Adams Childrenswear

Barrowdrive Ltd.
Ltd
Industry Retail clothing
Founded 1933 (Birmingham)
2010 (Online)
Founder Amy Adams
Defunct 2010 (Stores)
Headquarters Paddington, London, United Kingdom
Number of locations
 260 (2008)
160 (2009)
10 (April 2010)
9 (September 2010)
Online (2011–)
Area served
 International
Key people
 Vacant (Chief Executive)
John Shannon (Owner) (2007–2008)
Products Clothing
Services Clothing retail and manufacture
Number of employees
 2000 (2007?)
Website www.adams.co.uk

Barrowdrive Ltd. (trading as Adams Childrenswear) is a children's clothing retailer, based in Paddington, London in the United Kingdom.

History

Early history

Amy Adams started a children's clothing business from her own home in Birmingham in 1933. She then opened another three stores in quick succession. Until 1973, Amy Adams and her son Michael ran the company independently, when they sold it to Foster Brothers. In 1983, Foster Brothers was itself acquired by Sears Holdings plc. Adams had over 200 stores by the 1980s, and by the 1990s, it had become a key player in the childrenswear market.

The company opened its first international franchise in Saudi Arabia in 1997. Further international stores were then opened in Cyprus, Greece, Republic of Ireland, Finland, India and Slovakia. In 1999, Sears was acquired by Philip Green, who then agreed to a management buy-out of Adams Childrenswear. In August 2001, it was announced that Adams planned to double in size by 2005.[1]

Mini Mode brand

Adams store in Halifax in 2009

Adams has been making clothing under the Mini Mode brand for Boots since 2002. Mini Mode has 327 concessions, and its own online store. Mini Mode Childrenswear Limited also entered administration on 21 January 2009, with Rob Jonathan Hunt, Stuart David Maddison and Michael John Andrew Jervis being appointed as joint administrators.

2006 administration

In Q4 2006, Adams went into administration, with PricewaterhouseCoopers handling the proceedings. John Shannon bought Adams out of administration in February 2007. 42 of the stores were then closed. David Carter Johnson was appointed as Chief Executive. In January 2008, the "kids love fashion" branding was rolled out into all stores, and store refits started in the United Kingdom and Ireland.

2008 administration

During the weekend of 28 December 2008, Adams announced that were again preparing to enter administration.[2]

During the administration, there were 260 stores in the United Kingdom and 116 outlets overseas, employing around 2000 people.[3] PricewaterhouseCoopers were approached on 24 December to act as administrators again.[4] Adams was reported to owe around £20 million to Mr Shannon and £10 million to Burdale.[5]

The company entered administration on 31 December 2008. The Mini Mode brand was not affected by the administration at this time. 111 stores closed, shedding 850 jobs, but the administrators remained hopeful that Adams would still find a buyer.[6] 160 of the stores then remained.[7] On 26 January a further 36 stores were closed.[8] 125 of the stores continued to trade, while the situation was assessed.

2009–present

On 15 February 2009, it was announced that former owner John Shannon, who also bought the company in 2007, would be taking it out of administration. The Adams brand will be retained.[9] On 10 September 2009, it was announced that Adams was sold to a new a investment group under the name of Habib Alvi.[10]

On 22 January 2010, it went in to administration for the third time.[11] On 8 February 2010, it was announced that Mini Mode would no longer exist. Mothercare designed a completely new range called 'Miniclub' sold only in Boots stores. In early 2010 Adams closed their few remaining stores and orders from the website ceased.

References

  1. ↑ "Adams seeks to double in size by 2005". guardian.co.uk (Guardian News and Media). 28 August 2001. Retrieved 30 April 2015.
  2. ↑ Tryhorn, Chris (28 December 2008). "Clothing retailer Adams calls in the administrators". guardian.co.uk (Guardian News and Media). Archived from the original on 1 January 2009. Retrieved 28 December 2008.
  3. ↑ "Adams 'poised for administration'". BBC News. 28 December 2008. Archived from the original on 28 December 2008. Retrieved 28 December 2008.
  4. ↑ "Adams confirms administration move". Press Association. 29 December 2008. Retrieved 29 October 2012.
  5. ↑ "Adams calls in administrators". Metro.co.uk (Associated Newspapers). 28 December 2008. Retrieved 29 October 2012.
  6. ↑ Kollewe, Julia (5 January 2009). "Adams sheds 850 jobs as administrators close 111 shops". guardian.co.uk (Guardian News and Media). Archived from the original on 24 January 2009. Retrieved 5 January 2009.
  7. ↑ Leroux, Marcus (1 January 2009). "Adams jobs at risk as administrator arrives". Times Online (Times Newspapers Ltd). Retrieved 4 January 2009.(subscription required)
  8. ↑ "Further 36 Adams stores to close". BBC News. 26 January 2009. Retrieved 26 January 2009.
  9. ↑ Dunkley, Jamie (14 February 2009). "Childrenswear retailer Adams bought by former owner John Shannon". The Telegraph (Telegraph Media Group). Retrieved 29 October 2012.
  10. ↑ Berwin, Lisa (10 September 2009). "John Shannon sells Adams". Retail Week. Emap Limited. Retrieved 24 October 2009.
  11. ↑ Wood, Zoe (22 January 2010). "Childrenswear chain Adams falls back into administration". guardian.co.uk (Guardian News and Media). Archived from the original on 26 January 2010. Retrieved 31 October 2010.

External links

Wikinews has related news: Four UK retailers call in administrators during the week of Christmas
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