday 8th February 2013 in News

Staff Caroline Javor, Vicky Cullen and Poppy Gale outside the shut-up store. Staff Caroline Javor, Vicky Cullen and Poppy Gale outside the shut-up store.

STAFF at a popular Southampton fashion store have been left “stunned” after their shop closed without warning.

Employees at West One, in the Marlands shopping centre, were given the news by company bosses in a shock meeting yesterday morning.

The outlet’s eight female staff members were left to clear out the remaining stock at the shop after being informed that they would be losing their jobs.

It is understood that the retailer, which has almost 20 shops across the UK, was last night on the verge of going into administration following a period of poor trading.

The closure comes as yet another blow to the high street, after games and DVD giants HMV and Blockbuster both plunged into administration earlier this year. Yesterday it was announced 66 HMV stores would be closed over the next two months, affecting 930 staff.

Vicky Cullen, 19, who was manager at the Southampton store, said she was at home on annual leave when she received the devastating call from the company’s area manager.

Vicky, who has worked at the store since September 2010, immediately rushed to the shop upon hearing the news.

She told the Daily Echo: “It was massive shock. I got a phone call and this woman started explaining my redundancy rights and I said: ‘Excuse me, I want to be there with the rest of my staff.’ “We had feelings things were going downhill, but we thought it would be okay.

“We had no notice whatsoever. It was the first we had heard of it and we’ve been given no explanation.”

Vicky revealed that a number of her staff will now be struggling to pay bills and rent following the sudden closure.

She added: “Where do we go from here? We haven’t been told where we stand with redundancy or what we are entitled to. We are all stunned. We just want to get back into work as soon as we can.”

A notice on the West One website yesterday gave no indication of the trading problems, simply stating: “Site currently under maintenance. Sorry for any inconvenience.”

The Daily Echo understands that West One has approached Leonard Curtis business solutions group as potential administrators.

Comments(27)

Might SS says...
3:57pm Fri 8 Feb 13

Where do the Echo get the headlines - fisrt sentence !!! The shop could not have been that popular or it would not have closed!

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IronLady2010 says...
4:26pm Fri 8 Feb 13

A store Manager at just 19, it seems she has bright future ahead, maybe she could take on the lease and open up her own store, she certainly seems to have the ambition.

Good luck girls!

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IronLady2010 says...
4:29pm Fri 8 Feb 13

Infact Vicky, go and see Cllr Williams, he may be able to advise on how to raise funds to get you started. There may be grants available to get you started, you never know, always worth asking the question.

Good luck all of you.

Report this post »

loosehead says...
4:50pm Fri 8 Feb 13

Never seemed that busy when I walked through there would have been better situated in West Quay

Report this post »

IronLady2010 says...
4:55pm Fri 8 Feb 13

loosehead wrote:
Never seemed that busy when I walked through there would have been better situated in West Quay
I agree with you there Loosehead, Marlands is mainly a cut through for people.

Not many businesses survive in Marlands unless they are a cheap shop. Poundland, Savers, Matalan etc.

Mind, I was surprised to see Hawkins Bazaar have re-opened in a new unit, they should certainly be in WestQuay.

Report this post »

100%HANTSBOY says...
5:16pm Fri 8 Feb 13

Manager Vicky told the Daily Echo: “It was massive shock. I got a phone call and this woman started explaining my redundancy rights"

In the next paragraph She added: “Where do we go from here? We haven’t been told where we stand with redundancy or what we are entitled to."

I'm confused! Did she not listen to the woman on the phone ? Or is there two Vickys?

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SaintM says...
5:20pm Fri 8 Feb 13

If it was a shock to the manager, then obviously no good at her job anyway. A shop needs to sell enough goods to make a profit after all overheads taking into account, if it does not ten it closes, simple.

Report this post »

IronLady2010 says...
5:25pm Fri 8 Feb 13

Based on the article I assume they have closed all 20 stores as their website is also offline. For all we know the Southampton store could have been making a profit and holding up other loss making stores.

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Maine Lobster says...
5:50pm Fri 8 Feb 13

IronLady2010 wrote:
loosehead wrote:
Never seemed that busy when I walked through there would have been better situated in West Quay
I agree with you there Loosehead, Marlands is mainly a cut through for people.

