Store’s fate hangs in the balance

Dec 4 2008 by Alastair McNeill, Hamilton Advertiser

CUSTOMERS at the Hamilton branch of photo processors Klick and dry cleaners Munro were turned away from the store this week as their owners went into receivership.

Administrators were appointed for the Bowie Castlebank Group on Tuesday at the request of company directors following a drop in business in recent years.

Klick/Munro have outlets across central Lanarkshire including Hamilton, Uddingston, Blantyre, Bellshill and Motherwell. They also have a processing facility in Wishaw.

The company employ 397 staff in Scotland and, of those, 207 are to be made redundant.

However, it was not clear this week how many workers in Lanarkshire would be affected.

A Lanarkshire man went to Hamilton’s Quarry Street outlet at lunchtime on Tuesday to uplift a £245 suit belonging to his wife.

However, he said staff, operating on instructions from head office, told him he could not obtain the item.

He pointed out that the shop door was locked and a member of staff “reluctantly” opened the door in response to his call.

“I was told they had ceased trading and therefore could not return the item,” he said.

“It’s an unusual way to treat customers. I was left with the impression that I might not get the suit back.

“They said they hoped it would be sorted out, but I’m very unhappy. It is an expensive suit.

“When I returned at 4pm the shop was closed and in darkness, with no sign on the door to explain why the store was closed and how to retrieve your possessions.”

A spokesman for the administrators KPMG this week said he fully expected customers to get their items back.

He added: “This announcement was made this afternoon and there may be varying levels of understanding about what staff should and shouldn’t do.

“While Klick/Munro are not taking on any more orders, the administrators are working hard to make sure existing orders are returned to customers.”

A customer helpline can be contacted on 0870 750 7112.

The Advertiser called the number yesterday, but gave up after waiting 15 minutes.

The advance of digital photography and a reduction in the amount of clothing requiring dry cleaning has seen the business contract.

Attempts to restructure or refinance the business have also been unsuccessful.

Joint receivers Blair Nimmo and Tony Friar of KPMG said they hoped that some parts of the group could be sold on.

Mr Nimmo said: “It is with regret that we have had to make substantial redundancies across Bowie Castlebank’s operations.

“We are currently working with government agencies to ensure the employees’ issues are dealt with as quickly as possible.

“At the same time, we are marketing the business in an attempt to secure a sale of some of the group’s stores or operations as a going concern.”

UNCERTAIN FUTURE: Klick/Munro photo processing and dry cleaning in Hamilton.HAM041208klick-1