Not many businesses survive in Marlands unless they are a cheap shop. Poundland, Savers, Matalan etc.

Mind, I was surprised to see Hawkins Bazaar have re-opened in a new unit, they should certainly be in WestQuay.
I expect the costs of opening a business in West Quay are much greater than the Marlands.

Report this post »

IronLady2010 says...
5:57pm Fri 8 Feb 13

Maine Lobster wrote:
IronLady2010 wrote:
loosehead wrote:
Never seemed that busy when I walked through there would have been better situated in West Quay
I agree with you there Loosehead, Marlands is mainly a cut through for people.

Not many businesses survive in Marlands unless they are a cheap shop. Poundland, Savers, Matalan etc.

Mind, I was surprised to see Hawkins Bazaar have re-opened in a new unit, they should certainly be in WestQuay.
I expect the costs of opening a business in West Quay are much greater than the Marlands.
I agree fully, but Hawkins Bazaar is a well known brand and is wasted in Marlands.

Report this post »

elvisimo says...
7:33pm Fri 8 Feb 13

IronLady2010 wrote:
Maine Lobster wrote:
IronLady2010 wrote:
loosehead wrote: Never seemed that busy when I walked through there would have been better situated in West Quay
I agree with you there Loosehead, Marlands is mainly a cut through for people. Not many businesses survive in Marlands unless they are a cheap shop. Poundland, Savers, Matalan etc. Mind, I was surprised to see Hawkins Bazaar have re-opened in a new unit, they should certainly be in WestQuay.
I expect the costs of opening a business in West Quay are much greater than the Marlands.
I agree fully, but Hawkins Bazaar is a well known brand and is wasted in Marlands.
Hawkins Bizarre also went bust their shops are just Temps.

Keep eye out for Store 21, republic and New Look - all could have an interesting time ahead.

Report this post »

loosehead says...
9:06pm Fri 8 Feb 13

IronLady2010 wrote:
loosehead wrote:
Never seemed that busy when I walked through there would have been better situated in West Quay
I agree with you there Loosehead, Marlands is mainly a cut through for people.

Not many businesses survive in Marlands unless they are a cheap shop. Poundland, Savers, Matalan etc.

Mind, I was surprised to see Hawkins Bazaar have re-opened in a new unit, they should certainly be in WestQuay.
My wife phoned up Marlands to enquire about a stall.
she wanted to sell Thai products & then maybe move into a shop selling those products plus making tailor made clothes.
My wife has made wedding dresses wedding suits ( one was orange) she made a silk suit for a guy from Jamaica.
it was Green & it was like Beckhams wedding suit but my wife altered it slightly as she thought it looked better .
all the people thought she was great as she could design & make but Marlands wanted at least £75 a day which to start off was way to dear.

Report this post »

IronLady2010 says...
9:39pm Fri 8 Feb 13

loosehead wrote:
IronLady2010 wrote:
loosehead wrote:
Never seemed that busy when I walked through there would have been better situated in West Quay
I agree with you there Loosehead, Marlands is mainly a cut through for people.

Not many businesses survive in Marlands unless they are a cheap shop. Poundland, Savers, Matalan etc.

Mind, I was surprised to see Hawkins Bazaar have re-opened in a new unit, they should certainly be in WestQuay.
My wife phoned up Marlands to enquire about a stall.
she wanted to sell Thai products & then maybe move into a shop selling those products plus making tailor made clothes.
My wife has made wedding dresses wedding suits ( one was orange) she made a silk suit for a guy from Jamaica.
it was Green & it was like Beckhams wedding suit but my wife altered it slightly as she thought it looked better .
all the people thought she was great as she could design & make but Marlands wanted at least £75 a day which to start off was way to dear.
Am unsure why you were quoted that as a good friend had a watch stall before he become ill and he paid less than that for a month!

Report this post »

J.P.M says...
9:55pm Fri 8 Feb 13

IronLady2010 wrote:
loosehead wrote:
IronLady2010 wrote:
loosehead wrote:
Never seemed that busy when I walked through there would have been better situated in West Quay
I agree with you there Loosehead, Marlands is mainly a cut through for people.

Not many businesses survive in Marlands unless they are a cheap shop. Poundland, Savers, Matalan etc.

Mind, I was surprised to see Hawkins Bazaar have re-opened in a new unit, they should certainly be in WestQuay.
My wife phoned up Marlands to enquire about a stall.
she wanted to sell Thai products & then maybe move into a shop selling those products plus making tailor made clothes.
My wife has made wedding dresses wedding suits ( one was orange) she made a silk suit for a guy from Jamaica.
it was Green & it was like Beckhams wedding suit but my wife altered it slightly as she thought it looked better .
all the people thought she was great as she could design & make but Marlands wanted at least £75 a day which to start off was way to dear.
Am unsure why you were quoted that as a good friend had a watch stall before he become ill and he paid less than that for a month!
I am more unsure about the irrelevant ramblings......beckh
ams suit........orange wedding dresses........blah blah blah...

Report this post »

loosehead says...
9:38am Sat 9 Feb 13

J.P.M wrote:
IronLady2010 wrote:
loosehead wrote:
IronLady2010 wrote:
loosehead wrote:
Never seemed that busy when I walked through there would have been better situated in West Quay
I agree with you there Loosehead, Marlands is mainly a cut through for people.

Not many businesses survive in Marlands unless they are a cheap shop. Poundland, Savers, Matalan etc.

Mind, I was surprised to see Hawkins Bazaar have re-opened in a new unit, they should certainly be in WestQuay.
My wife phoned up Marlands to enquire about a stall.
she wanted to sell Thai products & then maybe move into a shop selling those products plus making tailor made clothes.
My wife has made wedding dresses wedding suits ( one was orange) she made a silk suit for a guy from Jamaica.
it was Green & it was like Beckhams wedding suit but my wife altered it slightly as she thought it looked better .
all the people thought she was great as she could design & make but Marlands wanted at least £75 a day which to start off was way to dear.
Am unsure why you were quoted that as a good friend had a watch stall before he become ill and he paid less than that for a month!
I am more unsure about the irrelevant ramblings......beckh

ams suit........orange wedding dresses........blah blah blah...
Sorry! my wife is an expert dressmaker & tailor & the idea as I've said was to run a stall selling Thai products & then move into a shop where as well as selling Thai products she could design & make outfits for people so exactly how was I rambling?
I don't know you but don't make trash comments & actually make yourself look an idiot are you Southy under another title?

Report this post »

loosehead says...
9:38am Sat 9 Feb 13

J.P.M wrote:
IronLady2010 wrote:
loosehead wrote:
IronLady2010 wrote:
loosehead wrote:
Never seemed that busy when I walked through there would have been better situated in West Quay
I agree with you there Loosehead, Marlands is mainly a cut through for people.

Not many businesses survive in Marlands unless they are a cheap shop. Poundland, Savers, Matalan etc.

Mind, I was surprised to see Hawkins Bazaar have re-opened in a new unit, they should certainly be in WestQuay.
My wife phoned up Marlands to enquire about a stall.
she wanted to sell Thai products & then maybe move into a shop selling those products plus making tailor made clothes.
My wife has made wedding dresses wedding suits ( one was orange) she made a silk suit for a guy from Jamaica.
it was Green & it was like Beckhams wedding suit but my wife altered it slightly as she thought it looked better .
all the people thought she was great as she could design & make but Marlands wanted at least £75 a day which to start off was way to dear.
Am unsure why you were quoted that as a good friend had a watch stall before he become ill and he paid less than that for a month!
I am more unsure about the irrelevant ramblings......beckh

ams suit........orange wedding dresses........blah blah blah...
Sorry! my wife is an expert dressmaker & tailor & the idea as I've said was to run a stall selling Thai products & then move into a shop where as well as selling Thai products she could design & make outfits for people so exactly how was I rambling?
I don't know you but don't make trash comments & actually make yourself look an idiot are you Southy under another title?

Report this post »

elvisimo says...
9:40am Sat 9 Feb 13

J.P.M wrote:
IronLady2010 wrote:
loosehead wrote:
IronLady2010 wrote:
loosehead wrote:
Never seemed that busy when I walked through there would have been better situated in West Quay
I agree with you there Loosehead, Marlands is mainly a cut through for people.

Not many businesses survive in Marlands unless they are a cheap shop. Poundland, Savers, Matalan etc.

Mind, I was surprised to see Hawkins Bazaar have re-opened in a new unit, they should certainly be in WestQuay.
My wife phoned up Marlands to enquire about a stall.
she wanted to sell Thai products & then maybe move into a shop selling those products plus making tailor made clothes.
My wife has made wedding dresses wedding suits ( one was orange) she made a silk suit for a guy from Jamaica.
it was Green & it was like Beckhams wedding suit but my wife altered it slightly as she thought it looked better .
all the people thought she was great as she could design & make but Marlands wanted at least £75 a day which to start off was way to dear.
Am unsure why you were quoted that as a good friend had a watch stall before he become ill and he paid less than that for a month!
I am more unsure about the irrelevant ramblings......beckh

ams suit........orange wedding dresses........blah blah blah...
Yes!

I had toast for breakfast, with marmite.

Report this post »

loosehead says...
9:46am Sat 9 Feb 13

elvisimo wrote:
J.P.M wrote:
IronLady2010 wrote:
loosehead wrote:
IronLady2010 wrote:
loosehead wrote:
Never seemed that busy when I walked through there would have been better situated in West Quay
I agree with you there Loosehead, Marlands is mainly a cut through for people.

Not many businesses survive in Marlands unless they are a cheap shop. Poundland, Savers, Matalan etc.

Mind, I was surprised to see Hawkins Bazaar have re-opened in a new unit, they should certainly be in WestQuay.
My wife phoned up Marlands to enquire about a stall.
she wanted to sell Thai products & then maybe move into a shop selling those products plus making tailor made clothes.
My wife has made wedding dresses wedding suits ( one was orange) she made a silk suit for a guy from Jamaica.
it was Green & it was like Beckhams wedding suit but my wife altered it slightly as she thought it looked better .
all the people thought she was great as she could design & make but Marlands wanted at least £75 a day which to start off was way to dear.
Am unsure why you were quoted that as a good friend had a watch stall before he become ill and he paid less than that for a month!
I am more unsure about the irrelevant ramblings......beckh


ams suit........orange wedding dresses........blah blah blah...
Yes!

I had toast for breakfast, with marmite.
Please explain to me why you seem to agree with the idiot?
I was explaining what my wife wanted to do if she eventually got a shop.
I was also explaining how much rent we were quoted for a pokey stall so how is that rambling?
A TV program showed vibrant shops closing as the landlords had hiked up the rents so much it wasn't viable to run the shop/cafe & I feel this is the same with Marlands

Report this post »

kingnotail says...
11:18am Sat 9 Feb 13

J.P.M wrote:
IronLady2010 wrote:
loosehead wrote:
IronLady2010 wrote:
loosehead wrote:
Never seemed that busy when I walked through there would have been better situated in West Quay
I agree with you there Loosehead, Marlands is mainly a cut through for people.

Not many businesses survive in Marlands unless they are a cheap shop. Poundland, Savers, Matalan etc.

Mind, I was surprised to see Hawkins Bazaar have re-opened in a new unit, they should certainly be in WestQuay.
My wife phoned up Marlands to enquire about a stall.
she wanted to sell Thai products & then maybe move into a shop selling those products plus making tailor made clothes.
My wife has made wedding dresses wedding suits ( one was orange) she made a silk suit for a guy from Jamaica.
it was Green & it was like Beckhams wedding suit but my wife altered it slightly as she thought it looked better .
all the people thought she was great as she could design & make but Marlands wanted at least £75 a day which to start off was way to dear.
Am unsure why you were quoted that as a good friend had a watch stall before he become ill and he paid less than that for a month!
I am more unsure about the irrelevant ramblings......beckh

ams suit........orange wedding dresses........blah blah blah...
Yep, one never ending stream of drivel.

Report this post »

loosehead says...
11:29am Sat 9 Feb 13

kingnotail wrote:
J.P.M wrote:
IronLady2010 wrote:
loosehead wrote:
IronLady2010 wrote:
loosehead wrote:
Never seemed that busy when I walked through there would have been better situated in West Quay
I agree with you there Loosehead, Marlands is mainly a cut through for people.

Not many businesses survive in Marlands unless they are a cheap shop. Poundland, Savers, Matalan etc.

Mind, I was surprised to see Hawkins Bazaar have re-opened in a new unit, they should certainly be in WestQuay.
My wife phoned up Marlands to enquire about a stall.
she wanted to sell Thai products & then maybe move into a shop selling those products plus making tailor made clothes.
My wife has made wedding dresses wedding suits ( one was orange) she made a silk suit for a guy from Jamaica.
it was Green & it was like Beckhams wedding suit but my wife altered it slightly as she thought it looked better .
all the people thought she was great as she could design & make but Marlands wanted at least £75 a day which to start off was way to dear.
Am unsure why you were quoted that as a good friend had a watch stall before he become ill and he paid less than that for a month!
I am more unsure about the irrelevant ramblings......beckh


ams suit........orange wedding dresses........blah blah blah...
Yep, one never ending stream of drivel.
The only drivel on these posts are yours so why don't you go back to the paradise you call home you hater of this city?
I guess your the most popular guy/person going at your Uni/college? ( don't think so!)
I'd quite happily explain to you what a moron you are & I would quite happily tell you how low your IQ is after all what moron moves to a city they know absolutely nothing about?
then once here through what must be bad judgement they write to the local paper slagging off the city they chose to move to?
Kinda points to a very low IQ to me?

Report this post »

kingnotail says...
5:56pm Sat 9 Feb 13

loosehead wrote:
kingnotail wrote:
J.P.M wrote:
IronLady2010 wrote:
loosehead wrote:
IronLady2010 wrote:
loosehead wrote:
Never seemed that busy when I walked through there would have been better situated in West Quay
I agree with you there Loosehead, Marlands is mainly a cut through for people.

Not many businesses survive in Marlands unless they are a cheap shop. Poundland, Savers, Matalan etc.

Mind, I was surprised to see Hawkins Bazaar have re-opened in a new unit, they should certainly be in WestQuay.
My wife phoned up Marlands to enquire about a stall.
she wanted to sell Thai products & then maybe move into a shop selling those products plus making tailor made clothes.
My wife has made wedding dresses wedding suits ( one was orange) she made a silk suit for a guy from Jamaica.
it was Green & it was like Beckhams wedding suit but my wife altered it slightly as she thought it looked better .
all the people thought she was great as she could design & make but Marlands wanted at least £75 a day which to start off was way to dear.
Am unsure why you were quoted that as a good friend had a watch stall before he become ill and he paid less than that for a month!
I am more unsure about the irrelevant ramblings......beckh



ams suit........orange wedding dresses........blah blah blah...
Yep, one never ending stream of drivel.
The only drivel on these posts are yours so why don't you go back to the paradise you call home you hater of this city?
I guess your the most popular guy/person going at your Uni/college? ( don't think so!)
I'd quite happily explain to you what a moron you are & I would quite happily tell you how low your IQ is after all what moron moves to a city they know absolutely nothing about?
then once here through what must be bad judgement they write to the local paper slagging off the city they chose to move to?
Kinda points to a very low IQ to me?
It's not just me, my cousin's best mate's dog's grandad thinks Southampton is a sh1thole too, because he once lived in Thailand where even there they thought it was sh1t................
.................

Report this post »

loosehead says...
7:25pm Sat 9 Feb 13

kingnotail wrote:
loosehead wrote:
kingnotail wrote:
J.P.M wrote:
IronLady2010 wrote:
loosehead wrote:
IronLady2010 wrote:
loosehead wrote:
Never seemed that busy when I walked through there would have been better situated in West Quay
I agree with you there Loosehead, Marlands is mainly a cut through for people.

Not many businesses survive in Marlands unless they are a cheap shop. Poundland, Savers, Matalan etc.

Mind, I was surprised to see Hawkins Bazaar have re-opened in a new unit, they should certainly be in WestQuay.
My wife phoned up Marlands to enquire about a stall.
she wanted to sell Thai products & then maybe move into a shop selling those products plus making tailor made clothes.
My wife has made wedding dresses wedding suits ( one was orange) she made a silk suit for a guy from Jamaica.
it was Green & it was like Beckhams wedding suit but my wife altered it slightly as she thought it looked better .
all the people thought she was great as she could design & make but Marlands wanted at least £75 a day which to start off was way to dear.
Am unsure why you were quoted that as a good friend had a watch stall before he become ill and he paid less than that for a month!
I am more unsure about the irrelevant ramblings......beckh




ams suit........orange wedding dresses........blah blah blah...
Yep, one never ending stream of drivel.
The only drivel on these posts are yours so why don't you go back to the paradise you call home you hater of this city?
I guess your the most popular guy/person going at your Uni/college? ( don't think so!)
I'd quite happily explain to you what a moron you are & I would quite happily tell you how low your IQ is after all what moron moves to a city they know absolutely nothing about?
then once here through what must be bad judgement they write to the local paper slagging off the city they chose to move to?
Kinda points to a very low IQ to me?
It's not just me, my cousin's best mate's dog's grandad thinks Southampton is a sh1thole too, because he once lived in Thailand where even there they thought it was sh1t................

.................
I bet you have a lot of mates! NOT!

Report this post »

kingnotail says...
1:26pm Sun 10 Feb 13

loosehead wrote:
kingnotail wrote:
loosehead wrote:
kingnotail wrote:
J.P.M wrote:
IronLady2010 wrote:
loosehead wrote:
IronLady2010 wrote:
loosehead wrote:
Never seemed that busy when I walked through there would have been better situated in West Quay
I agree with you there Loosehead, Marlands is mainly a cut through for people.

Not many businesses survive in Marlands unless they are a cheap shop. Poundland, Savers, Matalan etc.

Mind, I was surprised to see Hawkins Bazaar have re-opened in a new unit, they should certainly be in WestQuay.
My wife phoned up Marlands to enquire about a stall.
she wanted to sell Thai products & then maybe move into a shop selling those products plus making tailor made clothes.
My wife has made wedding dresses wedding suits ( one was orange) she made a silk suit for a guy from Jamaica.
it was Green & it was like Beckhams wedding suit but my wife altered it slightly as she thought it looked better .
all the people thought she was great as she could design & make but Marlands wanted at least £75 a day which to start off was way to dear.
Am unsure why you were quoted that as a good friend had a watch stall before he become ill and he paid less than that for a month!
I am more unsure about the irrelevant ramblings......beckh





ams suit........orange wedding dresses........blah blah blah...
Yep, one never ending stream of drivel.
The only drivel on these posts are yours so why don't you go back to the paradise you call home you hater of this city?
I guess your the most popular guy/person going at your Uni/college? ( don't think so!)
I'd quite happily explain to you what a moron you are & I would quite happily tell you how low your IQ is after all what moron moves to a city they know absolutely nothing about?
then once here through what must be bad judgement they write to the local paper slagging off the city they chose to move to?
Kinda points to a very low IQ to me?
It's not just me, my cousin's best mate's dog's grandad thinks Southampton is a sh1thole too, because he once lived in Thailand where even there they thought it was sh1t................


.................
I bet you have a lot of mates! NOT!
NOT?! Is it still 1992? Oh yeah we're in Southampton, so it is!

Report this post »

Subject48 says...
11:49am Mon 11 Feb 13

lol. Looose made a joke.

Report this post »

Subject48 says...
11:50am Mon 11 Feb 13

NOT. haaaaaaa

Report this post »

loosehead says...
5:00pm Mon 11 Feb 13

Subject48 wrote:
NOT. haaaaaaa
As you seem to have noticed with your limited intelligence I wasn't making a joke & anyone who moves to this city doesn't find out about it first then does nothing to slag it & it's residents off are someone to pity not laugh at.
you seem to be of the same mentality as kingnotail so I pity you as much as I pity a football fan especially if they're Pompey fans.
I love this city & country so much I came back here when I could live like a king with my pension where I was so why don't you join your mate & do one?

Report this post »

kingnotail says...
12:24pm Tue 12 Feb 13

There is absolutely nothing to love about Southampton - it has to be one of the most miserable, culturally deprived cities in the whole of the UK. The only people who like it are stuck-in-the-past dinosaurs like yourself.

Report this post »

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